Razz is so excited to share with her friends that she forgets to listen.
A story about sharing and listening, using the therapeutic storytelling approach developed by Susan Perow.
They say there was and they say there wasn’t, the snazziest of cats, her name is Razz. And oh my is Razz a chitty chitty chatty cat. Every day Razz prances up to her friends Turtle and Squirrel, so excited and says:
Let me tell you about my day, I woke up to the smell of my mamas chocolate chip cookies (mmm), and tiptoed into the kitchen and had the most delicious breakfast, Tuna with chicken and meatballs and pasta and french fries. Then I ran around looking for my favorite doll eksita and I found her, under my bed! And did you see the color of the sky today, it’s so so gray!”
Razz talks so much, she forgets to listen to her friends Turtle and Squirrel and can’t even remember what their voices sound like. Are they high and twirly or deep and low? Her friends turtle and squirrel listen to her stories in awe, everything she says is so exciting. But they also feel a little sad, for they too want to share their stories.
Halloween arrives. Halloween is Razz’s favorite day of the year. Oh does she love to dress up in different costumes and prance around town. This Halloween is extra special. She and her friends turtle and squirrel are going to sing in the Halloween school show. On the morning of the Halloween show, Razz wakes up singing: I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it, I’m about to lose control and I think I like it. Oh my is she so excited she dances and prances and purrs all day. She digs her paws in her closet flinging out all her costumes trying to find the perfect one to wear. This one, no this one, no this one, no that. Finally she decides. She puts on her blue ballerina skirt and pulls up her red shiny boots, spikes up her hair and throws a dash of glitter on her face.
Razz arrives at the Halloween show. Shiny lights hang from tree to tree and laughter can be heard everywhere. Razz swivels her ears this way and that, her red shiny boots tap tap tapping away. All her friends are dressed up. Turtle is a dinasour and squirrel is a witch.
The show begins and first it’s Turtles turn. Turtle walks onto the stage in his slow and fiercest way (roar). But Razz flies right by him onto the stage, she is so excited she forgets it’s turtles turn. Turtle hides his head inside his shell and says: I’m so mad that Razz took my turn. Razz of course, doesn’t even notice her friend is so upset and when she opens her mouth to sing, nothing comes out. Everything is silent for a moment. Then she hears the sweetest of sounds from the trees above:
Every voice is beautiful and gay
Even turtle wants a turn today
Oh no, whispers Razz and looks at turtle hiding inside his shell and with her quietest paws tiptoes off stage. Turtle’s head slowly comes out of his shell and he begins to sing. Razz listens to his deep low voice like calm waves on a sunny day and feels so peaceful.
Next it’s Squirrels turn. (He he he he hee). Squirrel the witch leaps onto the stage in her sneaky way. But Razz flies right by her. She is so excited she forgets it’s Squirrels turn. Squirrel tosses up her tail and says: Hmm! I’m so mad that Razz took my turn. Razz of course, doesn’t even notice her friend is so upset and when she opens her mouth to sing, nothing comes out. Everything is silent for a moment. Then she hears the sweetest of sounds from the trees above:
Every voice is beautiful and gay
Even squirrel wants a turn today
Oh no, whispers Razz and looks at Squirrel’s tossed up tail and with her quietest paws tiptoes off stage. She listens as Squirrel sings, her voice soft and light as an autumn breeze. Razz whirls and twirls to Squirrel’s song.
Finally, it is Razz’s turn. Razz prances onto stage with her dancing paws, tap tap tapping her shiny red boots and sings with all her snazz:
Every voice is beautiful and gay
Even the birds want a turn today
All of a sudden from the trees above all the birds sing along. Razz dances to their joyful song and everybody jiggles along.
From that day on Razz the Cat is so excited to listen. She listens all the time even when she sleeps to the sound of a fly buzz-buzzing nearby or a frog crrroaking far far away. Her ears swivel this way and that.
The wind blows and off my story goes.
