Gary and Morris Meet a Snowy Owl

It was a white and grey day at The Hervey Foundation for Cats. The snow on the ground had turned the sky white instead of blue. Gary and Morris were lazing about, hanging out in front of a window while laying on their backs and soaking up the small amount of sunlight that managed to break through the clouds.

“What a boring morning,” said Morris.

“It is what it is, I suppose,” said Gary.

This was nothing new. These two cats loved to lay around.

“You know, the older I get, the more I feel like just sitting here and doing nothing,” said Morris.

“You’re dang right!” said Gary. “I used to chase mice like it was an Olympic sport, but now the only thing I want to chase are snacks… into my belly.”

The cats laughed and rolled around on the blanket that Marjorie had placed by the window.

Suddenly there was a huge commotion. A bunch of people came into the house, and they were buzzing about something that just happened outside.

“I can’t believe it! It’s so majestic!” said Marjorie.

“That might be the most beautiful bird I’ve ever seen up close!” said a volunteer.

“I think it’s… well I’m not sure. Let me look on Google before I say anything,” said Marjorie.

The cats stood up about halfway and then looked at each other.

“Okay! I was right! It’s a snowy owl!” Marjorie yelled back to the volunteers who were still at the door with their shoes on.

“Wow!” one of them said. “I wonder what he’s doing all the way down here?”

“It says they normally live up north. I wonder if he got lost while looking for food or something?” Marjorie asked.

She stood up, petted Gary and Morris on the head briefly, and then headed back to the volunteers, and then all of them went outside.

The two cats were still sitting in the living room.

“Snowy owl?” said Morris.

“I guess so,” said Gary.

“You don’t think it’s an owl made entirely of snow, do you?” Morris said with a grin.

“I’m not even going to answer that,” Gary replied. “Let’s go see. What are we waiting for?”

The cats jumped down to the ground and ran over to the door where everyone had been coming and going. Using their superior intellect, the cats took turns jumping up and slapping the door latch until one of them finally got it open.

Once outside, the cats walked over to where the humans were standing. It was cold out! Their little paws were melting the snow they walked on, but it sure was chilly.

“HOO!”

The cats froze in their tracks.

“What was that?!” Morris asked.

“That must be the owl!” said Gary, whose fur was all puffed up now.

They went in closer for a better look and there it was! A snowy owl in the garage. The poor thing was standing on top of one of the cabinets with its head tucked tightly into its body as if trying to preserve its warmth.

The humans were chattering amongst themselves, but Gary and Morris were trying to figure out what a snowy owl would be doing in their garage.

“I’ve never seen an owl like this one,” said Morris.

“Well, you also came from the city. I’m surprised you even know what an owl is,” said Gary.

“My feelings…” said Morris with plenty of sarcasm.

“I don’t get it. These guys don’t usually fly around here. He looks like he was built for the cold though,” Gary said. “He must be lost.”

The humans decided to put some food and water out for the bird, then they brought Gary and Morris back inside.

“That little owl might be the nicest owl on Earth, but we don’t know him and we are going to be extra careful,” said Marjorie.

While inside, Gary and Morris started to worry about the owl. They were such sweethearts they couldn’t help but wonder if it was lost or if it needed help to get back home. Maybe it was scared or hungry, and perhaps there was something they could do to help.

“I can’t sit here and wait,” said Gary. “I’m going back outside!”

He got up and dashed towards the basement where he knew how to open one of the windows.

“Wait!” said Morris, who dove after him.

The window wasn’t much of a challenge for Gary. He had slipped out the basement window numerous times with great success. After getting his head and body pressed through, he held it open for Morris.

“You’re crazy!” said Morris. “Do you even have a plan?”

“I do!” he said. “Let’s go get someone who can relate a little better.”

“Gilbert?” asked Morris.

“You betcha!” said Gary.

The two cats darted across the backfield and into the woodlands. Gilbert was one of their crow friends who had decided to stay for the winter in Bullwinkle’s cabin. Bullwinkle and the raccoons had figured out how to light fires in the fireplace, making the cabin a warm refuge for all the wild animals in the area.

