FIVE
by Rose Fyleman · from The Rainbow Cat
Adapted Version
Hello! Let's meet a special cat. His name is Rainbow Cat.
Rainbow Cat comes to a new land. Goblins live here. They are friendly. They live in trees. They make clothes for fairies.
Chief Goblin is sad. He needs help. Fairy Queen wants shoes. She wants pink shoes. She needs many pairs. They have no pink flowers. The shoes must be ready soon.
Rainbow Cat wants to help. He says, "I will find a way." He asks many questions. He looks for ideas.
Rainbow Cat learns about a tree. It is a Hawthorn Tree. It lives in Weeshy Glen. It is small and crooked. It is always angry.
Hawthorn petals are good. They can make shoes. But the petals are white. Pink shoes are needed.
Rainbow Cat asks for a mandolin. Chief Goblin gives him one. It is a pretty mandolin. Rainbow Cat goes to the glen.
Rainbow Cat sits far from the tree. He takes his mandolin. He sings a song. The song is about the tree. It says the tree is small.
The Hawthorn Tree hears the song. It gets angry. It gets very, very angry. It shakes its branches.
The tree is so mad. Its white petals turn pink. It shakes very hard. All pink petals fall down. They fall like pink rain. This is a magic sight.
Rainbow Cat gathers the petals. They are all pink now. He runs to Chief Goblin. He tells the good news.
The goblins get the petals. They work very fast. They make pink shoes. Fairy Queen gets her shoes. She is very happy.
Goblins thank Rainbow Cat. They give him gifts. He gets a magic bottle. He gets the mandolin too. He is happy for gifts.
Rainbow Cat goes on his way. He travels to new places. Now, pink hawthorn trees grow. White hawthorn trees grow too.
Rainbow Cat was very clever. He helped his friends. And now, pink hawthorn trees grow for everyone to see!
Original Story
FIVE
The Second Adventure of the Rainbow Cat
THE Rainbow Cat went on and on until at last he came to the country of the Tree-goblins. The Tree-goblins are happy people; they live in the trees like birds, though they can’t fly. They are indeed very friendly with the birds, and they understand the bird language, so that they are able to send one another messages without any need of the post—which is very convenient!
When winter comes the goblins go and live in their caves underground. It is a great change after the trees, and they are always delighted when spring returns again.
There are no animals in Tree-goblin-land, but the Rainbow Cat was an old friend here too, and was received as kindly as in Cloud-land.
The Tree-goblins are rather funny little creatures; they like to keep themselves to themselves, as the saying goes, and there are not even any fairies living in their country. But they are on very friendly terms with the fairy folk, and their principal occupation is making fairy clothes.
These are the tiniest, finest little garments imaginable, and they are made of all sorts of pretty things. Spider thread, of course, and moonbeams, and softest silk from silk-worms, and flower-petals dipped in magic wells so that they cannot fade, and thistledown, and moss-velvet, and foam, and lichen—oh, there is no end to the things that are used to make clothes for the fairies.
And when they are finished the birds carry them to the fairies and bring back orders. Sometimes, when it’s a very special occasion, the fairies come to be fitted or to choose the stuffs and the styles, but not often.
They are easy to fit and easy to suit, and the birds do the ordering most satisfactorily.
The Rainbow Cat liked being in Tree-goblin-land very much indeed.
He lived in a beautiful copper-beech. When the morning sun shone through the leaves his little house was filled with a lovely rosy light which was most pleasing and becoming. Every morning a chorus of little birds sang songs to him for his delight, and every evening they lulled him to sleep with soft lullabies.
They thought him a very grand and beautiful person, and so indeed he was.
When he had been in Tree-goblin-land for two or three days the Chief of the Goblins came to see him one morning early. He was in great trouble.
The Queen of the Fairies had sent an order for rose-coloured shoes, dozens and dozens of pairs. She wanted all the Court to wear rose-coloured shoes at her next party, and her next party was to take place in three days.
“We could get the work done,” said the Chief Goblin anxiously, “it isn’t that. But we haven’t got the material. You see, the roses aren’t out yet. There’s been a great run on pink lately and we’ve used up all the pink flowers and all our other stuffs of that colour. We’ve scarcely got an inch of rose-colour of any kind, and we ought to start at once. It’ll take us all our time to get them made. It would be dreadful to disappoint the Queen. What are we to do?”
The Rainbow Cat was more than willing to help, but he felt that it was a difficult matter.
