THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CXXVIII

A Third Adventurer

With a whoosh, Periwinkle comes tumbling out of the teleportation tunnel. Stinky gives her a quick whisker kiss, grabs her paw and leads her back into the tunnel.  Periwinkle asks, “Why are we in such a hurry.”

Stinky explains they are meeting someone, and he doesn’t want to be late.

Periwinkle is, of course, curious as to who they are meeting but doesn’t have time to ask. She follows Stinky back into the tunnel, and before she can even blink they are at their destination. 

When Periwinkle disembarks from the tunnel and sees who is waiting for them, she runs and throws her paws around his ginger neck.

 

 

She gushes, “Oh, Teddy, this is so exciting. Stinky wouldn’t tell me who we were meeting. I am so happy it is you. But, this is Tuesday. How are you here? Don’t you have to teach class for Tuesday Teaser at Ding Dong Fish School on your blog at Two Spoiled Cats?” 

Teddy chuckles and tells Periwinkle that he got the day off to spend it with her and Stinky. Angel Sammy is handling class by himself. 

“So where are we?” asks Periwinkle. “It sure is cold. It looks like spring, but it doesn’t feel like it.“

D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival

Teddy tells Periwinkle that they are in Washington D.C. to see the famous cherry blossoms. He explains how the weather can be quite unpredictable in spring.

Periwinkle tells Stinky and Teddy, “I’m certain you two man cats can keep me warm if we stick close together!” Both boys promise to do just that, and the three tabbies set out to look at the beautiful blossoms. They begin “oohing and ahhing” as they go.

 

 

“Look, there’s the Washington Monument,” Teddy tells Stinky and Periwinkle.

“That’s cool, but I want to know about these pretty blossoms. Stinky, you usually research any information about our destinations, what can you tell me about the cherry trees?” asks Periwinkle. 

Stinky replies, “Actually, Teddy has done the research this week. Being a professor of geography and familiar with locales all around the world, it seems fitting for him to fill us in. To top it off, he lives quite close to here.”

Teddy takes his cue from Stinky and begins to tell him and Periwinkle about the origin of the cherry trees and the Festival.

“The National Cherry Blossom Festival pays tribute to the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, D.C. It commemorates the long-lasting friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. In Japan, the flowering cherry tree, or “Sakura,” is an important flowering plant. The beauty of the cherry blossom is a symbol with rich meaning in Japanese culture.

Teddy explains that these were not, however,  the first cherry trees planted in Washington D.C. He then gives his companions the website for the National Park Service, which has a wonderful article about the entire history of the cherry trees: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/history-of-the-cherry-trees.htm

Stinky tells Periwinkle and Teddy that he wants to get a closer look at the flowers, and starts to climb one of the trees. Periwinkle isn’t surprised, but Teddy is. Nonetheless, he and Periwinkle follow Stinky up the tree.

 

 

“Wow, Teddy, you really got up there high,” says Periwinkle.

“I know. I think I am a little nervous,” Teddy replies.

“You’re fine, Teddy. Just don’t look down. Scoot along that branch and come down to us. We will all get down together,” Stinky tells him.

Teddy does as instructed and soon all three are on the ground again, and they continue their trip around the Tidal Basin.

 

 

Teddy points out the Jefferson Memorial to Stinky and Periwinkle. They are both impressed, but Periwinkle tells Teddy that she is enjoying the flowers more than the buildings.

After Periwinkle’s comment Stinky and Teddy are surprised when she makes a request. She asks, “Can we visit the Lincoln Memorial after we finish our trip around the Tidal Basin?” Stinky asks why, and Periwinkle explains to him how she read what Cooper Murphy had written about President Lincoln and cats at Cat Scouts. She tells the boys that she wants to sit on Lincoln’s lap.

Lincoln Memorial Visit

Teddy chimes in, “I remember what Cooper wrote: It said that Abraham Lincoln was a “crazy cat lady.” He regularly took in strays at the White House. He also was gifted two kittens, Tabby and Dixie, by a cabinet member. President Lincoln was so in love with the duo that he fed Tabby under the table at a state dinner. He was heard exclaiming, ‘Dixie is smarter than my whole cabinet! And furthermore she doesn’t talk back!'”

Stinky replies, “Cooper Murphy did not share that with me. What a stinker!” He explains to Periwinkle that it is quite a long walk. The Lincoln Memorial is not at the Tidal Basin but rather at the end of the Reflecting Pool. Periwinkle thinks about this for a moment and then strikes a deal with Teddy and Stinky. They will start out walking, but if Periwinkle gets too tired, Teddy and Stinky will take turns giving her “piggy-back” rides. If they all get too tired, they will call an Uber.

Shortly after beginning their trek, however, all three tabbies start giggling in unison, as they each realize they only need to pop back into the teleportation tunnel for a quick trip to the memorial.

When they arrive, Periwinkle scampers up the steps. Before climbing up to Lincoln’s lap, she tells Stinky and Teddy, “I will need you two to keep a look out, as I am sure climbing on the statue could get me arrested.”

They tabby boys both scoff and follow Periwinkle up to Lincoln’s lap, telling her they’re certain they all can run faster than the cops. The three settle in for a quick nap.

 

 

Awakened by giggles from onlookers, Teddy, Stinky and Periwinkle, hop down. They realize it’s time to head home and walk back to the teleportation tunnel. After paw hugs all around and lots of whisker kisses between Periwinkle and Stinky, the three head off to their own homes with final waves of their paws.

The End

 

Periwinkle & Stinky are joining the Happy Tuesday blog hop at Comedy Plus.