New Strategical Otter Outpost
Yesterday Otter Keeper was at work as usual, so Teddy and I decided to go exploring. Although we’ve been exploring many times before, it still doesn’t get boring because we always seem to find new places and exciting things. I’m actually the best explorer, in fact, sometimes Teddy really doesn’t seem to want to come and I have to tie him to me using a bit of string. Otter Keeper says that Teddy prefers a quiet life in front of the TV, but Otter Keeper is wrong – he doesn’t understand Teddy like I do.
Exploring started off well. We found a few interesting items that might really useful for important things (I’m not sure what yet) later on. We also found some secret documents and Otter plans under the sofa which we had completely forgotten about. I told Teddy off for this. It was almost certainly him that had left them there and if these plans were to fall into the wrong hands it would be a disaster!
After a while we found ourselves in the kitchen. The Kitchen is one of my favourite rooms in the whole house – we have very exciting things in our kitchen like special machines to do things. I’ve always been quite fond of one Otter Keeper calls the washing machine. Usually it makes lots of noise and turns round. But today it was a perfect little room – just the right size for a Otter Strategical Outpost!
Teddy kept watch outside while I tried the room for size, it was perfect! I then shut the secret door. Shutting the door wasn’t a problem until I found out that I couldn’t open it again. It was then that I realised the Strategical Otter Outpost wasn’t that great after all!
Frustratingly, I had to sit inside the Strategical Otter outpost for the rest of the day! Teddy was useless, he panicked and was too shocked to let me out. I told him again and again to go and call Otter Keeper on the big phone (I’m allowed to phone him in emergencies – and this was an emergency). He wouldn’t do it. Eventually Otter Keeper did come home and he heard me little tapping on the outpost door. It wasn’t all bad because Otter Keeper seemed very relieved I was OK, I got a big cuddle. We also had a talk and I had to agree to do a little less exploring in the kitchen.
Tonight we’re watching a film together and I’m very happy about this. Actually I say ‘we’ are watching a film, but a certain someone is not going to be watching the film with us: Teddy! I’m fed up with his lack of exploration assistance skills, so I’ve put him down the side of the bed for the evening to think about what he’s done. Hopefully this will have the desired effect. Especially seeing as we’re watching the Lion King, which is one of Teddy’s favourites.
I just can’t express how much I enjoy hearing about your adventures. I think maybe next time it would be best not to shut the door. I’m sure Teddy is very sorry.
Good, brave, stoic otter!
I’m very relieved that your adventure had a good ending. Washing machines and fridges can be very tricky traps. …. maybe one should trap Kate in a washing machine and make her go round and round and round – hehehe ^_^
Don’t be too hard on Teddy, he was just too worried to leave your side!
Maybe teddy was cross with you for not letting him come in the den with you..?
You really need to be careful when going exploring when otter keeper is not home. Sometimes doors are tricky things – and poor teddy – don’t be mad at him, I think he does the best he can. Huge {{huggiez}} to you all.
Hello Otter – what an unexpected treat to brighten up my day – a new Otter Story! What a wonderous tale for your diary! I must say, you are a very brave and intelligent Otter – but please, try not to be so hard on Teddy! I think he tends to lean on you for guidance and direction- You and I both can see that Teedy will never shut taht door again – so how about easing up on the punishment? Him being worried about His best friend Otter is punishment enough – imagine how inadequate Teddy must have felt when he could not release you from inside the new outpost!So, think about letting him watch the movie with you and Keeper, please?
Enough about that. I am glad you located tose old Kate Trap Plans – they may come inj very handy someday! Make sure you put them in a Secure place. Of all the Otter Stories, I must say this is one of my favorites. You are such an amazing Otter – and showed such courage while trapped. Thank you again for sharing your adventures. Give my best to Keeper and Teddy – and remember, Teddy has feelings, too. I truly think being off to the side of the bed is enough punishment for now – give him a big hug for me, and by now, I bet all is forgiven. Have a great day, Otter – and please, keep us posted about the new outpost!
Sorry I forgot to ask this Otter – Iam always so amazed by your new story and illustrations – The Color picture is glorious – I notice every little detail – such a talented Otter. I did notice that both Ottrer and Teddy each have a backpack. Perhaps, someday you will share as to what you put in each of the backpacks. I know certain things are NONE of my business – or anyones’- but perhaps a little insight will help me when I pack my Ferrets’ backpack for our outings. Again- wonderful story!
