Comin' Down the Mountain

We last saw our lovable crew as they left their home on top of the mountain.  There was a wildfire blowing their way and they were told to evacuate!  

Catch up with them now and see how they are doing!  

We want to give a HUGE shout out to Dr. Becky Kennedy and AVP!  She really inspired our characters and we see her work in action!  

New words in this episode: 
Continent
Imagination
Acknowledge
Validate
Permit
Zombie Fire

Themes: 
Teamwork
Family
How to control the scary thoughts
AVP: Acknowledge, Validate, Permit
Sharing Feelings

Songs:  
AVP song by Bella
Hamster of Doom Reprise by Rubix. 

Transcript

Part 3

(Engine Noise) 

MADDOX: Dad, Do you think we will see the fire as we drive down the mountain?  

DAD: I doubt it, there is too much smoke.  

MADDOX:I hope the animals do ok on our journey, I don’t like that Kitten has to be in a cage.  

DAD:  I know but with so many animals in the SUV we need to make sure they are all secure.  

MADDOX: At least her and Rosie’s crates are next to each other.  They are also a little higher up so they can probably see out the window.  

DAD:  Yeah, we didn’t want to pile stuff around or on top of their cages so it made sense for us to put the cages up on top of the stuff.  We got as much in these vehicles as we could.  Good thing we have experience evacuating for hurricanes in Florida.  We already knew what to pack. 

MADDOX:True.   I am just so relieved we found Kitten.  I cannot imagine leaving without her.  

DAD: I am glad we found her too.  How are the chickens doing down there?

MADDOX: They look pretty good. Mom draped a light blanket over them so hopefully they think it is dark and will get some sleep.  I hear them making a little noise.  

CLUCKY: Bawk, Who turned out the lights?  Ladies can you see anything?  

BELLA: Nope, just the tarp we are laying on that the bottom of the drivers seat.  I’m can’t move to get a better look around.  I’m wrapped up too tight.  

BRIGITA:  I don’t even have a seat to look at, just this a black wall in front of me.  (Yawn) this unexpected dark is making me tired and being all wrapped up, I almost feel like I’m tucked into bed.  

BRIDGET:  How can you sleep at a time like this?  (Yawn) oh now you are making me yawn. 

CLUCKY: Kitten, are you there?  Can you see anything from your travel crate?  

KITTEN:  Meow, I’m here Clucky, but no, I can not see much.  Just the trees and we drive down the mountain but not many.  The smoke is pretty thick.  It almost looks like we are in a cloud. 

ROSIE: Bark! Oh Kitten, I can’t see anything!  It’s all a white gray past the trees.  Oh I hope we will be ok. (whine) Oh What about our home?  I know we have not been there that long but I don’t want to lose it.  I love the yard and all the animals we have met since we have been there.  Oh no!  What will happen to all the animals in the woods?  (Whining) 

MADDOX:Roise, you are ok?  You don’t need to whine back there.  We are just driving down the mountain.  

KITTEN:  Meow,  Sigh.  I agree.  We have only lived there a little over a year but we have made so many wonderful friends in the woods.  Try not to worry too much Rosie, we did see many of our forest friends as they were leaving.  Several stopped by to check on us.

ROSIE: See that is just what I mean.  Almost every creature we have met has been so kind.  Oh no Kitten, what about Feral?! 

KITTEN: What about Feral? 

ROSIE: Aren’t you worried about him?  I know he likes you.  What if you never see him again? It was fate that brought you two back together here in Washington.  He searched for you across the country and found you against all odds. 

KITTEN: Ha! Wow, you make that sound much more like a love story than it is.  Feral and I are just friends.  And don’t worry, his human took him with a week ago when the fire started.  If the house survives this fire. I have no doubt he will be back.  

CLUCKY: Bawk! He better be back, we have another KFC adventure planned.  (yawn)  

ROSIE: KFC adventure? 

KITTEN: Kitten, Feral and Clucky… That’s what Clucky calls our little group.  I thought you were sleeping….

CLUCKY: Well I was starting to doze off.  The rocking of the SUV and the dark from the blanket is really calming.  

ROSIE:  What’s the next KFC adventure?  

