A Curious Cat
In a small seaside town lived a striped cat named Cleo. She had soft gray fur, bright green eyes, and the most curious whiskers. Cleo loved adventure. She climbed rooftops, chased drifting leaves, and peered into every open window.
One morning, while wandering near the harbor, Cleo spotted something new—a circus tent with red and gold stripes. Musicians practiced outside, clowns juggled, and acrobats flipped in the air. Cleo’s whiskers twitched.
“I want to see more,” she purred. Without a second thought, she padded straight into the circus.
Trying the Acts
Inside the tent, Cleo found the ringmaster, a tall man with a shiny top hat. He gasped when he saw her. “A cat! How curious. Do you want to join the circus?”
Cleo meowed proudly.
The ringmaster laughed. “Well then, let’s see what you can do.”
First, Cleo tried the tightrope. She balanced on the rope, tail high in the air. But halfway across, her paws slipped. “Me-owch!” she squeaked as she tumbled onto the safety net.
Next, she tried juggling. She batted three colorful balls into the air, but they bounced off her paws and rolled away. The clowns chuckled kindly.
Last, Cleo tried the trampoline. She bounced once, twice… then landed in a pile of costumes. Feathers and sequins stuck to her fur. Everyone laughed—not meanly, but with joy.
Cleo’s ears drooped. “Maybe I don’t belong here,” she thought.
The Sad Little Cat
That evening, Cleo curled up behind the circus tent. She felt small and out of place. She had wanted to shine, but all she had done was slip and tumble.
“Why so sad?” asked a gentle voice. A spotted dog named Poppy padded over. She wore a clown’s collar of jingling bells.
“I wanted to be part of the circus,” Cleo whispered, “but I can’t do the tricks. I’m not special enough.”
Poppy tilted her head. “Every animal has a gift. You just haven’t found yours yet.”
Cleo thought about that as she licked the glitter off her whiskers. Maybe the dog was right.
Finding Her Gift
The next day, the circus opened its doors to the townspeople. Children rushed inside, their eyes wide with excitement. Cleo sat quietly near the ring, unsure if she belonged.
Then, during the parade of animals, something unexpected happened. A little boy dropped his balloon. It floated high above, out of reach. The boy’s eyes filled with tears.
Before anyone could move, Cleo leapt. She climbed the pole, scrambled along a rope, and batted the balloon gently down with her paw. The crowd gasped, then cheered.
The boy hugged his balloon and whispered, “Thank you, cat.”
The ringmaster clapped his hands. “Did you see that? Cleo has found her talent! She’s a natural climber and helper.”
Cleo’s heart swelled. She hadn’t needed juggling or trampolines. She just needed to be herself.
The Circus Cat
From that day on, Cleo became the circus cat. She raced up ropes, balanced on beams, and helped in surprising ways. When a clown lost his hat, she darted to fetch it. When the acrobats needed a partner, she trotted proudly beside them.
Most of all, she made the children laugh with her silly flips and whiskery bows.
That night, as the lanterns glowed and the crowd clapped, Cleo purred happily. She had joined the circus after all—not by being like everyone else, but by being herself.
The End.
If you’d like to discover more about helping children celebrate their unique talents, read PBS Kids: Helping Our Children Love Their Differences
Looking for another bedtime adventure? Try The Owl Who Forgot How to Hoot, a gentle story about learning and friendship.
Make bedtime feel extra cozy — visit our Bedtime Shop for glowing nightlights, cuddly plush friends, and enchanting storybooks that help little dreamers drift off with a smile.
