Strawberry is a Star
STRAWBERRY IS A STAR
Strawberry had almost forgotten about the incident at the church, except when he was asleep and dreaming about being a famous film star and having his photograph taken everywhere he went. Then one morning the doorbell rang, and Mrs. Armstrong came into the lounge followed by Reverend Evans, the vicar. At least it looked like him, but he had a suit on instead of a dress which made him look quite normal again.
He sat down for a cup of tea with Mrs. Armstrong and told her all about Strawberry at the christening, and she made lots of funny noises like "ooh!" and "aah!" while he was telling her all About it. Strawberry was rather worried that he was going to be told off, so he slinked behind the settee to listen. Then he heard them both laughing and the vicar said, "And so, when the picture appeared in the local paper, I thought I would bring you round a copy, to remind you what a clever cat you have!"
At this, Strawberry's curiosity and eagerness to see his picture in the paper overcame his fear of being told off. He rushed round the settee, climbed up the arm and sat on the back cushion behind Mrs. Armstrong's right shoulder. From here he could see the paper in her hand. There was a photograph of all the people at the christening, and there was Strawberry, sitting on the wall , as large as life! Didn't he look handsome! He let out a loud purr, and licked Mrs. Armstrong's ear - he was so pleased!
When the vicar had gone, Mrs. Armstrong carefully cut the photograph out of the newspaper and pinned it to the kitchen wall above Strawberry's basket so that he could sit and look at it before settling down to sleep.
"I don't know, Strawberry," she said, tickling him under his Chin, "what are we going to do with you?"
"How about something nice to eat?" asked Strawberry loudly, rubbing his head against her legs.
Well, it seemed that, for once, Mrs. Armstrong had managed to understand what Strawberry said to her, because she went to the fridge and found some nice bits of leftover chicken.
"This is the life," sighed Strawberry contentedly as he tucked in to his plate of chicken. When he had licked the plate quite clean, he looked up proudly at his picture on the wall, and
then settled down to give his paws a good wash.
That evening, when Tommy was home from school, and Mr. Armstrong had returned from work, the telephone rang. Mr. Armstrong went to answer it. Strawberry, who was catnapping on the hearthrug with one eye open, suddenly pricked up his ears when he heard his name mentioned.
"What? Our cat, Strawberry, in a television commercial! "Mr. Armstrong was saying in a very surprised voice. "I really don't know a distinctive face you say?...well,..." There was a long silence, then Mr. Armstrong "ummed" and "aahed" for a long time, like grown-ups do on the telephone. Then he said, "Alright, tomorrow at eleven o'clock. Goodbye.", and came back into the lounge.
By now the whole family was bursting with curiosity. Mr. Armstrong quickly explained that the man on the telephone was a Mr. Green, from the Amazing Advertising Company. He had seen Strawberry's picture in the paper and wanted him to audition tomorrow for a cat food commercial!
Strawberry, who was already feeling rather full of himself for being in the local paper, was quite overwhelmed when he heard that he might be on television! He swelled up with pride so much that his fur stood on end and his whiskers quivered! He minced round the room, meowing loudly, and practicing the haughty lookof a famous film star.
"Calm down, Strawberry," laughed Mrs. Armstrong. "You haven't got the part yet - let's wait and see what Mr. Green says when he sees your funny face close up!
Strawberry, who loved Mrs. Armstrong dearly (especially at mealtimes), chose to ignore this remark, and pranced theatrically out of the room, nose in the air, in search of his supper.
Next morning, Strawberry awoke from a vivid dream where he was fighting off a crowd of fans who were clamouring for his pawtograph and offering him choice bits of haddock. With a contented sigh he opened his eyes to see the sun streaming onto the kitchen floor and Mrs. Armstrong busy preparing breakfast for the family.
"Here you are, Strawberry. A nice bit of haddock for you, as it's your big day!", she said, putting down a large dish on Strawberry's mat.
"Mmm!" he purred, as he tucked in, " My first fan! Today is going to be a good day. I can feel it in my tail!"
After breakfast, Tommy got out the little brush and brushed Strawberry's coat until it shone. Strawberry carefully licked and groomed his white sock, and nibbled away at those stubborn little bits of dust and dirt between his toes. Half an hour later he looked immaculate; his strawberry patch gleaming brightly and his green eyes shining. "Oh, Strawberry, you do look lovely!", cried Mrs. Armstrong, and gave him a kiss for luck.
For once, Strawberry did not complain too much at being put in his cat basket -just a few token protests to show that his dignity as a potential star was slightly offended. He soon settled down and they arrived at the Amazing Advertising Company' in no time.
Mr. Green, the man who had telephoned, was short, rather fat and jolly, with a bald head and glasses. "Hello, young fellow!" said Mr. Green to Strawberry, “So you're the famous cat from the newspaper, are you? Strawberry purred politely and tried very hard to look intelligent and dramatic.