CLUCKY: (Yawn)  Rat Kangaroos…. Brawk brawk brawk…

ROSIE: What?  What is that? Hey…

CLUCKY: (Snoring noises)

ROSIE: Did you fall asleep?

KITTEN: I think the he did fall asleep.  He must be quite cozy in his wrap down there.  

ROSIE:  Humph!  But I wanted to know about the Rat Kangaroo. 

KITTEN:  Oh that was just Clucky mishearing the word rendezvous.  When Victoria Peckum literally blew in to say goodbye she said she was going to rendezvous with some of her stellar jay friends and Clucky heard.  Rat Kangaroo. 

ROSIE: Oh, I can see that.  Are you all going to go find rat kangaroos?  Can I come too?  

KITTEN:  Of course you can come.  However, I don’t know if and when we will be able to go discover rat kangaroos.  My guess is they live in Australia which is a long way from here.  

ROSIE: Isn’t that another country?  

KITTEN:  Yes, it is.  Not only that, its on another continent.  

ROSIE: What’s a continent?  

KITTEN: A continent is one of the main landmasses of the globe. Most people recognize seven continents.  They are Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, which we live on, South America, Australia, and Antarctica.  Many of the major continents are separated by large bodies of waters, like oceans.  In the case of North America where we live and Australia they are separated by the pacific ocean.  

ROSIE: Oceans are really big bodies of salt water right?  How would Club KFC and me get there?  

CLUCKY:  Bawk!  Water..  No I can’t swim.  Bawk bawk bawk….

ROSIE: Bark! (Surprise) Huh?  Are you awake again Clucky?

MADDOX: Hush Rosie, you’ll wake the chickens.  

CLUCKY: Bawk bawk bawk… (snoring)  

KITTEN:  Guess not.  I don’t think we will be traveling across an ocean.  However, Maddox and I can research about rat kangaroos in books and on the internet.  There are more way to find out about things than by traveling there.  

ROSIE: But you said you were going to go on an adventure.  Doesn’t that mean you go someplace?  

KITTEN:  Sometimes but sometimes it just means we find out information and then use our imaginations to take an adventure in our minds.  

Rosie:  Imagination?  

KITTEN:  Yes, your mind is so powerful, you can close your eyes and picture so many things.  It’s kind of like dreaming while you are awake.  

CLUCKY: Cock-a-doodle do! Oh no!  We left Sensei!  Alert! Alert!  We must go back! 

(Hens rouse in alarm) 

KITTEN: Meow!  Clucky Calm Down.  Sensei lives in the pond, he is surrounded by water. Water does not burn. He will be safe from the fire.  

CLUCKY: Oh right! Ok, back to my nap then.  

DAD: Maddox, see if you can calm him down. 

MADDOX: It’s ok, Clucky.  You are safe.  There’s a good boy.  Just relax.  You don’t want to wake everyone else.  

CLUCKY: Brawk, Brawk Brawk…

ROSIE: Bark!  What was that about? 

MADDOX:It’s ok Rosie, everything is fine.  

KITTEN:  He just remembered the Koi fish in the pond, Sensei.  Have you met him? 

ROSIE: There are fish in the pond?  

KITTEN: I’ll take that as a no.  Yes, there is one large fish in the pond named Sensei.  Well actually his original name is Bathazar Landcaster. 

ROSIE: Batha-what? 

KITTEN: Don’t worry about it.  That story is so last season.  He goes by Sensei now.  It seems Clucky remembered he lives in the pond and woke up worried he was not safe from the fire.  However, he is a fish that lives in water, he should be the most safe right? 

ROSIE:  If you say so.  

KITTEN: Meow, I wish I had a book to look up this info.  I hope I am right that Sensei will be ok in the pond.  

ROSIE: Try and get some rest Kitten.  Clucky is right the car does make you sleepy… (yawn) Worrying won’t change anything. 

(Music Transition) 

XANDER:   Come on Clucky.  I’ll bet you are ready to stretch your wings.  

CLUCKY:  Huh?  What?  Are we there?  

XANDER:   Mom,  how do we get this off him?   It looks like he worked one leg out..

MOM: I’m coming Xander.  I’ve got a scissors.  I’ll just snip through the plastic wrap.  

