Overcoming differences

Overcoming differences - the owl and the pussycat

“Firstly I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to tell our side of the story. Our story – no one else’s.”

“No problem whatsoever, so can I start by ask...”

“Sorry let me stop you there. This is not a question and answer interview; I want to put my point of view across, much too much has been made of the viewpoint of one man, you know who I mean. So if I’m allowed to speak, uninterrupted, I will resume. There is no point in asking me if it made any sense. It makes no sense, I know that, but that’s life sometimes isn’t it? I mean even on an intellectual level we are on different planes and as far as species are concerned – well let’s not go there for the moment. You were about to ask how did we meet; I’ll start there, it’s as good a place as any.

We grew up in the same neighborhood and I knew her by sight long before I had the nerve to approach her. She was so damn classy, sure of herself, confident like no-one else I’d met before or since. And so graceful; sleek and sassy – yes I know, unlike me; when I’m motionless like this I know I can be quite intimidating; I’m told that some find me frightening which I find rather amusing. I do, however change and get into a right old flap if I have to go anywhere.

I’d been keeping a careful watch on her for months and I knew damned well she was aware of my interest but she did take me by surprise when she spoke to me that first time.

“Why hello Barney how are you to today – not much on by the looks of it.”

She always had a twinkle in her eye and my newly acquired nickname appealed to me. Before very long we had this daily routine, Pussy walking through the meandering paths of the wood, me hovering overhead. Such joy, so much fun and laughter. I would stay awake all night waiting for her to appear.

Of course there were plenty of detractors willing to mock us at any opportunity, the squirrels were the worst; constantly scampering up the trees teasing and taunting us with loud screeches which would carry on through the night. Badger Bill put a stop to that, quite often misunderstood is Badger Bill but if he decides on something that’s the end of the matter, and he made it clear he saw nothing wrong with our relationship. In fact the pea green boat was a wedding present from him.

I’m getting ahead of myself; before the wedding came the proposal. I’d been building up the courage for ages but was somewhat terrified of rejection. I thought nothing of it when Pussy gestured for me to join her on the forest floor, she said our cuddles took all the tension out of her life, so that was all I was expecting a long lazy cuddle.

“Barney – can we get married?

“Pardon me Pussy, what did you say?”

“I said can we get married, I’ve been thinking long and hard about it. We’ve already arranged for a long holiday in the pea green boat – let’s turn it into a honeymoon.”

I soared to the forest’s rooftop and screeched at the top of my voice: “Yes, yes Pussy. The owl and the Pussycat shall get married.”

So much is made of our elopement but the best times were in those weeks and months prior. The excitement, the buzz we got from the planning; our secret, our adventure and a love we knew others would never understand. It turned that Badger Bill knew a turkey that owned the Runcible Spoon Holiday Island and the turkey was willing to overlook our differences and had a date free in his calendar for the following year. So we set off on our adventure, the whole wood gathered to see us on our way, even the squirrels wrapped some money in a five pound note and gave us a noisy send off. Oh and what a year we had, by the time we arrived at Turkey’s Island we knew we had made the right decision. Three days before the wedding I realized I’d forgotten something and Turkey put me in touch with an old friend of his, Piggy-wig, who specialized in second hand jewelry and sold me a beautiful silver ring which slipped perfectly over Pussy’s front paw.

“You still seem to be very happy.”

“Could not be happier, it’s been the best fifteen years of my life. Now if your photographer could take a couple snaps we must get a move on, there’s a film producer who wants to have a chat with us. You never know do you?”

*****

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea

In a beautiful pea-green boat,

They took some honey, and plenty of money,

Wrapped up in a five-pound note.

The Owl looked up to the stars above,

And sang to a small guitar,

‘O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,

What a beautiful Pussy you are,

You are!

You are!

What a beautiful Pussy you are!’

Pussy said to the Owl, ‘You elegant fowl!’

How charmingly sweet you sing!

O let us be married! too long have we tarried:

But what shall we do for a ring?’

They sailed away, for a year and a day,

To the land where the Bong-tree grows,

And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood

With a ring in the end of his nose,

His nose,

His nose,

With a ring at the end of his nose.

‘Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling

Your ring?’ Said the Piggy, ‘I will.’

So they took it away, and were married next day

By the Turkey who lives on the hill.

They dined on mince, and slices of quince,

Which they ate with a runcible spoon;

And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,

They danced by the light of the moon,

The moon,

The moon,

They danced by the light of the moon.