Just Runaway

What is that awful noise?  Is it dangerous?  What have Kitten & Clucky stumbled upon now?  

Tune into this episode and find out.  

We want to give a HUGE shout out to our guest voice actor Juliet Hutchins.  She also inspired today’s script about Perry the Lonely Donkey.

New words and phrases in this episode: 

• Margay Cat
• Off-key
• Braying
• Fencing 
• En Garde
• Put out to Pasture

Themes: 

• Loneliness
• How time changes things
• Sometimes you just need to run away
• Bravery: Approaching the unknown
• Friendship

Songs:  

• L-Lonely by Perry 

Transcript

Welcome back to the Kitten and Clucky podcast.  In this season of gratitude we’d like to thank all of our listeners for tuning in.  Whether you are just joining us or you have listened from the beginning, we appreciate you spending a part of your day with us.  

We know we have many faithful listeners in Germany, England, and both the British and American Virgin Islands.  It is so fun to check our listener map and see what part of the world people are tuning in from.  We’d love to hear from you!  Please consider leaving us a review on your favorite podcast platform or you can send us a message on our website kittenandclucky.com or our FB or Instagram pages @KittenandClucky.   We’d love to know what you think. Call us anytime on our bawking line at 321-345-1544. 

And now we join our Kitten, Clucky and the Hens down at the coop.  

Season 4 Episode 5 

Just Runaway    

Bird noises and then loud donkey Braying /Wailing. 

CLUCKY: What in tarnation? Ladies, do you hear that? 

BRIGITA:  Of course we hear it. I think the whole neighborhood can hear that! 

(more braying) 

BELLA: It sounds sad. I wonder if it is a hurt or lost animal. 

BRIDGET: Should we go check it out? The enclosure is open. 

KITTEN: I don't know what it is, a dangerous animal?

(more braying)

BRIGITA:  Really kitten does that sound dangerous? It sounds so sad. It makes me want to cry. 

KITTEN: Some animals are known to act hurt or in distress as a way to lure in their prey. In fact, there is a cat species in the Amazon rainforest called the Margay.  It looks like a small leopard or ocelot. It has the most beautiful spot pattern.  Researchers have found that the Margay can make sounds like a baby tamarin monkey which will attract adult monkeys to come and investigate.  Then it will pounce!  

BRIGITA:  Well I have no idea what sounds a baby monkey would make but I doubt it would be this loud….

PERRY: HEEE HAWWW HEE HAWW

BRIGITA:  and ghastly! 

BELLA: Can we please go check it out? 

CLUCKY: Alright, I have an idea. The sound is coming from that direction. Just past that big fallen down tree. That should give us enough cover to go check.  Alright, everyone follow me. Quietly…

(SFX) tip toe

BRIGITA: (loud whisper)  move your wing I can't see. 

BRIDGET: Bauk!  Who just stepped on my tail feathers?

CLUCKY: Ladies keep it down or it will know we are here. (loud braying) 

BRIDGET: I doubt he can hear anything over the racket he is making. 

Bi: What kind of animal do you think it is? 

CLUCKY: I'm not sure it looks too small and fuzzy to be a horse. 

BRIDGET: And it has very long floppy ears. 

(braying) 

BRIGITA:  And that noise. Do you think it is ill? 

KITTEN: No, it's braying. It appears to be a miniature donkey. 

C'. It's praying off key? It looks more like crying to me but it is certainly off key. 

BELLA: What’s off key? 

BRIDGET: It means he sings very badly or out of tune.

BELLA: Oh.

KITTEN: No Clucky, it’s a donkey - Not off key. Although he is that too. And he is braying not praying. Braying is the hee haw sounds that donkeys make.   Really sometimes I think we should get your ears checked.

CLUCKY: There is nothing wrong with my ears.  Chickens have great hearing.  That’s how I could tell which direction the noise was coming from.  

KITTEN: All of us could tell which direction it was coming from, he’s not exactly quiet.  

CLUCKY: I’ll have you know that chickens have much better low frequency hearing than humans.  We can hear low sounds that humans cannot detect and we can even tell how far away things are from us.  

KITTEN: Really?  I had no idea.  

BRIDGET: Wow, a fact Kitten didn’t know.  This is an unusual day indeed.  

PERRY: More Braying

BRIGITA:  Oh my! I wish he would stop with all that racket. 

BRIDGET: How do we know it’s a he? 

BELLA: We don’t.  

BRIGITA:  Hush now, I think he is saying something in all that braying.

(Music) 

PERRY: Hee haw, Hee haw L- Lonely I'm so  L-lonely if only I had somebody if only. Percy’s gone and I must go on.  But I’m so L-Lonely.

BELLA: (talking over the music) Oh it’s so sad. It sounds like he has lost someone close to him. 

KITTEN: Maybe we should stop hiding and go introduce ourselves.  

