Growing Up.

Our story begins at the Seven Dwarfs’ cottage, their 3 pet panthers: Sage, Zephyr & Hercules, are stuck inside because it’s raining and without anything to do.

Sage: (Sighs) Rain, rain, rain.

Hercules: Yeah. It’s bad enough that the dwarfs are at the mine and we’re stuck inside bored out of our minds.

Sage: And that it’s raining.

Suddenly, Zephyr gets an idea.

Zephyr: Hey bros., I got an idea.

Sage: What?

Zephyr: I could tell the story of how we became the dwarfs’ pets. If ya want…

His 2 brothers zip to him and lie in front of him.

Zephyr: I’ll take that as a yes.

Sage/Hercules: (Purring)

Zephyr: Well, ahem. It all started at Step Mom’s magic store…

Flashback, at Step Mom’s magic store, there’s me, Sara a teenage sorceress, I’m in the front desk chair, my cat jumps up onto the desk, she’s pregnant. My crabby boss, Step Mom isn’t very happy about that.

Step Mom: I really don’t want anymore kittens.

Bushroot: You should’ve thought of that before you allowed Sara to let in that male stray.

Step Mom: And I told you to spay the cat!

Bushroot: I’m a doctor for humans, not animals.

Step Mom: (Growling)

She goes up to her room with Bushroot, a humanoid plant-duck whom is also my sweetheart close behind.

Step Mom: Aw, how could Sara do this to me? I practically raised her.

Bushroot: No you didn’t, we…

Step Mom: Quiet you! I know, I’ll use black magic on the cat. To the potion room!

They go down to the basement.

Bushroot: Uh, Step Mom, this is the basement.

Step Mom: Quiet! It’s my potion room.

She gets out a bowl, whisk, magic book & a bottle of black magic.

Bushroot: I really don’t think this is a good idea.

Step Mom: You’re right, it isn’t a good idea. It’s a great idea!

Bushroot: But haven’t you learned your lesson with the last cat you used black magic on?

Step Mom: Don’t worry, the cat won’t turn into a dragon and try to eat me again.

Bushroot: Oh brother. Why me?

Step Mom: (Humming)

She starts mixing the ingredients while Bushroot reads the paper for he doesn’t want any part in Step Mom’s stupid plan.

Step Mom: Now, get me the fish gills.

Bushroot: Get ‘em yourself.

Step Mom: Grr!

She walks to the potions, gets out the fish gills and puts them in the potion. It’s a success (no thanks to Bushroot).

Step Mom: Yahoo! We did it, we did it!

Bushroot: Who’s “we”? You did everything, I just sat there.

Step Mom: Never mind. Now, we’ll feed it to the cat, and after she has kittens, they’ll go “poof” right before our eyes.

Bushroot: Sorry but, I’ve got someone with a stomach problem upstairs.

Step Mom: Grr!

So, after Bushroot goes into his exam room in the back of the store, Step Mom feeds her potion to the cat.

Step Mom: (Snickering)

8 weeks later, when the kittens are old enough to get new homes, they don’t turn out like Step Mom planned.

Bushroot: Uh, Step Mom.

Step Mom: Yes?

Bushroot: I uh, think you’d better come see this.

He shows her the 3 kittens, they’re baby panthers!

Step Mom: WHAT?! Panthers? THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO GO “POOF”!!

Sara: Step Mom, have you been using black magic on the cat again?

Step Mom: Why no, of course not. Why would I do something like that?

Bushroot (whispers to Sara): Believe it or not, she has.

Step Mom: What was that?

Bushroot (high voice): Nothing.

Step Mom: Now, there’s a cottage at the other side of the woods, the people there would love to adopt 3 baby panthers.

Sara: Who lives there?

Step Mom: The seven dorks live there.

Bushroot (whispers to Sara): They’re really called the Seven Dwarfs.

Step Mom: What’d you say?

Sara: Uh, we were just saying how much we love each other.

Bushroot: We were?

Sara: (Elbows Bushroot’s side)

Bushroot: Ow. I mean, yeah, we were.

Step Mom: Hmm. Now, enough stalling and take them out of town and finish the job!!

Sara: But what about dinner?

Step Mom: Uh, this is kind of important.

Bushroot: Then how ‘bout dessert?

Step Mom: Well, I suppose there’s time for dessert.

Sara: And tea?

Bushroot: Yeah, tea & dessert?

Step Mom: All right, a quick cup of tea. THEN TAKE THEM OUT OF TOWN AND FINISH THE JOB!!!

So, after me & Bushroot have tea & dessert, I put the kittens under a sleeping spell, take them in a basket over the Seven Jeweled Hills, beyond the Seventh Fall and to the cottage of the Seven Dwarfs. I knock on the door.

Sara: Hello? Anybody home? Aw, I’m not taking any chances.

