It was morning. The sun was shining brightly. But Kitten-Cat was fast asleep.

 ‘Wake up, Kitten-Cat!’ chirped the sparrow hopping on to the windowsill. ‘The sun is shining. Won’t you come out and play?’

Kitten-Cat opened one sleepy eye. ‘No, Sparrow,’ yawned Kitten-Cat. ‘Not today. I want to sleep some more.’

 ‘Kitten-Cat, Kitten-Cat!’ sang the blackbird. ‘Wake up! Come out! The grass is soft and green, the worms are fat and juicy. Won’t you come out and watch me catch my breakfast today?’

Kitten-Cat opened one sleepy eye. ‘No, Mr. Blackbird,’ said Kitten-Cat. ‘Not today. I want to sleep some more.’

 ‘Look at this, Kitten-Cat!’ squeaked the mouse. ‘Look what I’ve found! A shiny brown chestnut! Won’t you come and play with it?’

Kitten-Cat opened one sleepy eye. ‘No Mouse,’ said Kitten-Cat. ‘Not today. I want to sleep some more.’

 ‘Kitten-Cat, wake up, wake up!’ quacked the Ducks. ‘The sky is so blue, the water so cool! Won’t you come and watch us swim?’

Kitten-Cat opened one sleepy eye. ‘No Ducks,’ said Kitten-Cat. ‘Not today. I want to sleep some more.’

 ‘Wake up, Kitten-Cat,’ miaowed Mamma-Cat. ‘It’s a lovely day today. Guess what our Little-Girl has put out for your breakfast! A…’

But Kitten-Cat did not wait to hear it all. ‘Oh no Mamma-Cat,’ he grumbled. ‘Do let me sleep some more!’

And Kitten-Cat twitched his tail and tucked his nose into his paws and went to sleep some more.

Now Little-Girl had put down a fresh saucer of creamy milk for Kitten-Cat, white and frothy and still warm from the cow, exactly the way he liked it.

But Kitten-Cat wanted to sleep some more!

 The milk lay in the little dish beside the kitchen door – till who should come by but the big brown dog, hot from a romp in the garden and longing for a drink. He lapped up the milk in Kitten-Cat’s little dish.

‘Thank you, Kitten-Cat,’ barked the big brown dog, running off to play in the garden.

 
Kitten-Cat opened his eyes.
Kitten-Cat sat up.
Kitten-Cat ran to his little saucer by the kitchen door.
And the little saucer was empty!

Poor little Kitten-Cat – he was awake at last!

Illustrations copyright © Philomena Saldanha 2007
Text copyright © Rohini Chowdhury 2007