Itzi Bitzi Mitzi In a large unusually shaped tree trunk, that looked like a miniature Old English castle in a far corner of a desolate wood, lived a whole civilization of fairy folk. No one recalled the name of the wood for centuries and had stopped trying to remember hundreds of years ago. Few inhabitants bothered with the dimly lit section of the wood where our story begins, and the dwellers of this remarkable tree trunk were delighted that they were left alone in peace to live how they chose. This is the story of two such creatures of the wood that loved each other very much; they were best friends, almost like brother and sister, Itzi Bitzi Mitzi, a tiny white dog and Barcley, an orange cat.
A Fairytale by Vikki Anderson
At first glance, you would think this to be a normal wood where butterflies and bees collected nectar from sweet smelling flowers. At closer glance, you would notice that the insects, animals and fauna lived in a dream or an illusion that was so beautiful and perfect that it could be nothing less than a fantasy – for that was what it was – an illusion or disillusion of the truth. For unfortunate or unlucky things sometimes happen in places of beauty and there is nothing to do about it other than accept the truth and get on with one’s life, as you will see.
There’s Mitzi now.
“Barcley” an itzi bitzi voice called out.
“What?” was his simple reply.
“Hurry! I need a ride.”
“To where? Mama will call us for dinner soon. Tonight is tuna night.”
“For once, think of something else other than your stomach. I know cats, especially orange ones, think of nothing but eating and sleeping.”
“And your point is?”
“There is no point, but I still need a ride. Will you take me?”
“Okay, come on.” A small white spec jumped onto Barcley’s lowered tail and then onto his back. The white of the small animal was a dramatic contrast to the feline’s orange fur. But unless you knew that Mitzi was there, she might have been mistaken for a flake of dandruff. Yes, she was that small. “Where are we going this time?”
“The sun’s setting…”
“And?”
“I want to watch the day lilies close.”
He hung his head down in disbelief. “We have to watch day lilies close? Wouldn’t it be better to watch them open in the morning – like after breakfast and a nap?”
“Please Barcley. You know I’m so small and would never get there in time to see them.”
“You know, I think I named you well when I called you Itzi Bitzi Mitzi,” he laughed.
“I kind of like the name. It suits me,” Mitzi laughed. “I’m Itzi and I’m Bitzi and my name is Mitzi….” She laughed again joined by Barcley.
“Ok, Mitz, let’s get going….”
As the brilliant orange sun set in the west wood, the yellow and orange day lilies gently closed for a night’s rest.
“They’re so beautiful, aren’t they, Barcley?”
“What? The lilies? I’d rather see my bowl of tuna in front of me right now.”
“You can eat any time, but the lilies only close once a day.”
“I only eat one meal a day.”
“One?”
“Yep. One for breakfast, one for lunch and one for dinner. Well, and a few snacks in between.”
“You’re going to get into trouble one of these days eating everything you find. Some things may not be good for you! How much do you weigh now?”
“Nearly 1 pound now, I think.”
“Getting a bit chubby, aren’t you?” she laughed.
“Chubby? Without a magnifying glass no one could see you. You are the smallest animal in the wood and what do you weigh? An ounce – maybe, with your collar on! You’re smaller than any baby hummingbird I have ever seen! So how could you judge what is chubby? Anything bigger than a drop of rain must be chubby then!”
“Okay, okay, I didn’t want to have a discussion about weight, I just thought you should concentrate on nature and not your stomach for once. Take in what is around you. There is so much beauty and peace in these woods, I thought you would want to share it with your best friend.”
“Not if she’s a nag.”
Mitzi shook her head and smiled to herself and whispered, “I’m a dog, silly, not a horse.”
“Can we go now?”
“Yes, I want to say goodnight to the ducks on the pond. There were some goslings playing by the shore this afternoon.”
“I don’t know….the goslings’ parents might be upset if we visit them.”
“Well, they just don’t like you because you’re a cat, but they like me just fine.”
“And what am I supposed to do while you’re visiting the ducks?”
“Get dinner?”
“Great idea, let’s go.”
