Pussy Footing Around
By: FoxWiz- foxwizard@hotmail.com (Please send comments)
Characters: Furrball, Elmyra, Buster, Shorty, Plucky, Master Thomas, Butler James,
Gogo and Chippy Chipmunk.
My first Furrball story, whom I love so much that he gets a happy ending. Furrball's
life is rough and is tired of it. Until he spent separate nights at two different toon's
home. Both have their pains and pleasures and it's hard for him to choose. Break one
of their hearts or find a new home on the streets. For his previous home has been
washed away in the rain. Who will win in the end and who will lose? No more Elmyra
for Furrball that's for sure, he has enough of her. See this dramatic story of a new
friendship joined.

			*			*			*

  It was a cool afternoon in Acme Acres with the breeze blowing soft whispers to the
trees. Birds singing sweet tunes while busy squirrels gather nuts. The grass rustled
softly within the yards of homes, which couldn't be heard from the screams of a cat
from Elmyra's home. The noise of pain and destruction can be heard from houses
away. Furrball knocks down tables with lamps because Elmyra is wearing a cowboy
hat and a whip.
   "Come back, kitty witty," Elmyra called to the cat, "We haven't finished played
horsey."
Furrball wasn't happy about that so he picked up a chair and threw it at her. Elmyra
fell under the chair while Furrball was puzzled at what he did. He didn't have time to
study it as Elmyra was coming out from under the chair. He zoomed through the
living room where the caged animals cheered him on.
  Meanwhile, Buster, Plucky and Shorty (a kid with glasses wearing a magic orange
cap, white shirt and jeans) approached Elmyra's house hearing the sounds of pain.
   "Sounds like Furrball is making the Elmyra 500," said Buster.
   "Well, Buster," said Plucky, "you know what to do."
   "What?"
   "Go and save Furrball," Plucky rolled his eyes, "You always save someone at
Elmyra's."
   "Hey, I don't see you go save anyone at that Horror House," Buster pauses, "In a
matter of fact, why don't you go save Furrball?"
   Plucky stammers a bit and begins to sweat, "Well... uh... you see... I've got a bad
knee from... Shirley!"
   "That's believable," spoke out Shorty.
   "Hey," exclaimed Plucky, "why don't you do it smart guy?"
   "One, I'm not that smart and two, this is about you not me."
   "You're just scared of getting kissed from Elmyra. I bet you five bucks that you
can't save Furrball without using magic."
   "Nah..."
   "Ten!"
   "Deal!"
   They shook hands and made grins at each other while Buster shook his head in
grief.
   "Here, Buster," said Plucky as he gives him money, "you hold the money until the
bet is over."
   Shorty walked to the fence to jump over when Buster grabbed by the shoulder to
pull him back.
   "Hey!" cried Shorty.
   "Don't touch the fence," said Buster.
   Buster picked up a twig and threw it at the fence, which sizzled at the touch.
   "Electric fence," commented Buster.
   Shorty frowned and began looking around for a way to get in Elmyra's yard. He
spotted something across the road and ran to it. Buster and Plucky were puzzled as
they saw him jump into a yard then noticed the sign saying:
                            -----------------------------
                            |          BEWARE!          |
                            |       Dangerous Dog       |
                            |          On Guard         |
                            -----------------------------
   Without warning, they heard the snap of a dog's mouth and Shorty flying through
the air. When he flew over them they saw the tear the dog made.
   In the yard, Shorty looked around for any danger then went to the side window
that's behind the garage and out of Buster and Plucky's sight. Shorty looked through
the window to see run over a sofa with Elmyra behind him. She made a grand leap
and pounced on the poor kitty, who screamed in pain. Shorty turned around and
began thinking then he saw a bush of tall grass and got an idea.
   Later, as Elmyra was giving Furrball a professional chokehold, she heard a knock
on the front window. She turned to see two bunny ears waving at the window then
dropped Furrball instantly with a THUMP and jumped for joy.
   "Yaeeee," cried Elmyra, "A bunny-wunnie has come to play with me!"
   Outside, Shorty was waving the two ears of his hand made grass bunny when he
heard the footsteps of Elmyra. He ducked into the bush at the side to see Elmyra slam
the door wide open and literally dive and tackle the grass bunny. Shorty didn't waste
any time and ducked into the house.
   Inside, Shorty gasped at the horrid site of gloomy animals trapped in caged on top
each other. He took the keys and unlocked each cage as fast as man with Tabasco
sauce in his mouth running for water. He opened the back door and all the animals
rushed outside. Shorty went back to pick up Furrball who was laid beaten on the
floor. He picked the poor cat up and went for the door. When Elmyra came through
the front door with grass in her hands and noticed him.
   "Hey you," shouted Elmyra to Shorty, "What you doing with my pussy wussy?"
   She paused to see all her animal cages open and the no animals around.
   "What have you done to my furry worries?"
   "Let's see," said Shorty, "this has had already happened to you before... so you do
the math!"
   With that Shorty left Elmyra thinking about what he said.
   "Hey, wait!" Elmyra shouted, "What's two plus two?"
   Meanwhile, Plucky was trying to grab the money as Buster held it above him with
his ears.
   "C'mon," pleaded Plucky, "gimme the money. It's not like he's gonna make it
anyway."
   With a successful leap, Plucky grabbed the money and waved it in triumph.
   "Got it!"
   Just then, the money began wiggling and soon came out of his feathered hand. It
flew over the fence to Shorty who jumped to it and over the fence.
   "Hey," protested Plucky, "the bet was on no magic, remember."
   "Yeah," replied Shorty, "'when' I got Furrball."
   He raised the cat to show proof and then tucked him back under his arms. Shorty
then turned and left the guys
   "See ya tomorrow fellas," said Shorty, "C'mon Furrball."
   "Where ya taking him?" Buster shouted.
   "To dinner."
   Buster and Plucky looked at each other and exchanged bewildered faces then went
their way home. They walked to the street on the left of them while Shorty and
Furrball went to the city.

