Angus

by c. a. webbillustrated by mr. clip art

Once upon a time, there was a lion family. Like all proper lion families, it had a Daddy Lion, and a Mommy Lion, and three Lion Cubs. There was a rabbit, too – his name was George -- but he didn’t really count. He was just the pet.

Angus was the littlest Lion Cub. He lived with his family on the Plains, close to the Big, Bad Jungle. Daddy Lion went hunting every day so that his Cubs could have lots of good food to eat. And while he was gone, Mommy Lion kept a sharp look-out for Brutus, the Tiger.

Brutus was a mean, crafty old tiger who lived in the Big, Bad Jungle, and he didn’t like little Lion Cubs. Mommy Lion often told the little Lions that they must never go into the Jungle alone. “It is too dangerous for little Cubs,” she said.

So Angus and his brother and sister stayed close to Mommy Lion, where they were safe from Brutus.

There were lots of things to do on the Plains. Angus liked to play wrestling with his big Brother Lion, Tex. And it was fun to play racing with his big Sister Lion, Rusty. Angus also liked playing with George, the rabbit, even though he wasn’t really part of the lion family. Sometimes George liked to pretend he was a lion, but he was really just a pet.

But there was one thing that Angus wanted to do more than anything else in the world. He wanted to go hunting with Daddy Lion. Usually, Daddy went by himself. Sometimes Tex went along, but Angus never had. “When you’re bigger,” said Daddy Lion, “then you can go hunting.”

One very special early morning, Daddy Lion woke up Angus while the sky was still full of stars.

Angus was sleepy, and besides, it was cold and dark. He said, “Growl,” and snuggled closer to Tex.

But then Daddy Lion whispered, “Angus, wake up. I’m going to take you hunting with me.”

Then Angus was wide awake!

“Don’t wake up Mommy,” warned Daddy Lion. “She is always Grumpy in the morning.”

Angus giggled, and away they went. They walked for a long time…until Angus’s paws began to feel a little tired. Then Daddy stopped, and said that they were at the hunting-ground now.

By this time, it wasn’t dark anymore. The sun peeped over the far-away mountain and winked at Angus. Angus winked back with both eyes at the same time.

Daddy Lion gave Angus careful instructions. “Now, remember Son, you may help me chase our Dinner, but I do not want you to catch it – that part is my job. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Daddy,” said Angus, whose tummy began to feel as if it wanted some dinner now.

“And one more thing. Son, if our Dinner runs into the Big, Bad Jungle, you must stay very close to me. The Jungle is a dangerous place for little Cubs.”

But Angus was so busy asking his tummy very politely to please stop grrrrowl-ing so loud that he didn’t hear what Daddy Lion said.

“Now,” said Daddy Lion, “we will look for some Dinner.”

So Angus stood very still next to Daddy Lion and waited quietly until Daddy said, “I see some Dinner. Remember what I told you, Angus!”

And away they went. They chased the Dinner all over the Plains for a long time -- until Angus’s paws got even more tired. But then, the Dinner decided to run into the Big, Bad Jungle. Daddy Lion turned to Angus and said, “Now Angus, you must keep very close to me when we go in the Jungle. It’s dangerous for a little Cub like you.”

But Angus was so busy asking his paws very kindly to stop being so tired that he didn’t hear what Daddy Lion said.

So Daddy Lion and Angus chased their dinner into the Big, Bad Jungle. For a while, Angus kept up with his Daddy Lion, but it was much harder running through the Jungle than on the Plains. Slowly, Angus fell behind, until at last he couldn’t even see Daddy Lion anymore.

And then Angus began to get just a teensey bit frightened.

“What will I do?” he said out loud. “Maybe I should just stay where I am until Daddy Lion comes to find me.”

Which is of course what anyone ought to do if they were to get lost in the Big, Bad Jungle. So he did.

Angus waited and waited…and waited. Then he spotted something hiding in the leaves of a tree. Was it Daddy Lion? As it came closer, Angus saw that it wasn’t Daddy Lion – it was much too small. Then he saw what it was. It was George!

That silly Furball had followed Daddy Lion and Angus the whole way!

“Hello, George!” said Angus happily. “I’m just waiting for my Daddy Lion to come get me. Would you like to wait with me?”

Of course, George couldn’t answer, because rabbits can’t talk. But he sniffed Angus’s paw and whiskered Angus’s face, and that meant “yes”. So together, Angus and George waited and waited…and waited.

And then…Angus heard a Noise. “A rather rharrr-ey sort of Noise, if you know what I mean, George,” said Angus. George twitched his ears forward to listen. Then he wiggled his nose. That meant, “I hear It, too.”

The Noise got bigger and bigger…until Angus began to feel two teensey bits frightened.

Angus looked around for the Maker of the Noise. And then…he saw it. “Oh, dear,” said Angus. And, “wiggle, wiggle,” said George’s nose in alarm. Because the Maker of the Noise was Brutus, the Tiger!

“Rharrr!” said Brutus. “What do we have here? A little Lion Cub, and a…a…”

“George,” said Angus stoutly, “is a rabbit.” He was still frightened, but he wanted Brutus to think he wasn’t.

“Indeed,” said Brutus. “I’ve never seen a…a…rabbit before. Do they taste good for lunch?” And he licked his lips in a very particular way.

George shook his head decidedly, and Angus said, “No.” And then, because Brutus seemed doubtful, he added, “They do not.”

Disappointed, Brutus said, “Oh.” He polished his long claws on his stripy orange fur. Then he said, “Do little Lion Cubs taste good for lunch?”

“No,” said Angus. “They don’t taste good any time.”

“Oh,” said Brutus, “but maybe we should just try it. In case.” He edged a little closer to Angus and George.

“No, that would not be a good idea,” said Angus, who was now three teensey bits frightened.

“No, indeed,” said a big, booming voice behind him. Angus turned around. It was Daddy Lion!

When Brutus saw Daddy Lion, his eyes got bigger, and bigger, and bigger…and when Daddy Lion rharr-ed…

…then he just turned around, and ran away!

“Oh, Daddy, I’m so glad you are here!” cried Angus. George twitched his ear, “Me, too.”

Daddy Lion laughed, and picked up Angus in his great, big paws. “And so am I, Son,” he said. “Well, it’s time to go home for dinner. Are you two hungry?”

George wiggled his nose, “Yes.” And Angus’s tummy agreed.

The End