Bramble Purrcival Fluff-Butt was as content as any house-cat could be. Each day his water and kibble bowls were filled, his litter box was cleaned, his silky grey fur was brushed . On pleasant days he napped on the wide sun-filled porch and on inclement days he slept on the ottoman by the fire. At night, he curled up on big bed between the humans who had rescued him when he was no more than the very smallest of kittens.
Then, one day, his humans brought home their own newborn furless kitten.
From that day forward, his humans were not as attentive as before. Bramble’s water bowl sometimes seemed dry and his kibble bowl occasionally looked empty. If his fur missed its daily brushing, he took time to groom himself. If his litter went unattended Bramble made do.
As Bramble had never been the sort to complain, he wasn’t ruffled in the slightest by this change of routine. He recognized how weary his humans had become tending to the needs of their new human-kitten in many of the same ways that they had cared for him when he was small.
Bramble learned that he preferred sleeping in the tiny crib with the human-kitten even more than with his humans in their big bed. The human kitten smelled sweet and, like Bramble, enjoyed napping. His humans liked that their human kitten fell asleep almost instantly when Bramble purred.
Indeed, Bramble had adjusted quite well to his new routine except for one thing. And that thing was Glimmer Sparkleshimmer, the fairy, who appeared on the very same day as the newborn human kitten.
From that day forward, his humans were not as attentive as before. Bramble’s water bowl sometimes seemed dry and his kibble bowl occasionally looked empty. If his fur missed its daily brushing, he took time to groom himself. If his litter went unattended Bramble made do.
As Bramble had never been the sort to complain, he wasn’t ruffled in the slightest by this change of routine. He recognized how weary his humans had become tending to the needs of their new human-kitten in many of the same ways that they had cared for him when he was small.
Bramble learned that he preferred sleeping in the tiny crib with the human-kitten even more than with his humans in their big bed. The human kitten smelled sweet and, like Bramble, enjoyed napping. His humans liked that their human kitten fell asleep almost instantly when Bramble purred.
Indeed, Bramble had adjusted quite well to his new routine except for one thing. And that thing was Glimmer Sparkleshimmer, the fairy, who appeared on the very same day as the newborn human kitten.
Fairy Fun Facts:
Where do Fairies come from? They come from the Place Where All Knowledge Begins and Ends, each fairy holding within itself the full memory and wisdom of The Collective. When a human infant is born, a fairy volunteers to take corporal form as that child’s protector.
Fairies are telepathic (How else would one talk to a newborn?) Although adult humans have the capacity to comprehend fairy telepathy, they are generally too distracted by their own internal chattering to heed fairy wisdom. Even though all animals can communicate with fairies, both verbally and telepathically, /fairies restrict their discourse to only the most deserving: elephants, dolphins, and octopuses.
What do fairies look like? Some take the forms of flowers and others as insects. Still others resemble birds or snakes or bats, but in every case, they are excessively prideful of their wings. In close quarters, fairies are exceptional “flitters.” For longer distances, however, fairies teleport, but can only do so when their wings are in perfect working order.
Are fairies invisible? Animals can see them, of course. And human infants. Sadly, as adult humans discourage the existence of fairies, most children go fairy-blind by the age of four––with a few notable exceptions: Hans Christian Anderson, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, J.M. Berrie, and J.K Rowlings.
Where do Fairies come from? They come from the Place Where All Knowledge Begins and Ends, each fairy holding within itself the full memory and wisdom of The Collective. When a human infant is born, a fairy volunteers to take corporal form as that child’s protector.
Fairies are telepathic (How else would one talk to a newborn?) Although adult humans have the capacity to comprehend fairy telepathy, they are generally too distracted by their own internal chattering to heed fairy wisdom. Even though all animals can communicate with fairies, both verbally and telepathically, /fairies restrict their discourse to only the most deserving: elephants, dolphins, and octopuses.
What do fairies look like? Some take the forms of flowers and others as insects. Still others resemble birds or snakes or bats, but in every case, they are excessively prideful of their wings. In close quarters, fairies are exceptional “flitters.” For longer distances, however, fairies teleport, but can only do so when their wings are in perfect working order.
