Tiggles and the Harp

"Quickly! Teacher will soon be here!" the cub heard his mother call for the third time in as many minutes. Sighing, he stood up, and wandered reluctantly to the bedroom from where she'd called. At the door he stopped short.

"Awww! Do I have to?" he whimpered.

"You know what happened last time. You wouldn't want that to happen today, would you?"

A wave of shame and embarrassment washed over him as he remembered the incident, and several other earlier ones. He twined his tail round his ankles and, looking down, caught sight of the snaps holding the inner seam of his shorts closed. Pulling them open, he ran for the bathroom, only just in time. He soon emerged, the snaps still open, and went straight to his mother.

"Don't get much warning, do you, cub." she said sympathetically, as she picked him up, gave him a hug, and then laid him on the bed. "Now, let's put these on you. Then you won't have to worry about that while teacher's here."

The doorbell rang, and he ran to open it. Teacher was there, carrying a mysterious bag as well as his usual satchel of school books.

"What's that?" the cub asked, pointing. 

"It's for a lesson, later. But first, let's see how much you've learned since last time." teacher replied, as they went to the 'school' room, and started the day's lessons. Soon the cub was working hard.

"Well done!" said teacher, reaching for the bag that had lain in the corner all morning, and taking from it a small wooden harp. "Now it's time for music." Teacher settled the instrument on his lap and rested it against his shoulder. Then, un-sheathing his claws to pluck the golden strings, he started to play. The cub sat entranced, listening to the familiar tune, and blinking when it ended.

Putting the harp to one side, teacher looked at the cub, then selected a couple of thick books and placed them on the floor as a short stool. "Now, it's your turn. Come and sit here." The cub sat down on the books, his legs half-crossed before him, and his tail wrapped round the make-shift stool. Teacher placed the harp between the cub's legs and shoulder, and began to explain. Soon the cub was making the strings ring as he plucked them with un-sheathed claws, haltingly picking out a simple tune.

A little while later teacher stood up. "That's it for today, but you'll have to practice so I'm going to leave the harp here with you."

He picked up his satchel. "Be sure to put it safely in its bag when you're not playing it. I'll see you tomorrow." He left, while the cub played on.

"That was lovely," said his mother, "but you must be tired by now."

He yawned in answer, and she helped him put the instrument away safely.

"Now, come along to the bedroom." She patted his rump gently. "I think you need a change."

-- 
© Tiggles 2006