In a flash, Barcley put out his paw and helped Itzi Bitzi Mitzi onto his back. She eventually climbed to the top of his head so she could get a perfect view of the scenery. She loved the flowers, the grass, the water and the sky. Sometimes she would lie upon the grass in the clover and hide in it so no one could find her. She’d look up at the sky and find shapes in the puffy white clouds. Itzi Bitzi Mitzi was very happy in her home and didn’t always mind the teasing from the other dogs in the neighborhood. They seemed to be about an inch tall and Mitzi was a runt by all normal standards…. she was only ¼” tall, three times smaller than any of the rest. She never minded, because it made her different and very special since she was unlike all the others. She especially didn’t mind because Barcley had become her friend and only family she had left in this wood. She loved him very much and knew that the feeling was mutual. Barcley was not happy unless he was complaining about something – and mostly about food at that. His dry food was too dry. His wet food was too wet – it was not sliced or diced or mashed or whatever it was not, he wanted it to be. But that was Barcley, but it was her Barcley, a friend forever who accepted her for what she was and didn’t care about anything else.
He dropped her off at the pond where she hopped off of his head, into his paw and then down to the shore where Mama Duck greeted her. “Mitzi! How nice of you to visit.”
“You’ll be okay, Mitz?”
“Sure.”
And in a few seconds, he was out of sight.
“Why do you hang around that animal?”
“Because he’s my friend.”
“A cat is a cat – they have vicious natures you know.”
“Not my Barcley.”
“You’re too trusting, Mitzi, but come – the children are learning how to swim. Maybe you’ll have an adventurous ride around the pond.”
“I’d love to.”
Talon, Zoe, and Parsey were trying to coordinate their feet as they tried to bob for food. “Children, this is Mitzi.”
“Oh, she’s so cute, Mother. Is she food like those tiny worms we had for breakfast? Boy, they were so tiny, I am still hungry…but if she is food, she won’t feed the three of us and being I am the hungriest, I think I should have her unless there is bigger food around since I know I’ll still be hungry when I finish her….”
“Please, Parsey! Take a breath, so I can speak. No! She is a friend and not food. You will not eat her today or ever, do you understand, children?”
In unison they all properly responded, “Yes, Mother.”
Talon, the only male child, swam closer to Itzi Bitzi Mitzi and said, “Would you like to ride on my soft feathers? I’ll take you around the pond.”
“Oh, I would love that. Is that all right with you, Mama Duck?” Mitzi asked carefully since she really didn’t want to be anyone’s dinner tonight.
“Talon is the most sensible and the most trusted. I think it would be a lovely idea.” She leaned close to Mitzi and whispered, “Besides, he’s the only one who knows how to float and use his feet to move,” she laughed.
So off in the distance and into the calm, clear water went Mitzi and Talon as Mother Duck looked on approvingly.
Talon and Mitzi were floating effortlessly on the calm water. They had seen so many wonderful sites that they had never noticed before. The rhythmic waves on the water was putting Mitzi to sleep so Talon just swam around the pond gobbling up a few insects and algae for food but was careful not to wake up his resting passenger. Talon noticed he was swimming towards the unknown part of the pond; the part his Mother said emptied into a larger lake and ran off into a waterfall. He knew not to go past the twin willow and quickly turned and fought the slight current in going back home. Mitzi woke up just as Talon was greeted by Mother and ushered to a deserted part of the pond under a few leaf-filled branches dangling in the water for total privacy during dinner.
“Thank you, Talon. Maybe I can come back here again for another ride some time. It was so exciting!”
“Any time, Mitz…. have a good night now.”
In a moment, Mama Duck and her children had disappeared under the low branches.
Mitzi ran home to see Barcley and to tell him about the wonderful trip she had taken down the pond with Talon and how peaceful it was. Barcley was already asleep by the warm potbelly stove in the corner of the kitchen. He was curled in his fluffy pillow, so Itzi Bitzi Mitzi quietly climbed up through his fur to a warm spot just under his ear. Barcley opened one eye to make sure that Itzi was snuggled in safely for the night and immediately fell back asleep. Mitzi soon followed.
The mornings came early on the farm and this one was no different. The rooster crowed just before the sunrise and the household was up to greeting another day. Barcley didn’t want to see the sunlight so placed his paw over his eyes as Itzi Bitzi Mitzi was anxious to talk and run and drive poor Barcley crazy. The large orange cat shook his head in disbelief that Itzi could be so awake at this ungodly hour. But their owners were up and Pop was getting ready to milk the cows and Mama was making coffee and starting the fixings for a pancake and bacon breakfast. She then made sure Barcley and Itzi were fed and continued with her scheduled chores.
