The Danforth Puppy and Yonge were doing very well now, and The Danforth Puppy found that the little kitten was a genius at finding food.
He could also get into places where the big pup was too big. On the other hand, (I mean paw) The Danforth Puppy could carry a lot more food than the little kitten. Usually, Yonge would find the food, and The Danforth Puppy would take it back to their secret hideout in the city.
They discovered that they both liked Chinese food. They’d sneak around looking for crispy noodles and Dim Sims in particular. They couldn’t use the chopsticks they found with the discarded takeaways. But they invented a game where one of them would hide a chopstick and the other had to find it.
Local residents were confused to find chopsticks hidden in their cars, their shopping bags, and anywhere else a sneaky puppy or kitten could hide them. How did chopsticks get into letterboxes? Who put them there? The local paper, The Toronto Star, ran a story on “The Invasion Of The Phantom Chopsticks”. The Danforth Puppy and Yonge weren’t too sure what they won when they found a chopstick, but it was fun.
When not finding food, The Danforth Puppy and Yonge were usually playing or teaching each other how to be a dog or a cat. The Danforth Puppy soon discovered teaching cats to bark was rather difficult. Yonge tried to teach The Danforth Puppy to stalk things like a cat. It was a very strange sight.
You look like a cat trying to be a dog, not a dog trying to be a cat, for some reason, Danforth. Have you ever considered being both? asked Yonge.
Yes, I have, as a matter of fact, said The Danforth Puppy. I was thinking that if I could purr and curl up into a ball like you do, nobody would ever suspect I was a puppy. Then I could pounce on them, like this…!
It’s an interesting fact that puppies, particularly The Danforth Puppy, aren’t great pouncers. The big pup tried, and while he was in the air, he looked OK. Coming down, he was a mess of legs, tail, and ears.
Landings really weren’t his best subject. The ground wouldn’t stay in one place long enough, or it would run away and hide when he was looking for somewhere to land. In this particular case, he landed in a bush.
Yonge strolled over to view the pup.
Hmmm, said Yonge. Have you ever tried being a bird? You could build a nest, and lay eggs, and… ha, ha! he laughed as The Danforth Puppy tried to catch him.
Was that bush there when I pounced? asked The Danforth Puppy, who soon gave up trying to catch Yonge when the little kitten jumped on his head.
No, said Yonge. It caught a bus and moved over there to wait for you. Pretty sneaky, really.
Yonge! Look at that! What is it? asked The Danforth Puppy, trying to figure out what he was looking at.
It’s a… thing, I think, said Yonge, thoughtfully.
You sure about that? asked The Danforth Puppy, sarcastically.
Not really, said Yonge, who was slinking towards whatever it was.
The kitten pounced. The thing dodged. Yonge wound up in a geranium bush.
Well, well. A furry bird! How strange! said The Danforth Puppy. I’ll show you how this is done, you cat buzzard.
The Danforth Puppy charged the thing and found himself back in the bush he’d been in earlier.
Hmph, said The Danforth Puppy. This thing isn’t even trying to be caught, he explained to Yonge, who was forced to agree.
Hey…! It’s a… not a bird. A little bird? theorized Yonge.
The Danforth Puppy was watching a lizard. The thing, whatever it was, had settled on a dandelion, and the lizard was obviously hunting it. He pointed out the lizard to Yonge. Yonge, who ate lizards when he couldn’t get Yum Cha, figured it out.
It’s alive, then, otherwise this lizard wouldn’t be after it, said Yonge.
The lizard had no more luck than they’d had. It slithered off, muttering something about “More trouble than it’s worth”.
The Danforth Puppy and Yonge decided to try communicating with the thing.
Hey you! Flying thing! What are you? asked The Danforth Puppy.
The thing fluttered over to them. I’m a butterfly, it explained. Why were you hunting me? it asked.
We…er, um… didn’t know what you were, explained Yonge, wondering why he thought that explained anything after he said it.
Do you eat butterflies? it asked.
The puppy and kitten looked at each other. They conferred.
No, but we do chase things, said The Danforth Puppy.
We are actually hunters, O butterfly, said Yonge.
Interesting thought, said the butterfly. I don’t really know what I do. I fly around and sip nectar from these flowers, mainly, as far as I know.
I’d like to try that, said The Danforth Puppy, without thinking about Yonge’s likely reaction.
You… flying around sipping from flowers…! Ha, ha, hee… hoo… haaaa…!
The Danforth Puppy looked at the butterfly.
My friend is a young cat, also known as a kitten, explained The Danforth Puppy, as Yonge rolled around laughing.
What’s a kitten? asked the butterfly.
That got Yonge’s attention. He sprang up on his hind legs and sang,
I’m a kitten! Yes, a kitten!
A kitten by the world so smitten!
A kitten, no less! Yes, a kitten!
I’ll slink and pounce as is fittin’.
I’m furry and burry and pouncy and blurry, and yes!…. I’m a kitten!
I chase the day and hunt the night and yes!…. I’m a kitten!
I’m a kitten! Yes, a kitten!
If the world’s not careful it’ll get bitten!
By a kitten, no less! Yes, a kitten!
One day on fine cushions I’ll be sittin’.
That’s a kitten? enquired the butterfly.
We’re not really sure, said The Danforth Puppy. He might be a duck in disguise, you know.
The disgusted expression on Yonge’s face said a lot.
I’m a puppy, if that helps explain anything, added The Danforth Puppy, trying to look innocent, so he could do a song of his own until he started wondering what being a puppy could possibly explain.
Do you think it would help? asked the butterfly, patiently.
That got Yonge laughing again, and the butterfly, who turned out to be a really nice butterfly, found them some Chinese food.
There are worse things in the world than puppies and kittens and butterflies, really.