“How soon must you have the stuff?” he asked.
“This afternoon would be the very latest,” said the goblin.
“I’ll see what I can do,” said the Rainbow Cat. “I have an idea or two. Don’t worry, it’ll be all right. Meet me here at noon, and I’ll let you know what I’ve done.”
The Chief Goblin went away feeling considerably relieved. The Rainbow Cat seemed so wise, just the kind of person to think of something helpful in an emergency.
And sure enough at twelve o’clock he came to meet the Chief of the Goblins with a cheerful twinkle in his dark blue eye.
“I’ve been making a few inquiries,” he said. “But I want to make sure that my information is correct. Sit down, and let us have a little quiet talk.”
The Chief of the Goblins sat down and waited eagerly. He felt more and more hopeful.
“Is it true,” said the Rainbow Cat, “is it true that the crooked hawthorn tree in the Weeshy Glen is very bad-tempered?”
“Quite true,” said the Chief Goblin. “Nobody dares go near him, he’s such a cross, cantankerous creature. Lots of the hawthorns are very nice indeed, and we’re very fond of them. But he’s unbearable. He’ll give any one a nasty scratch if he gets half a chance, he’s so spiteful.”
“Is it true,” continued the Rainbow Cat, “that he’s jealous of the other trees because he can’t grow tall and big like them, and reach up to the sky?”
“Quite true,” said the Chief Goblin. “He makes every one round him miserable with his grumbling and scolding.”
“H’m,” said the Rainbow Cat, and he folded his arms and sat lost in thought for a few minutes.
“Would the petals of the hawthorn tree do to make fairy shoes of?” he said at last.
“Beautifully,” said the Chief Goblin. “But they’re white.” (For at that time all hawthorn blossom was white, both in Fairyland and everywhere else.)
“Quite true,” said the Rainbow Cat. “Can you lend me a mandolin?”
“Yes, I think I can,” said the goblin, and he ran off and came back very soon with a beautiful mandolin all inlaid with silver and ivory and mother-of-pearl.
“Thank you,” said the Rainbow Cat. “I think that in half an hour or so I shall be able to let you have all the rose-coloured petals you want.” And he hung the mandolin round his neck and set off into the forest.
Presently he came to the Weeshy Glen, sat down a little way off from the hawthorn tree where its thorns could not possibly touch him, tuned up his mandolin, and began to sing this little song:
“The oak tree raises his arms on high,
The pine tree reaches up to the sky,
The slender birch is a lady fair,
The poplar has a most elegant air.
But tell, oh tell me now, who is this
Small and stunted and all amiss?
Who can he be? oh, who can he be?
This squat little, odd little, strange little tree?”
It wasn’t very kind of the Rainbow Cat, but the hawthorn tree was a very disagreeable fellow, you must remember, and nobody could ever do anything to punish him because every one was so afraid of his sharp thorns.
Anyway, by the time the Rainbow Cat had got to the end of the first verse, the hawthorn tree was very angry. He could hardly contain himself, and he trembled all over with the temper he was in.
The cat hardly looked at him, but went cheerfully on with his song.
This was the second verse:
“The elm tree stands like a stately king,
The leaves of the alder dance and sing,
My lady beech is a courtly dame,
The chestnut’s lamps are a shining flame.
But tell me, tell me, who can he be
That scarcely reaches up to their knee?
Hoary of head and crooked of limb,
What on earth is the matter with him?”
The hawthorn tree had grown more and more furious as the song went on. The Rainbow Cat finished up with a beautiful trill when he got to “the matter with him,” but the hawthorn tree was in no mood to admire his fine singing. So great was his rage that he grew pinker and pinker and pinker, and he shook so violently that all his petals were shaken down. They fell all round him like a shower of rosy rain.
The Rainbow Cat waited no longer. He ran off as hard as he could to the Chief of the Goblins, still singing as he went, and told him that he would find all the stuff he wanted in the Weeshy Glen.
So the Queen got the rose-coloured shoes after all, and the Tree-goblins were most grateful to the Rainbow Cat, and begged him to stay with them as long as he liked.
But he thanked them and said he must continue his travels.
They wanted to load him with presents, but all he would take was a little bottle of water from the magic well. This water has fairy powers. If you rub it on your eyes you can see through stone walls, which is sometimes very convenient, and the Rainbow Cat was quite pleased to have some.
They also insisted that he should keep the mandolin. This he finally consented to do. And ever since that time there have always been pink hawthorn trees as well as white.
