The Tale of the Kitty Picnic chapter 5

Author's note
All right. 2 chapters left and this story is to a close. Can't wait for it to be over soon. Read on!

Chapter 5: The Giant Tiger

Max is still outside, waiting patiently for the cats to come out. They have to eventually. No way are those felines are going to stay in their hideout forever!

"Bark bark, come out of there, cats!" Max barks madly to the hideout. "I know you are in there, come on out!"

Suddenly Danny appears behind Max, taunting, "Hey, you dumb mutt!" Max turns and gasps upon seeing Danny.

"A cat!"

Max woofs and bark while trying to get into the bush that Danny dove into. Suddenly Tom came out, taunting him, "Hey, dumb dog! Hey dog-de, bopply bop!"

"Another cat!" Max barks madly. Tom laughs as he jumps into the bushes before the dog could grab him. Those felines are tricky fellows!

As Max woof like mad, Penelope came out, calling, "Hey, mean doggie!"

Max saw Penelope and is about to head after her, only for Arlene to come out, taunting, "Better hurry!"

Max saw Sylvester coming out as did Arlene. The dog growls in determination, "Three cats! I got you now!"

Max jumps quickly at Penelope's hiding place. With him distracted, this is Garfield's chance to come out which he did. That dog is making him nervous...but he can't let his fellow cats see him being scared.

"Garfield, go on! Get the potion!" Penelope exclaims quickly.

Garfield didn't waste any time in heading off to Nai-Nai's. Luckily for him, Max was too busy to notice or follow him. The dog kept looking around for his prey, then spots Sylvester eating some fish.

"There he is!" Max exclaims in determination.

Before Max could get him, Scratchy pulls Sylvester, exclaiming, "Hey, get back here or you will hurt yourself!"

Max jumps in, only to missed Sylvester but getting too close to Tom's hiding spot. The gray cat taunts, "Be-bop-de-bop, dog!" Tom proceed in hitting Max's nose with his tail, knocking him back.

Tom laughs as Max groans while rubbing his noise, "Ouch. Oh, my toe. That cat hit me on my toe! Grrr! Oh, I can't wait to get you, cats!"

Max got near the bush, more determined to get those cats. Nermal was shaking while the cats look at Max who is still trying to get him. So far, so good.

"Hey, Penelope? Penelope!" Nermal spoke as he came over to Sylvester. "Any chance Garfield will be all right? I don't really hate him, I was upset."

"Yes, I know, Nermal, I know." Penelope said with a nod. Deep down, Nermal doesn't really hate Garfield, though the fat cat always pick on him. Penelope points to the tree as she continues, "Listen, how about you climb up that tree and watch for him? Then when you and Oliver spots him, give out a little thump! We will make sure to keep that dog busy."

"All right! Easy-peasy, 1-2-3sie! Come on, Oliver."

"All right, Nermal." Oliver said with a nod as he and Nermal begins to climb up the tree. Hopefully Garfield will come back with the sleeping potion. The cats don't know how long they will keep Max busy.

As Max kept on barking outside the bush, Nermal looks around while saying in concern for Garfield, "Oh, I hope Garfield will be all right."

"Yeah. Garfield is a jerk but he is still a cat." Furrball said with a sigh.

Both Nermal and Oliver got to the top of the tree. Luckily, Max is busy barking to notice them. Upon arrival, they look around in hopes that Garfield will arrive soon and with the sleeping potion in paw.

"Garfield?" Oliver calls out quietly for Garfield.

"Garfield?" Nermal calls out to Garfield quietly. The two kittens got to keep quiet to keep Max from hearing them.

Just then, a familiar fat cat came near another set of bushes with a bottle holding Nai-Nai's sleeping potion. He frowns while saying quietly, "Sssh! Keep it down, you two!"

"Garfield, you made it!" Oliver exclaims with a smile of relief.

"Right!" Nermal exclaims in agreement.

Max kept barking at the bushes, unaware of Garfield's presence. The fat cat groans quietly, "Will you two keep it down?"

"Garfield!" Both kittens exclaims happily. Unfortunately, they end up saying it too loud, causing a certain dog to hear them.

"Huh? What?" Max ask as he turns and saw Garfield, making Nermal and Oliver scream in horror. "Hey! Oh my gosh! A fat cat!"

"Gah!" Garfield screams in alarm. The fat cat tried to escape but Max grabs him, causing him to scream and yelp, trying to escape.

Max laughs as he spoke in a sing-songy voice, "I got a cat! I got a cat! I got a cat!"

"Help, someone help me!"

"No, oh no, oh no!" Both Nermal and Oliver exclaims in horror. Garfield has been caught and it's all their fault because they were so loud.

"Garfield! Oh no, this is horrible!" Nermal exclaims in worry and regret.

"Sorry, Garfield!" Oliver calls down to Garfield in alarm.

"Oh no, this is horrible, more horrible than anything!'

"We got to get help!"

As Garfield kept on screaming, Nermal and Oliver gulps in worry for him. This doesn't look good for the fat orange cat at all.

"I got a cat, I got one!" Max exclaims happily and in determination, causing the two kittens to shake in fear. "Yes sir, I got one! Oh, I really got one!"