			*			*			*

   That evening, Shorty and Furrball were finishing their third pizza with one slice left
on the pan. Shorty signaled to Furrball to take and he took it thankfully and gulped it
down then burped loudly. They both chuckled at it then rubbed their pulp bellies
admiring them. Shorty placed the money on the table and tried to get up. Furrball
followed but both were too heavy and fell back down. Later, Furrball and Shorty
walked up to an alley where Furrball's home is.
   "See you later, Furrball," said Shorty and left.
   Furrball meowed back and walked to his box under the pipe. Furrball tried to
squeeze in his box but his belly was too big so only his head and arms got room. He
sighed and decided to rest.
   Two days later, we find Furrball walking along the streets with his belly back to its
normal size. It was drizzling that soon grew worse and Furrball ran into his alley then
ducked under his home. The rain turned into a heavy down pour with thunder rolling
and lightning flashing like moving veins through the dark sky. The cat cowered under
his box, shivering at the noise made by nature's fury. Then the box began creaking
and water was seeping through it to drop on Furrball's head. He shook it off but more
came then he knew that he better get out of there. He dashed out of the box just in
time to see collapsed and if that wasn't enough with a flash, lightning struck it.
Furrball watched in misery his once home now a burnt soaked pile and he left it with
his tail dragging behind.
   He walked out of the alley and into the streets when suddenly Furrball was knocked
to the side by a black limo. He lay unconscience on the sidewalk while someone
hurried out of the limo that stopped when it hit Furrball. Small hands picked up
Furrball, who still laid unconscience, and carried him into the limo, closed the door
then drove off.

