It was a lovely summer day. The sun warmed Kitty Cat’s fur as she skipped down the street. It sparkled on the four ribbons tied to her tail.

Soon Kitty Cat met Barney Beagle. “Where are you going, Kitty?” Barney Beagle asked. “And why do you have a green ribbon, a red ribbon, a yellow ribbon, and a purple ribbon tied to your tail?”

Kitty Cat laughed to herself and said, “Come with me and you will see.”

“All right,” said Barney Beagle. So the two friends skipped down the street.

Soon they met Polly Parrot.

“Kitty,” said Polly Parrot in her screechy voice, “why do you have four ribbons tied to your tail?”

Kitty Cat laughed to herself and said, “Come with me and you will see.” So the three friends skipped down the street.

When they came to the grocery store, Kitty Cat stopped. “You both want to know why I have four ribbons tied to my tail,” she said. “Come shopping with me and you will see.” So the three friends hurried into the store.

Barney Beagle helped Kitty Cat push the shopping cart. Polly Parrot rode on the handle.



Kitty Cat went straight to the fruit and vegetable counter. She looked at her tail. Then she put a head of green lettuce in her cart. She looked at her tail again and picked out some red tomatoes. Once more she glanced at her tail and then picked out a bunch of yellow bananas.

“Now I know what all of your ribbons are for, Kitty!” Polly Parrot screeched from the cart.

Barney Beagle nodded. “I do, too! The ribbons remind you what to buy at the store!” he said.

Kitty Cat smiled. “You have solved the ribbon mystery!” she said. “You know what three of my ribbons reminded me to buy. But can you guess what the purple ribbon is for?”

“Grapes!” shouted Kitty Cat’s friends.

“Right you are,” said Kitty Cat. Then she picked out a lovely bunch of purple grapes and put them in her cart.

Kitty Cat paid for her food. “Thank you for helping me with my shopping,” she said to her friends.

“Shopping with you was fun,” said Polly Parrot.

“And different,” said Barney Beagle. “No shopping list!”

“You do not need one when you have a tail!” Kitty Cat laughed.