Koneko monogatari

Narrator:
The noise upstairs didn't disturb the dogs that slept in the barn. They could sleep through anything. But a lot of the other animals were awakened by all the scurrying overhead. Some of them just accepted it... some were pretty annoyed... and a few quietly plotted revenge.

Milo's Mother:
And Milo! I've told you again and again - *please* don't walk on the chickens!

Milo:
Look what the blizzard blew in! You look hungry; how about some fish?

Otis:
Okay, but not for me; for my puppies.

Milo:
You have puppies? Me, too!

Otis:
You have *what?*

Milo:
I mean, uh, uh... kittens.

Otis:
Maybe you don't realize it, Milo, but this a major day for me, because... well, maybe you don't realize it, but this is the day I've become... a watchdog!

Narrator:
Naturally, the sight of a dog and a cat watching an egg brought the usual string of gawkers... and thrill-seekers.

Milo:
[smacking a bird on the head] Hey! Your singing stinks! Will you quit it?

Chicken #1:
Did you hear about Gloria?

Chicken #2:
Oh, the egg! So it finally happened! Is she staying at home with it or is she going back to work?

Deer:
Just let your heart lead and your feet will follow, and we'll bound and leap like a gentle breeze. Bound and leap like a zephyr set free. Bound, and, of course, leap.

Narrator:
Milo reflected on the family he'd stayed with.

Milo:
Geez... no wonder they call them *pigs!*

Raccoon:
[observing Milo's attempt at fishing] That cat has got to be kidding.

Milo:
[taunting the bear in the drawers] Wanna come in? I'll help you. I'll pull you in by your nose!

Narrator:
To keep up his spirits, he began singing a dog marching song.

Otis:
Here comes the dog, strong and brave - woof! Here comes the dog, your life he... [falls into a hole]

Narrator:
He then decided to skip the whole thing.

Milo:
Want some more dinner? Remember, you're eating for eight now!

Otis:
[after Sandra gives birth to their first puppy] It's a boy! It's a boy! It's a boy!

Sandra:
Uh, Otis... you ran out a little too soon.

Otis:
It's a litter! It's a litter!

Milo:
You're a strange-looking cat.

Otis:
Oh, I'm not a cat; I'm a dog.

Milo:
All right, a dog, I understand, but... deep down inside, we're all cats, right?

Narrator:
Milo started walking too close to the edge.

Milo's Mother:
Milo, dear.

Narrator:
His mother called.

Milo's Mother:
[as Milo falls] That's not a good idea! Come back here, Milo!

Narrator:
She yelled.

Narrator:
Otis resumed his search for Milo. He saw in the distance an animal that he thought might be helpful.

Fox:
[singing and swimming in a creek] Deeya-da da da dat da, deya-da datta da... Eeyo edata da, de do doo datta-da. [Otis runs down the hill] Eeya dat-datta da! [continues singing, climbs out of creek] Oh... ah! Gah... [shakes water off] Ooh, that's better. [proceeds to jump in meadow]

Otis:
Excuse me! I'm looking for a friend of mine!

Fox:
I'm looking for, uh, someone to play with! Wanna race me across the stream, eh?

Otis:
I haven't got time!

Narrator:
...Otis said, sensing that this fox wasn't going to be any great help.

Fox:
Hey wait a second... What kind of animal are you anyway?

Otis:
I'm a dog, of course.

Fox:
How can you be a dog? You have no tail!

Narrator:
Otis was outraged.

Otis:
I certainly do! Look! [wags his tail]

Fox:
Ha! You call that a tail? THIS is a tail! Ha ha ha! [waves his tail wildly]

Narrator:
And with that, the fox jumped away laughing.

Narrator:
Sometime later, during the last weeks of the long winter, Joyce was making preparations. The time was drawing near.

Milo:
[about her soon-to-come babies] You okay, Joyce? Want some more dinner? Remember, you're eating for eight now.

Joyce:
Milo... Milo, I think it's time.

Milo:
Okay! Remember the way to breath? [Joyce breathes deeply]