			*			*			*

   The limo is found parked under the Ritz Acme Hotel, a tall, slender building with
flagpoles on every corner. Man stomps through the rain saying, "Man, this is a lot of
rain!"
   Suddenly, someone appears on top of the hotel, with a closer look it seems to be
Gogo! Yes, it was him, standing there on his toes and his spread out.
   "I'm king of the world!" he shouted.
   The man back down looked up when he heard this and saw Gogo.
   "Not 'reign', rain!" the man shouted, "as in the rain falling on your head."
   "Opps!"
   Meanwhile, in the hotel apartment, the door opened and Furrball was carried inside
in those same small hands. They rested him on a mat near the fireplace where the fire
danced wildly in front of the cat. Soon he began moving his body, his tail curling to
the warmth of the fire and his body flexing like a ribbon in the wind. He soon opened
his eyes and looked up to see a clean cut little blonde boy wearing a suit and a blue
bow. He smiled over him and his little eyes gleamed with joy.
   "James, he's awake!" he shouted, "the little kitty's awake."
   "Coming, master Thomas," a British voice said from another room.
   A butler came into Furrball's view and handed the boy a bowl very carefully
because there was something in it.
   "Now place it near the cat carefully, sir" instructed the butler.
   The boy did so and placed it right in front of Furrball to see the bowl was full of
milk. He quickly got up and lapped the milk and the boy smiled.
   "He likes it!" cried Thomas.
   "Yes, Master Thomas. Now let him sleep in tonight and you'll play with him
tomorrow."
   The boy did as he was told and followed the butler into another room leaving
Furrball by himself near the fire. This was the place for him, he felt like one of those
cats on the billboards, warm, comforting, cozy. He fluffed his pillow, circled twice
then lay down to snuggle up on the pillow and went into a sleep.
   The next morning, Furrball woke up feeling relaxed and to his surprise, he is lying
down on a soft little bed for him. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief but it was true, an
actual bed for him! The bed was silky purple laced with gold decorations around it
and a blanket was over him made of rich wool with embroidery on it. He got up to
look around the fancy apartment, that has rich furniture and lush designs. He strolled
into the kitchen where he found the butler working on a mixer bowl. He heard
Furrball's meow and turned and looked down at him then smiled.
   "So, you're finally up, ehh kitty?" the butler asked, " Master Thomas is at school
now but you have the comforts of home. Now let me bring you your breakfast."
   Furrball left the room and went around to discover the largest television he ever
saw then took a pillow from the couch and sat on it. James brought a glass bowl of
caviar in front of Furrball then collected the remote on the table and turned it on then
placed it by Furrball. The cat marveled at the food licking his lips and then tied a
napkin around his neck and gobbled down the food. He took the remote and watched
channel after channel then began getting bored so he started flicking channels. The
more he flicked the more tired he got and soon he fell asleep while his hand was still
flicking. He quickly woke up and went back flicking but he got sick of it so he left the
television. In the kitchen, James was cooking on the stove when Furrball rubbed his
body against his leg.
   "Go away," said the annoyed butler, "I'm busy right now so go play with a ball of
yarn or something."
   Furrball was hurt and walked away with his ears down and tail between his legs. He
went back to the television to continue his channel surfing. Later, Furrball woke up
from the boredom of watching the television. Furrball goes back to get some affection
from the butler by purring on his leg but he is still annoyed at this.
   "Look cat," said the angry butler, "you better get something to occupy yourself
cause Master Thomas won't be home for a long time. After school, he has violin
practice and then his personal tutor studies."
   Furrball was shocked at that, it would take a long time for Thomas to come home
and there's nothing Furrball could do... or could he? His mind was made up, he had to
escape from this place and Furrball searched the room for any possibilities. He went
out onto the porch where the clothes were being hung out to dry. He admired the
view of seeing the buildings and the birds soaring through the air at such an
enormous... height!! Furrball realized how high up he was and shivered in fear. Just
then he saw a paper that was being moved by the strong breeze flew off the porch's
ledge and floated down safely. Watching float interested the cat and gave him the idea
on how to escape. With that he didn't waste any time and rushed for what he needed.
A minute later, Furrball was standing on the railing of the porch. He gulped from the
height and began to sweat but no he had to go, this wasn't the life for so he jumped.
As he leaped he spread out his arms and legs which were clenched to the ends of a
blanket. The blanket caught the air and Furrball gave a breath of relief as he floated
down to the street but how was he going to land? On the street, the traffic light went
green and a herd of cars zoomed across the street Furrball was floating above. The
cat got frantic as he neared closer to the zooming traffic and tried to turn to the left
but instead spun around five times. As he stopped he saw a car coming right at him
and began flapping to rise just above the car. Soon, he had to flap over a couple of
cars but he soon tired of this and fortunately the traffic lights turned red. Furrball
sighed and rested his arms to float softly down to the street. Until the sound of horn
from a truck gave only a second warning and Furrball was knocked clear across
town.

