Welcome To Kings

A grizzly bear shops at a department store staffed by matching spotted cats.
Written especially for this podcast by Simon. 

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Speaker 1: Yea. Hello everyone, and welcome to the Animal Tales podcast,

where you suggest the animal for us to write a

story about. My name's Josephine and I've got a brand

new animal story here just for you. Animal Tales Premium

members get an extra story every Friday. Find out how

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Sammy and Yara are from California, USA, and they would

like a story with a king cheetah and a grizzly bear.

You can learn more about these creatures in the animal

facts after the story. Now settle back well and I'll begin.

Welcome to Kings. Yarra was a grizzly bear who had

just moved into her first home. It was just around

the corner from an old fashioned department store, the sort

of place where you could buy almost anything. At present,

Yarra's little apartment was looking rather empty, so being able

to get all the things she wanted in one store

was very appealing. So the day after the move, with

a list of things she needed in her hand, the

grizzly bear went shopping. The department store was in an

ancient narrow building of many floors. Across the large glass

window in thick gold lettering was the name King's. Welcome

to King's, announced a smartly dressed spotted cat. As Yarra

walked through the door. Thank you, nodded Yara. I have

a few things I need to get. Whatever you need,

we have a department that sells it, smiled the spotted cat.

He was wearing a gold name badge on his shirt

that said Sammy, perhaps there's something I can help you with.

Yara looked down at the list in her hand and

then up at the items of furniture behind Sammy. There

are several sofas, couches, and setease on display. I need

somewhere to sit in my new apartment, she said. Then

please allow me to show you what we've got, said Sammy,

leading the way. Animals in Rainforest City come in all sizes,

which meant that there were only two that were suitable

for a grizzly bear, a bright red couch and a

sky blue reclining sofa. Yarra tried sitting on them both

and decided that the reclining sofa was exactly what she needed.

I'll take it, Yara said, with a smile. Wonderful, grinned Sammie.

Would you like to pay now or is there anything

else that you would like to look at? Yara checked

her list. Do you sell toasters, absolutely, grinned Sammie. There

on the next floor up in our kitchen department. I'll

have the sofa put beside the pay desk while you

head on up. Thank you, said Yarra happily. This spotted

cat was extremely helpful, so she left him to it.

As he began sliding the reclining sofa to one side

to go up a floor. Yarra had the choice of

taking the stairs or going up in the lift. Using

an elevator to travel just one floor seemed unnecessary, so

she took the stairs instead. Arriving amongst the kitchen goods

a moment later, there were washing machines, microwave ovens, ladles,

wooden spoons, pots and pans, drinking glasses, apple peelers, and

one hundred other items spaced out before her. How is

she going to find a toaster amongst all this? Fortunately

she didn't have to worry for long, as she noticed

a member of staff waiting patiently a short distance away.

It was another spotty cat in a neat shirt, making

Yarra a shim that it might be Sammy's brother or cousin.

At least that's what she thought until she got up

close to him and read his name badge it too,

said Sammy. Welcome to King's, said the second Sammy, How

can I help you? Er? I'd like to look at

the toasters, please, said Yarra, trying to hide her puzzlement.

Second Sammy stepped aside to reveal the toasters beside him.

This is what we have in stock, he said, with

a smile. They're all very good. Yarra inspected them all,

noting that the sunflower yellow toaster had extra wide slots

in case you wanted a toaster bagel. I think I'll

have that one, please, she said, tapping the yellow toaster

with a finger. An excellent choice, smiled Second Sammie. Will

you be taking it now or would you like to

look around some more? Once again, the grizzly consulted her list.

I need a towel for the bathroom. Do you sell

those here? She asked? Of course, grinned, Second Sammie, in

our bathroom department up on the next floor. I'll tell

you what, I'll drop the toaster downstairs and you can

pay for it on your way out. How does that

sound Um great, actually, nodded Yara. She watched Second Sammie

pick up the toaster and head for the stairs. While

he went down, she went up. On Arriving at the

next floor, Yarra was struck by the number of mirrors

about the place. Somehow it made the space look a

lot larger. She could see basins and bath tubs, toothbrush

holders and toilet brushes, shower caddies and soap dishes, but

no towels. But what she could also see reflected in

several mirrors was another smartly dressed spotted cat. He was

tall and thin, much like Sammie and Second Sammie, but

his pattern of spots was equally unusual. Yarra had never

seen a large cat with such spots before, not including

the Sammis of course. Welcome to Kings, said the large cat.

How can I help you. You're called Sammy too, said

Yarra in surprise. Er, yes, Sammy, that's my name, said

the spotted cat. Well Sammy, said Yarra slowly. I need

a towel for my bathroom. Please, can you show me

where they are. They're right here, said Sammy, gesturing to

the war beside him. Yarra had been so focused on

Sammy the Third that she'd not seen them. We've got

everything from dainty washcloths to oversized bath sheets and everything

in between. Got anything grizzly bear sized? Yara asked. Sammy

the Third showed her the jumbo bath towels. She could

choose between pale green, lavender, pink, or brilliant white. I'll

take the brilliant white one, please, she said. Marvelous smiled

Sammy the Third, Pay now, or would you like to

look for something else? Do you sell bedside lamps? Yarra asked.

