Once upon a time in the merry old land of Oz, there lived a red-haired Munchkin girl named Cat Ballantine. One very special day Cat was visited by a flying ball gown.
It seems that once upon another time Elphaba Thropp and Glinda Upland worked together to turn a simple frock coat, a simple froat, into a "ball gown."
Unfortunately, one of their early attempts resulted in a "ball gown" with wings. When it appeared, the "ball gown" flapped those wings furiously. While Glinda covered her eyes and swatted blindly at the animated hybrid, Elphaba only shielded her eyes occasionally as she shooed the thing out a window.
The flying ball gown went off to have adventures of its own. It spent years flying around Oz, sometimes stopping to hover around certain individuals. And it was said that whenever the flying ball gown visited someone, that someone would be blessed in a special way.
As mentioned, one day that someone was Cat.
Cat was a young woman who had hair the color of red velvet cupcakes; Cat loved red velvet cupcakes. She loved a lot of things: crayons, excitement, and singing. She also loved the word "Yay!;" in fact, it was said that her very first word was "Yay!"
Cat attended Munchkin Arts High School, a school for those who loved to sing, dance, act and perform. Once while working on a theatrical production, she offered her usual enthusiastic appraisal.
"I love catwalks!" she declared excitedly. "Know why? Because my name is Cat. And look! I'm walking on the catwalk!"
And walk on that catwalk she did. In a silly fashion, she strutted back and forth on it while wearing a mouth-wide-open silly smile.
When Cat was not being her usual silly self, she loved to sing. Whenever she sang, it was, to use a word often overused in Oz, magical.
Cat had an amazing singing voice, so amazing that it was actually difficult to describe. It was more than the fact that she had an incredible vocal range. It was the way her singing was suffused with a special spirit, which seemed to reflect the special person she was inside.
When Cat sang, she radiated kindness, sweetness, and abundant charm. For anyone who had the joy and privilege of hearing her, it was like getting hugged by a song. And anyone who saw her friendly face felt a glow inside.
There was also the carefree friendly attitude Cat projected when she sang. She would just stand there, or sit there, projecting this very casual attitude, acting as if what she was doing was no big deal. It was like she had no idea of the amazing sound emanating from her or what an incredible person she was. Which was what made her so genuinely likable. Not only at school but throughout Munchkinland.
In fact, much like Belle in another distant realm, Cat would sing a song of greeting to the Munchkins each morning and twirl around in the traditional long-skirted Munchkin dress. Her dress was the same color as her hair. It made her look like the famous character from the popular musical "Little Munchkin Annie."
In addition to an amazing voice animated by an incredible spirit, Cat sported a smile that radiated joy, warmth and happiness. Even a Madame Morrible might smile if she experienced Cat singing and smiling.
Not surprisingly, it was while Cat was singing that the flying "ball gown" visited. As the gown hovered over the front yard of the Ballantine household, Cat jumped up and down and squealed as she tried to touch it. With each jump by Cat, the "ball gown" moved just out of reach.
As Cat did her jumping and squealing, an amazing thing happened. The "ball gown" began to sing. It sang in the voice of Glinda, only it was like a hundred different versions of Glinda all combining their individual voices into one incredible powerful voice.
When Cat joined in with her own very special voice, it was an amazing joyful noise, and blessed was anyone who heard it. Which was mainly the Munchkins who lived nearby, some of whom popped their heads out their windows or doors.
Eventually, the song came to an end, as all good things must. As the gown slowly began to move away, Cat made one more attempt to jump up and touch it. Once it was clearly out of reach, Cat stopped and waved.
"'Bye!" she called out in a sweet kind voice.
It was much like when Glinda ran beside the green train and handed Elphaba the "Guide To The Emerald City." As she ran alongside the train for just a little while more, Glinda waved to her friend as she offered a cordial pleasant farewell.
"'Bye," she said casually in a sweet kind voice.
Cat sounded much the same when she bid farewell to the flying "ball gown," only her voice was full of youthful enthusiasm and cheer.
When the flying ball gown was out of sight, Cat smiled that incredible smile as she threw up two triumphant fists and offered her evaluation in one word.
"Yay!"
Afterwards, Cat was blessed in a special way because she went on to have other adventures, which included playing Glinda in the famous Ozway musical. She even met the famous musician-turned-ambassador who brought peace not only to Oz but other worlds as well.
Being Cat, she, of course, lovingly embraced it all.
This was the nature and spirit of Cat: She embraced whatever good came along and had fun with it for however long it lasted. May we go and do likewise.
And so it was that another day in Oz was better and brighter because of the joyous positive spirit of a red-haired Munchkin girl named Cat.
