Fred giggled then said, “Speckles try one more time.”
So Speckles got up and began to climb.
Once again he tried and then fell to his knees.
Then he said to Fred, “I guess dogs aren’t meant to climb trees.”
Then Speckles looked sad and turned away with a frown.
So from up in the tree Fred quickly hopped down.
Fred told Speckles, Don’t be sad that you can’t climb too
Because there are many things that are special about you.”
“Unlike a mouse, you can run fetch a stick.
And I bet that you can even do tricks.”
“You can sit, beg, roll over, and shake.
Wow, what a lot of talent that must take.”
Speckles felt better now with Fred down by his side.
Then Fred squealed, “There’s the sun! How about another ride?”
He hopped on Speckles’ back and they ran from the tree.
Then Fred yelled up to the sky, “Here we go, yippee.”
They darted back through the field and were now near the house.
What an adventure for the brave little mouse.
But what was that they saw way over there?
It was a big yellow cat on an old rocking chair.
The cat made Fred nervous, but Speckles told him it was alright.
It was a friendly cat. He wouldn’t put up a fight.
Speckles ran up the porch steps and Fred crept behind him real slow
So that he could get a better look at the cat they called Joe.
Before Fred knew it, the cat leapt into the air
With the spine of his back covered in short spikes of hair.
Speckles cried, “Wait Joe, that mouse is my friend.”
So he stopped, looked at Speckles, then grinned.
Joe laughed and said, “You made friends with a mouse?
Don’t you know I’m supposed to chase them away from the house!”
