Another excerpt from “The Odessa Chronicles”, which is now available world-wide from all the usual on-line book retailers, as well as direct from Friesen Press. (see book cover link over in right column).

Joshua purchased Moonbeam Farm for his retirement, so that he could live his life in peaceful rural surroundings, but he did not know that we was not alone at Moonbeam Farm until …

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One night, he woke up rather earlier than usual and heard a sound from downstairs. He quietly got out of bed and put on his slippers. By the light of the moon, he slowly went down and into his living room, where he quickly turned on the light. He saw that not only was there only one cushion on the sofa, but he also saw a cat near the fireplace, with another cushion in its mouth!

He thought it looked friendly, so he bent down and said, “Who are you then?”

The cat turned its head to face Joshua, and said, “I am Dewey. Who are you?”

Joshua was in shock, as he had not been expecting the cat to talk. “Ummmm … well, I am Joshua Jeremiah Jonathan Jacob Jackson Pebblestone, and I live here.”

“So do I,” said Dewey, “but I was here before you!”

“Well,” said Joshua, “perhaps we can find a way of living together? I wouldn’t mind some company, and I can do a better job of looking after this place than you can.”

Dewey looked at him very seriously for a moment. “Can I keep these cushions?” he asked.

“Of course, you can,” said Joshua. “I’ll get a couple more for the sofa. Is there anything else that you would like?”

“Well,” said Dewey, “I like to sleep on your cushions, but a little blanket or two would be really nice for those cool nights.”

Joshua was really enjoying the conversation, although he really believed that it was all a dream, so agreed readily. “Of course Dewey. You help yourself to anything that you need.”

Dewey started purring and flicking his tail, and then said, “Anything that I need? Really?”

“Yes, of course,” said Joshua “Anything.”

Dewey considered for a moment, and then said, “Would you give me my breakfast every morning, and my dinner every evening? Will you keep my home nice and clean? Will you always let me in if the windows and doors are closed? Will you give me treats every so often? Will you take care of all my needs?”

Joshua was laughing now and said, “Dewey, it will be my great pleasure to share my home with you, and do all those things for you.”

Dewey looked up at him, still purring, his tail flicking even more happily now. “I have only one more request. Only one, and it is really simple.”

“Not a problem,” said Joshua, still laughing and really enjoying the moment. “Go ahead and ask. What is it now?”

“Well,” said Dewey, “I am going to have difficulties calling you ‘Joshua Jeremiah Jonathan Jacob Jackson Pebblestone’. I need something simpler, and as you are now going to be doing so much for me, how about I simply call you ‘Man-Servant’?”

Joshua laughed even more. He had never had a dream quite like this before. “Of course, Dewey. You can call me Man-Servant.”

Joshua was now feeling really tired and decided to go back to bed. Dewey went over to his cushions and curled up into a little ball.

The next morning, Joshua went downstairs and saw a cat curled up on his sofa’s cushions, which were again on the floor near the fireplace. He made himself a cup of tea, and then remembering his dream, walked over to the cat and said jokingly, “So, Dewey, I guess you are going to live here with me then.”

Dewey stretched his legs, flexed his front claws, looked directly at Joshua, and said, “Of course I am. We agreed that last night. Don’t you remember?”

Joshua dropped his cup of tea; his mouth fell open, and he slowly sank to the floor in disbelief. He sat there and looked at Dewey. Dewey, however, got up and walked over to him.

“Now look here, Man-Servant. I have to go outside for a brief visit, and when I come back, I would really like a bowl filled with some breakfast.” He then headed for the door, but before leaving the room, he turned around. “By the way, I hope you’re going to clean up that tea you spilled. Remember … we both live here now!”

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“The Odessa Chronicles” is almost 300 pages of short stories suitable for children of all ages (including senior children!), and is available in hard cover, paperback and eBook formats.