ARKVILLE
by David Cory · from Puss Junior and Robinson Crusoe
Adapted Version
Puss, Junior, woke up. Oh no! His boat was gone. He put on his red boots. He must find his father. He walked to the river. His boat was not there. He put on his red boots. He walked to find his father.
Puss, Junior, walked. He saw a small man. The man was Tom Thumb. Tom Thumb was very tiny. Puss, Junior, picked him up. He put Tom Thumb on his shoulder. They walked together.
Then rain came down. It rained a lot. Tom Thumb got wet. He was very small. Puss, Junior, had a pocket. Tom Thumb went into the pocket. He stayed dry there.
They walked to a village. They heard loud sounds. A hammer went bang. A saw went whirr. What was that noise? It was very loud. They walked to see.
They saw a big thing. It was a huge boat. Workers built it fast. It was in the town square. The boat was very big. It was made of wood. It was not finished yet.
A man sang a song. He sang about a boat. It was Noah's Ark. The song told of rain. Much rain would come. The boat would float. It would be safe.
A kind man stopped work. He was Noah. He said, "Much rain will fall. It will rain for many days. The water will be high. You must stay safe from the rain."
Noah said, "Stay in Arkville. The big boat will be ready. Go on the boat when it is done. It will keep you safe. You will not get wet. The boat is for everyone."
Tom Thumb looked out. He said, "Noah speaks truth. Much rain will come. The rain will not stop. Noah is right. We must listen to him."
Puss, Junior, spoke to Noah. "Your words are good," he said. "We will stay here. Where can we sleep? Is there a warm place for us?"
Noah smiled. "Go to Hotel Ark," he said. "I own that place. My sons and I work now. We will finish soon. Make yourselves at home. It is a safe place."
Original Story
ARKVILLE
THE next morning when Puss, Junior, went down to the river, he found his boat was gone.
"Now I must trust again to my red-topped boots," he sighed, and at once set off to find his dear father. By and by he saw a little man in the distance, who, on coming nearer, turned out to be Tom Thumb.
Puss picked him up and placing him on his shoulder, set off once more. But, goodness me! It soon began to rain, and Tom Thumb crept into a pocket to keep dry.
Towards the middle of the day they arrived on the outskirts of a small village. In the distance they could hear the strokes of a hammer, and then, now and again, the whirr of a saw cutting into hard wood.
"What's going on, I wonder?" said Tom Thumb; "sounds as if they were building a house."
"Don't know," answered Puss, "but let's hurry, for I am soaked to the skin."
On arriving in the village they saw what appeared to be an immense boat in the early stages of construction. It was being erected in the city square, the little park that stood in the midst of the stores and houses.
Drawing nearer they heard a voice singing:
"Noah of old did build an Ark
Of spicy gopherwood and bark
To float upon the deluge dark.
Now on this Ark they had no sail,
For it was made (and true the tale)
Without a mast to break the gale."
When Puss and Tom halted at the side of the Ark a kind-looking man stopped his hammering and said:
"It's going to rain for forty days and forty nights. There's going to be an awful deluge. You'd better stay in Arkville and get aboard the Ark as soon as it's finished. If you don't you'll get drowned."
"He speaks the truth, I'm thinking," answered Tom Thumb, peeping out of Puss, Junior's, pocket. "It looks to me as if the rain were never going to stop."
"My good sir," said Puss, turning to the man, "it seems to me your advice is good. We'll stay in Arkville for a few days. But where shall we stop? Is there a hotel near?"
"Over yonder is the Hotel Ark," said the man. "I'm the proprietor, and my name is Noah. Go in and make yourselves at home. My sons and I will follow you shortly. We have a few more nails to drive before we quit for the day."
Story DNA
Moral
It is wise to heed warnings and prepare for future difficulties.
Plot Summary
Puss, Junior, loses his boat and sets off on foot to find his father, soon joined by Tom Thumb. As heavy rain begins, they arrive in a village called Arkville, where they find a large ark under construction. A kind man named Noah warns them of an impending forty-day deluge and advises them to take shelter on the Ark once it's finished. Puss, Junior, and Tom Thumb accept his advice and head to the Hotel Ark, run by Noah, to await the completion of the great vessel.
