A Dangerous Journey

CAT & GLASSES

Susanna came walking one morn, she and her cat, to sit down on the lawn. This day she felt all out of sorts, hating the summer and hating her thoughts. She said: "Hey cat! You're no comfort; no in fact you're quite a bore." But the cat was just like most cats that above all food adore, but Susanna was quite upset and she saw just a lousy pet. Everything seemed all too tame. Life was so humdrum and always the same
"I wish that danger would come to make life less boring before I go numb!"
Cat was purring, breeze was stirring gently through the empty field, and Susanna, in hеr manner, to resentmеnt she did yield. "That cat is just overfed and he tires my eyes", she said
So she took off her glasses and put them away in the grass. And then lo and behold: when she did they were gone in a flash! Instead, there lay another pair of a strange kind! When she put on this new pair she thought she was losing her mind: All was changing! Before her eyes the whole world was changing. And the cat, he started growing! And the girl, she watched in awe, 'cause it was an unpleasant sight, as he grew to a monstrous height!

SWAMP

Through her brand new specs she saw Kitty get huge teeth and claws. Then he loped away, hissing! Soon he was vanished gone, missing! Susanna felt bad inside. "Kitty come back to me!" she cried, but her true remorse seemed spent. Into a forest deep she went
"This is a swamp of strange mangrove! I don't belong in here - I know! Mirrored in waters dark I see a hideous face of fear! (That's me?)"
She ran away from the swamp and the face and she reached an open place. A sea shore! But the sea was not there! It had drained away somewhere! She walked 'stray by the dry ocean bed. Silent birds flew overhead

MEETING

To cheer up she sang aloud. Then she spied a curious crowd: one too shy, and two quite small; the Hemulen - he was tall and he exclaimed "Susanna! Hi! Hello!" How he knew her name she did not know. They shook hands, they had a chat and she asked about her cat. They shook heads and looked dismal: "We've seen not cat, but then all's completely wrong! I'm absolutely sure: nothing here is like it was before! Just out for a walk, you know. But then, just a while ago, the world changed, we lost our way! It's peculiar! Anyway, no use to sob! Why don't you come with us, Thingummy and Bob, my dog and me?"

VULCANO

There was a boom, a great blast of doom, and everyone froze! There was a rumble, as if the earth crumbled, dangerously close! The mountain behind them gave up a fierce roar! Chaos and mayhem! Silence was no more. Out from the mountain - like a hot fountain - lava spewed out! Ashes and smoke made them all choke! They almost passed out! Thing'my and Bob ran hither and thither. Susanna wondered: "Whatever brought me here?!" And the dangerous journey continues like the space in a conjuror's hat. And to think that it all had begun with an indolent cat!
"My tail is on fire! Hell, this is dire!" somebody cried. A creature came stumbling down from the rumbling mountain side. "Try to keep calm, friend!" said the Hemulen. "Who might you be then? Tell us your name, friend!"
"Please call me Sniff, but I'll soon be a stiff so why should you care!"
But alas, the loud noise muffled his voice and drowned its despair. "By this volcano, we're not ok, no! This is quite stunning! Better start running now, or this fiery mountain will kill us! I am sure of it!" Susanna cried. "It's a dangerous journey, you know!" the Hemulen replied. And away they fled from the lava red. Soon they reached a place where they felt quite safe. But the dangerous journey continues for Susanna and Sniff and the rest. And they gathered around to try to figure out what was best, and they made the decision to follow a trail to the west. That's where, in a valley so fair, the good Moomin family dwells. Unless they lived around other bends; in this strange world, who could tell?! They set off as the wind turned cold...

COLD

Cold descending and they froze as night came on. And soon it snowed; the flakes whirled round and round and round. But on they walked, no talk, no cheer, no sun, no fun. Plod on!

ONION SOUP

In the shocking night they saw a firelight. In a small cave two fellows sat in shelter from the weather. Snufkin and Wimsey sat by the fire, both busy cooking onion soup - now they got company! Our shivering wanderers were all invited. The soup was great, they had too much. And then they had a doze. At the break of dawn they woke up with a yawn, but bright and breeze, all but Sniff
"Thanks and farewell!" they said to Snufkin and his friend. Sniff tripped and fell, still sleepy, all could tell. "Keep to the south-west" Snufkin said just as they left. Then he made clear: "The Valley's just a day from here!" They walked with ease - they passed a forest, crossed a field - but soon the scenery turned strange and threatening...

MONSTER!

Suddenly they felt an ominous presence! Something was lurking quite near! (Better stride very fast!) Whatever it was it was evil in essence - this was a being to fear! (Better run very fast!) Now they could all hear it breathing and crawling. It's just behind them! Oh dear! (Better run for your life!) Just as their fate seemed as sealed as appalling, some kind of airship appeared! Red and gold in the sky!

BALLOON

From the sky a balloon came a-pace! Now it hovered just in place! Too-tikki, the captain, said: "Take a leap! Hold on tight! Grip the side with all your might!" They were saved, not a second too late! "All aboard! The Moomins wait!"
All was changing. The whole world was changing. On the winds they were sailing. And the girl, she was amazed, 'cause it was such a pleasant flight. Then they valley appeared in sight!

A PARTY OUTDOORS

They were all welcome of course, Susanna too. They had a party outdoors - they sometimes do. And there was the stray, all purring away - her cat! Had Susanna's strange journey been for real or not? It doesn't seem to matter an awful lot. True or untrue? But why bother to unravel!