XANDER:   You won’t cut his feathers will you? 

MOM: Nope, I’ll just run the scissors under the plastic wrap and snip! Just like that! 

XANDER:  You’re free! 

CLUCKY:  Freedom!!  (wings flap)  Boy it feels good to move around again.  

MOM:Quick Xander, hold up another one and we will get them all unwrapped.  We have more pets to get settled.  

XANDER:  Come here Bridget.

BRIDGET:  It’s not like I can go anywhere on my own.  

MOM:Snip! All done Bridget.

BRIDGET:  Stretch!  That feels good.  

BELLA: Does the snip hurt?

CLUCKY: Not one bit.

XANDER:  You're next Bella.

MOM:Snip!  Just one more. 

XANDER:  Brigtta, are you ready to be unwrapped?

BRIGITA:  Am I?  This look might be slimming, but this girls got to move.  Bawk!

MOM:Great, that’s all of them.  Now lets help Dad and Maddox with Kitten and Rosie. We also need to get the hamsters moved in the house.  

XANDER:  Mom can I ask you something? 

MOM:Sure, you can always ask me anything. 

XANDER:   How are you so calm?  

MOM: What do you mean?  

XANDER:   This whole time, we just left our home, we don’t know what’s going to happen with the fire and you don’t seem bothered by any of it. 

MOM: Oh honey.  I am so glad that I appear calm to you.  I certainly don’t feel calm on the inside.  

XANDER:  You're not?  

MOM:No sweetie.  This is all very scary and we’ve had to tackle a lot of new situations in a very short time.  I mean after all, we have never had to evacuate, chickens or a cat before.  

XANDER:   That’s right, we only evacuated Jack and Rosie for a hurricane before.  The last hurricane when we had Kitten and the chickens we stayed home. 

MOM:Evacuating for a fire feels a lot different to me than evacuating from a Hurricane.  

XANDER:  Yeah, you get more warning with a hurricane.  

MOM:Usually yes.  

XANDER:  But why are you acting so calm if you don’t feel calm?

MOM:(sigh) Well, there is so much to do.  If your Dad and I freaked out, how would we manage to get everything done?  There is no time to panic. 

XANDER:   So that’s it, you did not freak out because there was no time? 

MOM:(laughs) Not exactly.  I was scared and still am scared of what may happen but I also know that there are many things that I can do to make sure that the family and the pets have the best possible outcome.  When you are in an out of control situation, I find it's best for me to focus on the things I can control.  I put all my energy and focus into the things that need to get done and that helps me keep the scary thoughts under control.  

XANDER:   But what if the scary thoughts and feelings come back?  

MOM: Oh they do!  They seem to be lurking on the edge of my mind all the time.  Everytime I complete something. It’s like they are waiting there to jump back in and make me panic. 

XANDER:  Yes, you feel that too?!  How do you stop them? 

MOM: I don’t.

XANDER:  What?  That does not make sense.  

MOM:I hear that thought that says.  You could lose your house in this fire, you need to worry about this.  Stop what you are doing and worry.  

XANDER:   You have thoughts like that?  So do I.  But then what do you do? 

MOM: I just a little thing called AVP.  

XANDER:  AVP?

MOM: Yes, Acknowledge, Validate and Permit.  Dr. Becky Kennedy taught it to me.  

XANDER:  What is AVP and how does it work?  

MOM:Well when those thoughts come creeping in like: I could lose our house in this fire.  I first Acknowledge that thought, which means I accept that is a possibility.  So  Yep, we could lose the house.  

Then I think about how that makes me feel.  That makes me feel scared.  This is where Validate comes in.  I think is this a valid or reasonable feeling in this situation?  Yes, losing a house in a fire is very scary, that makes sense why I feel this way.  

Then step three is to permit this feeling.  It means I let myself feel scared, I don’t try and ignore this feeling. 

XANDER:  How does that help? Allowing yourself to feel scared.

MOM: By acknowledging and allowing myself to feel scared, I am taking control of this feeling.  I am not letting it take control of me and make me lose focus on what is important and what needs to get done.  It lets me ask other questions like:

Is there anything I can do about that right now?  No.  Will me worrying about it change anything?  No.  Is there anything I can do right now to help me or those around me deal with this better?  The answer to that is always yes, lately, so then I focus my attention on what I can do.  