			*			*			*

   Meanwhile at Shorty's tree house in the forest, Shorty was in a bit of a tangle in the
kitchen as he talked on the phone. He controlled the stirring of a spoon in a bowl of
flour while a blender was being used, knives chopping up carrots. In the living room,
the broom, the duster and vacuum was cleaning there.
   "Buster, I'm telling ya," Shorty said, "my life ain't easy, even with magic!"
   "No way," Buster spoke on the other end, slightly laughing.
   "No kidding!" Shorty protested, "I've got my hands and 'magic' full. I really need
some help."
   "Well, can't ya conjure up something?"
   "Tried that, didn't work out so good."
   "How come?"
   "Maybe it's because I'm not at the right level. Or I really didn't know what was I
doing."
   "Hmmm, maybe luck will give you an answer."
   "Anyway I gotta go."
   "How come?"
   "My magic just triggered the sud scum monster, again!"
   With that he hung up the phone quickly as the sud scum monster was coming out of
the bathroom. He withdrew a mop and a SOS scrubbing pad then charged at the
monster with a war cry.

			*			*			*

   Back in the city, Furrball was stuck on a stop sign in the pavement and he slow slid
off then floated down to it with the sheet still stuck to his feet and arms. A wind blew,
and the sheet caught it to throw Furrball against the wall of a building. Just then as
people passed Furrball by, long brown slender hands picked up Furrball and took off
the sheet.
   "Awww, poor kitty," said a soft sweet feminine voice, but he just hoped it wasn't
Elmyra's as he drifted to sleep. The next thing he knew when he opened his eyes was
that he was wrapped in a blanket on a couch. It made funny noises as he moved like a
creak door every time he moved and wondered where it came from. Just then, he
someone rushing into the room and saw it was a hazel brown chipmunk with blonde
hair wearing a home keeper's dress.
   "Oh no, no, kitty," said the female chipmunk, "you'll ruin the plastic covering on the
sofa!"
   Furrball was shocked and confused that the noise was from a plastic covering and
he saw more things that were amazing. Furniture covered with plastic, books in glass
cases, items covered in bubble sheets and the floor was carpeted by white static sheet.
The chipmunk covered Furrball but tighter this time and Furrball couldn't have move.
   "Now kitty," said the chipmunk, "WE don't want any of your loose hairs all over
my clean home. Who knows what germs you brought when I carried you in! Anyway,
you'll have a thorough bath with antiseptics."
   BATH? That's the most feared word in Furrball's dictionary.
   "Then take you to the vet to have your shots."
   VET? This is one mixed up chipmunk.
   "Finally, when you're all clean, and had your shots you'll be working here keeping
the house clean while I work."
   First, BATH, then, VET, and now WORK? Elmyra was bad enough but one is a
nut case, Furrball was determined to escape and what better time than NOW! Furrball
spun around in the blanket making it come off from the little twister and wrap around
the chipmunk. Now free, Furrball leaped on top of the chair and spotted the door, the
chipmunk struggled and tried to say something but her mouth was covered. Not
caring, he ran to the door, opened it and for a first time, walked out of a house.
   Furrball walked down the usual street in the city later that evening, his head was
down in depression knowing that he had no where else to go. He passed by his old
box that now lay in ashes with the water dipping from the rain pipe on it. With a sigh
of depression he continued on with no content of returning to that 'life'.