I like to read before bed, so I'm going to

need something to help me see. Try our lighting department,

declared Sammy the Third helpfully. Next floor up, I'll take

your towel downstairs so you can pay for it on

your way out. Thank you very much, said Yarra as

she glanced at her list. She was doing well. At

this rate, she just might get everything. Returning to the stairs,

Sammy the Third went down with the towel while Yarra

continued upwards. She'd walked up a lot of steps by now,

so her legs were beginning to feel weary. An escalator

have been good, but she supposed the store was too

small and too old to have one. The next floor

was quite beautiful. There were lights everywhere, like a thousand

fairies waiting for her. There were wall lights and floor lights,

track lights and pendant lights, lamp shades and light bulbs,

and even chandeliers, but Yarra couldn't make out any bedside

lamps amongst at all. Luckily, there was a department store

employee leaning against a display of desk lights. This one

was also a spotted cat, but wasn't as smart as

the previous three. Not only was he slumped against the display,

but his shirt was untucked. Welcome to Kings, he panted.

What can I get to you? Are you feeling unwell?

Asked the concerned grisly bear. No, no, I'm fine, said

the spotted cat, standing up straight. This revealed his name badge,

which unsurprisingly also said Sammie. Is every one that works

here called Sammy? Asked Yarra. Well, actually, yes, nodded the

slender cat. What was it that you wanted? Again? A

bedside lamp, said Yarra, and don't tell me. They just

happened to be right beside you. She peered over the

cat's shoulder. Not exactly, said SAMMYE number four, there beside you,

and they were. They had several beautiful lamps, including some

that turned on and off with a touch. Yarra chose

one with a pretty shade. This is perfect, she said,

glad to hear it, smiled Sammy number four. And before

you ask, please, could you take it downstairs while I

look for the last thing on my list, said Yarra.

Now all I need is a nice house plant for

my window sill. The spotted cat picked up the lamp

with a nod of his head. Certainly, he said, you'll

find house plants in our rooftop greenhouse on the lex floor.

He was already hurrying for the stairs, casting a wary

glance back at the grizzly bear. Something weird is going

on here, said Yarra, as she hurried after him. The

spotted cat went down the steps, and she went as

fast as she could up them. She came out in

a glass roofed room awashed with greenery. There were yuckers

and rubber plants, ferns and peace lilies, succulents and cacti

and dozens more or that Yara didn't even recognize, but

she realized there was no staff member. She was alone.

She was just inspecting a long leafed spider plant when

a pile of pots crashed to the ground a short

distance away. An embarrassed looking spotted cat jumped to his feet,

brushing soil and compost from his shirt. He held up

his hand to catch his breath, then said sorry. Then,

after a moment to catch his breath, he continued with,

Welcome to Kings. Which plant would you like? It wasn't

that he said it rudely, but he was a little

more frazzled than the sami's on the previous floors. Yarra

was presuming that he too was a Sami based on

what the last Sami had said, but she couldn't be

sure because this one had lost his badge, possibly when

he fell over the pots. This spider plant is exactly

what I had in mind, said Yarra, which means I've

managed to find everything on my list, Thank goodness, sighed,

Maybe Sammy five, mopping his brow. If you'd just like

to take it to the front desk, then some one

will take your payment there, some one, repeated Yarra suspiciously,

as a cunning look crept across her face. Actually, I'd

like you to carry my plant down, please, I'm going

to take the lift. The lift squeaked, maybe Sammy five, okay,

very well. He snatched up the spider plant and ran

for the stairs. Just as Yara ran for the elevator,

it opened quickly, allowing her to dart in and hit

the button for the lowest floor. The doors closed, and

down she went. If she was right, she should be

faster than somebody taking the stairs. But when the elevator

doors parted, she was surprised by the sight that greeted her.

Beside the payment desk was her bright blue reclining sofa,

and slumped in it, breathing hard, was an exhausted spotted

cat clutching a spider plant. On the payment desk itself

was her yellow toaster, jumbo bath towel, and bedside lamp.

I don't think you're Sammy six, she said, as she

approached the employee on her chosen piece of furniture. I

think you've all been the same, Sammy, So tell me

what's going on. Sammy set the spider plant down carefully

steadied his breathing, then said, King's is a family business.

It's been owned and run by several generations of King Cheaters.

But you see, I'm the only one left. But surely

you have help, asked Yarra. Only the family ever worked

in Kings, said Sammie. My great grandfather was proud of

our cheaterah speed and that so few of us could

manage so much so quickly. But you can't run a

department store on your own, said Yarra. You're going to

need at least some help. I guess you're right. Sammy nodded.

Assisting you to day has shown me that I'll make

sure I employ some one as soon as possible. Then

why don't you start with me? Said the grisly bear.

I just moved in around the corner, and I suppose

getting a job will help me get back all the

money I'm just about to spend. Sammy leaped to his feet,

looking refreshed at last. Then you're hired, he grinned, shaking

Yara's hand. Welcome to Kings Animals. Fat King Cheaters look

very different to other cheaters. They're spots are blotchier, combining

into stripes in places, and yet they are not a

different species or even a subspecies. They are simply a

cheater with a rare mutation. If a king cheata has cubs,

then one in four of those cubs will also have

king cheeta markings, while the rest would look like ordinary cheaters.

Although not as fast as a cheata, grizzly bears are

surprisingly quick too. They can reach fifty six kilometers an

hour in a sprint that's thirty five miles per hour,

or forty five kilometers an hour when running at a

steady pace that's twenty eight miles per hour. Scarily, that's

faster than a human can run. Thank you for your suggestions,

Sammy and Yarra. We hope that you all enjoyed the story.

Wherever you're listening in the world, discover at Animal Tales

books at Animaltales dot uk great bedtime reading, especially if

you've discovered the joy of reading for yourself. Make sure

you join us next time for another great animal tale.

Good Bye,