A Cat's Tale

2021 3rd & 4th Grade Prose Honorable Mention

Once upon a time, there was a cat named Sakura. Sakura was a bobtail cat with fluffy, white fur but a
short stubby tail that other cats made fun of. One day, Sakura got tired of being teased, and decided to
get a new tail.
“My tail will be fluffy and long!”, Sakura said to herself. “But where do I find one?” she wondered. She
jumped onto her mistress’ study table. On the laptop, she Googled “How to get a cat’s tail”. Sakura hit
the ‘Return’ button with her little paw, and found it - ‘Go to the Tree of Wishes in Ribbon Forest’!
Sakura jumped off the table. Sakura went around the house and took two bananas, a bottle of milk and
a blanket. She put them all in a little bag, and placed the bag on her bobtail.
Sakura slipped out the pet flap in the kitchen and walked into the winter wonderland. “Thankfully,
Ribbon Forest is right across my home,” Sakura said to herself, excitedly. She was soon in the Forest. She
took a few steps when she heard a voice – “Hello?”, it said.
“Who are you?” Sakura said, looking around. “Show yourself!”.

“It’s me, Monkey! I’m hungry. Do you have food?”, asked Monkey as he leapt off a branch.
Sakura reached into her bag and gave Monkey the bananas, “Here you go”.
“How can I repay you?”, Monkey asked. Sakura said, “I need help finding the Tree of Wishes”.
“It’s in the heart of Ribbon Forest! Go right, left, straight ahead, then right again”, Monkey said, “But
hurry! The tree disappears at midnight!”. “Thanks!”, Sakura said as they parted.
Sakura steered right. She ran left. Then, Sakura heard a growl. Surprised, she turned around. “Hello?”,
she called out. A wolf crept out of the shadows.
“Hello, cat!”, said Wolf. “Do you have water?”

“No, but I do have milk”, Sakura said, as she handed the bottle to Wolf.
“Thanks!” said Wolf, gulping it down. “You are very kind. Please take this bell - when you need help, ring it".

“Great!”, Sakura said, hanging the bell around her neck.
Sakura continued her journey - Sakura walked straight, then turned right.
“I’m he—” Sakura began, when she was knocked over. “What happened?” she asked. “I’m Cheetah!
Sorry for running into you. I’m trying to stay warm in this freezing winter!”, said Cheetah.
Sakura took out the blanket and covered Cheetah with it. “I love it!”, Cheetah exclaimed, hugging the
blanket close. “Can I do anything for you?”.

“Would you accompany me to the Tree of Wishes? I may need help”, Sakura said. Cheetah agreed and
they walked on. “The Tree of Wishes! We found it, but it’s vanishing!”, Sakura panicked.
“We need the Gem of Light!”, said Cheetah. Cheetah ran towards the nearby bushes. Right and left
Cheetah ran, making Sakura dizzy. “Found it! Just have to put it in the Tree now!”. Cheetah jumped up
on the Tree, and put in the Gem. The tree stopped disappearing.

“Quick! Count to three and make a wish”, Cheetah exclaimed.
“1...2…3…”, Sakura said, “I wish for a long, fluffy tail”. Immediately, her stubby tail vanished and a long,
white, fluffy tail appeared!
Sakura thanked Cheetah. She turned to head home when she saw a mythical creature on the path.
“Hello, Sakura. I’m Nebuliye the Unicorn”, said the creature. “I want to reward your kindness towards
the forest animals”.
Nebuliye chanted softly, casting a spell:
“Grant Sakura a rainbow-colored tail, every other tail will pale”

Sakura’s tail began to glow. As the glow faded, a beautiful rainbow-colored tail took its place.
“Thank you! I love it!”, Sakura squealed delightedly.
“My pleasure”, Nebuliye replied, as she vanished.
As Sakura jumped for joy, the bell around her neck tinkled and Wolf appeared.
“Can you help me home to Shimmer Village?”, Sakura asked. Sakura leapt on Wolf’s back and Wolf
started to run. Along the way, Sakura told Wolf her story. “You’re lucky!”, said Wolf, “Nebuliye hardly
shows herself”.
Once home, Sakura walked into her garden and saw the other cats. “Hi!”, Myra Cat said before stopping.
“Wow! Where did you get that tail?!”. The other cats started to crowd around. “It’s a secret!”, Sakura
smiled.
Sakura went indoors and jumped into her mistress’ arms. “There you are! Ooh, what a lovely tail”, her
mistress admired. Sakura meowed and rubbed her head happily against her mistress’ arm.
So, if you ever meet a cat with a beautiful rainbow-colored tail, you know its secret!