			*			*			*

   On another street, Shorty was walking up with his hands in his pockets and kicked
a stone once and while. He had the depression of a lonely boy and he had no one to
be with, Buster was with Babs, Plucky and the rest was out on a trip and Calamity,
his lab partner, was chasing Lil' Beeper. What could he do? Meet new people? Then
there'll be an extension in the cast and he didn't think the committee would like that,
they prefer to keep more money to themselves.
   Without knowing Shorty and Furrball collided into each other making them stumble
a few steps back. When they gained conscience they were shocked to see each other
for some reason but remained calm after awhile.
   "You all right Furrball?" asked Shorty.
   "Rrroww, rraa, rrrooww" spoke Furrball.
   "Okay, but you don't sound too good. Is it Elmyra, again?"
   Furrball shook his head but before Furrball could answer, there was a distant noise
behind Shorty and they both saw it was a large mob charging at them! Shorty didn't
waste any time to run off away from them grabbing Furrball with him.
   "You better come with me," Shorty said, "Those angry villagers with destroy
almost anything in their path. Before I came to Acme, I passed through a village
which hated magic and I used it to get water out of a well. They think I'd poisoned
the water but when I tried to talk to them, they just tried to get me to torture and has
been after me ever since. If they caught you with me they'd probably torture you too." 
   The cat gulped at the thought and let Shorty hold him tight as the boy ran in fear.
They passed a shop and quickly turned into an alley where Shorty ran in without
looking. When he looked forward, Shorty immediately skidded on his heels to stop
right in front of a dead end. As Shorty turned around, they saw the mob of angry
villagers enter the alley.
   "Witch! Witch! Witch!" they ranted.
   Shorty looked up left and right for a way out but no such luck so it seemed there
was no escape as the mob was halfway through the alley, knocking down trash cans
and garbage bags. Then Shorty got an idea and dropped Furrball in front of him. The
cat was bewildered turned around to him to wonder why the boy dropped him in
front of the upcoming villagers.
   "Furrball," spoke the nervous little wizard, "you gotta trust me on this. What ever I
tell you, you got to do it, okay?"
   Furrball nodded uneasily and Shorty gave a hopeful smile, still nervous but hopeful.
   "All right Furrball, face the crowd." was the first command from Shorty.
   Shocked at this, Furrball hesitated but turned around anyway and waited for the
next order that was far stranger than the first.
   "Now..." Shorty gulped as he said this. The mob drew closer, with pitchforks,
rakes, shovels and other farm tools gleaming as deadly weapons in the dull and dank
alley.
   "... think of being the most ferocious animal you can imagine. Feel its power, its
greatness and its strength." At this moment, Furrball had his eyes closed tight and was
concentrating hard on his thought. Meanwhile, Shorty formed a glowing orange ball
of light between his raised hands above his head.
   "Now show how mighty you are in front of these people!" shouted Shorty and
released a beam from the ball of light onto Furrball.
   Furrball glowed and grew, becoming a large beast that was towering over the mob.
The mob stop to stare at the massive blue lion that stood before them. Furrball gave
an enormous roar that rattled the villagers and the trashcans around them. They ran
off in terror, screaming to the top of their lungs at once. Furrball shank down,
changing into his normal cat form as they ran and became himself as they went out of
the alley.
   "I'm impressed!" exclaimed Shorty, "I didn't know you had it in ya."
   "Meeeow," Furrball said proudly.
   As Shorty picked him up saying, "Now let's take you home."
   "Rrrroww, rooo," said Furrball.
   "Really? Well, don't have someone to take care of?"
   "Re, rrow rra."
   "Kind of? What do ya mean?"
   "Meow, rrrow, rrra ra rrrow. Meow meow, rrrow rra, rrre rrrow."
   "Well, it seems to me you can't just leave 'em like that. So you gotta decide what to
do."
   Furrball thought for a moment and finally decided what to do.
   "Rrrow rra rrrow."
   "Okay," Shorty was a little surprised by Furrball's reply, "if that's what you want..."

