November 18, 2010
TRAVESTY

Mira had just checked the sun’s location and was blinded for a couple of seconds when she fell into the puddle and soaked her beloved ribbon on her head. Herself was covered with mud and water which would fall away as she moved but the ribbon was destroyed. No amount of sun light was going to dry it out and the color, which she loved, was now a muddy mess but even then she was hesitant to throw it away. “Just carry on” she said to herself and she threw it over her shoulder and moved on to her meeting with Norgal.

Unfortunately she had forgotten to notify Norgal of her coming and as she walked in he wasn’t anywhere to be seen. She crawled into his chair and up onto his hand carved desk and almost tripped on the reed pen with its bent nib. There was nothing to do but wait, no matter how long, to tell him that she was going to replace him as the grand pobaa of the land. The title may be wrong but the intention was absolutely correct. She intended to become the GRAND POBAA.

Day dreaming of her anticipated coronation she didn’t see him enter. As he sat down in the chair in front of her, Mira jumped up and fell over that damn nib pen.

“As I was saying…..” she stuttered out, and stopped, realizing that she hadn’t said anything. “Better yet let me repeat myself so that YOU can understand.” She was searching frantically for her words. “Your getting older Norgal” she was trying to be personal but was insulting and Norgal was frowning and about to lose his temper.
“I am willing to relief you of such a terrible demanding job. I know how difficult it has been and how you must suffer under such a strain. Just trying to keep order between all the residences, my, just trying to work out the differences between Visy and Caush is hard enough but when Cezee is involved I just wouldn’t know how to handle such a problem….” Oops, she was blowing it. Of course she knew how to handle it if she was going to take the old guys place. She straightened herself.

“Look you old fur bag, I am going to replace you! I’ve got my whole family behind me and I’m sure the rest well agree with me. So there!!! Just take that dumb old bent nib pen and your lazy self and scram.” She took a deep breath and held it.

Norgal grinned and said very quietly, “Mira, I would like you to meet, Cezee.”

November 02, 2010
INTERDICTION

Norgal laid down his reed pen and looked up at Visy. A smile formed on his lips and those large teeth were exposed causing Visy to wince.

“You know, little one, you may have the order backwards. Mira is just juicy enough and enticing enough that maybe that good old snark will have a good meal first and her ambition well be lost in Cezee’s gullet” his tone changed “and if she doesn’t shut up that smart old snark well probably spit her out only half chewed.” He slapped the desk with such force the nib of the reed pen stuck through the paper into the hand craved desk just missing Visy’s tail.

Visy was astonished. Never before had he seen Norgal in such a state. Norgal’s ears were pinned back and his eyes were frightening. It was hard to imagine this Norgal as the Head of the State. He grinned sheepishly and said “You got anymore cheese?”.

“And further more….” Norgal obviously wasn’t through. “Just where have you been? Mira’s clan is yelling about your visit and the scare you caused the little ones. Carl says you almost became eagle food. You look like you have been swimming in mud and tracking it in on my floor. And Cezee is hot on your tail and you lead her here.”

Visy reached up and rubbed his left ear, kind of nodded his head and sighed. “No more cheese huh? Didn’t know you liked it that much. I ran across some I think you would like a couple of days ago. It had little green flicks in it and it smelled pretty aged but was it tasty. Maybe I can get some for you ….. but it well cost ya a little bit….” He ducked under the table as a large container came flying by.

“Get out you little wretch. I think I’ll eat you myself, you little ground hugger. I’d tell Cezee were you live, if you new where you live, you little sneak. Just leave, leave, leave!” Another object came flying across the room.

“Now sir, you are a little upset and I have another appointment I need to go to but rest assured I can get some of that green cheese I told ya about. You’ll love it.” And little Visy winked and dashed for the door leaving Norgal with his head on the hand carved desk and both paws over his ears.

Just waiting for Mira to come.

October 27, 2010
DEDUCTION

Visy wasn’t very big and yes he was always a little nosey but he knew when he was out of line. Many of times he had to leave a dispute but you just don’t mess with the snark. That lady was not just big but gigantic and she had teeth to match and a smile that shook you to the bone. She was not as big as Carl or Norgal but she was just full of mean that had (by all accounts) beaten even Caush. Visy made the decision to stay out of the way of that snark.