Are fairies invisible? Animals can see them, of course. And human infants. Sadly, as adult humans discourage the existence of fairies, most children go fairy-blind by the age of four––with a few notable exceptions: Hans Christian Anderson, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, J.M. Berrie, and J.K Rowlings.
Glimmer did not like cats. (Every fairy knows that they suck the breath of sleeping infants.) That the cat was allowed to sleep in the crib with her Tiny One was beyond what Glimmer could bear.
Glimmer began her offensives by gathering loose Bramble-fur from the dustbin and stuffing it in the crib. After that, the nursery was off limits.
When Bramble returned to his previous, bed Glimmer waited till the wee hours of the morning to tug at Bramble’s whiskers. After a few nights of nocturnal caterwauling, Bramble was exiled from the big bed.
Glimmer began her offensives by gathering loose Bramble-fur from the dustbin and stuffing it in the crib. After that, the nursery was off limits.
When Bramble returned to his previous, bed Glimmer waited till the wee hours of the morning to tug at Bramble’s whiskers. After a few nights of nocturnal caterwauling, Bramble was exiled from the big bed.
Glimmer didn’t stop her assaults there. She scattered kibble on the floors and sprinkled kitty clay in the freshly folded laundry.
She even destroyed Bramble’s newest sleeping spot.
Bramble endured all this with stoicism. He did so because, in one thing, Glimmer and Bramble were in perfect accord. They shared a deep love for the human kitten.
Quite by accident, they developed a game. As Glimmer flitted about on swift fairy wings, Bramble would chase after her. He’d slide across the tile floors. He’d leap over furniture. Their antics amused the human kitten.
Until the day that Bramble and Glimmer’s detente shattered. While entertaining their beloved charge, who was enjoying an amuse- bouche of peaches and peas from her high chair throne, Bramble caught just the tip of Glimmer’s wing.
Although no harm was done, the fairy was furious. Seeking retribution, Glimmer grabbed a handful of whiskers and yanked. Bramble howled but before he could swat back, Glimmer zipped away, hovering directly over the high chair.
Bramble leapt.
Only in mid-air did Bramble realized danger. Still, even after twisting like a crazed furry corkscrew, Bramble bumped the high chair. It wobbled. Peaches and peas scattered. The sippy cup bounced to the floor.
Still, the day might have been saved had Bramble remembered to retract his claws.
Bramble leapt.
Only in mid-air did Bramble realized danger. Still, even after twisting like a crazed furry corkscrew, Bramble bumped the high chair. It wobbled. Peaches and peas scattered. The sippy cup bounced to the floor.
Still, the day might have been saved had Bramble remembered to retract his claws.
Even though Bramble's scratch had barely broken skin, Glimmer congratulated herself. She’d put fairy telepathy to good use that day with her Tiny One's parents––except for one kerfuffle. Now that the cat had been taken away, her Tiny One was inconsolable. For days Glimmer fretted over how to make it better: she sang fairy lullabies, she wiped away tears using her very own wings, she collected fairy foodstuffs of dewdrops and moonbeams. Even after all of this, her Tiny One would not be comforted.
Even though he’d been rescued as the very smallest of kittens, Bramble remembered this place––the windowless room and the cold metal cages. He called out, hoping that one of his littermates might still be there but the only response came from a she-cat who meowed something about 'memory.'
Bramble’s cage had been furnished with a small empty bowl, an upside-down water bottle, and a cardboard box of kitty clay. As Bramble was a very large cat, there was little space to stretch. His stomach rumbled. Bramble came to another realization; he’d never gone hungry before. He began to wonder. Had he taken too much for granted? Although he never complained, when had he paused to show gratitude? How he missed his sunny porch, his full bowls, and, most especially, the sweet furless kitten!
Time passed––it was difficult to know how much from inside a windowless room––yet Bramble pondered many things. Where did kibble come from? Are laser pointers addictive? Did he really have nine lives?