"Come on, let me go! Let go!" Garfield exclaims in terror. Why didn't Nermal and Oliver gone instead of him? Oh yeah, because he won't let them do so.

"Forget it, not a chance! The Grinch will have you for his stew or my name is Maxine...or is it Max?"

Max took out a sack that he brought along with plans on holding Garfield and the other cats. Thinking quickly, the orange cat splashes the potion onto them, making him yelp in alarm.

"Hey, all right!' Nermal cheers, smiling as he and Oliver turns to calls to the others. "Garfield threw the sleeping potion onto that dog's face."

The cats cheers eagerly. Granted, they wanted to wait until Garfield is inside to use the sleeping potion, but better later than never, right? Tom watch curiously as he ask, "Say, is it be-bop-de working?"

The two kittens watch as Garfield begins to yawn...then he fell asleep, making Nermal gasp.

"Uh oh! The dog is still awake and..." Nermal gasps in worry and concern. That wasn't supposed to happen.

"No! Garfield's fallen asleep instead of intentional!" Oliver exclaims in alarm. The two kittens turn as they shout in worry. "Garfield!"

"Garfield, buddy, wake up!"

But Garfield kept on snoring. That sleeping potion is powerful stuff! Soon Max begins yawning himself as he spoke in victory, "All right, I got one." The dog put Garfield into the sack almost barely. "Good, one more cat for...the Grinch's...stew."

Soon Max let out a big yawn then fell asleep. The kittens watching nods in satisfaction. At least the plan is moving alongside smoothly right now.

"Hey, everyone. The dog's asleep." Nermal announces to the others, making them cheer though quietly.

"Let's go." Penelope said quietly. The cats can now pick up Garfield out of the sack so they can wake him up so that the plan can begin.

"Right, let's get Garfield." Arlene said quietly with a nod.

"Yeah." Everyone said. They shush while heading over to Garfield to pick him up.

Penelope watch Max to make sure that he isn't waking up too soon. After assured that he won't, the black cat spoke, "Come on, come on."

Penelope, Nermal, Oliver, Sylvester, Figaro, Arlene, Pepe, Furrball, Sawyer, Pussycat, Tom, Danny, and Scratchy came close to Max, making sure not to wake him up. Figaro whispers, "Hope this works."

The dog snorts, grumbled while rubbing his eyes then roars, scaring the cats off. Luckily for them, he fell asleep completely. The gang rush back inside as Nermal groans. So much for getting Garfield out of the sack.

"Only one thing left to do now: we got to continue with Nermal's plan." Penelope said, much to Nermal's alarm.

"What, my plan?" Nermal gasps, getting worried. "B-b-b-b-but we can't do it without Garfield! He has to be on top! He practiced and know all the words for this to work!"

"I know, but Garfield can't do it now!"

Nermal gasps in worry. Sawyer spoke up, "If I said it once, may as well said it a thousand times: Garfield was always too big...and fat...for this job. Why, you know what we need? Someone who is nice, little, someone who won't crush my shoulder and..."

"Sawyer!" Everyone else exclaims with Sawyer babbling on once more.

"But...she does have a point though." Pussycat said in concern.

"Right, we need someone nice and little for the top." Oliver said thoughtfully. Then he and the other cats gave a thoughtful look to one particular cat.

"Wait, someone nice and little...like me?" Nermal ask in surprise and concern. The other cats want him to be on top?

"You will do great, Nermal, we know it!" Penelope exclaims eagerly. After all, this was Nermal's plan and he wanted to help! May as well let me be on top of the giant tiger disguise. "Come on, everyone!"

"But, but, but..." But unfortunately, everyone left Nermal, making him extremely worried. He is worried that he himself would mess this up for everyone. And it was his (and Oliver's) fault that Garfield was captured in the first place. "Well, I got Garfield into this, so I may as well...gulp...get him out. I will be on top and do all the talking."

Nermal became more worried. He hopes that he himself can do this right for everyone's sake.

-------------

It was a while later as Max kept on sleeping. Finally the potion wore off, which resulted in Max yawning as he wakes up.

"Oh, where am I?" Max ask puzzled while looking around. "Looks like I'm still in the field. Oh yes, the field! The village, right! And now I got a cat and soon I will get all the other cats! Growl!"

Max was preparing to get back to work...when he saw something whimpering and stiffy coming his way. The dog's eyes widen as he saw what appears to be... a giant tiger...which was custom made by the cats!

"Dog!" Nermal spoke from inside the costume.

"Oooooooh! Who said that?!" Max ask, shivering in fright as he saw the giant tiger. To him, it's real! Nermal stutters inside the costume as he and the other cats inside the custom giant tiger came over. "W-w-who are you?"

"I am..." Nermal said inside the costume. The cats wait for him to continue but he appears to be hesitating. "Um...err...I...I...oh, I can't do this, guys! I can't, I can't!"

"Nermal, come on!" Penelope insists to Nermal in concern. "It's the only way we can save Garfield! Now tell that dog who you are!"

"And make it snap-dap-be-bop-y." Tom said with a cringe. "My tail is going to break at any given moment!"