CLUCKY: I don’t know Kitten, it could be a trap. Acting all sad and lonely just to get us to drop our guard like those Margays you mentioned.  

PERRY: Hee Haw.  What shall I do ooh.  I’m so l-lonely without you.  

BRIGITA:  Oh have a heart Clucky.  Look at him.  He is not even that big and he has hooves, not claws and flat teeth. He does not seem much like  a predator.  Kitten has scarier teeth than him.  Even his ears are sad, all drooped down by his face.  

CLUCKY: Now Brigita you make some very good points but it’s my job to keep you all safe and this is a very loud and strange creature.

KITTEN: Now hold on Clucky, we can certainly look out for ourselves.

BRIGITA:  Kitten is right, we are not a bunch of damsels in distress. 

FERAL: Did I hear mon petit is in distress. Never fear Feral (SFX) is here to save the day. 

(Exclamations of surprise) 

BRIDGET: Bawk! 

CLUCKY: Oh my tail feathers! 

BELLA: Feral! 

BRIGITA:  By my beak! 

KITTEN: Oh my Feral, you startled us! Where did you come from? 

FERAL: I heard all this commotion and thought mon cheri might be in danger.  With quick and light steps I found my way to you. 

KITTEN: Where was your excellent hearing then Clucky?  

C:There is a lot going on. Even I miss some things.  

(Music Stops) 

PERRY: Hee Haw is some-someone there?  

CLUCKY: Oh now you’ve done it Feral, we have been discovered.  

FERAL: How was I to know you were all hiding?

CLUCKY: Wasn’t it obvious we were all crouched behind this fallen log? 

FERAL: Well now that you mention it… oui it would seem so.

PERRY: I’m sorry if I frightened you.  Please come out.  I’m sorry I was so loud.  

BELLA: Why are you all staring at each other? Come on, he is in need of our help and friendship.  I’m going to say Hi. 

CLUCKY: Bella, maybe if we are all quiet he will go away.  

BELLA: Clucky, you heard his song.  He is lonely and he is obviously not a tricky margay cat.  I am willing to risk it… Bauk Hello!

FERAL: What a brave little hen she is. 

KITTEN: Bella, I’m going with you. 

CLUCKY: (Sigh) We’ll all go, there is strength in numbers.  

PERRY: Oh I did hear something!  I was afraid it was my imagination.  I’m sorry for carrying on so much.  Hee Haw.  It's been a rough day.  

BELLA: Hi I’m Bella, I’m sorry it took us so long to come out and greet you.  We were not sure at first if you were dangerous.  

PERRY: Hee haw Hee haw (laughing) me dangerous?  Hee Haw.  That’s the first laugh I’ve had in a while.  No one ever thinks I’m dangerous.  

BRIDGET:  Well you are a lot bigger than us so we needed to be careful.  

PERRY: Oh my!  How many of you are there?  Were you all hiding behind that tree?

CLUCKY:  There are six of us so don’t you go getting any wild ideas.  We all have claws, beaks and teeth and are not afraid to use them if need be.  

KITTEN: Please forgive Clucky’s rudeness, He’s a little overprotective of his family.  

PERRY: Hee Haw hee Haw ( crying) Family

KITTEN: Oh no! What did I say?  What is wrong with family?

PERRY:  Nothing ( Sobbing) Family is the best!  I used to have a family!  There was Papa P Diddy, Mama Petunia and my brother Percy.  But they are all gone now.   (Bawling) 

BRIGITA:  Oh that sounds just dreadful!  I’m so sorry, I don’t want to be rude but can we do a little introduction?  

PERRY: (Sniffles) I’m sorry. Of course. I’m Perry the lonely donkey. (sad trombone sfx)  

BRIGITA:   Is it ok to call you just Perry?  The title seems a bit sad.  I’m Brigita by the way.  

PERRY: Yes, Perry is fine.  It’s nice to meet you Brigita.

CLUCKY: I’m Sir Cluckington (fanfare)  but everyone just calls me Clucky. I’ll have you know I am a fierce defender of my friends so don’t try anything or you’ll have me to deal with.  

PERRY: I would not dream of it Sir Cluckington. 

KITTEN: Oh really, Please forgive him, sometimes he over does it. (Bawk from Clucky)   I’m Kitten. 

PERRY: It's a pleasure Kitten. 

BELLA:  I’m Bella, it was my idea to come over here and meet you. 

PERRY: I’m so glad you did.

BRIDGET: I’m Bridget. I’m not sure I trust you yet but I’d like to know your story.  

PERRY: Thanks for giving me a chance Bridget.

FERAL: And I am Feral (sfx) I will stand by Clucky to  defend all of my friends so en garde!

KITTEN: Really Feral , no one is fencing here, and Clucky, lighten up.  Can’t you see Perry is having a hard day?   

