C for Chattering Cat

“An irrational number is a number which cannot be expressed in the form p/q where p and q are two integers and…………”

The boy had stopped listening. ‘Why can’t he explain in simple language,’ he thought.

He looked through the window pane. The playground was empty. Not even a bird was there.

Then he saw a cat.

The cat was playing with a stick. No, it wasn’t a stick. It was his magic wand that the bandicoot had stolen from him.

The boy took permission from the teacher to go to the washroom.

The teacher gave him a dirty look and nodded.

He ran towards the playground. He saw the cat. She growled at him.

“Why did you leave the class?” the cat asked. “You will never understand what irrational numbers are. Go back to your class.”

“I hate mathematics. Who gave you my magic wand? Where is that thief, that bandicoot? Give me my magic wand.”

“I hate to tell you that bandicoot was no good. Your grandfather had asked him to bring something from your home. But that rascal just wanted to get hold of this magic wand so that he could turn every cat into a butterfly. I told him that only silkworms turn into butterflies.  But he would not listen. I had to teach him a lesson. But why do you hate mathematics?”

“Stop! Not one more word about mathematics, you chatterbox,” the boy almost screamed.

“How dare you insult me! You are a foolish boy who does not even know the difference between an ordinary pencil and a magic wand. What did you do with your grandfather? Did you turn him into a flower pot? Or a white pigeon?” The cat said, pointing towards a white pigeon that had just landed near the boy.

The boy was taken aback.

“I think I will punish you. Only if I knew the magic word. What is the magic word?” asked the cat.

The boy did not tell the magic word.  

A squirrel came running. The cat dropped the magic wand and ran after the squirrel.

The boy grabbed his magic wand and ran back to the classroom.

When he reached home, he quietly peeped into the grandfather’s room.

He was not there. But he was surprised to see the chattering cat in the room; she was sleeping on the grandfather’s bed.

****

A post for A to Z Challenge

Today’s letter C

You may like to read my earlier post B for Bandicoot.