Visy was a little shaken because Cezee had come close enough for eye contact just before Visy had dropped into the old log. He sighed and calmed down, took a deep breath and crawled quietly out from beneath the log. It was quite a distance back to Norgal and he had to stop by and warn Mira. That look in Cezee’s eyes meant trouble for the little lady. Of course he could take care of himself but by his calculations the next meal for the snark was to be Mira and family.

He looked all four ways and headed across the grassy plane, but as luck would have it he had not looked up.

The screech almost knocked him over and the blast of wind blew him beneath the nearest rock. The “thing” diving out of the sky was not Flit or anything close and that screech was deafening. His tail dropped and he ducted his head but of course those talons had already scrapped the earth and left empty. He could not remember having two close calls, in one afternoon, before and hoped it would never happen again. With his tail raised, he headed once again for Mira’s place. Damn, he sure would like a piece of cheese.

Of course Mira wasn’t home and no one knew were she could be. Her family was never too friendly so Visy snooped around a bit and then decided to check in with Norgal.

Norgal still sat behind that hand carved desk writing on something that was of no interest to Visy so he helped himself to a bit of cheese from the larder before sitting down on the paper in front of Norgal.

“Guess what, boss” Visy said very politely, “Mira is going for your job and the snark is going to eat her.” And he returned to his cheese.

October 20, 2010
EFFORTLESS


Cezee moved stealthily through the tall grass trying to avoid those areas that would cause her pain and those which would make a crackling sound but her main attention was focused on the movement of Carl. His movement was only about three feet away and he wasn’t to quite. He had stopped and lifted his nose smelling the air. For the life of her she could not imagine what he was sniffing the air for. She new she was not the culprit. Her sent was almost non existent.

The soft ground made no sound and she was missing most of the leaves. She hurried on past. Her encounter with the Porky about fifteen minutes ago had left her full and sleepy. That was always a problem, those Pork’s were a rough catch, with quills sticking out all over it was a problem getting it to turn over so she could get to the under belly but the reward was good eating.

As she moved on she could hear Carl move off in the other direction and she picked up her pace. There was a small rustle in the grass and she caught the movement of a tail disappearing into a deep log. She stopped for a moment, ready to pounce but decided she was to full and tired to try and catch a dumb old mouse that she would only swallow in one gulp, so little Visy escaped for another day.

She began to move on automatic and her thoughts went over the last couple of days. The encounter with Caush was sure different. Her memory, which was keenly accurate, was far different than what Caush was relating to just about anyone. The leg he was exhibiting, to just about everyone, wasn’t hers and she could prove it and the encounter was stopped because Carl came running up and she wasn’t ready to take on both at the same time so she had left by just walking off.

Cezee knew she could beat anyone, anywhere, anytime but two at once was making her uncomfortable.

And that gabby little Mira. Spouting off like that, you would think she was king of the hill. Her mouth did not fit her size. Two clicks of the teeth and she would be only a memory. Maybe she and her family would be a fine appetizer.

And there goes that Visy again.

October 12, 2010
CONTAINMENT

Carl was tired. The chase had worn him down to his last step and that crazy rabbit was still running. His left foot hurt. That last turn must have been on a rock or something. He lay there and licked it hoping that would fix any damage that old rock had caused.
Either the rabbits were getting faster or just maybe he was getting slower – naw that wasn’t happening. It sure would have been fun if he had caught the rabbit.

He started to get up and the smell of snark stopped him cold. It wasn’t strong in fact it disappeared almost immediately but he trusted his nose and new the snark had passed close to him. The snark usually ran a straight path unlike that lucky rabbit that could turn corners on an instant. He stared through the grass for movement but only the breeze barely moved a few leaves. He sighed and rose stiffly and began to walk away.

Last night everyone had left the meeting rather quickly after Flit had warned of the snark. Carl had been the last to leave, confident he could beat any snark and unsure why everyone was afraid. A grin passed his lips as he remembered Visy under the table swiping cheese and completely ignoring anything else.

Oh yeah, that sweet little Mira sitting on his head. What a day that turned out to be. He just new that Mira was going to challenge Norgal for King but she didn’t have the stature to physically run the meetings or the country. He felt kind of sorry for the chatty little lady but liked her.

He gingerly made his way across a small stream and headed up the hill when he met the SNARK.

The little fellow stood on his hind legs and stared right into Carl’s face. Carl was sure that the next move would propel the SNARK right into Carl’s jaws but they just stood facing each other. It looked like there was the remnant of blood on the SNARK’s jaw.
As Carl was formulating his next move, the SNARK turned and disappeared.