CLUCKY: I don’t see Feral building any fences here Kitten.

KITTEN: Sigh, fencing - a sport using swords that originated in Italy during the Renaissance but perfected by the french. That’s usually where you hear the phrase en garde. Now, let’s get back to Perry. What’s going on Perry?

PERRY:  Hee Haw, I’m not sure I know where to begin.  

KITTEN: I find the beginning is always best. 

PERRY: Ok. Well as far back as I can remember it was always me and Percy.  Perry and Percy the power team! When we were little we always used to run and play together.  We did everything together.  We ate together, took naps together, played, and even learned to pull a cart together.  When we were full grown we moved together to a new farm and Mama and Papa stayed at the old farm.  At the new farm was where we learned to pull a cart. They had a nice young daughter, Ella, who worked with us and we would pull our little cart.  She would ride in the cart and we would deliver eggs to all the neighbors.  We met so many people and we all had such a great time together.  

CLUCKY: Well that sounds great.  How did you end up here and so sad? 

PERRY: (Sigh) It was wonderful, but it was many years ago. 

BELLA:  What made things go so wrong? 

PERRY: Time (sigh) 

BRIGITA:  Time?! What do you mean?  

PERRY: Ella grew up. She got busy with school and other things and did not have time to hitch us up to the cart and make deliveries.  Eventually they moved the chickens to a new farm and Percy and I were put out to pasture.  

FERAL: Put out to Pasture, what does this mean? 

KITTEN: It means to bring animals to a large area of land to feed on the grass there. For example you “put the sheep out to pasture.” It can also have another meaning to force (someone) to leave a job because of old age. However, that does not seem to apply here.  

FERAL: Kitten, you astonish me with your vast knowledge on so many things.  Not only are you beautiful but you take my breath away with the things that you say.  

KITTEN: Ah, thank you. I just read a lot with Maddox.  

PERRY: Who is Maddox? 

KITTEN: She is my most special human.  I live with her in her room and she takes care of me.  We spend a lot of time reading together.  Maddox likes books on all subjects!  We have the best time together.  

PERRY: She sounds a little like Ella. She liked to read too. (sigh) Hee Haw

BRIDGET: Oh please don’t start crying again

BELLA: Bridget be nice.  Perry is having a hard day.  

BRIDGET: I’m sorry.  What if you tell us about Percy?  What happened to him?  Why is he not out with you?  

PERRY:  I wish I knew.  Several months ago, he was not feeling well and the farmer took him to the vet.  He has been gone ever since.  

BELLA: The farmer did not come tell you what is happening or if he is coming back.  

PERRY: Not that I could understand.  The farmer talks really low and mumbles and I can’t always understand what he is saying and its not like I can ask him to repeat himself.  

KITTEN:  That is so frustrating!  Is that why you ran away?  

PERRY: Who says I ran away?  

CLUCKY: It seems a little obvious.  We can tell you are not used to surviving on your own.  

FERAL: You do not have that survival instinct.  

PERRY: What do you mean? I can survive on my own. 

FERAL: I find that hard to believe.  You are far too loud.  You would attract many predators if you continued to carry on like that.  

CLUCKY: Feral is right.  You are probably lucky we are the first creatures to find you and not a pack of coyotes.  

PERRY: Coyotes?  Oh I do not like those guys!  We had a couple come near our pasture once.  They snarled and growled but then the farmer came out and scared them away.  Do you think they will come after me? 

KITTEN: You are pretty safe during the day, but I would suggest you make it back home before dark. That is usually when they do their hunting.  

PERRY: Oh I don’t know if I can go back home.  

KITTEN: Why not?

PERRY: Oh it would be too embarrassing.  

FERAL: What is so embarrassing about running away.  I have run away from many things.  I am not embarrassed.  

BRIGITA:  Are you afraid the farmer might be mad?  

PERRY: No its the l-lamas.  (sfx)

CLUCKY: The what now? 

PERRY: The l-lamas (sfx) 

BRIGITA:  Who are the l-lamas?  (sfx) 

End Part 1

Credits

Who are the l-lamas and why is Perry so afraid of them?  Tune in next time to find out.  Be sure to follow us wherever you get your podcast so you are notified when the next episode comes out.  Voices for today's characters were performed by Juliet Hutchins as Perry, Christine Rozum as Feral, Parker Daniels as Bridget, Bella and Brigita and Amy Daniels as Kitten and Clucky. 

Today’s script was written by Amy Daniels and Christine Rozum.  Story inspiration from Juliet Hutchins.  The Kitten and Clucky podcast was created, edited and produced by Amy Daniels, all rights reserved.  Special Thanks to our Theme song composer Henry Johnson, Kitten: Did you know he wrote the music when he was only 12 years old?  Clucky: Wow! Not that’s talent! Other Music and sound effects by Epidemic Sound.