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Far, far away, in a land of deep lakes and dense forests,

lived a young dog. Or was it a bear? He went by the name of Piotr, and sported a dashing blue bow tie.

He was an adventuresome young dog (or bear), and when he looked into the forest,

he loved nothing so much as to drop. Every day, all day, he would jump high into the sky,

and then drop precipitously.

He dropped, and dropped, and

and dropped.

To be sure, there were other creatures in the forest. And some of them were more then a bit unnerved. “He’s so handsome,” said Yellow Kitty. “But is he safe?” “Oh, my heart,” replied Red Kitty.

They went to their hedgehog friend, and asked him over a snack. “He’s very handsome and dashing indeed,” said Yellow Kitty. “But why does he drop so?”

“Not to worry,” their friend assured him. “He means but to master the personal art of dropping. It is for him but a means to the mastery of himself.” Yellow Kitty and Red Kitty looked off into the sky. They wondered, and wondered.

Meanwhile, Piotr had gone to visit the master white bear. “Master,” he asked. “What must I do to obtain dropping perfection?”

He visited the wise rider of the mystery ox. “Wise rider,” he asked. “What must I do to obtain dropping perfection?”

And he visited the serene mouse. “Serene mouse,” he asked. “What must I do to obtain dropping perfection?”

While Piotr was off on his pilgrimage, Yellow Kitty (or was it sheep?) was walking through the forest. She thought she heard someone clearing his throat.

It was a very hungry bear.

Red Kitty (or was it sheep?) heard it too. Oh, she thought, “if only the dashing young blue-tied drop bear (or is it dog?) were here to protect us.

Little did she know that Piotr had indeed returned. “Stop!” he ordered Hungry Bear. “You may not advance.”

Yellow Kitty watched. “Oh, how handsome and dashing that young blue-tied dog (or it as bear) is.”

“Grrr,” said the Hungry Bear. “Stop!” ordered Piotr.

“Oh, my heart,” said Red Kitty.

“Eat this instead,” said Piotr. “That’s a deal,” said Hungry Bear.

Piotr and Red Kitty and Yellow Kitty were so happy, and so delighted. “Let’s celebrate,” said Red Kitty. “That’s wonderful,” said Piotr. Let me teach you how to drop. He took them to the nearest Drop Stand. “It’s simple,” he said. You just jump as high as you can, and then fall as far as you can..” He soared up, and came down.

Red Kitty was first to try. She was very scared. It was a long way up. And a very long way down. She tried not to look down. “Just jump!” said Piotr. And jump she did.

Down she fell.

And down.

Yellow Kitty tried too. She jumped up. And then came down.

And down.

And down.

And down. “Let’s eat,” said Yellow Kitty. “Oh Piotr. You were so brave. So kind. So self-less. Please let Red Kitty and I treat you to lunch.”

“Yes, yes,” said Red Kitty. And brought Piotr a lovely, fresh hamburger.

“Oh, that’s marvellous,” said Piotr. “Let’s all eat together.” And so they did.