Dear Otter, I am sorry you had to stay in there for so long. Actually, it could have been worse though, if Teddy had pushed a button there — then the washing machine would have made a lot of noise and turning around…
Otter, you and Teddy must be more careful next time you both explore the house.
A big hug for you and Otter keeper.
🙂
@Heather
thanks Heather!! Otter keeper says he’s going to lock the secret door to the outpost… so we can’t use it for it’s intended purpose anymore… i’m a little sad but it’s probably for the best
@Debby
yay ..thats me!! , I like being those words very much, i’m definitely brave (you have to be if you want to catch kate! )
@maybeedeluxe
your right … maybe what at first appeared to be an otter strategical outpost…. could in fact have been a pre-designed kate trap …
no why didn’t teddy spot that!
yes… i’ve come round to that way of thinking now. He did miss the lion king however because i didnt forgive him in time. however I usually watch that film about once a week anyway … so i will make it up to him
@Becca
maybe …. teddy can be quite unpredictable sometimes..
@Grace
yeah, i’ve pretty much forgiven teddy now… i think he was just scared to leave me alone. if otter keeper would let me have a mobile phone this never would have happened (i’m not allowed one).. so it was sort of his fault if i think about it
@Catherine Healey
i was very brave wasn’t I … i didn’t think about that. i’m sure other otters would have not coped as well as I did…
yes i’m not angry with teddy anymore, he did miss the film however but I think he was busy thinking about what he’d done. I have retrieved him from down the side of the bed now so all has returned to normal now.
the best thing is when i was complaining about bedtime after the lion king had finished, otter keeper told me it is the weekend again in one day!!!
this is great news..
so what started a pretty bad day has actually ended really well … I love it when days do that
having said that i’m not going to use the otter outpost … I think it’s not meant to otters …
@Lutra
oh no .. with me in it !!!
maybe i have lots to be thankful to teddy for ..
i’ve forgiven him now…but i might go and give him a hug..he looks pretty sad, i must remember these things are probably quite stressful for him too
@Kitsune
yay .. thankyou for my hug. Yes exploring is a very dangerous business, but i practice lots so am usually ok … apart from today.
but i’m not thinking about today anymore… i’m going to find a much better otter outpost tomorrow !!
Poor Otter, being stuck in the dryer must have been awful for you. Be careful when exploring. You write such great stories!
hey Otter!! liked my fan art?? teddy is naughty not helping you.. maybe if i go there you can play with Gong instead…
Yes teddys actions that day will never truly be understood but I have forgiven him now anyway ( i need someone to explore with !)
I loveeeeeeed your fan art!! it was just the best thing ever, i’m pestering otter keeper to put it up – he will soon !!
it was hard yes … i had to use my little otter brain to think of things to stop me getting too bored … it was quite boring in the otter outpost because i hadn’t moved any otter things into it at this point ….
i will be more careful from now on , and i’ve given teddy additional training in door safety …
i LOVE otter !!!!!!
please don’t be angry with teddy … I agree, he was just too scared to leave you alone, have you trained teddy to use the phone anyway?
Otter if you ever want to go on holiday, you can come and stay with me any time. Then you can take me on some of your adventures with you. We could even have a coffee party – like a tea party but with coffee instead!
Dearest Otter,
What a scaring exploration you had last week! I’m so sorry for you although you appeared a so brave and clever explorer. I was really frightened especially because I don’t know washing machines at all. We haven’t any and keeper goes to a place where are lots of them to wash her clothes I love to lay to sleep onto when she brings them back because they have such a wonderful smell. I couldn’t imagine it could be so dangerous and I wanted to see one so that I wanted to see one to experience what you lived. Otters must be prepared to dangers while exploring and spying Kate. Keeper said washing machines weren’t invented by Kate to trap otters and that they are very useful when they’re used for what they’re made for (How could keeper know for what they’re made for?)
I put my paw into keeper’s hand and we went to the meeting point for washing machines. Some were very noisy and vibrated like planes but some were open and very quite. Keeper hold my paw while I jumped into one and it was quite funny because the machine was still lukewarm and moistly. I confess I loved it and keeper said it was a bit like a thing human people call a “sauna” where they go to be as fit as otters. There must have been someone in the machine before me because I found a lovely warm sock I put onto my head to get a sweet and smooth bonnet although keeper didn’t allow me to take it with me (sigh!). When keeper stays with you, washing machines don’t seem so dangerous and I discovered they could be very attractive for otter fitness training. It was great as I found out there was a blinking wheel inside you can move when you begin to run. I ran and ran till I lost my balance but keeper caught me and it was such a fun. Keeper must show it to you! It could be a wonderful playground if you use it otterly (that means that you don’t shut the door- especially being alone- Teddies don’t count! They exist only to show us how clever we – OTTERS – are!). Keeper helped me exploring the inside and I’m not sure but it seemed to me there was even an emergency exit through the top of the machine. It was very narrow though and I’m not sure my belly wouldn’t stop me at half the way out and keeper convinced me not to try. Plus people came in to use the machines for washing- at least I think so.