“What are we going to do today, Barcley? What do you feel like doing?” asked Itzi.
“What I always feel like doing,” he laughed, “SLEEP!”
“Is that all that cats do? I want to have another adventure today. I want to see if Talon can take me further into the pond to see the other side.”
“Remember, you can’t go past the bent willow tree…. do you hear me?”
“The bent willow…yes…why not?”
“Because the waterfalls are past the willow which run into the larger stream which connects to an even bigger river. If you get caught in that, we’ll never see you again.”
“Waterfalls? I didn’t know there were waterfalls past the willow. But then again, I fell asleep on Talon yesterday as the water was so calm and peaceful that I didn’t notice if there were any waterfalls.”
“Now you do, so I expect you to stay away from them!”
“Okay, okay.”
“Promise me you will not go past the bent willow.”
“Do I have to?”
“Mitzi?”
“Okay, I promise.”
“That a girl.”
As Barcley walked away, Mitzi completed her sentence….”I promise “nothing.” She laughed.
Barcley looked back towards his companion, “I guess I’ll give you the ride then…”
“Thank goodness or I’d never reach the wood…remember, I’m Itzi Bitzi Mitzi and you’re just Big Barcley,” she laughed, “because you weigh almost 2 ounces! Fatty!”
“Well, at least I’m healthy!”
Both Itzi and Barcley laughed as the little dog was placed on Barcley’s head for the trip to see Talon.
Talon’s ego was much bigger than his abilities, but nevertheless he was showing off to his siblings. He would dive into the water and hold his breath for a minute or two, which seemed like an eternity to his sisters. They were in awe of their older brother and wanted to emulate him, however, they were afraid of drowning so just watched him instead.
“Hi, Talon. Whatcha doin'?”
“Giving my sisters a diving lesson.”
“Can I watch?”
“Of course, friends are always welcome to watch my fantastic dives.”
Mitzi watched and watched as Talon did the same dive and underwater stunt over and over again and began to yawn. She walked over to Parsey who was playing with the water. She’d hit the water with her foot and then watch the splashes go in various directions. As Mitzi did the same, the splashes seemed non existent and that made the pair laugh more and more. Parsey would splash the water again and run away before the water hit her face or back. Bonding immediately had the two young ladies talking to one another, laughing and of course, Mitzi jumped onto Parsey’s wing and up onto her back for a leisurely swim in the pond – her second most favorite thing to do (eating was her first!).
“Don’t eat that, Parsey! It’s a cigarette.”
“What’s that?”
“Something that would kill you if you had one. I always hear Mama and Pop talking about people who use cigarettes and how they are paying good money to kill themselves.”
“Thanks for saving my life!”
“I will always protect you, Parsey.”
Parsey swam around the pond in a circle. Talon was in the middle of the pond holding his breath, diving and kicking his little feet up in the air as if he were swimming in the water. It was so funny to look at. Needless to say, Talon was not paying attention to Parsey and Mitzi as they started down the pond towards the bent willow that Barcley warned her about.
Mitzi imagined that Parsey knew of the falls, just like her brother and didn’t mention it to her at that moment. The bent willow was such a pretty tree. How could anything so beautiful be a warning of possible disaster? Maybe Barcley was just being as over protective as always and maybe there was not any danger past that bent willow, but she would keep her eyes focused on the water if Parsey went any further.
Parsey was giggling, splashing the water and eating algae and tiny insects that looked appetizing as she leisurely glided on the water. The sun made little diamonds sparkle here and there and Parsey wanted to catch one. She swam over there, back again and then to the next brilliant shape that lit up the water. She was having fun – something a gosling was supposed to do.
“What’s that noise?” apprehensively questioned Itzi Bitzi Mitzi.
“I don’t hear anything.”
Mitzi climbed on top of Parsey’s head and in the distance she saw rough current and white water. “Oh my God, Barcley was right.”
“About what, Mitzi?”
“We have to turn around, Parsey. There is a waterfalls down there.”
“What’s a waterfalls.”
“It means trouble. You have to turn around and swim back to your Mama.”
“Okay,” was her short reply, but her little feet could not fight the currents. “I can’t do it, Mitzi.”