Nermal nods as he looks at Max, speaking, "I am the giant tiger!"

"No! Not the giant tiger! Anything but that! Anything but..." Max said, freaking out like mad. But then the dog stops, looking puzzled. "Wait, what giant tiger?"

"This giant tiger!"

"This giant tiger?! Oh no, not this giant tiger! Oh no, don't hurt me, giant tiger, please!"

"Me, hurt you? Ha!" Nermal calls out from inside the costume, doing his best to remember the words.

"Garfield, listen!" Penelope exclaims eagerly. Max is scare of the giant tiger!

"It's working! The dog is scared of ya!" Oliver exclaims to Nermal eagerly. The gray kitten smiles happily. His plan is doing well!

As Max shook in fear, he gulps, "Please, don't hurt me, this giant tiger!"

"Ha! That's Mr. Giant Tiger to you, pal!" Nermal laughs, causing Max to look more terrified as he gulps in fear. That "giant tiger" is going to hurt him. "But trust me. I won't hurt you. And do you know why?"

"No, why?"

"Because those who hurt others hurt themselves!"

"Uh, those who hurt others hurt themselves?" Max ask in surprise though a bit puzzled. "Oh, that's profounding."

"Now let that cat do now!" Nermal orders Max from inside the costume.

"Wait, do I have to?"

"Now!" Nermal demands more than he ask, making Max yelp in fright. That giant tiger means business!

"Right, all right, you win!" Max said, frowning as he opens the bag. Garfield was let out, yawning a bit as the potion wore off for him. "Well, okay, cat, there you go."

"Did I take a..." Garfield said, yawning a bit. Suddenly he saw Max, yelping and gasping in fright. Now the fat cat remembers! Garfield quickly run off from the dogs. "Help, help!"

Thomas and Duchess was at the door, motioning Garfield to come inside quickly. They were watching what's going on. So far, the plan appears to be working. The fat cat jumps in, hiding in the bushes.

"All right!" Nermal exclaims in determinations as the cats begin mocking Max. "Well, pal, you oughta be respecting us for letting you go!"

"Right, as if!" Garfield exclaims in amusement. "Go get them, giant tiger!"

"Well, so you know who’s the boss now, right?"

"I will be honest, Mr. Giant Tiger. I really hate to do that, letting that cat go." Max said with a sigh, wondering what to do now. "The farmer, the Grinch, needed a cat for his stew."

"For his st-st-st-st-st-stew?!" Nermal yelps, getting into a panic. Hearing that had terrified the poor kitten out. Soon the costume begins to tumble as he is about to fall. "Ste-ste-ste-STEW?!"

"Nermal!" Penelope exclaims in horror.

"No, stop, Nermal!" Oliver exclaims as he and everyone else is losing balance.

But Nermal didn't listen. He loses his balance as well, causing everyone inside the huge costume to scream while they tumble inside the costume. Max looks at this scene puzzled, unaware of what's going on.

"Err, Mr. Giant Tiger, are you all right?" Max ask the fake tiger. To his shock, Sawyer's head pops out of the costume yelping.

"Nermal, watch out, watch out!" Garfield exclaims in alarm as everyone in the costume fell to the ground. Penelope peeks out and gulps upon seeing the upset Max. The jig is up!

"Wait a minute, hang on! You aren't any real tiger!"

Max barks angrily. The cats run out and make a run for it, most of them hide in either the costume or jump right into the costume.

"Run, Nermal, run!" Garfield exclaims to Nermal. The gray kitten tries to get out of the costume but he is having trouble doing so.

"I can't, I'm stuck! I'm trapped!" Nermal exclaims frantically, trying to get out of the costume.

"Nermal!"

Once everyone else is hidden, Nermal screams as Max pounces onto him, grabbing the poor kitten. The dog laughs, "Ah ha! So you thought you could fool me, right?" Garfield, Penelope and Oliver are horrified as their friend is grabbed by him. He's captured. "Well, you gotta get up pretty darn early in the morning to fool old...uh...uh...ugh! I have been doing this for so long, I have forgotten my name!"

Furiously over being deceived and forgetting his own name, Max shakes Nermal while snapping, "All right, Mr. Giant Tiger, my nose!"

"Guys, what are we going to do?" Garfield ask the others in worry. The giant tiger plan didn't work and now Nermal is in Max's hold! They gotta do something!

"All right, you know what I'm going to do with you, huh?"

"I wish I wouldn't ask." Nermal said with a gulp, fearing the worst.

"Oh, I will put you in the Grinch's stew! That's what I'm going to do!" The Grinch exclaims. Nermal gasps in fear. He is trapped in a sticky situation that he himself had no idea on how to get out! It's over! "All right, where did I put that sack?"

"Guys, the sack!" Oliver exclaims in realization.

"Yes, grab it!" Penelope exclaims, getting the idea. The two cats and Garfield rush over to the sack. Hopefully it will buy them time until they can save Nermal.

Author's note
Not good! Nermal has been captured! In the next and final chapter, after Nermal is saved, the Grinch shows up, scaring poor Max. After realizing that he's scared of his owner, Nermal makes one final plan to save him and the other cats. Read, review and suggest.