Story DNA
Moral
Even the most disagreeable characters can be manipulated for a greater good, and cleverness can solve difficult problems.
Plot Summary
The Rainbow Cat visits Tree-goblin-land, where the Chief Goblin desperately needs rose-colored material for fairy shoes for the Queen's upcoming party, but roses are not in bloom. The clever Rainbow Cat learns of a notoriously ill-tempered hawthorn tree, jealous of taller trees. He borrows a mandolin and sings a mocking song to the hawthorn, enraging it so much that it turns pink and sheds all its petals. The goblins use these petals to make the shoes, and the grateful goblins reward the Rainbow Cat, who then continues his travels, leaving behind a world where pink hawthorns now exist.
Themes
Emotional Arc
anxiety to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Reflects a pre-industrial setting where natural materials are primary for crafts and communication is often through nature (birds).
Plot Beats (13)
- The Rainbow Cat arrives in Tree-goblin-land, a place of friendly goblins who make fairy clothes from natural materials and live in trees.
- The Chief Goblin seeks the Rainbow Cat's help because the Queen of the Fairies needs dozens of rose-colored shoes in three days, but they have no pink material as roses aren't in bloom.
- The Rainbow Cat promises to find a solution by noon and begins to make inquiries.
- He learns about a notoriously bad-tempered, crooked hawthorn tree in Weeshy Glen, which is jealous of taller trees and spiteful.
- The Rainbow Cat confirms that hawthorn petals would work for shoes, but they are white.
- He borrows a silver-inlaid mandolin from the Chief Goblin and heads to Weeshy Glen.
- The Rainbow Cat sits a safe distance from the hawthorn tree and begins to sing a song mocking its small, stunted size and crooked appearance.
- The hawthorn tree becomes increasingly furious with each verse of the song.
- In a fit of extreme rage, the hawthorn tree turns pink and shakes so violently that all its petals fall off, creating a shower of rosy rain.
- The Rainbow Cat gathers the newly rose-colored petals and informs the Chief Goblin.
- The Tree-goblins successfully make the rose-colored shoes for the Queen of the Fairies.
- The Rainbow Cat is thanked profusely, offered gifts, and accepts a bottle of magic well water (which allows sight through stone walls) and the mandolin.
- The Rainbow Cat continues his travels, and from that day forward, pink hawthorn trees exist alongside white ones.
Characters
The Rainbow Cat ★ protagonist
A cat of unspecified size, but implied to be grand and beautiful. His most distinguishing feature is his 'rainbow' quality, suggesting a coat that shimmers with multiple colors, though the story doesn't explicitly detail the colors beyond his dark blue eyes.
Attire: None, as he is an animal, but his fur itself is his 'attire'.
Wants: To help his friends and continue his travels, exploring the world and its wonders.
Flaw: None explicitly stated, but his mischievousness could potentially lead to unforeseen consequences.
He reinforces his reputation as a wise and helpful friend, acquiring new magical items (magic well water and a mandolin) for future adventures.
Wise, helpful, clever, resourceful, and a bit mischievous (as shown by his trick on the hawthorn tree).
Image Prompt & Upload
A majestic cat with fur that shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow, standing upright and facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has dark blue, intelligent eyes and a calm, slightly mischievous expression. A beautiful mandolin, inlaid with silver, ivory, and mother-of-pearl, is slung around his neck. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Chief of the Goblins ◆ supporting
A 'funny little creature', implying small stature, consistent with goblins. No specific details on skin tone or build, but likely agile enough to live in trees and run off quickly.
Attire: No specific details, but as a Tree-goblin who makes fairy clothes, his attire might be simple, made from natural materials like moss-velvet or lichen, perhaps in earthy tones.
Wants: To fulfill the Queen of the Fairies' order and ensure the happiness of his community.
Flaw: Prone to anxiety and easily overwhelmed by problems, relying heavily on others for solutions.
Starts in great distress, finds relief and gratitude through the Rainbow Cat's help, and learns to trust in his friend's wisdom.
Anxious, responsible (concerned about disappointing the Queen), hopeful, grateful, and trusting (of the Rainbow Cat).
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, humanoid goblin creature with a slightly pointed nose and ears, standing upright and facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a worried, earnest expression. He wears a simple tunic made of woven moss-green fabric and trousers of brown bark-like material, with leaf-patterned embroidery. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Crooked Hawthorn Tree ⚔ antagonist
A 'crooked' and 'stunted' hawthorn tree, unable to grow tall and big like other trees. Its branches are likely gnarled and twisted, covered in sharp thorns. Its blossoms are naturally white.