Mr. Green took them into another room where there were lots of artistic looking people all drinking coffee and making a lot of noise. They all wanted to have a good look at Strawberry - he had to stand up, sit down, and walk round and round, again and again. The artistic people made lots of comments, then Mr. Green asked Strawberry to wait outside with Mr. Armstrong and Tommy.
Strawberry was beginning to get rather bored. "I'm not sure this film star business is very much fun," he mused, "surely it must be nearly time for elevenses?
Just then Mr. Green came out and said, "Congratulations, Strawberry, we're all agreed that you will be just the star we want for our new commercial!"
"My goodness, Strawberry!" cried Mr. Armstrong, nearly dropping the cat basket on the floor in his excitement. "You've got the part!"
Well, what did you expect!" snapped Strawberry, trying to sound cross, but really hoping that no-one would notice just how, much he was trembling with nerves and excitement!
Strawberry sat quietly on Tommy's lap, looking calm and professional, while Mr. Green told them what it was all about. Strawberry had been chosen over lots of other cats they had seen, because of his original markings and because he behaved so well. Strawberry started to purr quietly and Tommy stroked him proudly.
The commercial was for Kitti-Treets cat food (Strawberry's mouth started to water at the thought!), and Strawberry was to walk past a row of dishes filled with other cat foods and then eat the Kitti-Treets and smile at the camera.
"Is he good at smiling?" asked Mr. Green.
"I'm not really sure", said Mr. Armstrong doubtfully.
"Come on Strawberry," said Mr. Green, "Give us a wink!" Strawberry obligingly screwed up his eyes and wrinkled his whiskers in his best attempt at a smile. "It doesn't look very much like a smile, does it, dad?” said Tommy. "No, but it does look rather like a wink... “ said Mr. Green, thoughtfully. " A winking cat! Now that would be unusual!.. Let me see now..., 'Strawberry only winks for Kitti-treets'..er..., 'Only Kitti-Treets gets the wink from Strawberry'....what do you think, eh, Strawberry, old chap?"
Strawberry thought it all sounded rather silly, but as he wanted to make Tommy and Mr. Armstrong happy, he sat up and winked very widely at Mr. Green.
"Oh, splendid!" cried Mr. Green ecstatically, "I think we can make a star of you yet, young Strawberry!"
"That's more like it!" muttered Strawberry, "Now how about sampling the product?..."
It was a week since they had been for the audition at the Amazing Advertising Company, and Strawberry was getting very impatient for his big moment. Mr. Green had given Strawberry lots of tins of Kitti-Treets so that he could practice at home. He was working very hard indeed, often needing a second dish especially if it was tuna flavour ) so that he could get the sequence exactly right. Every time he walked past the big mirror in the hall he would stop, draw himself up into a regal pose, and wink - he had to admit he looked rather good! All the family were very proud of Strawberry and kept making a big fuss of him. He was having a lovely time!
At long last, the big day arrived and everyone was up early to get Strawberry ready for the studio. Mr. Green had said not to give Strawberry any breakfast so that he would be hungry, but he made such a fuss that Mrs. Armstrong smuggled him a few bits of bacon under the table while no-one was looking!
When Strawberry was ready to go, Mrs. Armstrong and granny gave Strawberry a big cuddle, then they stood on the doorstep with little Lucy and waved goodbye as Strawberry set off with Mr. Armstrong and Tommy. The studio had sent a car to collect them, and Strawberry nearly burst his fur with pride as he noticed old Arnold from the fish shop staring in amazement as Strawberry drove off in a chauffeur driven car!
At the studio there were lots of people hurrying around with expensive-looking cameras and huge lights on poles. In one corner was a lovely big pile of Kitti-Treets tins which a pretty young girl was counting. Mr. Green was talking animatedly to a man in a very smart suit, and when they saw Strawberry they came over and made a big fuss of him. The smart man owned the company that made Kitti-Treets, and so Strawberry gave his hand a big lick just in case he had any in his pockets to give away. Unfortunately he didn't, but he gave Strawberry's chin a nice tickle and went to sit down and watch the filming.
At one end of the studio they had hung up a huge piece of salmon-pink silk for Strawberry to stand in front of. "it's just the colour of your lovely markings, Strawberry," said the pretty girl as she dished out several very tempting looking bowls of food on a table nearby. Strawberry could feel his empty tummy beginning to do somersaults at the idea of all that lovely food, and he hoped it wouldn't start to rumble and spoil the film!
Mr. Green put down three dishes in front of the pink background and told Strawberry to walk slowly along, and sniff the food in the first two bowls but not eat any of it. When he came to the big blue bowl full of Kitti-Treets he should eat a delicate mouthful, then look up at the camera, lick his lips and wink! Feeling very confident after his week's practice, Strawberry was sure he could do that - although he was so hungry he thought he might have to try a bit of the other two, just in case they were any better!