“Try harder. If we go to the waterfalls, we will probably die.”
“Mama! Mama!” Parsey yelled, but her voice could not be heard over the roar of the water crashing onto the rocks and over the falls.
Mitzi closed her eyes and clung onto Parsey’s feathers. Noticing how terrified Parsey was, Mitzi gathered up all of her courage and yelled, “Push your feet, Parsey. Make them peddle faster!” But the harder Parsey tried, the more they were being swept away in the current.
Mitzi thought of all the warnings Barcley had given her. She was very upset that Parsey and she might never see their homes again. “I’m so sorry, Barcley. I’ll miss you,” he muttered to himself almost in prayer as she thought of them falling over the falls, but then she didn’t want to think of anything further.
All of a sudden, Talon appeared from out of nowhere and swam to Parsey and Mitzi within minutes. He pulled on Parsey’s tail and tried to drag her back onto the shore, but he just was not strong enough to help his sister to safety against the full force of the current. He was able to guide her to a large boulder in the middle of the stream where she was able to hop onto to catch her breath. Talon then swam to the shore to try to figure out his next move to safe the seemingly doomed pair.
Mitzi was wet, cold and miserable. Parsey was just plain scared but was not saying a word. Mitzi knew that Parsey was scared. Scared of going over the falls, scared of not being with her family again, but most of all she was scared of Mama Duck because she had disobeyed her. Why didn’t she listen to her Mama?
In the corner of her eye, Mitzi saw an orange blur ahead of them on the shore. It was Barcley! “Barcley!” Mitzi’s tiny voice yelled, and then Parsey joined in.
All Barcley could do was shake his head as he muttered to himself, “When are you going to listen, Mitzi?”
“Please help us.”
“You know I hate water, Mitzi. I should just let you stay there for the rest of your life!”
“I promise I’ll always listen to you from now on, Barcley. I promise; help us.”
By this time Talon was on the shore and both he and Barcley were trying to figure how to rescue their two respective family members.
“The current is too strong, Barcley. I can’t pull them to shore. I was just able to get them to the rock in the middle of the stream.”
“You did good, Talon. They’ll be okay.” Barcley looked up at all the trees near the stream. Several were dead. He could probably push them easily into the water. Talon and he pushed and tugged and pulled at a small dead tree. When it finally fell into the water, it was too short to reach the boulder and it careened over the falls and was probably on its way to the next town by now.
Barcley was determined to find a way to save them. Talon was getting frantic and Barcley had to give him something to do, so he asked him to get his Mother and bring her back here to the far side of the stream. Without thinking, Talon ran along the shore towards home to get his Mother.
Parsey was in tears now and Mitzi soon followed. “Talon, don’t leave us,” Parsey cried.
“He’s getting your Mother, Parsey. Everything will be all right. Stay calm – both of you, stay calm. I will get you to the shore.”
Barcley tried again to push another larger dead tree into the water, but as soon as it hit the current, it too sailed over the falls.
Barcley was not giving up as he tried and tried to get a large tree to reach the boulder in the middle of the stream. Finally, after much effort and total exhaustion, Barcley was able to accomplish his goal of making a bridge from the boulder to the shore for the frightened pair of youngsters.
“Okay, Parsey, see if you can walk on the tree and come here to shore.”
“Go ahead, Parsey,” Mitzi prompted.
“I can’t, I can’t. I’m too scared.”
“You have to Parsey. I can’t swim and if I fall into the water and drown, there will be no one to save you.”
“Please Barcley, can’t you come over on the tree and guide us back to the shore.”
Barcley thought about the consequences of this serious situation. If he didn’t try, his friend and sister would probably drown as the current climbed higher and higher covering the rock they were perched upon.
The large orange cat walked carefully and steadily on the dead tree praying with each step that he wouldn’t be swept away by the current. He didn’t fear for his own life, but worried about the safety of the duck and itzi bitzi dog. One step at a time, Barcley got closer and closer to the fearful duo and finally reached the boulder. Parsey hugged Barcley and Mitzi jumped into the safety of Barcley’s fur.
“Now we have to go back to the shore.”
“I’m afraid, Barcley,” Parsey cried.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of, we’re almost home now.”
