Chapter 4. Apprentice

The next morning Lulu Cat rolled awake. She stretched, and she stood up, and she looked out into the mists hovering through the mango trees. The dawn light, the cold fresh air and the stillness of the mountain made Lulu Cat happy. “It’s a beautiful morning. I shall start a new adventure today.” She smiled and jumped out of the hut, wondering about the spell the Pirate Dog promised to do for Laughing Cat. “What spell is it?” she wondered.
 
Walking into the mango forest, she saw that the Pirate Dog was already waiting for her. Beside him was the pile of mangos that she had seen the day before. “They are shinning,” Lulu Cat said in amazement.
 
“Pick one and try to stand on it.” The Pirate Dog pointed to the pile of mangos. “Remember, once you pick a mango, you will have to always try to stand on the same one. Make your choice carefully.”
 
With her little head slightly twisted to one side, Lulu Cat approached the mangos. Sensing her coming, the mangos scattered into small groups of two or three, and some individuals. Their skins started to shine more, and they jumped up and down, and they rolled around as they said over and over, “gui gui, gui gui gui gui!”  They were so very much like Lulu Cat!

They were all different colors. Some were a fresh green, some were a rich yellow, and some were a deep orange. Two of them, laying behind all the others, shone with the color of gold. These ones didn’t move as much. They didn’t make a sound. They simply lay there, shining with their brilliant radiance.
 
As she walked around the mangos, Lulu saw one other. It lay on the ground away from the others, hidden next to a tree trunk. This one was all black. When Lulu Cat got closer this black mango rolled away around the tree trunk and disappeared from her view.
 
Among all of these mangos, Lulu Cat liked a small yellow one the most. This mango was about the same size as little Lulu was. He stayed by himself, jumping and rolling, and occasionally makes a little “gui gui.” It felt like he was smiling brightly at Lulu Cat. Looking at this mango, Lulu felt that her spirit had lighted up. This was the one!

She walked right up to this yellow mango and grabbed him. It rolled in her paws! It jumped in her hands! With all of its jumping and rolling, the mango was too difficult to get ahold of. It burst into a long series of “gui gui gui gui” like it was laughing at her!
 
Lulu Cat turned her head to Pirate Dog helplessly. What could she do?
 
“Come here,” he said to her. “I will teach you.”
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