Gabriel's Tale - Chapter 11

This month you will finally meet Poetry!  Poetry materialized in my life in 1997 as I was getting my oldest ready to go off to college.  I still had two at home, but it felt like my family was being dismantled, and I needed something to refocus my thoughts on.  The adventures of Poetry the Calico Cat and Gabriel the Snowman sprung from someplace within me that I did not know existed.  I wrote 13 little stories about their adventures that year.  Then in 2011 I made a website about them, posting a new story each month.  This past year I've been "illustrating" the new story I wrote in 2009.  I have redrawn Poetry a little differently from the original Poetry.  In 1997 I'd never drawn anything in my adult life, so she was quite a surprise when she showed up.  These past three years of practice have shown me that with more practice I can improve and may even develop a style of my own that I like.  One thing I've come to realize is that I love colorful scenes.  I discovered this when I painted the first two illustrations this month in vivid colors then realized the room, as I'd written it, was supposed to be dark!  So I used a photo editing website to darken the edges to give the illusion of a darkened room.  I also took most of the color out of the second illustration using the editing tools.  What I've learned this year is that illustrating is NOT EASY.  But I am glad to have Gabriel's Tale and all my other stories to pass on to my grandchildren.  Who knows....maybe one of them will illustrate my stories and launch a career in Children's Book illustration.  In fact, I would be greatly pleased if my postings this past year have encouraged one of you to pick up pen and brush and discovered for yourself a story just waiting to be told.

Last month the story left off with Gabriel arriving in Edinburgh and striking out on his own to try to find Poetry.  Meanwhile we find out that a calico cat has gone missing and the family has posted flyers all over town.  Here are excerpts from Chapter 11. . . .

Chapter 11 – How Can This Be?

Then one night she got a funny feeling.  Maybe she’d fallen asleep and had been dreaming.  She wasn’t sure, but she felt as though Gabriel was near and she should go look for him.  She jumped onto the windowsill to peer out onto the moonlit street and was surprised to see snow falling gently to the ground.  

Is this a sign?  Should I go looking for Gabriel?  Is he here?  Poetry began pacing back and forth.  An excitement came over her.  Her heart fluttered.  Yes!  She was sure she must go—but where?  And how?  How do I get out?  It was the middle of the night.  Everyone was in bed.  The doors were locked.  The chimney!  Of course!  The chimney is the way out!

Poetry calmed herself enough so that she wouldn’t make any noise as she padded down the stairs to the library with the fireplace that had the largest chimney.  She stood up and hoisted herself up onto the ledge then found the chimney sweep rungs and carefully climbed to the top.  From the roof it would be easy to reach the old oak tree and climb down to the ground.  By morning her tracks would be covered and no one would be the wiser.  They’d just think she was hiding under one of the beds for a longer nap than usual.

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The next morning the first thing Gabriel saw when he came out from under the bush was the “Lost Cat” flyer tacked to the pole.  While he couldn’t read it he could see it was a picture of a Calico cat.  It reminded him so much of Poetry that he felt sad again, wondering if he’d ever find her.  Just then a black cat was crossing the street across the way.  It stopped and stared at him.  Uh-oh, Gabriel thought, I’d better skedaddle.  That cat looks like it doesn’t think I belong here.  He decided the best course was to run in the opposite direction while he had the lead.

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It was the second morning away from home and Poetry stood in the street looking across the park at a little white dog that looked most peculiar.  She didn’t know why, but she felt she knew him from somewhere.  But then it suddenly turned and ran off.  She began following the little white dog and calling for it to “Wait!”  After running a bit Poetry had to slow down.  She was winded.  As she slowed she caught sight of her reflection in a store window and stopped in her tracks.  A black cat was starring back at her.  That’s me!  She was covered in soot from the chimney.  Maybe that is what scared off that little white dog.  Poetry turned back toward the park.  She knew of a pond where she could bathe.

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Gabriel ran out of the park and onto a side street and turned into the first alley he found.   Maybe the black cat won’t follow, but just in case, thought Gabriel, I should keep moving.  And so he did, only he ended up back at the park when he emerged from the side street he’d turned down.  Just at that moment a Calico cat came around the corner.  Gabriel stared at her.  She stared at him.  “Po…Poetry?” Gabriel stammered.

Poetry looked at the little white dog.  “How can this be?  You sound like my best friend Gabriel, but he’s a Snowman!”

“Poetry!” Gabriel exclaimed.  “It is me, Gabriel.  Can’t you see?!”  

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Does Poetry finally believe that this little white dog is her friend Gabriel the Snowman?  Will they be reunited forever?  Find out next month when you can read the entire story on my newest blog The Adventures of Poetry & Gabriel.

Thank you to all those who encouraged me this year to continue with my project even though I realized my heart was not into doing what I'd need to do to self-publish my story.  I was ready to give up early on, but your loving encouragement helped me to hang in there.  💕

❤️Take Joy❤️