"Duchess! Where are you, kitty?" Winona called before she spotted a quaint cottage up ahead. She walked up to the gate and saw a little girl with curly brown hair and wearing a frilly pink dress come out of the cottage with a little lamb by her side. Winona gasped.

'That must be Mary and her little lamb!' She thought.

As she watched Mary walk around her yard with her lamb following close behind, Winona could hear the rhyme as if it was being sung right that moment.

'Mary had a little lamb

Little lamb, little lamb

Mary had a little lamb

Its fleece was white as snow

And everywhere that Mary went

Mary went, Mary went

And everywhere that Mary went

The lamb was sure to go'

Then Mary picked up a couple of books and a satchel from the doorstep and turned to her lamb.

"Now remember, Angel, you can't go with me to school today. You stay here and be good while I'm good. I'll be back." Mary said before walking away to go to school. But as she walked, the little lamb quickly followed after her to the schoolhouse; Winona followed too, hoping Mary might be able to help her find Duchess.

'It followed her to school one day

School one day, school one day

It followed her to school one day

That was against the rule

It made the children laugh and play

Laugh and play, laugh and play

It made the children laugh and play

To see a lamb at school'

By the time she made it to the schoolhouse, the other children there started to laugh and smile at the sight of the little lamb and it caught Mary by surprise. Then the teacher came out with her hands on her hips.

"Mary, you know the rules about pets. I'm afraid you'll have to take your lamb home again." The teacher said sternly.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry." Mary said, hanging her head sadly; her lamb baaed, sounding ashamed.

But then the teacher had an idea. "Hmm, you know what? Maybe you can bring her in just this once. We'll even make her your show and tell for today."

This made Mary and her lamb smile. But then Winona stepped forward and stopped right next to Mary.

"Excuse me?" The girl in blue asked.

"Hello, little girl. What's your name?" The teacher asked.

"I'm Winona and I'm looking for my cat, Duchess. Have you seen her?" Winona replied, wishing either Mary or her teacher would have an answer.

"A cat, you say? I'm sorry dear, but I don't think I've seen her." The teacher replied.

"Me neither." Mary added before she had an idea. "Oh, why don't you ask Old Mother Hubbard? She lives down the road."

"Old Mother Hubbard, huh? Okay, I'll go see. Thank you, and goodbye." Winona said as she started down the road again.

"Goodbye." Mary and her teacher said; the lamb baaed to say goodbye.

After a bit of walking, Winona had made it to the house of old Mother Hubbard; it was a nice homestead with a wooden fence near the walkway and a doghouse under a tree right next to it. She carefully walked up to a window near the door and peered inside; in the house, there was a round old woman wearing a sea foam green dress, a handkerchief around her head, and a white apron with a brown dog sitting on the floor and Winona could hear the poem in her head as the old woman checked her cupboards.

'Old Mother Hubbard

Went to the cupboard

To fetch her poor dog a bone

But when she came there

The cupboard was bare

And so the poor dog had none'

The dog pouted as Old Mother Hubbard patted its head before the dog turned to the window. Winona quickly ducked out of sight before she decided to knock on the door. Old Mother Hubbard herself answered with her dog right beside her.

"Yes? Can I help you, little one?" The sweet old lady asked.

"Hello, ma'am. My name is Winona and I was wondering if you've seen my pet cat, Duchess." The little girl said.

"Duchess? What kind of cat is she?"

"A Siamese."

"Hmmm. No, I remember seeing her around. If I had, Georgie here would've gone nuts and tried to chase her. Sorry about that. I'd help you look for her, but I have to head down to the butcher's shop with Georgie. I heard they're having a big sale on bones and I need to stock up." She then grabbed a leash and put it on the dog.

"Okay. Thanks anyway."

"Oh wait! I just remembered. Maybe you could talk to Simple Simon; I think you'll find him further up the road."

"Simple Simon? Okay, I'll try."

"Okay. I hope you find your kitty soon, dear. Goodbye."

And with that, Old Mother Hubbard walked out of the house with her dog in tow, closed the door behind her, and walked off, leaving Winona alone again.

"Well, time to see if Simple Simon can help." She said with a sigh before continuing down the path.