Carl shuddered and swore. He was going to have to find out where or who the blood came from.

October 5, 2010
ASSERTION

He new it would happen and sure enough it was coming right in front of him. Norgal was clearing his throat, probably a hair ball which he would spit out on the desk in front of him, leaning back, pounding his empty pipe on the desk, issuing a large humph and began his oration.

Visy had no intention of listening to any oration. He slipped under his chair and began cleaning his ears. He wasn’t sure why because he wasn’t going to listen to any oration – unless his name was mentioned.

Norgal had it all planned out. His speech was going to be perfect now that his throat was cleared. “My friends. It has come to my atten……”

“You know,” Mira spouted “ that old snark is really a problem and we should find a way to do him in. Why I heard that old Caush had run in with him and got a good lick in but the old snark still got away. If old Caush can’t beat him what about everyone else. None of us is safe. Why my little ones and yes my relatives are in constant danger. I think we should all get together, a thousand of us, and give that old snark his due. I know all mine are in. How about all of you?” The voice sounded like it came from just above Old Carl’s head and it was loud.

Norgal gave a small hiss. “My friends. We are here to discuss the preparation for the up coming winter. I know that old snark is a problem and has been for years but winter is just around the corner and we need to make sure all of us are…………”

“Winter humph!! We’ll all be dead before the first snow is in. All of my friends and relatives well be sound asleep and old snark well have his way with us. Come on guys.
Caush, old snark gave you quite a time but you were able to win. Don’t you think that if you had a little help we could run that old snark right out of town?” Mira was getting angery.

Caush raised his head, looked right and left, cocked his left eye and muttered almost with a raspy whisper, “yeh,…. but you all aint comin up to my place! Besides Terandy would get all upset and there aint any room and there would be a terrible mess and who would clean it up. I keep my place clean and so does Terandy. We don’t want no trouble.”

Norgal hissed a little longer and pounded on his hand carved desk. “My friends! We are here to discus the upcoming…..”

“Ya, sure, you are here to discuss our demise” this was a long slow growl from deep in Old Carl’s throat. “Think we need to solve this old snark problem first.” Mira patted his head from above.

It was a tense moment and Visy peeked over the seat of the chair to see what was happening. Everything was quiet so he reached for another piece of the cheese that had dropped from the table and crawled back under the chair. He muttered to himself as he ate and waited for his name to be mention. Sooner or later he new his name would come up and he would have to defend his honor.

A soft breeze rustled the bow on Mira’s head as Flit flew in. “old snark coming”.


Visy – small mouse, very opinionated, and pushy
Norgal – large cat, in charge behind a hand carved desk
Old Carl – large dog, slow but tough
Caush & Tandy – big wood chucks
Flit – hummingbird watcher of all
Miriam Idelbaum – outspoken gabby ground squirrel

Snark – rat, mean

September 15, 2010
INTEGRATION

It was that time again. The stools were set and the goodies were distributed and the lights were lowered. Every one had been notified but Norgal new that a few would not show and even more he was afraid that one would show. The last time a SNARK showed everyone fled – cleaned the room out in seconds and left him with no one to counsel. His tail twitched and his claws bit into the arm of the chair. Oh well, being born a Cat and having the responsibility to rule, although a heavy burden, was his legacy. He sighed and reached for the best pin in existence.

“High ya, old buddy!” The sound came from the entrance and in strode that pesky little creature that made Norgal’s life a living cage. “….where is every buddy? No one here yet? Late again, huh. Hey that cheese looks good!” and Visy ran toward the table.

Norgal let out a hiss and slammed his claws in his desk stopping Visy dead still. “Touch that and you well be tailless, you little despot.”

Visy stood for a moment and then let out a giggle that shook the room, “hang on big fella, I was only lookin. Smells a little too fresh anyway…..”

At that moment the ground began to shake and in strode the biggest, fastest and nastiest fellow in the whole world or so Visy thought. Not even the SNARK was as scary as this. Visy hid behind a table.

Caush lumbered to a well supplied table, covered with a number of root products and fresh meat, and grabbed a wild onion. Munching loudly, he grumbled “Tandy’s not coming. She’s afraid of that old SNARK. Don’t understand those lady folk” he reached up and rubbed his face and the scar made by the SNARK, “Us Marmot’s aren’t afraid of anything, she must be under the weather.” He picked up a leg of something and began to chew.

