Class Pet

Maddox brings home her class pet.  Kitten is worried this may lead to her being sent back to the pound.  Listen in and see what unfolds.  Will Kitten be sent away?  

New words/phrases in this episode: 

• Involuntary Function
• Hamster
• Guinea Pig
• Commotion
• Sense of Adventure

Themes: 

• Feelings of belonging
• Family
• Overcoming fears
• 4 count breathing
• Sharing Feelings
• Bravery

Songs:  

• You will Breathe again by Clucky

Transcript

Class Pet. 

KITTEN: Clucky did you hear? There is a visitor coming for the weekend! 

CLUCKY: OH yeah that's not too unusual, people come over all the time. 

KITTEN: Meow, no,  its not a human visitor its Maddox class pet! What am I going to do? What if she… she likes this new pet better than me? Meow meow meow. Will she send me back to the pound? I just got here!  I can 't go back! Do you know how awful it was there? The cages were cold, hard there was constant noise (hyperventilating) 

CLUCKY: (hysterically laughing and clucking) I thought you cats were supposed to be cool and calm. You better calm down before you get a knot in your tail. 

KITTEN: Chucky, this is no laughing matter. I just can't go back to the pound. 

CLUCKY: Now kitten, we find ourselves in the rare situation where I am the voice of reason. First, take a few deep. breaths Breath in 234, Hold 234 Out 234 and hold 234. Now do it again. 

KITTEN: In 234, Hold 234, Out 234, hold 234 

CLUCKY: Feel better?

KITTEN: Yes, I do. Thank you Chucky but I'm still worried.

CLUCKY: Yeah, I get worried on the last hold 234, What if I forget to breathe again?

KITTEN: What? Chucky your body won't let you stop breathing even if you hold your breath. Breathing is an involuntary function.

CLUCKY: An involuntary what? What? Bauk!

KITTEN: An involuntary function. It means your body just does it without you thinking about it or telling it to.

CLUCKY: But I can control it just like we did in that breathing exercise.

KITTEN: Yes, you can but you don't need to most of the time.

CLUCKY: True but what if I am holding my breath and I forget to tell my body that it is ok to breathe again?

KITTEN: Well then you would pass out and your body would take over breathing for you again. Your body is programed to survive. 

CLUCKY: Oh good well I'm not worried anymore.

KITTEN: I'm still worried.

CLUCKY: Why? You just told me my body will remember to breathe. (Singing) you will Survive, You will Breath again…

KITTEN: Meow, I’m not worried about that Chucky. I’m worried about this new pet.

CLUCKY: oh That (Bauk)  What's got your tail in a twist?

KITTEN: well, what if Maddox likes this pet better than me?

CLUCKY: Do you know what kind of pet it is? 

KITTEN: I heard her say guinea pig. But I'm not sure what kind of animal that is.

CLUCKY: Oh guinea pigs are adorable! They are small like you with short little legs and they are all furry. You just want to pick them up and cuddle them. Lydia next door has one she brings him outside to the fence sometimes. He is brown, black and white and his name is Picasso. He's a real artsy type. Not much into adventure but a nice chap. 

KITTEN: What? Clucky that is the worst thing you could have said! meow meow meow! Good bye nice soft bed. I’m a gonner. 

CLUCKY: Kitten just because Maddox is bringing home a friend, it does not mean you are going anywhere. 

KITTEN: It doesn't?

CLUCKY: No, Look around you, the family has. 2, beast, I mean dogs, 2 hamsters, 3 hens, you and me. Every time a new pet has come home, they have not gotten rid of any of the other ones.  They just expanded the family. 

KITTEN: So you don't think Maddox will send me back to the pound?

CLUCKY:  Of course Not, once you are in this family, its for life. It's like a scar,  once it’s on you,  it’s not going away.

KITTEN: humm... you’re sure?

CLUCKY: Oh yeah, I cut my wing on the fence last year and I still have the mark.

KITTEN: I meant, you are sure I'm not going to be sent away? 

CLUCKY: Of course I’m sure!

KITTEN: Chucky, what is a hamster? 

CLUCKY: You don't know what a hamster is? What did they teach you in the pound?

KITTEN: They don't teach you anything in the pound. You are just in a cold cage next to other cats and dogs. You get food and water and in the afternoon people walk through looking for animals to take home. Sometimes one of the keepers of the keys will take you out to play with toys and give you pets but that does not happen everyday cause they are busy keeping everyone fed and watered.

CLUCKY: I don't think I'd like the pound. It does not sound very fun or adventurous.

KITTEN: It was not but it was much better than being lost in the woods, without shelter and starving. 

CLUCKY: You were in the woods? Oh my that must have been terrifying knowing you could be dinner for a snake or gator at any moment.

KITTEN: It was very scary but until the other day, I had no idea how much danger I was in. I am very grateful to the trapper that found me and brought me to the pound. But Chucky, you still have not answered my question, what is a hamster?

CLUCKY: Oh right. A hamster is a small fuzzy little animal with 4 paws. It can fit in the palm of one of the human paws, I mean hands. Maddox and Xander each have one. They bring them out to visit once in a while. Brownie is sweet and loves seeds. C maybe brown ve voice here?) But look out for Rubix she is mean. She'd bite ya as soon as look at ya. She bit 'Maddox. Even made her bleed once.

KITTEN: What? She bit Maddox? How dare she! If I ever meet her I am going to have words with her.

CLUCKY: Calm your fur down. Maddox is fine and she cares about Rubix. She would not be happy with you if you tried to eat her. 

MADDOX: kitten... Kitten. Where are you I have someone I want you to meet. Kitten.

