THE BERSERK CLOUD
"Mepha, I'm bored. Even Mr. Cat isn't around to tell us his tall tales. " Megh spoke in a disgruntled tone. "Then help me harvest some pineapples and go fetch some potatoes. I'll get dinner ready" he heard in reply. In a flash, there were pineapples and potatoes in the kitchen. "How do y ou do it so fast?" Mepha questioned. "I've e been running around this island far too long. I know where everything is" he goes back to being bored again.
"I've always wondered what's inside the cave but you won't let me go in." Mepha sensed mischief in the air. He rushed out of his tiny hut in a fury to where the voice came from. "Do I have to tell you again why we are not supposed to go in there!!" he was greeted with a sheepish smile. "Go catch some fish from the river, I've set the rice on the stove." "With pleasure, Boss!!" the voice replied and rushed off into the woods. "Slow down, or you'll end up walking off the cliff someday." his voice raising concerns. "As you say, Boss!!" Sarcasm.
It's difficult for a lone seven years old to engage himself in an island in the middle of nowhere. Add the attention span of a bee and you have a cocktail of boredom and general lack of interest. A volatile concoction. That's how he spent most of his days, a log of driftwood floating aimlessly through the mountain river. But on rare occasions when the cat wasn't around to keep him company, he would wander around the island searching for something of interest. He would often r ace the win d just for the heck of it. That's how he gained his swift feet. He was a cloud riding a berserk breeze.
Sure enough, in no time he caught three trout from the pond, expecting the cat to show up before dinner time. If not, they could both use the extra protein. He had eaten enough pineapples, potatoes, and pumpkins to last him a lifetime. He enjoyed being challenged in his otherwise dull and boring existence.
"So you finally decide to show up before dinner. Good that I caught an extra fish." sarcasm pouring from his tongue. "Well done kid!! I see you finally reaching your potential" the cat spoke equally returning the favor. They both decide to laugh it off, their voices echoing through the woods. "Put them by the door, I'll gut them and hang them over the flame " the voice commanded from inside the hut. "Sure thing, Boss!!" "And stop calling me that, I' m not your Boss." "As you say, Boss" a wink on his face, all pun intended.
"Hey, Mr. Cat, where have you been all morning. The kid is giving me a hard time" the voice from the hut spoke. "Neah, just taking care of business. Non that you should be concerned of." "I looked for you all over, you were nowhere to be found" as if a detective interrogating a crook. "Shut y our can, kid. I' m not your pet!! I was inside talking to my master" it responded to Megh licking its paws. "I smell something fishy here, don't you Mepha?" more of a poke than a question. "It's you, you filthy little swine. Go take a dip in the pool and clean yourself. You reek of abomination " Mepha was finally getting the entertainment he was missing since the morning.
Dinner was done and they all decided to straighten their backs on the cave floor. "Can we have fish tomorrow too? I hate eating potatoes and rice every day." Megh gently rebelled. "Only if you promise to behave yourself!!" a stern voice responded. "Cut him some slack!! He 's just a little boy." the cat intervened. "Ok, you have my permission. Now go fetch me some pineapple while I have a talk with Mr. Cat. I need to digest that meal I had" Mepha ordered. And off he went like a berserk cloud.
"Finally some quiet. What do you want to talk about?" the cat ask ed curiously. Breathing a sigh, Mepha began. "Its been long since we arrived here. I'm going out to see if things have changed outside. If there is no trouble then I'll come back and take him with me. Back to where he belongs." "So what do want from me?" the cat questioned. "Nothing!! Just ask your master if that's a good idea!!" Mepha replied. "Ok, I'll ask tonight." the cat confirms. "Thank you!!" Mepha spoke receiving the pineapple he had asked.