Stepping away from my usual posting, I want to share an idea I’ve been toying with—a children’s picture book. Thus, the following story was created. Now, I’m looking for an illustrator, although I have tried my hand with Procreate Art Studio for the first time to see what I could create with what little artistic talent I possess. I still need to add the dog.
So, let me know what you think. Do you happen to have any suggestions for illustrations? What breed of dog? Dachshund, Corgi, or?
Leopold
Leopold was a brown dog—a small brown dog with a long body, stubby legs, and a short tail. Every day, Leopold chased his short tail on the green grass in the shade of a tall tree in the backyard of the house where he lived.
Round and round, Leopold would run, chasing his short tail.
On a branch above, Leopold lounged, Clawdean—a ginger cat with golden eyes and a long tail. She would sit watching as Leopold went round and round in the green grass under the tree where she sat.
Donte, a bird with a round belly, a red breast, and a broad black tail, would balance on the branch above Clawdean. He twisted his head back and forth to watch Clawdean watch Leopold chase his tail round and round on the green grass.
On this day, near Donte, a caterpillar clung to a leaf. Isabeau, a bright orange caterpillar with long black spines and fuzzy yellow stripes, was using her numerous feet to inch along the leaf-covered stem. “Donte, why do you watch a cat watch a silly dog chase his tail round and round?”
Donte looked at Isabeau with one shiny black eye. “As long as the cat watches the dog chasing his tail, she won’t chase me.”
Story Isabeau crawled further along the branch. “Clawdean, why do you watch a dog chase a tail he’ll never catch?”
Clawdean eyed Isabeau and Donte. “When Leopold chases his tail, he won’t be chasing me.”
“Clawdean, you’re in a tree.” Isabeau wisely observed.
The cat twitched her long tail, “Isabeau, if you were wise, you would watch too.”
Just then, a red-haired girl stepped from the house and called to Leopold. Too dizzy to come, Leopold plopped to his side on the green grass. Ginny laughed, sprinkled a handful of treats on the ground, and returned to the house.
Instantly, Clawdean jumped from the tree, scampered past a panting Leopold, and grabbed a treat before returning.
Donte soon followed, swooping past Leopold to grab his own treat, and flew back to his branch.
Leopold rolled over to see the cat and bird finish eating his treats. “Why do you eat a treat meant for a dog?” Leopold growled.
“Because I can,” Clawdean taunted Leopold, swishing her long tail.
“Because it’s fun,” Donte responded, spreading his tail feathers to run his beak over each shiny plume.
“Why would you chase a tail far too short to catch while others steal treats meant for you?” Isabeau called down to Leopold.
Leopold eyed the caterpillar. “I would ask why you would sit so close to a bird who eats worms?”
“I am a caterpillar, not a worm,” sniffed Isabeau. “But Leopold, wouldn’t it hurt if you were to catch your tail with your sharp teeth?”
Leopold pondered Isabeau’s question. “I didn’t think of that. How is it that you are so smart for a caterpillar?”
“Because I don’t have a tail.”
THE END
As always, thank you for taking the time to visit my site and reading my thoughts.
Fun short story. Thank you.