Themes
Emotional Arc
concern to safety
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story draws heavily on the biblical narrative of Noah's Ark, reinterpreting it with classic fairy tale characters.
Plot Beats (11)
- Puss, Junior, finds his boat missing and decides to walk to find his father, relying on his red-topped boots.
- He encounters Tom Thumb and picks him up, continuing their journey.
- It starts to rain heavily, and Tom Thumb takes shelter in Puss, Junior's, pocket.
- They arrive at a village and hear the sounds of construction.
- They discover an immense boat being built in the city square.
- They hear a man singing a song about Noah's Ark.
- A man, Noah, stops his work and warns them of an impending forty-day deluge.
- Noah advises them to stay in Arkville and board the Ark when it's finished to avoid drowning.
- Tom Thumb confirms the severity of the rain and the truth of Noah's warning.
- Puss, Junior, accepts Noah's advice and asks where they can stay.
- Noah directs them to the Hotel Ark, revealing he is the proprietor, and invites them to make themselves at home while he and his sons finish work.
Characters
Puss, Junior
A sleek, agile cat of average height for a bipedal feline, with a lithe build. His fur is a rich, deep orange-ginger color, impeccably clean and well-groomed. He walks upright on two legs.
Attire: A pair of distinctive, highly polished red leather boots that reach just below his knees, with sturdy black soles and a slight heel. These boots are his primary mode of magical transport. He wears no other clothing in the story, relying on his fur.
Wants: To find his father and to stay safe from the impending deluge.
Flaw: Can be overly reliant on magical items (like his boat or boots) and is susceptible to the elements (getting soaked by rain).
He starts by seeking his father and ends up finding refuge and a new purpose in Arkville, accepting the reality of the coming flood.
Resourceful, determined, practical, and slightly world-weary. He is quick to adapt to new situations and trusts his instincts.
Tom Thumb
An incredibly tiny human boy, no larger than a man's thumb. He has a proportionate, though miniature, build.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing suitable for a child, likely made of sturdy linen or wool in muted colors like brown or grey, allowing for ease of movement despite his size. He would wear miniature, soft leather shoes.
Wants: To stay safe and dry, and to understand the events unfolding around him.
Flaw: His extreme smallness makes him vulnerable to the elements and reliant on others for travel and protection.
He starts as a travel companion seeking shelter and quickly accepts the reality of the coming flood, finding refuge with Puss, Junior, and Noah.
Curious, observant, cautious, and practical. He is quick to voice his thoughts and concerns, especially regarding safety.
Noah
A kind-looking, sturdy man of middle age, with a strong build from years of carpentry and construction. His hands are likely calloused from work.
Attire: Practical, durable work clothes suitable for a carpenter in a historical setting, such as a sturdy linen tunic or shirt, leather apron, and simple trousers, all in earthy tones. He would wear strong, well-worn leather boots.
Wants: To complete the Ark and save himself, his family, and others from the impending flood, driven by a strong sense of duty and belief.
Flaw: His singular focus on the Ark might make him seem overly zealous to those who don't share his conviction.
He is already fully committed to his task and serves as a catalyst for Puss, Junior, and Tom Thumb, guiding them to safety. He remains steadfast in his purpose.
Kind, earnest, prophetic, and industrious. He is deeply convinced of the coming deluge and dedicated to his task, yet welcoming and helpful to strangers.
Locations
The Riverbank
The edge of a river where Puss, Junior's boat was moored, now missing.
Mood: Disappointing, slightly melancholic, yet determined.
Puss, Junior discovers his boat is gone and decides to travel by foot to find his father.
Outskirts of Arkville
The area just outside a small village, where the sounds of construction can be heard.
Mood: Wet, urgent, curious.
Puss, Junior and Tom Thumb approach the village, hearing mysterious construction sounds amidst heavy rain.
Arkville City Square
A small park in the center of the village, surrounded by stores and houses, where an immense boat is under construction.
Mood: Busy, urgent, ominous, yet strangely hopeful.
Puss, Junior and Tom Thumb discover the Ark being built and learn about the impending deluge from Noah.
Hotel Ark
A hotel in Arkville, offered by Noah as lodging for Puss, Junior and Tom Thumb.
Mood: Sheltering, welcoming, temporary refuge.
Puss, Junior and Tom Thumb find shelter from the rain and a place to stay at Noah's hotel.