Caregivers came and went. Water bottles got filled and kibble got doled. The visitors seemed only interested in kittens and, sometimes, they’d take one away. Each time Bramble felt overwhelmed, with happiness and longing, expectation and melancholy––the sense of being individual yet wholly connected, like when his brothers and sisters would nurse at their mother’s belly.
Bramble didn't ordinarily pay much attention to the caregivers' conversations but something was different one day. Their mood smelled serious.
“Tough luck.” The older of the two caregivers said, “We gotta do the whole room.”
“All of ‘em?” the younger one asked.
“’Fraid so.” The older one pointed to the grizzled she-cat, a cage away from where Bramble had curled up into a large grey ball. “That ol’ girl is sick. If one gets sick, they all get sick. Can’t be helped.” The caregiver took a final drag on his cigarette before tossing it to the floor. “C’mon. We'll give them till after our lunch.”
A popping sound preceded a small flash of light.
“It seems I’ve arrived just in time,” Glimmer announced.
Bramble’s bronze eyes narrowed to slits.
“Now Cat, is that a nice look?”
“Why are you here?” Bramble hissed.
Glimmer smiled.
“It's your lucky day, Cat, the Tiny One misses you. So, for her sake I’ve decided to save you.”
Before Bramble could hiss a reply, Glimmer snatched up the caregiver’s still smoldering cigarette and flitted to the very top of the room. Within moments, alarms sounded. Then, torrents of water exploded from overhead. Cats in cages shrieked their displeasure.
Time passed––it was difficult to know how much from inside a windowless room––yet Bramble pondered many things. Where did kibble come from? Are laser pointers addictive? Did he really have nine lives?
Caregivers came and went. Water bottles got filled and kibble got doled. The visitors seemed only interested in kittens and, sometimes, they’d take one away. Each time Bramble felt overwhelmed, with happiness and longing, expectation and melancholy––the sense of being individual yet wholly connected, like when his brothers and sisters would nurse at their mother’s belly.
Bramble didn't ordinarily pay much attention to the caregivers' conversations but something was different one day. Their mood smelled serious.
“Tough luck.” The older of the two caregivers said, “We gotta do the whole room.”
“All of ‘em?” the younger one asked.
“’Fraid so.” The older one pointed to the grizzled she-cat, a cage away from where Bramble had curled up into a large grey ball. “That ol’ girl is sick. If one gets sick, they all get sick. Can’t be helped.” The caregiver took a final drag on his cigarette before tossing it to the floor. “C’mon. We'll give them till after our lunch.”
A popping sound preceded a small flash of light.
“It seems I’ve arrived just in time,” Glimmer announced.
Bramble’s bronze eyes narrowed to slits.
“Now Cat, is that a nice look?”
“Why are you here?” Bramble hissed.
Glimmer smiled.
“It's your lucky day, Cat, the Tiny One misses you. So, for her sake I’ve decided to save you.”
Before Bramble could hiss a reply, Glimmer snatched up the caregiver’s still smoldering cigarette and flitted to the very top of the room. Within moments, alarms sounded. Then, torrents of water exploded from overhead. Cats in cages shrieked their displeasure.
At first, the caregivers panicked, but eventually they managed to maneuver the cages out of the wet room through a set of large doors which opened onto a grassy courtyard. While the cats were left to dry out in the sunshine, Glimmer busied herself with latches.
“It wasn’t enough to banish me,! Now you want to drown me?"” Bramble growled.
Glimmer stopped in mid flit.
“Cat. I thought you never complained.”
“It isn't complaining if it’s the truth,” Bramble hissed.
Glimmer went back to unlatching cages. Then she shouted which, for a telepathic creature who was also very tiny, surprised everyone.
“Attention cat creatures! Wait for the barking!”
“I beg your pardon,” said a badly matted Persian. “Did a fairy say something about barking?”
Bramble watched as Glimmer flitted across the courtyard to where dogs in their cages were shaking off water with such enthusiasm that one by one, their cage doors popped open by themselves––at least, that’s how the caregivers explained the events of that day.
“It wasn’t enough to banish me,! Now you want to drown me?"” Bramble growled.
Glimmer stopped in mid flit.
“Cat. I thought you never complained.”