A big fat man with a red moustache came in and sat down behind the huge camera and turned its big black eye on Strawberry. " Action! " shouted somebody and Strawberry took a deep breath and set off. At the first dish he paused, wondering hungrily whether he should have a quick taste, but when he bent down to sniff it he soon changed his mind. It smelled very strongly of pepper! Wrinkling his nose up in disgust, he moved on quickly to the next one and sniffed it cautiously - this one smelled even worse - as if someone had sprayed perfume on it! Strawberry hurried on to the big blue dish and the heavenly aroma of tuna. He was so hungry that he just sat down and ate and ate, totally unaware of Mr. Green's frantic attempts to attract his attention , waving and winking like someone demented!
"Cut, cut! ", he shouted crossly. Strawberry continued eating heartily.
" You forgot to wink, you silly cat! .And you're not supposed to eat it all! " Mr. Green was not pleased.
Strawberry finished the lovely bowl of Kitti-Treets and looked up, suddenly aware of where he was. Why was everyone looking at him like that? Then he remembered, and turned to Mr. Green and winked.
"It's too late now!" shouted Mr. Green, " and don't wink at me, wink at the camera! "
Strawberry obligingly winked at the cameraman, who looked at Strawberry and sneezed.
" A-tishoo! " he sneezed, " A-tishoo! A-tishoo! A-tishoo! " " Good heavens! " said Mr. Green to the cameraman, " Whatever's the matter? "
The big man's face turned nearly as red as his moustache as he told Mr. Green that he was allergic to cat fur and it made him sneeze.
" That's all we need! " muttered Mr. Green.
" A-tishoo! " said the cameraman.
Meanwhile, 'the pretty girl had filled up the bowl again, and Strawberry had another go. This time he remembered to wink but he had some Kitti-Treets stuck to his whiskers so that was no good. He was still feeling quite peckish so he quickly finished up the dish while everyone was getting ready to try again. The third time, he was so eager to get to the dish of Kitti-Treets and gobble it all up that he forgot to sniff the first two bowls! Mr. Green was getting crosser and crosser, and the cameraman was getting sneezier and sneezier, and Strawberry suddenly found that after eating three big dishes of Kitti-Treets he was beginning to feel rather sick.
" One more time. Action! " said Mr. Green in a tired sort of voice.
" Here goes. " thought Strawberry desperately, and, concentrating hard, he walked towards the dishes. He remembered to sniff each dish, and then, when he reached the Kitti-Treets he felt so full that he could barely manage one mouthful. He looked straight at the camera and gave a big, beautiful wink. " It's a wrap! " shouted somebody.
" Wonderful! " cried Mr. Green.
" A -tishoo! " said the cameraman.
Now that Strawberry had produced such a marvellous performance, everyone immediately forgot how many times he had got it wrong before, and how cross they had been. They were just relieved that it was all done, especially the poor cameraman man who rushed away, sneezing and sneezing. The man from Kitti-Treets thanked Strawberry, and the pretty young girl patted and stroked him and whispered in his ear that she thought he was very clever. Poor Strawberry was now feeling very sick indeed, and could hardly produce a polite purr. After what seemed like ages, Tommy finally scooped up poor , tired Strawberry in his arms and took him back home.
Strawberry was so very, very full and so very, very tired, that he slept all the way through the Armstrong's suppertime even though it was chicken! ), and missed Tommy telling Mrs. Armstrong, granny and little Lucy all about the day at the studio, and how clever Strawberry had been.
At last Strawberry stirred slightly and very slowly opened one eye. He had had a dreadful dream where he was drowning in an endless sea of tuna flavoured Kitti-Treets, and he was very relieved to find himself safe at home with his beloved family.
" Look, Strawberry! " cried Tommy, excitedly, " Mr. Green gave us lots and lots of Kitti-Treets for you. Would you like some for your supper? "
Strawberry, who was wondering in a silly sort of way whether he felt sicker now than he had on Christmas Day, or if that had been worse, gave Tommy a very pathetic look and feebly closed his eyes again.
" Poor old Strawberry! " laughed Mr. Armstrong, kindly. " I think our little star has seen quite enough of Kitti-Treets for one day ! "
"If I never see another tin of Kitti-Treets again, it will be too soon," thought Strawberry, miserably, as he drifted gratefully back into the land of dreams.
"Daddy, " asked Tommy anxiously, " Strawberry is going to be alright, isn't he?"
"Don't worry, Tommy," said Mr. Armstrong. " Strawberry will be just fine when he's had a good sleep. Besides, I'm sure he'll cheer up when he sees himself on the television!"
As Mr. Armstrong was speaking, Strawberry stirred slightly and twitched in his sleep. As he moved, he wrinkled up his face, looking for all the world as if he was winking!!
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