Gary and Morris got to the door and meowed until one of the raccoons opened it.

“Hey there everyone!” said Gary.

“Well hello!” replied Mama Raccoon. “What can we do for ya?”

“Is Gilbert here?” asked Morris.

The little crow had been sitting on a shelf above the fireplace. Upon hearing his name, he stood up and faced the cats.

“Hey, fellas! How have you been?”

“We are good, Gilbert. We need a hand with something… someone,” said Gary.

Gilbert made a face as if he was surprised another animal or person could be messing with his friends.

“Who’s bothering you guys?” he asked.

“Nobody is bothering us,” said Gary. “But we have a visitor at the shelter who could use some help.”

Gilbert and the cats sat and chatted about the whole ordeal. It was there that Gary revealed his plan.

“So what I am thinking is, we get him set up with some food, then if he truly is lost, we get Gilbert to fly him out to the edge of his home territory.”

Gilbert thought the idea made sense. He had already mapped out most of the province! He knew that if he flew north alongside the owl, they could reach the land he likely came from.

“Well let’s go see this little owl and figure out what is going on,” Gilbert declared.

The animals bid farewell to Bullwinkle and Racoons then headed back towards The Foundation.

Once at the garage, the cats and Gilbert waited for a moment when the humans weren’t outside looking at the owl, then they made their move.

Entering the garage a bit hastily, they startled the owl who flew across the roof and onto a shelf up high.

“Sorry! It’s okay!” said Morris. “Don’t worry!”

“We are the good guys,” said Gilbert.

The owl looked up and made eye contact with them. He slowly lifted his head and cleared his throat.

“My name is Earl,” he said. “I was looking for food, but I wasn’t finding anything and I kept going further and further down.”

“We had a feeling something like that might have happened,” said Gary.

“Eventually I got tired, hungry, and cold, so I flew in here and now everyone keeps coming in and pointing at me. I’m really scared.”

Gary and Morris felt awful for the little guy.

“Are you able to get home?” asked Morris.

“I don’t know where to go and I am too hungry,” replied the little owl named Earl.

“We brought you something to eat,” said Morris, who brought a tin of wet food with him.

Earl’s eyes lit up. He was so excited!

“Here you go!” said Gilbert, who flew the tin up to the owl.

“Thank you!” said Earl, as he plunged his beak into the top of the can over and over until it was open enough for him to eat from.

The animals stood around as Earl ate the wet food and regained his strength. They talked and got to know each other a bit better. Earl had been part of a flock of snowy owls from way up north. He was a nice fella, who didn’t like taking risks, but because of a food shortage in his area, he was forced to go further and further south for a meal.

“That was just perfect,” said Earl. “I feel like I have my strength back!”

“Well, if you feel good enough, I could fly with you back up north until we get to a point where I have to turn back,” said Gilbert.

Earl thought about it.

“I don’t usually like taking big risks, like flying long distances at night, but if I had someone come with me, I’d give it a try! I really want to get home!”

Gilbert smiled and reassured him.

“That’s no problem. I know the terrain around here really well, so you are in good hands,” he said.

“Gilbert is a great guy!” said Gary.

The animals walked back outside.

“It was really nice meeting you, Earl. We hope you’ll visit from time to time!”

“I’d love to!” he replied.

“Ready to roll?” asked Gilbert.

“You mean ‘fly?’” asked Morris.

They all had a chuckle, and then Gilbert and Earl beat their wings and headed off into the night sky.

All of a sudden, Marjorie and the staff came back outside to check on the owl.

“I hope he’s doing okay,” she said. “He is such a cute little fella!”

“He’s gone!” shouted one of the volunteers.

“Gary! Morris! What are you two doing out here?” Marjorie said. “Did you scare him away?”

She scooped the two cats up and then brought them inside. Once in the door, she removed her shoes and walked over to her computer to check the cameras outside by the garage. It was there she saw her two cats casually walk up to the garage with a crow following them. She then saw them enter, stay for a while, and then head back outside casually with both the owl and crow. Then the owl and crow took off into the night.

“What on earth?” she said to herself.

Gary and Morris giggled then took their place back at the window.