XANDER:  It’s that simple?  

MOM: It’s not simple and when things are scary like this. These thoughts come back over and over.  So I am working a lot on focusing my mind and body on doing the things I can right now.  I also know that we have a lot of support.  We are so lucky that your dad is not traveling right now and was here to help us evacuate.  I am also grateful we moved to the west coast last year so we are closer to your grandparents, which means we have a safe place to evacuate to with all the animals.  This would not have happened in Florida, we would have had to go to a friend's house or hotel or maybe even a shelter.  So I also try to focus my thoughts on all the good things around us. 

XANDER:  Yeah, when you  put it like that, we are pretty lucky.  I can not see how we could have done this trip without Dad.  Maddox and I can’t even drive.  

MOM:Yep, see, so much to be grateful for.  Come on, now lets go help them unload everything else. 

XANDER:  Clucky, Ladies, here is some corn.  Get settled in here and I’ll come out and check on you in a little bit when we’ve got everything unloaded.  

CLUCKY: Yum Corn!  Brawk!  Bye Xander.  Oh, it is tricky to find this corn on this sawdust floor.  

BELLA:  You are right,  it falls under the dust pretty quick.  

BRIGITA:  I enjoy the hunt! Plus scratching at the ground is helping me move my legs more.  I’m not even mad Xander sprinkled the corn all over the stall. It will get us moving more.

BRIDGET: (sigh) 

BRIGITA: Bridget, what’s wrong? You’re not eating. 

BRIDGET: I’m not hungry. 

CLUCKY: Since when? We always love eating. 

BRIDGET: You always love eating Clucky. 

CLUCKY: Well true… but we all do. 

BRIDGET: I guess. (Sigh) 

BELLA: Are you having trouble moving after being wrapped up? 

BRIDGET: No 

BELLA: Are you having thoughts? (SFX)

BRIGITA: Thoughts? (SFX)  What kind of thoughts? 

BRIDGET:  Ugh yes!  I am having all the bad thoughts!  What if the forest burns?  What if the house burns?  What if we have no home to go back to?  What will we do? I am so scared.  Bawk! 

(Song) upbeat song

BELLA: Wow, that’s a lot of thoughts!  But remember what the mom person said?  You need to do the AVP.

(Singing) 

Acknowledge, Validate, Permit those feelings.  

Don’t push them away or they'll run you astray. 

Acknowledge Validate, Permit. 

It makes sense you’re scared, but we’re glad you shared.

Acknowledge Validate, Permit

If you permit your fear, it can’t control you here.  

Acknowledge Validate, Permit

AVP those feelings all day. 

We’ll get through this together.  

Together.  

CLUCKY: yeah  Wow great job Bella. I like how you made a song out of that.  

BRIDGET:  Thanks Bella, just sharing all that made me feel a lot better.  

OSCAR: Well you are certainly a loud bunch!  I hope you won’t be singing all night.  

(Surprised Clucks) 

BELLA: I’m sorry we did not mean to disturb you. We were just trying to cheer up our friend.  

OSCAR: Oh I h-heard you.  It was quite the racket you were making. 

CLUCKY:  What’s the matter, don't you like singing?   

OSCAR: Actually No.  

BELLA: I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who did not like singing.  

OSCAR:  You still haven’t.  We have not been introduced.  

BELLA: My apologies again. My name is Bella, this is Bridget, Brigita and Clucky.  Now we have been introduced.  

OSCAR: I’m Oscar.  I have not made up my mind yet if it is nice to meet you.  I’m going to the pasture to nibble on some grass.  I may be back later to talk or I may not be.  

(Horse clops sfx) 

BELLA: Ok, bye then. 

CLUCKY: Well that was strange.  

BRIGITA: It certainly was.  He was not exactly rude but not exactly friendly either.  

BELLA:  I am going to use AVP on this.  

BRIDGET: How?  

BELLA:  I am going to acknowledge that he might be grumpy because he does not like signing and we interrupted his silence.  If I was interrupted by a bunch of noise it makes sense that I would be a bit grumpy.  

