The video is a read‑aloud rendition of Chapter 1 from Ursula K. Le Guin’s children’s book Catwings. The narrator introduces Miss Jane Tabby, a mother cat living in a grim, trash‑filled urban neighborhood, and her four kitten children—Thelma, James, Roger, and Harriet—who each have a pair of delicate wings. The mother worries about the unsafe environment: noisy traffic, hungry dogs, aggressive rats, and scarce food. When a large dog corners Harriet near a dumpster, Harriet instinctively flies up, escaping the danger and landing on a rooftop. This dramatic rescue convinces Miss Tabby that the kittens’ wings are a means of escape. She recalls a dream she had before the kittens were born, realizing she must teach them to fly away from the hazardous streets. The chapter ends with the mother urging her children to practice flying, while Thelma cries and the kittens express mixed feelings about leaving home.
Chapters
G'day guys, I'm gonna read A Catwing's Tale: Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin. There are 4 books in this series. Chapter 1. Miss Jane Tabby could not explain why all 4 of her children had wings. I suppose their father was a fly-by-night, a neighbor said and laughed unpleasantly, sneaking around the dumpster. Maybe they have wings because I dreamed Before they were born, that I could fly away from this neighbourhood, said Miss Tabby James. Thelma, your face is dirty. Wash it.
Roger, stop hitting James. Harriet, when you purr, you should close your eyes partway and knead me with your front paws. Yes, that's the way.
How was the milk this morning, children? It's very good, Mother. Thank you! They answered happily. They were beautiful children, well brought up. But Miss Tabby worried about them secretly. It really was a terrible neighbourhood and getting worse. Car wheels and truck wheels rolling past all day. Rubbish and litter. Hungry dogs. Endless shoe and boot walking. Running, stamping, kicking. Nowhere safe and quiet, and less to eat. Most of the sparrows had moved away. The rats were fierce and dangerous. The mice were shy and scrawny. So the children's wings were the least of Miss Tabby's worries. She washed those silky wings every day, along with the chins and paws and tails, and wondered about them every now and then. But she worked too hard finding food and bringing up the family to think much about things she didn't understand. But when the huge dog chased little Harriet and cornered her behind the garbage— behind the garbage can, lunging at her with open white-toothed jaws, and Harriet with one desperate mew flew straight up into the air and over the dog's staring head and lighted on a rooftop. Then Miss Tabby understood. The dog went off growling, its tail between its legs. Come now, Harriet! her mother called. Children, please come here, all of you! They all came back to the dumpster. Harriet was trembling. The others all purred with her till she was calm. And then Miss Jane Tabby said, Children, I dreamed a dream before you were born, and I see now what it meant.
This is not a good place to grow up in, and you have wings to fly from it. I want you to do that. I know you've been practicing. I saw James flying across the alley last night. And yes, I saw you doing nosedives too. And I saw you doing nosedives too, Roger. I think you're ready. I want you to have a good dinner and fly away. Far away. But Mother!