I place the basket on the doorstep and away I go. Soon, the owners of the cottage return.

Dwarfs: Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho, it’s home from work we go. (whistling) Heigh…

Doc: Hey look!

They crash into each other.

Doc: There’s a basket on our doorstep.

Grumpy: Let’s take it inside and see what it is.

Sneezy: If it’s a baby, I quit.

They take the basket inside, Happy peeks inside the basket.

Happy: Well, they’re babies, but not the kind you’re talkin’ about, Sneezy. Look.

He opens it and three kittens pop out.

Kittens: (Mewing)

Bashful: Aw, look how cute.

Him, Sleepy & Dopey hold one.

Bashful: Can we keep ‘em?

Grumpy: No!

Bashful: Why not?

Grumpy: They’re giant cats from the far east, vicious, flesh-eating…

Kitten: Belch!

Grumpy: Eww.

Sleepy: Look like babies to me.

Grumpy: Babies grow up, you keep them, they’ll be picking us out of their teeth! Things like them eat things like us as snacks!

Sneezy: Then what do you suggest we do?

Grumpy: Get rid of them!

Bashful: (Makes puppy eyes)

Grumpy: Bashful, I’m sorry, but those things are dangerous!

Doc: Don’t listen to that old warthog, Bashful, of course we can keep ‘em.

Happy: Besides, do these look blood-thirsty to you? (ruffles a kitten’s head)

Zephyr narrating: So, since then, the Seven Dwarfs kept & named the 3 panthers with the minds & hearts of kitty cats, we developed our own personalities & got different color collars…

Doc pours food in the kittens’ bowls, they come.

Kittens: (Meowing)

Zephyr: Sage is the brave & tough one with nerves of steel & a blue collar. I, Zephyr, am the large & intelligent one with a big stomach & a purple collar. And Hercules is the shy & gentle one with a heart of gold & a green collar.

One year later…the all grown up panthers wake up in the morning, Zephyr comes out from under a blanket, he sees his brothers.

Zephyr: Morning guys, (yawns) I hate mornings.

Sage: Yeah, wouldn’t it be better if they just come later?

Hercules: Yeah. But since we’re up, we might as well have breakfast.

Zephyr: I think it’s my turn.

He goes up to the bedroom, he goes to Doc and tries to wake him up.

Zephyr: (Opens Doc eyelid) Hello? Anybody home? Doc, I know you can’t hear me, but my brothers & I are hungry. (lets go)

He tries rubbing his head against Doc’s face, but that doesn’t work so he jumps right up onto Doc.

Doc: Oof! (coughs, wakes up)

Zephyr: Good morning, sunshine, welcome to another fun-filled day with your favorite pet.

Doc: (Sighs) Let me guess, you & your brothers want breakfast.

Zephyr: That’d be great! (goes back downstairs)

Doc: I’m so happy to own 3 enourmus cats.

The panthers are together as Doc comes down.

Doc: What would you like, guys?

Zephyr: Oh, cup of coffee, a cheese Danish & the morning paper.

Sage: Glass of milk & glazed doughnut for me.

Hercules: And I’ll have a buttermilk muffin & glass of orange juice.

Doc: O.K. 3 bowls of cat food, coming up.

He takes their bowls.

Hercules: Nobody listens to us.

Sage: I don’t get why we even bother, he can’t hear us anyway.

Doc returns with their bowls of cat food.

Doc: You know, I wouldn’t have to feed you 3 so much if you’d provide for yourselves. Why don’t you guys chase mice like other cats?

Zephyr: (Stands on hind legs & lays paws on Doc’s shoulder) Show me a good mouser and I’ll show you a cat with bad breath.

That afternoon, Zephyr lies in the tulip bed on his back with his paws in the air, Hercules plays fetch with Sneezy and Sage chases a butterfly.

Sage: Hey Zeph, isn’t it great to have owners like these guys?

Zephyr: Yep.

Grumpy looks out the window above the tulip bed and sees Zephyr in it.

Grumpy: Zephyr, shoo, shoo! Get out of those tulips!

Zephyr: Well, I’d sleep in the roses, but they have thorns. So, the tulips are more comfy.

Sage: (Snickering)

Returns to reality with Zephyr in front of Sage & Hercules.

Zephyr: And that’s how we became the Seven Dwarfs’ pets.

Sage: Wow Zeph, that’s great.

Hercules: Yeah. I liked it when you woke up Doc.

Dwarfs in distance: Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho, it’s home from work we go. (whistling)

Hercules looks out the window and sees not only his seven masters, but the rain’s died down.

Hercules: Hey, it stopped raining and the Dwarfs are coming back.

Zephyr: Great. Maybe next time, I’ll tell you guys how we first me Sara.

Sage: Sounds great.

The Dwarfs come in, the panthers go to them being cute & cuddly.

To be continued…

Part 2, “Meet Sara”.