CLUCKY:  That’s the Validate part! 

BELLA:  Yes, and I am feeling a little unsure about Oscar.  He seems a bit like a grouch.  I am going to permit my feelings of uncertainty.  

CLUCKY:  That’s all of them! AVP: Acknowledge, Validate Permit.  Great job! 

(Music Transition) 

KITTEN: Meow it has finally started to rain.  That must mean we can go home soon. We’ve been here for almost a week.  I am ready to be home.   

BROWNIE:  Home would be nice. I think we are running low on my favorite seeds. 

RUBIX: Escape would be nice.  Going back to my habitat is just another more luxurious cage but I am still trapped living the life of a prisoner.  

KITTEN:  Really Rubix?  The life of a prisoner?  It has not been so bad here.  

RUBIX: Oh that is easy for you to say. You get taken out of the house to go visit the bird brain friends but I am stuck here with only chubby (BROWNIE: Hey!) for company.  I am not even taken out to play in a pen or anything.  

KITTEN:  Every time Maddox tries to take you out, you snap at her.  Why are you so mean to Brownie?  That is not a way to make friends.  

RUBIX:  When will you get it through that fluffy head of yours? I do not want friends.  I want militons and followers.  I want to rule the world.  Remember: 

(Breaks into song) 

Hamster of Doom living in your room. Watching and waiting always calculating.  It’s Rubix the Hamster of doom.   

KITTEN:  How could I forget? 

BROWNIE:  It is a catchy tune. 

RUBIX: It’s more of a theme song.  I want it played when I am crowned supreme ruler.  

KITTEN:  And how is that going to happen exactly? 

RUBIX:  Oh I have plans… big plans.  

(SFX) Door Opens

MADDOX:  Kitten, Rubix, Brownie, Great news we get to go home!  Mom, Dad and Xander are wrapping up the chickens to get them ready to go.  I came up to get all of you ready!  

KITTEN: Meow! 

MADDOX: I agree it is so exciting!  Some of the neighbors are already back.  One neighbor told Mom that there were 3 fire trucks parked in our driveway while the fire was going on.  They could see the fire best from our place and were ready to take action if needed.  

BROWNIE: Squeak!  

MADDOX: However, we got really lucky! The fire was about a mile from our house when the winds died down.  The hot shots, you know the trained wildfire fighters, were able to get in front of it and stop the progress.  Then today the temperatures dropped and it started to rain!  I have never been so happy to see it rain. 

KITTEN:  Meow! 

MADDOX: Yes even you are excited for rain and you hate rain.  However, this rain saved our house and all the houses in the neighborhood!  The fire is not completely out but the forecast shows a full week of rain ahead.  The fire department said the danger is gone and we can all return home!  Come on let's get you all ready!  Kitten would you like to come down stairs with me and walk around a bit while they wrap up the chickens? 

KITTEN: MEOW! 

SFX- distant voices amd maybe chicken noises?

KITTEN: Clucky, you ok all wrapped up down there?  

CLUCKY: Feels like it did when we came here, a hug that won’t quit.  I’m just happy we get to go home! Hey Ladies, don’t run around, let them catch you, we want to get a move on!!

KITTEN: I can see them wrapping up the hens. They’ll be packed up soon. I’m so happy the fire is out!

CLUCKY: Do you know if all the firefighters have left?

KITTEN: I heard the mom person say that the firefighters will be around for a while still. Did you know that the fire can continue to burn down under ground into the roots? It’s called ground fire or zombie fire. (SFX)

CLUCKY: Zombie Fire! (SFX) Like it can come back from the dead?  

KITTEN:  Yes! The firefighters are going to stick around for a while and check to make sure there are no underground fires.  If they find any they will put them out or make sure the fire is fully out at the base of the tree to prevent the roots.   They work really hard to prevent the roots catching fire because it can start a forest fire all over again!

CLUCKY: They can stay as long as they need to then! 

KITTEN: I agree! 

MADDOX: Hey you two, mom is finishing up with the hens and then we’ll just pack up and get on our way! It’ll be so nice to sleep in our own beds again!

CLUCKY: Can’t wait!!! Brauk brauk!

KITTEN: ME- YOW!!

(End Credits)