Story 30: Reza Shadey and the Beanstalk Mystery
Snuggle down, little ones, and listen closely... for this is the story of how Reza Shadey discovered a very tall problem — and solved it in a very Reza Shadey way.
One bright morning, Reza Shadey stretched out his fluffy paws and let out a long, satisfied yawn. He was feeling particularly important today. His tail flicked once, thoughtfully.
"Yes... today is a day for very important business", he murmured. "The kind that requires a superior mind."
But just as he was preparing to begin, something small rolled gently from Mrs Higgins's shopping bag and came to rest on the kitchen floor.
It was a tiny, wrinkly bean.
Reza Shadey gave it a careful sniff. Then another.
It was not a biscuit.
It was not a prawn.
Reza Shadey frowned.
"Hmm, not a very high-value item", he decided.
With a neat flick of his paw — boop! — he sent the bean rolling out through the open door and into the garden.
"Discarded", he said, with quiet satisfaction.
And he forgot all about it.
Until the next morning.
Reza Shadey padded outside for his usual morning inspection... and stopped.
Something was very, very different.
Where there had been a patch of ordinary soil, there now stood a tall, twisting beanstalk. It curled and climbed and stretched higher and higher, disappearing into the clouds above.
Reza Shadey blinked.
He walked slowly around it once. Then twice.
The leaves were as big as cushions. The stalk was thick and springy beneath his paws. It swayed gently in the breeze, as though inviting him upward.
Reza's whiskers twitched.
"A remarkable development", he said softly. Then his eyes began to sparkle. "Clearly... this requires investigation."
And what does Reza Shadey do when something requires investigation?
He investigates.
Without another moment's delay, he began to climb.
Up he went — higher and higher — his paws gripping the sturdy stalk, his fluffy tail balancing him as the garden grew smaller and smaller below. The air became cool and misty, and tiny droplets clung to his fur.
Reza paused briefly and glanced at his reflection in a shiny leaf.
"Hmm. Windswept", he noted. "Quite distinguished."
Then up he went again.
At last, he reached the top.
And there — above the clouds — was a land of giants.
Everything was enormous.
Chairs as tall as trees. Tables as wide as ponds. And in the middle of it all sat the largest golden cat bowl Reza Shadey had ever seen.
It was filled to the brim with biscuits.
Not ordinary biscuits.
Perfect biscuits.
Crispy. Golden. Magnificent.
They smelled warm and buttery... even up in the clouds.
Reza's ears perked forward.
"Now this", he thought, "is a high-value discovery."
But just as he stepped closer —
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A giant guard dog appeared.
It lowered its enormous head and sniffed the air.
Sniff... sniff... sniff...
"I smell a CAT!" it growled, its voice rumbling like distant thunder.
Reza Shadey did not panic.
He sat down neatly, wrapped his tail around his paws, and lifted his chin.
"Let us remain calm canine", he said smoothly. "I am not just any cat. I am here on official business."
The dog blinked.
Reza continued, with great confidence, "I have been sent to inspect these biscuits. It is a very important responsibility. Only the most qualified cats are chosen."
The dog's eyes widened. "Inspect... my biscuits?"
"Indeed", said Reza. "If they are not perfectly crunchy and entirely delicious... I may have to take them away."
The dog gasped, sending a great puff of wind across the table.
"No! They are perfect! The giant loves them!"
"Excellent", said Reza, nodding wisely. "Then I shall require a small sample. For thorough testing, of course."
Quick as a flash, he grabbed three enormous biscuits.
Now — this is where things might have gone perfectly.
But Reza Shadey was feeling very pleased with himself.
He paused.
He turned slightly.
He imagined how impressive he must look, standing beside a mountain of biscuits, conducting such important work.
"And that", he announced grandly, "is how a professional handles a situation."
The dog blinked.
Then frowned.
Then it realised.
"HEY!" it barked. "Those are my biscuits!"
Reza did not wait for another word.
He dashed for the beanstalk and began scrambling down as fast as he could.
Down, down, down he went — faster and faster — the wind rushing past his ears.
But Reza Shadey was a very fluffy cat.
And very fluffy cats are not always the most aerodynamic.
His paws slipped.
His tail spun.
And suddenly he was tumbling!
"Strategic re..." he began... but the rest was lost as all three biscuits slipped from his grasp and vanished into the clouds below.
A moment later —
THUD!
Reza landed in Mrs Higgins's garden in a soft patch of soil, slightly muddy, slightly damp, and entirely biscuit-less.
Behind him, the great beanstalk shivered... shrank... and with a quiet whoosh, disappeared back into the earth.
As if it had never been there at all.
Mrs Higgins stepped outside and looked down at him.
"Well now", she said. "Why are you covered in cloud-drops and mud, you silly sausage?"
Reza Shadey stood up, shook himself carefully, and lifted his chin.
"Routine inspection work", he replied.
Ginger Tom, who had been watching from the fence, raised an eyebrow.
"No biscuits then?" he said.
Reza smoothed his whiskers.
"I have concluded", he said calmly, "that the giant biscuit market is highly inconvenient. I am therefore focusing my efforts back on the kitchen sector."
He gave a small, dignified nod and began walking toward the house.
His stomach gave a tiny, traitorous rumble.
Reza paused... just for a moment.
Then he continued on, tail held high.
"Long-term strategy", he added.
And with that, he went inside in search of a more reliable investment.
Night night. Sleep tight.