KITTEN: oh my I better get down.. (Sfx) Hop hop. jump and down

CLUCKY: I'll follow you down for moral support. (Both Climb down).

MADDOX: kitten... OH hi Chucky! Have you seen... kitten oh there you are. 

CLUCKY: Bauk, Bauk!

K'. Meow Meow. Purr 

MADDOX: Hello. sweet kitten. Were you up on the porch again with Chucky? I am so glad you two like each other. I have someone new for you to meet. This is S’mores. He is my class guinea pig and is visiting for the weekend. I'll leave you to get to know each other for a little bit. I'm going to get some toys for Smores.

KITTEN: Well hello Smores, I am Kitten Adeline Daniels. and this is Sir Cluckington of Kerrington.

SMORES: (nailsily nerdy voice) well hello. so nice to meet you. My name Smores. Wow this is a really big yard you have. And your cage is huge.

KITTEN: (giggles) That's not a cage, it’s a shed. 

SMORES: Oh a shed, I've never seen one of those before. I'm not usually outside. I like the classroom. This seems so wild out here.

CLUCKY: Wild? (bauk) This is just a simple neighborhood.

SMORES: There is so much grass and there are bushes and trees and do I see water over there? How do you keep from getting lost?

KITTEN: Don't worry Smores we won't let you get lost. would you like us to show you around? We could take you up to the perch.

SMORES: Oh No I couldn't, That's far too high for me. I'll just wait here till Maddox returns. Do you have anything I could hide under? I just feel so exposed here.

CLUCKY: Come on Shores where is your sense of adventure?

SMORES: Oh I don't think Guinea pigs have those. We like to cuddle and burrow and eat snacks. This is really too much nature for me.

CLUCKY:(to kitten) This guy sounds pretty boring… 

KITTEN: (to CLUCKY) Be nice. He is just nervous. well Smores How would....

MADDOX: (door opens, barking is heard) Ok Smores, I have your toys…Rosie Noooo! No Rosie! 

ROSIE: Bark Bark Bark. What is it? Im going to get it! I can smell it. 

CLUCKY: Beast Beast run for your life! Bank Bank.

KITTEN: meow Meow, What's going on? AHHH!

SMORES: What a beast? AHHH! Teeth with fur!

KITTEN: up to the perch Clucky! Smores come with..-. No! do not toward the water!

CLUCKY: What the water?! No! Smores don't do it!

KITTEN: Chucky he is through the fence. He is headed straight for the pond?

ROSIE: Bark Bark Come back you fuzzy little ball. I just want to play. Oh blocked by the fence! Bark

MADDOX: AHH mom help. Smores is in the pond!

(door opening)

on

MOM: What is all the commotion?

Rosie , (Whimper,) I just

Mom: Rosie, inside!

Rosie: Bark wanted to play....

MADDOX: Mom, smores, we have to save him. is in the pond! 

MOM: I'll grab an inner tube and the pool net. maybe we can scoop him up.

KITTEN: Wow, he is really swimming fast! 

CLUCKY: I didn't know guinea pigs could swim. Bauk 

KITTEN: me either. Meow 

MADDOX: Mom he's too far. The net won't reach.

MOM: Honey, the pond is dangerous. 

MADDOX: Give me the tube, I have to save him. I'm going in'. 

KITTEN: She is so brave.

MOM: Here swim fast. I'll stand guard with the pole. I'll hit anything that comes close. I’ve got your back! Hurry! (splash)

CLUCKY: would you look at that.?! she can really swim fast.

KITTEN:  Is it just me or is Smores sinking lower in the water? 

CLUCKY: He must be getting tired. He has swam really far. He’s almost to the middle of the pond

KITTEN: Maddox is almost there. I think she is going to make it.

CLUCKY: She's got him. Man not a moment too soon. His nose was barely above the water. 

MOM: Come on Maddox, honey!  Swim back as fast as you can.

KITTEN: Oh hurry Maddox! Chucky I don't think I can watch. What if something grabs Maddox?

CLUCKY: It's going to be ok kitten. She is almost to the shore just a little bit more.

KITTEN: Come on Maddox. You can do it. 

MOM: Come on honey you are  almost here. (splashy).Oh Thank goodness you made it!

MADDOX: OH Mom. His heart is beating so fast. I hope he will be ok. 

MOM: Don 't worry honey, he's going to be just fine. I am so proud of you! You were so brave.

MADDOX: I just had to save him. I was so worried a gator might get home. or he would get to tired and drown. I didn't know guinea pigs could swim.

MOM: neither did I. I hope Smore's swimming days are over. Come on in. Lets get you both cleaned up."

KITTEN: Can you believe that just happened? Meow.

CLUCKY: That was better than a movie! Things sure have gotten more interesting since you moved in!

KITTEN: Clucky that was TERRIFYING! My sweet Maddox could have been eaten by a gator? or bitten by a snake.

CLUCKY: kitten there is no need to panic now. She is safe. They both are.

 KITTEN: Smores is lucky Maddox is so brave, I would have let him drown.

CLUCKY: Oh kitten, you don't mean that. Besides didnt you see the mom person holding the pool net like a long club? She was scanning the water and the shore for any signs of danger. She would have rescued Maddox from any danger. Trust me, You don't want to mess with the mom person! She looks all sweet and nice but she is fiercely protective of her kids. Plus she knows all kinds of helpful stuff like patching up wings, paws and her kisses have magic healing powers. Xander told me that.

K'. Wow! magical kisses! That makes me feel a bit better. However I think I'm going to go scratch on my post for a bit. I need to work through all these feelings.

CLUCKY: Good plan. I think practicing my Taekwondo forms will do me some good too! Hy ya.