Tue Aug 28 21:46:07 EDT 2001 ---------------------------- Oscar lived a quiet life, slow and mostly trouble-free. He had warm bagels every morning, and every evening, tea. Oscar mostly sat at home, with wool socks on his feet, dozing in his favorite chair and eating pickled beets. His cat, Jerome, (a fat old thing) would try to move him from the chair. "Oscar, lad, go see the world. There's lots to do out there!" But Oscar wouldn't hear of it. He much preferred to sit and read. Danger and adventure were two things he didn't need. Fri Aug 31 21:16:54 EDT 2001 ---------------------------- One day a package came by post -- the box was large, and oddly shaped. It sat out front, in Oscar's yard, and to the side a note was taped. "Oscar," the short note began, "Come and see me when you can. (And please be sure to bring your cat.) Signed, The Princess of Japan." "Japan!" said Oscar. "This is strange. Jerome, she says to bring you, too. But look, it's almost time for tea -- What on earth am I to do?" Jerome ran off to fetch his bags: "That package, it's a boat, you know. Now hurry off and pack yourself -- when a princess writes, you've got to go!" Fri Sep 7 22:45:51 EDT 2001 ---------------------------- Poor Oscar was sent out to sea, guided by his cat, Jerome. West they sailed, for seven days, many, many miles from home. Oscar's mood began to change, as days and nights went by -- while still he missed his woolen socks, and pickled beets on rye, he found he liked the stars at sea, and the wind caught in the sail. Sometimes he felt like Captain Ahab (Jerome would be the whale.) Then, one day, a ship appeared, filled with chests and bags. A bearded man was on the deck, and on the mast -- a pirate flag! Wed Sep 19 21:58:48 EDT 2001 ---------------------------- The pirate sailed to Oscar's boat. "Ahoy there, lad! I'm Captain Red! Across my bow, you'll find but fear, and in my wake, a trail of dead! There's treasure here, beneath our boats, but alas! I'm scared to dive. So it's you I'll send into the brine (take your pick -- dead or alive?)" Oscar stood and shook in fear at the pirate's fearsome cry. He thought that if he wished to live, it would be best to comply. "Very well," he said to Red, "(And by the way, I like your hat) I'll dive and bring your treasure up, but you must stay and guard my cat." Wed Sep 26 21:37:34 EDT 2001 ---------------------------- So Oscar swam into the deep, and looked around the ocean floor, and at the bottom saw a ship -- an ancient, massive man o' war. Inside the ship, he found a trunk, with handles and a golden latch. He lugged it back up to his boat, and proudly showed to Red his catch. "Ahoy, then lad! You've brought them up -- the treasure of the Spanish fleet! Help me pry apart this lid! And now we've got it! Now, let's eat!" The trunk was stuffed quite full with bagels, (though a little soggy they'd become.) Red and Oscar toasted them, and washed them down with mugs of rum. Fri Oct 5 19:49:34 EDT 2001 ---------------------------- Westward they sailed once again, towards the east coast of Japan. After fourteen days and nights, Oscar finally spotted land. "Land ho!" he yelled, and woke Jerome who had been napping in the sun, "We're there!" he cried, "and good thing, too: our bagel stock is nearly done." They let out the sail, put up their flag, and sped on towards the land so rapidly, that when they touched, their prow was buried in the sand. "Japan!" said Oscar dreamily, "I've read of it in books, but never thought I'd see the place. Now let's get out and have a look." Sun Oct 14 19:23:38 EDT 2001 ---------------------------- They wandered inland several miles, and at last came to a road, and sitting, sunning on a rock, they saw a friendly toad. "Toad," said Oscar cordially, "could you please give us help? We've sailed for many days, eating bagels spread with kelp. We seek the princess of Japan -- she's asked us please to come, but we badly need directions, if you could give us some." "North," the toad croaked sleepily, "is where you'll find her palace. She lives there with her servants and a cat that she calls Alice." Sun Nov 4 15:42:02 EST 2001 ---------------------------- North they walked for half a day, and as the sun was going down they came upon a garden and a woman with a crown. "You're the princess?" Oscar asked, and when she smiled "Yes", he blushed, for she (of course) was beautiful -- Oscar's face felt hot and flushed. At her feet, she had a cat, large and soft and white. Jerome and Alice swapped a grin as the evening sky slipped into night. Oscar introduced himself. "It's you we've come to see." The princess looked at Alice -- "Then I suppose they must come in for tea." Sat Nov 17 22:28:31 EST 2001 ---------------------------- The princess got the cups and saucers while Alice made the tea; Oscar sliced a loaf of bread, and Jerome laid out the brie. And once the tea was ready, and the table set, the four sat around a tiny table on cushions on the floor. Oscar said, "We came here right when we got your note, although we had some trouble with a pirate on the boat." "My note?" inquired the princess. "This is rather queer. I never sent a note to you (although I'm glad you're here.)" Sun Dec 9 22:37:20 EST 2001 ---------------------------- Oscar looked bewildered -- "But I have the note right here!" He turned, confused, towards Jerome, but Jerome and Alice had disappeared. "No matter," said the princess. "It's nice to have a guest. Unexpected visitors can sometimes be the best." They sat in the parlor, by the fire and talked throughout the night, and dozed off together on the couch just as the dawn got light. And through the parlor window, four eyes were peering in; and as their friends fell fast asleep, the two cats shared a grin.