There was silence for a few moments and the only sound was the table shaking over Yisy.

Old Carl walked in with Miriam (Mira) Idelbaum setting comfortably on this head. He fell and sat on the ground and Mira jumped off onto a table. “Lets get started. My little ones need some lunch so I ain’t got all day. Oh, and Flit ain’t coming…. Said to go on without him. He’s looking for more and/or better sources. Be back later. So lets go!!!!” her bow shook as she pounded the table.

Norgal sighed, which he did a lot, and began.

September 13, 2010
TERMINATER

Flit was flying slow and coming into the flower very gingerly when a burst of wind blew her off course and she almost missed the blossom. That would have been a real problem because that spider web would have been some catastrophe. She had to side slip hard against the wind to miss the web and bypassed that delicious meal. The wind became quiet and she hovered a moment, caught her breath, and flew on hoping that the next flower would have as good a nectar as the one she had missed.

Her left side seem to wobble as the breeze hit the wing and she came to rest on a branch just inches from a packet of green leaves. The wing stretched and moved ok but one of the feathers was out of place so she tucked it back, rested a moment, and prepared to fly on when she heard a tiny little giggle coming from under the leaves. Sounds didn’t usually bother her and she almost flew on but something about this giggle intrigued her. She moved one of those green leaves aside and uncovered a mouse just slightly bigger than her. Either she was closer to the ground than she thought or the mouse was a lot higher than he new.

“What you doing up here, little one” she hummed.

Visy just giggled again and swished his tail. “That old Norgal is after my tail and I am hiding” he quipped “and she aint going to get me! But who is you, you pretty little hummer and what is ya doing down here? Did you crash? Are you hurt? Can you fly? Do you have any cheese? Are you…………..”

“Easy, little one.” She hummed. “I am Flit and am hunting my breakfast….”

Visy glanced left and right and became a little nervous. That beak looked like a sword and it kept moving back and forth a lot faster than did Visy’s tail. “Nothing here that I can see” he squeaked and dropped his tail to the branch and backed up a few steps. This could be a little nasty but he was sure he could handle it. Just give him a chance! Besides, this Flit was a little smaller than him and he was sure he could take her. And come to think it he was sure he could even take old Norgal the old bat CAT.

His courage gaining ground and his tail almost vertical he stood up on his back legs.
“Well, Glit, it’s like this. I am preparing to wipe out old Norgal and am hiding behind these leaves waiting for her to come by and when she passes am going to jump out and scare her so bad that she is going to run forever, umph.” He giggled a little.

“The name is FLIT and Norgal is ten times your size and your crazy!” and Flit flew away. The wing was fine and Visy was knocked over the side of the branch and fell into the moss a few inches away and into a SNARK path.

September 8, 2010
Mediator

Miriam Idelbaum, known to her extended family as Mira because of the pure volume of members, poked her sweet head over the edge of her home and whistled once and waited. It wasn’t long before she heard scampering footsteps and one by one all twelve came running. She sighed and went back inside. Another day and each one of her young family was due a bath which she wasn’t looking forward to because not one of them would hold still and they never shut up. She sighed again and watched as they trooped in one by one, each yelling about their mornings encounters. All of it was blocked until she heard the dreaded word “SNARK”.

“Which one of you saw the SNARK?” she yelled. Silence covered everyone and no one breathed. Finally a small voice from the back of the room “me did”. Mira pushed her way through the now quiet bunch and faced the littlest one.

“Where?” she yelled so loud that the little one almost sank into the floor.

“At the rock” was barely audible “Caush was fighten it”.

Mira leaned back, took a deep breath and said “did he win?”

“Don’t know. Left when Old Carl came up. Boy was it a fit they was havnin. Screamin and growlin somethin terrible and blood was every where.”

Mira sighed again, something she did a lot, and sat back on her haunches. She hated and feared the snark and kept hoping that someone would get that evil creature. A couple of her young ones had lost to the snark. Maybe she could get a hold of Visy and find out what was happening or maybe Flit would have some information.

Mira laughed. What a silly name her mother had given her. Miriam Idelbaum. Not much to fight the SNARK.