“It isn't complaining if it’s the truth,” Bramble hissed.
Glimmer went back to unlatching cages. Then she shouted which, for a telepathic creature who was also very tiny, surprised everyone.
“Attention cat creatures! Wait for the barking!”
“I beg your pardon,” said a badly matted Persian. “Did a fairy say something about barking?”
Bramble watched as Glimmer flitted across the courtyard to where dogs in their cages were shaking off water with such enthusiasm that one by one, their cage doors popped open by themselves––at least, that’s how the caregivers explained the events of that day.
“What are you waiting for, Cat?” Glimmer shrieked. “Or do I have to explain what ‘euthanize’ means?”
With that, Bramble bolted. He dashed across the lawn, scaled up a tree, crawled over a chain link fence and landed in the street––where he barely missed being flattened by a light blue suburban. He continued to run in and out traffic as fast as paws could carry. Finally, he skidded down a long dark alley and hid under a dumpster.
With that, Bramble bolted. He dashed across the lawn, scaled up a tree, crawled over a chain link fence and landed in the street––where he barely missed being flattened by a light blue suburban. He continued to run in and out traffic as fast as paws could carry. Finally, he skidded down a long dark alley and hid under a dumpster.
Eventually, Bramble heard something close by––a scratching sound. Was it hunger or curiosity that compelled him to crawl out from under the dumpster? Bramble wasn’t sure.
Long face with pointy snout and almost his size, a thing with beady black eyes glared at him. And it was eating something! Hunger compelled Bramble to move closer. Startled, the "thing" scurried away, dragging an ugly hairless tail behind it.
Long face with pointy snout and almost his size, a thing with beady black eyes glared at him. And it was eating something! Hunger compelled Bramble to move closer. Startled, the "thing" scurried away, dragging an ugly hairless tail behind it.
Bramble crept to the spot where a paper carton lay on the ground. Bramble sniffed. He was so hungry! If the thing could eat whatever this was perhaps he could too. With his paw he fished one of the long yellow stick-like things from the carton. and managed to get it into his mouth. It tasted soft yet crisp. And something else. A crystalline texture that dissolved on his tongue. Bramble felt a powerful thirst after that. Instinctively he looked for his water bowl. Instead, he saw the flash of light and heard the popping sound.
“Eating garbage, I see!”
Bramble considered explaining but thought better of it. A fairy lecture about dietary choices seemed oppressive given his current circumstances.
“Eating garbage, I see!”
Bramble considered explaining but thought better of it. A fairy lecture about dietary choices seemed oppressive given his current circumstances.
“Well, Cat? What are you waiting for? Or don’t you want to go home?”
Bramble, the house-cat, who had never been further from home than the enclosed front porch, said, “Excuse me?”
“Get moving, Cat. We haven’t got all day.”
“If that’s meant to encourage, it doesn’t,” Bramble growled. “Are you here to guide or taunt?”
“Silly cat! Anything further than line of site I teleport. You have to walk.”
“But…how? Where?”
“Do that animal thing. Pet reconning. If you get a move-on you'll have kibble by sundown.”
Anything was better than this fairy nattering in his ear tufts! Bramble began walking.
He had no idea how he managed it but with each step he had a stronger sense of where he was meant to go. Maybe it was the thought of his bright blue water bowl or the kibble dish on the kitchen floor or of being groomed by the warmth of fire or, most especially, the sweet furless kitten, he focused on those images and the more he walked, the closer they felt. As Bramble made his way from city streets to suburban lawns, the fairy continued to pop in and out.
“Ah! You’re making progress,” the fairy said when Bramble reached the field that smelled so very close to home.
“No thanks to you, Fairy,” Bramble growled.
“My, you’re testy!” Glimmer grinned.
Bramble did not answer.
“Why so quiet? Cat got your tongue?”
Again, Bramble growled. Or maybe it was his stomach. Bramble was so very hungry!
It took only an instant.
First a shadow.
Then the fairy screamed.
Bramble, the house-cat, who had never been further from home than the enclosed front porch, said, “Excuse me?”
“Get moving, Cat. We haven’t got all day.”