While we went back home I asked keeper what you could have done being stuck in the machine. She said you did right knocking against the door but the most important is not to panic and keep cool. She said you could have looked into your backpack for something which would help you knocking louder but she meant the best was to be confident in keeper and wait till he came home because otterkeepers will always search us everywhere when they don’t find us. Because we are loved by them we’ll be rescued too: keepers have a sixth sense which helps them when they feel we could be in a dangerous situation. She added that maybe it would be useful to have not only an emergency button on your phone at home but also a cell phone you can take with you everywhere you go – especially on exploration tours – although she doesn’t know whether a cell phone would work in a washing machine because they don’t work in the subway or in tunnels. You must make a test with keeper and ask him to put his emergency number in it.
She agreed as I said teddies just aren’t reliable because they haven’t so much brain and she explained that the only thing I might succeed teaching him was the SOS. It’s a sort of code you can make knocking or sending lights. She showed me and, while she was out, I had great fun with the light on the nightstand I jumped on and off till she came back and said I was just a stupid skittish otter because playing with emergency signals would be foolish : nobody would come to help in case of real emergency. Whatever keeper said, she couldn’t convince me I was unconscious. I explained her I was training myself and TT (Teddy Theo). I pressed my paw into his belly at many times till he growls long and short signals. The problem is that he’s too stupid to learn it and do it by himself. Keeper said it’s a reason more to be responsible when I take TT with me for explorations which could be dangerous for us.
She explained me that domestic accidents are very frequent and happen when we’re too intrepid explorers. She told me that keepers would better not let liquid cleaners like the green bottle on the floor at the reach of otters because it’s not only argh brrk brrk arrgh but really dangerous : you may die if you drink some and if keeper is not back in time. And the plant on the machine could get a dangerous projectile if the machine begins to work. So while exploring you’d better wear your red bow to protect your head. Therefore keeper proposed me to make a security check of the kitchen and, as you did with the things you have at home, to give marks to things in the kitchen and in the bathroom. I decided to give appreciations from 5 to 1: very dangerous, dangerous, to use only with keeper, harmless and otter recommended or otterfriendly. Maybe you could persuade keeper to make some magnets we could tag on things especially for our teddies who won’t remember. It would be a shame if our teddies had an accident while being on exploration mission for us. Don’t you think so ?
Lots of love
Louloute
Wowie, you sure are a brave otter! I especially like your fancy backpack. I think it is very functional and handy as well. I am Now Allowed to go inside out washing machine. These seems very unfair.
I am glad to meetcha!
I just can express this feeling in my heart when i read your stories. On top of that, drawing are insanes… i wish i could write over and over to express how good your are, but it seems like i’m missing words. WOW is about all i can say 😉
I like your story otter & teddy looking forward to hearing more otter stories
love your story otter & teddy looking forward to hearing some otter adventures
Dear Otter
(Other Otter here) When you two come and visit me again in I must be sure to shut our machines up. I understand that small hidey holes are fascinating but just to be on the safe side I’ll me careful to close all the doors before you come around for toast and jam.
You must do that when your next book is coming out. All the teddies in the orphanage are looking forward to seeing you and Teddy again. They haven’t stopped talking about it. Love and hugs from Rev. Mother Otter (St. Ursula’s Orphanage for Homeless Teddies)
It is Thanksgiving today here in the US and I am thankful to have read your diary entry this morning. I’m also thankful for your safety following your harrowing exploration! Please proceed with caution next time.
Dear Otter – please be careful in the washing machine. I once had a house ferret who thought my washing machine was a lovely place to have a little snooze. Unfortunately one day I didn’t notice he was inside and turned the machine on!! We did save him but he was very wet and cold and sneezed bubbles for a day or so and had to have nasty injections from the ferret doctor.
I know ferrets and otters are very similar in their playfulness and I wouldn’t want that to happen to you or your keeper (or teddy) as it was very frightening for all of us.
Xxx