May 13, 2010
Retaliation

Norgal sat at his hand carved desk writing in the 68th book of remembrance and doing his best to recall his activities of the last year. He new he should write a little everyday and not have to rely on his memory but he just couldn’t remember to write each day and the days just kept slipping by. Besides the reed pen he used, although the best pen in existence, wore out with to much use and you just can’t spend money haphazardly. He leaned forward and dipped his pen in the ink well and prepared himself to write again. The pen dropped from his grasp as he leaned back searching his memory for history that had past in time and memory.

A small squeak brought his eyes open in a start and there before him, tracking small little footprints on his precious paper, was Visy a pretentious, overbearing, obnoxious, nasty little fellow with huge eyes and a long tail. Visy sat back on his haunches with his front paws hanging in front of him and stared at Norgal. Just seeing Visy raised Norgal’s temperature to the point of boiling and the trail of small little specks behind him across Norgal’s beloved paper incensed him. As Norgal leaned forward, arm outstretched, Visy’s small hand leaped up and scratched his large left ear and his squeak broke the silence.

“Hi ya, haven’t seen ya for quite a while and thought I would bring ya up to date on the goings on around here…..”

“Forget it” yelled Norgal as his hand descended on the desk within an inch of Visy’s tail. “I don’t like you. I don’t want to see you and your leavings. Go away and leave me alone. You little…..”

“Ah, come on you know ya like me, ya big furry bag of jelly, and think of all the juicy little tidbits I’ve got that ya can use to enhance your position.” Visy leaned forward, glanced left and right, “and when you get in that romantic position ya can use some of it to close the deal.” He giggled a little, danced with both feet, reached up and rubbed both ears, smoothed his whiskers and left a small deposit behind himself.

Norgal jumped up made a swipe at the place Visy had occupied and screamed. “What I would give to have a snark here right now!”

And from Norgal’s shoulder came that irritating squeak “speaking of snark ya should hear what Caush did…………….”

May 6, 2010
Configuration

Old Carl was out of breath. That snark wasn’t fast but was very nasty and had given Old Carl a run for this life. Chasing anything that was moving along as slow as a lazy snark was kind of out of Carl’s line of work but when that nasty snark turned and bared his teeth - it was a fight that he just had to win and he almost had him until that critter had appeared out of no where.

He laid his head down and tried to catch his breath. There had been only a flash of a moving object close to the ground passing between him and the snark. That poor snark had not seen the intruder coming and was caught of guard and the sharp flash of teeth and those claws was kind of moving. Old Carl had to admit it was definitely admirable. He was not to happy about the steal of his snark and his back hurt because he had wrenched it when the critter had appeared and he had turned in mid air to face the intruder. He was to late because by the time his feet hit the ground the critter had taken a gigantic piece out of the snark and was gone.

His eyes closed and he almost dozed off until he remembered the dead snark lying in front of him. He wasn’t hungry. It had been the chase and catch that had excited him and his disappointment was evident. A small whine broke from his mussel as he dozed and it was clear that he begin to dream of his lost catch only to be intruded by the memory of the critter passing in front of him laughing and calling out his steal. Dog, could that critter move and what a fight that would be but he had to watch those claws and those teeth but he new he would win. What a fight it would be.

A growl issued from his throat and he swore that some day he would catch that critter.

Misalignment

Caush was late again. This was not the first time and it would probably not be the last but you can bet this time it really made Terandy mad. She had been waiting for Caush for over forty minutes and had stomped her feet so many times that they were numb and getting cold and she was sure it would begin to snow any minute now. A bit of warm snark might make the wait a little easier but she didn’t have any and the chance of getting one was not even possible. She brushed the bit of falling snow from her nose and sneezed. She just new a cold was coming and it was all Caush’s fault.

She hid beneath the rock and sighed. One more minute and she was going to leave and it didn’t matter if he came or not, it was getting colder and she was tired. Still if he did bring a little bit of snark and was warm just maybe she could……no that well never do and she turned to walk away when she heard him coming down the path. She turned and saw him as he came around the edge of the rock.

He was limping and his fur was matted just over his right eye. Blood was standing on the side of his face and he was breathing hard but he had the biggest piece of snark, including the bone, between his teeth and a grin that made her forget all her waiting. He paused to look back for a moment and came up to her and offered her a bit of snark as an apology for being late.
His breath came hard and quick “Old Carl sure wanted that snark but I beat him to it and it sure made him mad. He’s getting a little cranky in his old age but he’s not as quick as he used to be. Beat him to the snark and got a piece before he could get there – was that ever a treat to see him beat. I almost stayed just to see him moan and cry.”