“If that’s meant to encourage, it doesn’t,” Bramble growled. “Are you here to guide or taunt?”
“Silly cat! Anything further than line of site I teleport. You have to walk.”
“But…how? Where?”
“Do that animal thing. Pet reconning. If you get a move-on you'll have kibble by sundown.”
Anything was better than this fairy nattering in his ear tufts! Bramble began walking.
He had no idea how he managed it but with each step he had a stronger sense of where he was meant to go. Maybe it was the thought of his bright blue water bowl or the kibble dish on the kitchen floor or of being groomed by the warmth of fire or, most especially, the sweet furless kitten, he focused on those images and the more he walked, the closer they felt. As Bramble made his way from city streets to suburban lawns, the fairy continued to pop in and out.
“Ah! You’re making progress,” the fairy said when Bramble reached the field that smelled so very close to home.
“No thanks to you, Fairy,” Bramble growled.
“My, you’re testy!” Glimmer grinned.
Bramble did not answer.
“Why so quiet? Cat got your tongue?”
Again, Bramble growled. Or maybe it was his stomach. Bramble was so very hungry!
It took only an instant.
First a shadow.
Then the fairy screamed.
“Hello my darlings. Look what mommy brought you!”
“Who? Who? Who?” cried the three baby owls.
“Who? Who? Who?” cried the three baby owls.
“A tasty fairy,” the mother owl said as she snapped Glimmer’s wing in two. “Now. Dinner can't escape and it’s high time you learn to catch and kill on your own. Mommy’s going out for a bit and when she gets back, she expects you'll all to have fed yourselves. Remember to share, children.” And with that, the mother owl flew the nest.
The baby owls were unsure at first. Should they peck at it? Pluck out its wings? Tear it apart a beak-full at a time? Or do the kind thing and kill it quickly? As they were young and craved experience they decided to do it slowly.
During their deliberations, scratching was heard outside their tree.
“Who, who, who’s out there?” the baby owls said.
The baby owls were unsure at first. Should they peck at it? Pluck out its wings? Tear it apart a beak-full at a time? Or do the kind thing and kill it quickly? As they were young and craved experience they decided to do it slowly.
During their deliberations, scratching was heard outside their tree.
“Who, who, who’s out there?” the baby owls said.
“Back away from the fairy,” Bramble hissed. “Fairy, close your eyes."
What happened next was...unpleasant. Long story short: Bramble wasn’t hungry any more.
“You saved me?!” Glimmer gasped once they had climbed down from the tree.
“To be honest, I didn’t intend to. But then I wondered, if you would save me because your Tiny One was sad, how would my Furless Kitten feel if you didn’t return too?”
For several awkward moments Glimmer fiddled with her damaged wing.
“You’re a lot wiser than you look, Bramble Purrcival Fluffbutt," said the fairy.
Bramble began to purr.
“Perhaps I seem so because we've learned to work together. Jump on my back, Glimmer Sparkleshimmer, and we’ll find our way home together”
What happened next was...unpleasant. Long story short: Bramble wasn’t hungry any more.
“You saved me?!” Glimmer gasped once they had climbed down from the tree.
“To be honest, I didn’t intend to. But then I wondered, if you would save me because your Tiny One was sad, how would my Furless Kitten feel if you didn’t return too?”
For several awkward moments Glimmer fiddled with her damaged wing.
“You’re a lot wiser than you look, Bramble Purrcival Fluffbutt," said the fairy.
Bramble began to purr.
“Perhaps I seem so because we've learned to work together. Jump on my back, Glimmer Sparkleshimmer, and we’ll find our way home together”
And, even though many, many yers have passed, they all lived happily ever after.
THE END
THE END
About the Author
Once upon a time Caren Halvorsen imagined writing and illustrating children's books. Between making up stories and drawing pictures she's become a painter, a sculptor, and a jeweler. Even though she's all grown up, she still sees fairies.
Once upon a time Caren Halvorsen imagined writing and illustrating children's books. Between making up stories and drawing pictures she's become a painter, a sculptor, and a jeweler. Even though she's all grown up, she still sees fairies.
