“Oh, I see,” replied Mrs. Moseley. “Well, perhaps a little wild animal life will do Tom good. Take him along.”
The girls thanked the lady and Veve promptly gathered up the big cat in her arms. Lazy Tom disliked being disturbed because he had been enjoying a snooze on the window sill in the warm sun.
When the girls reached the Williams’ yard again, they dropped the cat on the grass. Veve then ran to the garage for a large wooden bucket which Mr. Williams used when he washed the car. Turned upside down it made a fine pedestal.
“Now get up there, old lion!” she ordered the dozing cat. “Up, I tell you!”
Lazy Tom paid no attention. He merely said “Meow!” in a very bored voice.
“Don’t you roar at me!” cried Veve. “I’m your trainer. Now do exactly as I say. Climb up there!”
Lazy Tom rubbed himself against the bucket, his long fluffy tail waving back and forth.
“Why not pick him up and set him on the pail?” suggested Connie. She thought Veve was wasting valuable time.
“Trainers never do that,” replied the little girl. “An old lion would just bite off your hand.”
“But Lazy Tom is no lion,” giggled Connie.