Barcley pushed Parsey ahead and followed close behind. Mitzi was clinging onto Barcley’s fur for dear life. She had never been so scared in her whole life and would never do anything like this again. She was sure of it.
Talon and his Mother were in the distance and Parsey heard her name over and over again.
“Mama! Mama! I’m here.”
Parsey froze and could not move as she got to the middle of the log. Barcley had to gentle nudge her until her little feet touched the shore. But Barcley then lost his footing as she jumped off of the log. The log could not support Barcley’s weight now and was instantly caught in the current and went over the falls.
Parsey screamed. Mama Duck and Talon ran to Parsey and hugged her, but at the same time was in hysterics about Barcley and Mitzi going over the falls. They looked from the shore and the overhang of the mountain and could not see them floating in the river. They called and yelled Barcley and Mitzi’s name until it became dark and Mother lead them home walking on the shore. She didn’t want to take any more chances with the forceful current here at the end of the stream.
Parsey cried and cried. Talon was so sad that he could not even talk and Mama Duck was not able to scold Parsey now because they were all sad at the loss of their friends, especially Barcley who had saved her baby. They swam to their part of the pond under the willow branches that covered them. It was a sad day in the woods but Mama Duck would let everyone know how Barcley had saved her child’s life and to warn others about how dangerous that part of the stream could be.
Meanwhile, back at the stream, Barcley clung onto several of the dead trees that went over the falls at his first tries of securing a log to the boulder. They had lodged between the shore and the water, but the current was still very strong. Barcley could speak because the water was nearly drowning him, but his resolve to save Mitzi and himself was strong. He clung onto the logs with his sharp claws and was able to finally crawl to the safety of the grassy shore. He took Mitzi out of his fur and placed him in between his paws for protection as he fell asleep exhausted and worn out. There was not one once of strength left in his being and needed a desperate rest. Together, Mitzi and Barcley slept all night and most of the next day until they recovered from this horrible ordeal.
Mitzi jumped back onto Barcley’s head that day as he walked back to the farm where they lived. He pushed the cat door opened and went to sleep next to the potbelly stove. The two had no interest in the food that was left in their bowls, but went directly to sleep throughout that night until the next morning without even thinking of anything else but rest.
When Mitzi woke up the next morning, she was chipper and chatty and running to her food bowl for breakfast. Barcley was still resting on his fluffy pillow near the potbelly stove.
“Barcley, do you want to do something today?”
“No.”
“You don’t want to go down to the pond, or watch the day lilies open, or see the cows milked?”
“No.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“You didn’t listen to me. You almost got us all killed, Mitzi!"
“I didn’t mean to, but it was just so boring in the pond. I wanted an adventure.”
“Well, we got one, didn’t we?”
“I’m sorry, Barcley. I won’t do anything wrong again.”
“You always say that, Mitzi, but you always still wind up in trouble. One day no one is going to be able to help you. You have to listen to rules; you have to listen to what the ones who love you tell you to do or not to do. Please, Mitzi, be careful and smart, so nothing like this would ever happen again. I don’t ever want to lose you.”
Mitzi clung onto Barcley and hugged him. “I am sorry, Barcley, really. I won’t ever do anything like this ever again, I promise.”
“Good. Let’s go down to visit Mama Duck and tell her we are okay. I’m sure they are all very upset about this incident.”
“Okay.”
So off they went to the pond where Mama Duck and her children were floating on the water eating algae and a few nondescript bugs. As Mama Duck and her children saw Barcley and Mitzi on his head, they swam to the shore to hug them and let them know that they were missed and most of all loved.
The littlest duck, Zoe, walked up to Mitzi and asked Mitzi if she wanted a ride on her back. Barcley, Mama Duck, Parsey and Talon were deep in conversation as Zoe and Mitzi swam around the pond at a fast pace and were getting dizzy. This was such fun for the two young ones.
“Zoe, have you ever been past the willow tree?”
“No, Mama said we can’t go down there. Parsey was almost hurt the other day.”
“But I know where it is safe now. Wanna go have some fun. The water is faster than the pond and the countryside is so beautiful. It even has tons of new flowers that I’m sure you’ll want to see.”
“Is it safe?”
“Sure, it is, but most of all, it’s fun.”
“Let me ask, Mama.”
“They’re talking and we shouldn’t interrupt. Let’s go and have some fun.”
“Okay, let’s go!”