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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Chase (05/01/25)
Camy grabbed Oscar by his tail. Thinking this was the start of an exciting game of chase, Oscar took off running across the yard. Camy followed as fast as her little legs could carry her. Oscar stopped, spun, and made several half-leaps with his front legs and paws. Camy dove, grabbing Oscar’s paw. He pulled free and made several more playful, teasing leaps toward Camy.

After several minutes of successfully avoiding Camy’s clutches, Oscar trotted to his water dish. Camy tiptoed quietly toward him, reached out her arms, and grabbed him around his neck in a tight bear hug. She was sure she had him now. But she lost her balance, tumbling onto the ground when he wriggled out of her grasp and ran across the yard to chase a red squirrel who was making yet another robbery attempt at the bird feeder.

Camy stood up, brushed herself off, then walked up the deck stairs. “Mommy, can you make Oscar come stand beside the stairs?”

“Why?” asked Mom.

“Daddy said Great Danes are like horses. I’m wanna go for a ride.” Camy turned and yelled, “Oscar, come here, boy!” Oscar ignored Camy and went back to patrolling the fence for intruding rodents. “See! He won’t listen to me. Can you make him obey?”

“Camy, Oscar isn’t a horse. He’s not going to let you ride him.”

Camy pouted as she walked away. “Yes, he will! I just need to break him, like on TV. He’s too wild to ride yet. I’ll go get his collar, then he’ll have to obey me.” Camy opened the sliding door to head into the house.

“Don’t let the” — Mom sighed — “cat out.”

Friskie, a skittish calico cat, had squeezed between Camy’s legs, bolting down the stairs. By the time she reached the middle of the yard, Oscar spied her. He took off like a racehorse. In a moment, Oscar was nearly upon Friskie, who bristled her fur, arched her back, and leapt into the air. She landed scrambling as she raced across the yard with Oscar inches behind her. She bounded off the side of the shed, changing direction on a dime. Then she climbed halfway up the fence and made another swift directional change.

“Oscar, stop!” Camy ran after Oscar, but couldn’t get anywhere near him.

Mom, with her somewhat bird’s-eye view from the deck, watched her backyard turn into the inside of a live pinball machine. Fortunately for Friskie, the chase was short-lived.

Friskie frantically scrambled and clawed her way up the tall maple tree that held the bird feeder. Birds scattered, spilling chaff onto Oscar’s face. They scared off the red squirrel, who had been planning his next heist from a branch above the bird feeder, but was now leaping into a tree in the neighbor’s yard.

Camy ran to her mother. “Oh no! Mommy, you need to call 911.”

“Don’t worry, honey, Friskie will come down when she feels safe again.”

Camy placed her hands on her mother’s cheeks and looked her in the eyes. “Mommy, we need a fire truck with a ladder!”

With every fiber of her being, Mom wanted to burst out laughing, but she knew how serious this felt to Camy. She tightened her facial muscles, forcing them to comply. “Honey, that’s what they do on TV, but we’re not on TV. I promise, Friskie can take care of herself. Do you remember the other day when Oscar and Friskie were playing in the living room?”

“When Friskie scratched me?”

“Yes. God gave Friskie strong, sharp claws. Those claws got her up the tree and they’ll get her down when she’s ready. How about we take Oscar in and we’ll make lunch? That’ll give Friskie some time to relax. She’ll come down on her own when things calm down. Okay?”

“Okay.”

While Mom and Camy made lunch, Camy kept peeking out the door to see if Friskie was still in the tree. “Are you sure she can come down all by herself?”

“I’m sure. Go tell Daddy lunch is ready.”

Camy returned, giggling and riding on her father’s back. Dad glanced at the sliding door. “Why is Friskie at the door pawing to get in?” Dad opened the door, and Friskie came in, rubbing against his legs and purring. “How’d you get out?”

Oscar trotted into the kitchen, saw Friskie, and started yet another playful game of chase.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Avigail David
05/09/25
Camy's determined attempts to catch Oscar pictures the story to life, visualizing their antics in the yard Oscar's distraction Frisk, the cat, adds a delightful touch of humor and spontaneity to their playful chase.

Mom's right, too. Good story. Thank you!
Naoma Bird
05/10/25
A good story and definitely fits the theme, "chase". I really like the ending of the story, as it ends with what could be the beginning of another story for another time.
You may want to use Camy's name less and replace it, where it is appropriate, with she or her.

Keep Writing!

Naoma