			*			*			*

   At a corner store that faced the Acme Forest, the butler, James and Master Thomas
stood with the chipmunk and Elmyra. All of them stood there bewildered wondering
what was going on and why they were there. Furrball, followed by Shorty, came into
their view from around the corner and they got excited to see him. He didn't budge to
any of them but sat down a little away from the sign post and watched them call for
him.
   "Here kitty; Come here lil' kitten; Come to mommy my little pussy wussy."
   They all realized that they wanted Furrball but only one of them would take him
home so they began to argue.
   "All right," shouted Shorty, "SHUT YOUR MOUTHS."
   They all did so and didn't budge either.
   "Furrball wants to tell his feelings towards you people but of course he can't talk so
I'll do the talking."
   Furrball walked up to Thomas and let the boy pet him thinking that the cat will go
with him.
   "Meow, rrow rrow meow, meow, meow, rra rrrow, rra rrrow, meow meow."
Furrball said.
   "He said that you're a nice kid but he wants someone to be there or count on."
   He then moved to the chipmunk and she scratched behind his ears with rubber
gloves.
   "Rrow, rra rra rrow, rrow rra, meow rrow."
   "He says that you don't need a pet but a cleaner."
   Finally, Furrball stepped up to Elmyra but then took his distance.
   "Mew... rrow rra... rro rra."
   "Well... Elmyra you're... just dumb."
   "Meow, meow rra rrrow rrra, rrrow rra rrrow, meow, meow, rra rrrow."
   "With that, he chooses none of you but a better life and so, good bye."
   With that, Shorty and Furrball headed into the Acme Forest leaving the group
heartbroken, depressed and miserable. The little boy began crying until the butler
revealing to the boy a puppy and he took and hopped with joy. Then Lil' Beeper and
Calamity zoomed past Elmyra which caught her attention and joined the chase. The
chipmunk was about to leave when she saw a sign on the store of a maid for hire and
she went in.
   Shorty grinned from ear to ear and this went on which caught Furrball's eye and
looked back to those events happen. He looked up at the boy with a curious
expression on his face but shook his head to remove that thought and returned his
attention on the road ahead of them.
   That night, the elevator opened from Shorty's tree house revealing him and Furrball
who entered into his home. Furrball walked around in awe looking at the most homey
and most comfortable abode he ever saw. He felt the warmth of the gold glowing fire
that he always saw on billboards, he walked on the most softest carpet he ever felt
when he entered the living area. This was the place for him.
   "So Furrball," said Shorty, breaking the moment, "Where you gonna live now?"
   Furrball sat down and pointed on the spot which made Shorty top spun on his head
(he can't take off his cap for a reason he doesn't know).
   "A-a-are you sure?" the boy stammered, "'Cause I do live a hectic life, ya know."
   The cat nodded and leaped into his arms where he caught him and petted him
behind his head.
   "Well, if you're going to be my cat there's some things you'll have ta follow."
   Furrball's ears shot up and looked him with scared eyes.
   "First, being my pet will be kinda like being my helper with my magic, so you'll have
some powers but basic ones."
   Furrball sighed and relaxed in his arms, felt Shorty stopped and sat down in a soft
chair then felt more of the warm of the fire from the fireplace. He saw their
reflections from the glass doors on either of the fireplace.
   "With these powers, I don't want you using to chase Sweetie and Lil' Sneezer, they
are my friends too ya know."
   Furrball moaned and said something under his breath but Shorty gave him a good
flick in the ears.
   "I'm serious, you may get a sense of dominance but please try to control it. Also,
just because I have magic doesn't I'm gonna pamper ya and give you what you want.
You'll get normal meals, nothing special unless you behave properly. Besides from all
that, I'll be there for you once you'll be there for me."
   "Meow," said Furrball gladly and got comfortable in his new master's lap. 
   It didn't last long as there was a noise coming from one of the rooms down the hall
from them.
   "Oh no," agonized Shorty, "get some pots from under the sink while I get the mop
and broom."
   Confused, Furrball went into the kitchen that was behind them and when he came
back out he handed them to Shorty.
   "Keep one, and put on your head, also take this mop."
  Shorty took a pot and placed it on his head and gave mop to Furrball at the same
time who was wearing a pot already.
   "Get ready to battle," he said to his cat, "'cause we're going in to fight something
called sud scum monster."
   A roar came from bathroom and they charged into the room, then a pile of sud
bubbles came out on the floor. There were mixed sounds of Shorty and Furrball
fighting against that monster in the night.
   Furrball now has a home, a place where he can be welcomed and not tortured.
Throughout his experiences none were the home he wanted. All found him in misery
but only Shorty released him to be brought back to the boy. Even, Shorty needed
someone to help him through his traumatic life and he got it. So ends the adventures
of Furrball's search of a home and new ones with Shorty.

                                    *     The   End     *
* The show's over
   now go outside and play! *