Story 49: Reza Shadey and the MeowSpace Mission
One lazy afternoon, Reza Shadey, the grandest, fluffiest, most spectacularly sneaky Persian cat in all of England (just ask him!), was sprawled across Mrs Higgins' sofa like a furry emperor. His glorious tail swished lazily and his emerald eyes were half-closed — until the telly blared something that made his ears twitch like tiny satellite dishes. BZZZ!
"Next up", boomed the telly, "Ecat Meowsk of VeryHigh-X unveils his daring plan to send the first cat to the moon!"
Reza's eyes snapped open wider than saucers. "The MOON?" he yowled, nearly tumbling off the sofa in a fluff-tastrophe. On the screen, a scruffy grey cat with wild whiskers and a manic grin stood proudly, a tiny kitten perched on his shoulder like a fuzzy astronaut. "I am Ecat Meowsk", the cat declared, "and I'm building WhiskerStation, the ultimate Cat Moon Base!"
Reza's whiskers quivered with outrage. "That scruffy upstart? Stealing MY destiny?" he huffed. "I'm FAR more magnificent! If anyone's building a moon base, it's ME! Bigger! Fluffier! With a deluxe sardine buffet!" With a dramatic MEEEOW!, he leapt off the sofa and zoomed to the garden, tail held high like a royal banner. It was time to launch Feline X, the greatest space empire ever (in his head, at least).
By teatime, Reza had summoned his loyal (and slightly unwilling) crew: Penelope, Ginger Tom and Tiger. They gathered by the rose bushes, looking skeptical.
"You're going WHERE, Rezzi?" Penelope asked, delicately licking a paw, her fluffy white fur glowing in the sun.
"The MOON!" Reza proclaimed, puffing out his chest so much he looked like a chocolate-coloured pom-pom. "A five-star lunar resort! Plush beds! Endless biscuits! I'll be the King of the Cosmos!"
Ginger Tom yawned so wide you could see yesterday's breakfast. "Sounds like work. Any snacks involved?"
"Sardines!" Reza promised slyly, knowing Tom's weakness.
"I'm in", Tom grunted, suddenly awake.
Tiger bounced like a furry ping-pong ball. "Can I fly the rocket? With goggles? Zoom-zoom!"
"You're Chief Meowstronaut!" Reza declared grandly. "Now, fetch rocket parts, my minions!"
The cats sneaked to the recycling bin, a treasure trove of junk. Reza gave it a mighty shove. CLATTER! BANG! The bin toppled, spilling cardboard boxes, biscuit tins, yoghurt pots and a wobbly salad bowl.
"Perfect!" Reza purred, strutting like a general. "Build my masterpiece!"
Ginger Tom rolled a biscuit tin, muttering about naps. Tiger plonked the salad bowl on his head like a helmet, giggling, "I'm a space kitty!" Penelope sighed but dragged a cardboard tube, muttering, "Why do I always get roped into Rezzi's nonsense?"
All afternoon, Reza "supervised" (lounged on a cushion) while his team stuck bits together with tape, string and Mrs Higgins' glitter glue. The rocket, dubbed Pawpollo One, was a wobbly tower of cardboard and sparkles, leaning like a tipsy giraffe.
"It's... unique", Penelope said, one eyebrow raised.
"It's MAGNIFICENT!" Reza roared, ignoring the creaks. "To the launchpad!"
The launchpad was Mrs Higgins' old trampoline. Reza climbed into the rocket's "cockpit" (a cereal box with a hole). "All systems go! Countdown!"
"Three!" squeaked Tiger, bouncing with glee.
"Two!" rumbled Ginger Tom, eyeing a stray biscuit.
"One!" meowed Penelope, already bracing for disaster.
"LIFTOFF!" Reza yowled. Tiger gave the trampoline a mighty bounce. BOING!
Pawpollo One soared — about a foot — then... CRASH! FLUMP! CLONK! It toppled into Mrs Higgins' prized petunias, glitter exploding like a sparkly volcano. Reza's head poked out, a cushion stuck to his ears. "Ahem! A strategic test flight!" he insisted, shaking off petals.
Penelope peered in. "You alright, Rezzi?"
"Never better!" Reza lied, his fur glittering like a disco ball. "Feline X is unstoppable!"
Just then, Mrs Higgins appeared, hands on hips. She surveyed the wreckage: squashed flowers, a glittery trampoline and Tiger still wearing the salad bowl. SIGH! "Oh, Reza, you daft cat", she chuckled, scooping him up. "No moon for you, but definitely bedtime."
As she carried him inside, Reza mumbled, "Feline X will rise again... Mars next... just need to scam — er, secure funding..." He yawned, already plotting in his sneaky, bossy boots brain.
Outside, Penelope shook her head. "Typical Rezzi chaos", she purred.
Ginger Tom shrugged. "At least we got a laugh."
Tiger bounced, salad bowl wobbling. "And it was SUPER fun! Can we crash again tomorrow?"
Night night. Sleep tight.