The Cat in the Hat Has a Task!

(Please read this in Dr. Seuss style! Also, in my dialect, "been" is pronounceded "ben", not "bean", in the 14th stanza! )

The van was all ready--
All packed to the hilt!
It even included
Mom’s quality quilt.

The tent was all snuggled
Right next to the wood,
While marshmallows tempted
Our tummy-tums good!

Sleeping bags, pillows,
Electronical games.
Everything labeled with
Each of our names.

Our mother called out,
“I’m talking to Jen!
I'll be off the phone,
But I do not know when!”

“Jen?” we both bellowed.
“Jen,” we both sighed.
“We want to go camping!”
Screamed Sally and I.

We stood in the driveway.
We wanted to go!
That’s when I heard Sally say,
"Oh, no! Oh, No-o-o!”

I glanced the direction
Her eyes pointed at.
I could not believe it--
The Cat in the Hat.

“Will you please go away?”
My sister did ask.
“But I’m here for a reason,”
The Cat said. “A task!”

“A task?” pondered Sally.
“Oh, what could that be?
What possible task could
That Cat offer me?”

Well, the Cat in the Hat
Bowed down in remorse.
“I’ve now changed my ways.
I promise, of course!

I’d like to go with you.
I’d like you to see—
I’m not quite as bad as
You think me to be.”

We tried to deny him
But we were too kind.
Our upbringing told us,
“Don’t leave him behind!”

He reached for a soda
And took a big sip.
Spied the potato chips--
Dunked them in dip.

We looked toward the house.
How long had it been?
We hoped that our mother
Was still talking to Jen.

The Cat in the Hat
Tried to pick up his crumbs.
Not so surprising,
The Cat was all thumbs.

The bag full of chips
Fell onto the wood.
Then went the soda.
Oh, this was not good.

“Forget it!” I cried out.
“This plan will not work!”
But Sally was angry
And called me a jerk.

“He’s trying,” she stated.
“You have to know that!”
I took a deep breath as I
Glared at that Cat.

“Don’t you have something
You keep up your sleeve?
Something that cleans up
The messes you leave?

I’ve seen them before.
Now where did they go?
There’s always a trick
Up your sleeve that you know.”

The Cat shook his head
And spoke from his heart,
“I told you before
I would like a new start.

I know I am messy,
I know for a fact,
But I’ve changed my ways,
I promise you that!

I have no more tricks
From my hat or my sleeve.
I’m the Cat in the Hat.
If you wish, I shall leave.

“Do not leave,” said our Mom
As she came from behind.
“My children were taught
To always be kind.

I would like to invite you
To come on our trip,
Do you like marshmallows--
Potato chips, dip?”