Dreams Come True

chapter 5

Gus and Jaq were leaving the castle to go into the gardens, Gus was complaining most of the way since they hadn't even got to have any breakfast while Jaq wanted to pick flowers for Cinderella. But skipping breakfast was the least of their problems as the castle cat named Pom-Pom was going around on a hunting stroll and where she was looking like she was wanting to eat them.

Once the mice gathered the very tall daffodils, they tried to get back inside with no trouble. Pom-Pom mewed greedily as she dashed out to the garden to spy on and stalk down the mice. Jaq broke the flower stems while Gus carried them, so far so good. 

"That's enough!" Gus cried, feeling like he couldn't carry anymore.

"You gotta think big, Gus-Gus!" Jaq told him until he paused in alarm and saw a familiar cat. "POM-POM!" 

The two mice tried to avoid the fat white cat as she chased them back inside the castle. She was now going to get two little smackerals or so she thought. The mice ran into a hole. Pom-Pom leaped for them, but got her fat head stuck, making her mew in anger and annoyance. 

Jaq and Gus were now climbing up the stairs with their flowers for Cinderella, but the golden petals were nearly wilting. Cherry was sneezing for what seemed like the hundredth time today, she looked like she was very sick, but actually wasn't.

"Come on, Cherry, it's just Spring." Atticus said.

Cherry sniffled as her eyes looked very watery. "Don't tell me... Tell mah nose..." she said, very stuffed up.

"Have you guys seen Cinderelly?" Jaq asked.

"I think she's in the... The... The..." Cherry said, weakly, then let out another messy and noisy sneeze, she took out a hanky and blew her nose, feeling so gross. "Stupid pollen!"

"She's with the Grand Duke." Atticus said for her.

Thanks!" Jaq and Gus went off.

Cherry kept sneezing and lazily walked along, trying to keep her balance with her clouded vision.

Your flowers, your Highness." the Grand Duke presented a very lovely and large bouquet for Cinderella.

"Well, thank you," Cinderella smiled. "These are even prettier than yesterday's."

Jaq frowned in defeat, Cinderella wouldn't want his flowers now.  Cherry sniffed and actually didn't sneeze from the new flowers, this made her smile.

"Jaq, I'm sure that Cinderella will love the flowers that you and Gus got them for her." Atticus assured the sad mouse.

"Here's the list of remaining preparations for the Festival tomorrow." the Grand Duke handed a list to the new princess.

"Another party?" Cherry sighed.

Cinderella took the list and agreed with Cherry. "We sure do throw a lot of parties around here, don't we?"

"Oh, this is no mere party, Your Highness, this is the Spring Festival!" the Grand Duke told her. 

Pom-Pom tried to sneak in to get the mice, but the Grand Duke picked her up to make her take a bath.

"Bye-Bye, Pom-Pom, enjoy your bath!" Atticus smirked.

Cinderella noticed the mice. "Good morning, fellas... What do you have there?"

"For you..." Jaq handed the wilting flowers. "But they're too small."