Attire: Its own bark, leaves, and white blossoms.
Wants: To express its bitterness and resentment over its stunted growth and inability to be like other trees.
Flaw: Its overwhelming rage and vanity, which the Rainbow Cat exploits.
Remains bad-tempered but is tricked into shedding its white petals, which turn pink due to its rage, inadvertently helping the Tree-goblins and changing the natural world forever (pink hawthorns now exist).
Bad-tempered, cross, cantankerous, spiteful, jealous, grumbling, and scolding.
Image Prompt & Upload
A gnarled and twisted hawthorn tree, stunted in growth, with sharp thorns protruding from its dark, rough bark. Its branches are crooked and ancient-looking. White blossoms are visible, some beginning to blush pink with an intense, furious energy radiating from the tree. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Queen of the Fairies ○ minor
Implied to be elegant and fashionable, given her specific order for rose-coloured shoes for her entire Court. Fairies are generally depicted as small and delicate.
Attire: Implied to wear elegant, custom-made fairy clothes, likely in delicate fabrics like spider thread, moonbeams, or flower-petals, in various colors.
Wants: To host a grand party and ensure her Court is impeccably dressed.
Flaw: Her specific and urgent demands can cause distress for others.
Remains unchanged, her desires are simply fulfilled.
Demanding (wants dozens of shoes on short notice), fashionable, and enjoys parties.
Image Prompt & Upload
A tiny, ethereal fairy queen, standing upright and facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has delicate, translucent wings and a serene, regal expression. She wears a flowing gown made of shimmering moonbeam fabric, adorned with tiny, unfading flower petals in soft pastel colors. A delicate crown of woven spider silk rests on her head. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Tree-goblin-land Forest
A vibrant, ancient forest where Tree-goblins reside in the canopies. The trees are tall and varied, including oak, pine, birch, poplar, elm, alder, beech, and chestnut. The overall impression is one of natural beauty and a thriving ecosystem.
Mood: Whimsical, industrious, natural, and generally peaceful, though with underlying tensions (like the hawthorn).
The general setting for the Rainbow Cat's stay and the Tree-goblins' daily life, including their craft of making fairy clothes.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dense, ancient forest in the heart of a temperate region, with towering oak, pine, and beech trees forming a thick canopy. Sunlight filters through the leaves, dappling the forest floor which is covered in moss and fallen leaves. Small, whimsical tree-houses are nestled among the branches, connected by rope bridges and ladders. Birds perch on branches, and tiny, industrious figures of tree-goblins are visible tending to their crafts. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Rainbow Cat's Copper-Beech Home
A small, cozy dwelling nestled within the branches of a beautiful copper-beech tree. When the morning sun shines, the light filtering through the reddish leaves fills the interior with a lovely rosy glow.
Mood: Warm, welcoming, peaceful, and magical.
The Rainbow Cat's temporary residence where he receives the Chief Goblin and learns of the rose-coloured shoe dilemma.
Image Prompt & Upload
The interior of a small, circular dwelling carved into the trunk of a massive copper-beech tree. Morning sunlight streams through a leafy opening, casting a soft, rosy-red glow across the smooth, polished wooden walls and floor. Delicate, woven moss hangings adorn the walls, and a small, comfortable bed of thistledown sits in a corner. Outside the opening, vibrant green and copper leaves are visible, with a tiny bird perched on a nearby branch. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Weeshy Glen
A secluded, somewhat isolated glen within the forest, characterized by the presence of a 'crooked hawthorn tree'. The glen is where the ill-tempered hawthorn resides, away from the other taller, more stately trees.
Mood: Initially tense and foreboding due to the hawthorn's temper, transforming into a scene of vibrant, magical change.
The Rainbow Cat confronts the hawthorn tree with his song, causing it to turn pink with rage and shed its petals, thus creating the rose-coloured material for the fairy shoes.
Image Prompt & Upload
A secluded, slightly overgrown glen within a temperate forest. In the center stands a gnarled, crooked hawthorn tree, its branches twisted and low, covered in sharp thorns and initially white blossoms. The ground around it is a mix of sparse grass and exposed earth. Taller, straighter trees like oaks and birches line the edges of the glen, creating a sense of isolation for the hawthorn. Soft afternoon light filters through the surrounding canopy, highlighting the hawthorn's stark form. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.