Jaco: a Knot in the Tail

A Tangled Cat Tail by Suzanne Warr [[Press Start]]

When Jaco opened his eyes he knew something was wrong. His whiskers twitched as he took stock. He was in his favorite bed, which was on the wooden trunk that was carved with elephants, in the castle's library. The sun was shining and its rays warmed his fur. He was as handsome as ever--he was sure of that without needing a mirror. Perhaps the off feeling was nothing. Just an echo from his dream. He bent his head to lick his back leg and froze. His tail no longer curled in a gorgeous swoop of feline grace. Just toward the end, there had somehow appeared a knot in it! His fur lifted in panic. His eyes widened. A visiting cat familiar was coming today. His sorceress human had asked him if he'd mind having a new cat about for a bit. He'd been okay with it then...not excited, but okay. However, he absolutely could not face this gorgeous leapard-like newcomer with a knot in his tail! He had to try something, and fast. But what? [[Lick it till the knot comes out]] [[Get moving--maybe it will fall out on its own]] [[Find something to brush up against and try to smooth it out]]

Jaco leaped straight into the air and came down right on the head of his human's apprentice. The girl screamed and dropped the spell ball she'd been holding, which shattered into a thousand pieces. Poof! A vapor of purple magic made a cloud in the middle of the study. Jaco froze. Should he run, or stay safely on the apprentice's head so hopefully that purple mist wouldn't touch him? [[Run]] [[Hold on tight to her head]]

Jaco slipped off the elephant trunk and prowled around the library. He brushed against one of the bookcases where his human's spell books were kept. The books woke up and grumbled at him. One of them was a little too alert, and nudged its neighbor. "Hey, look at that knot in his tail. Did you ever see such a thing?" The second book's pages ruffled as it laughed. "Wow, what a ridiculous cat! We should call you Jaco the Joker!" Jaco bristled. What he couldn't decide was if he should teach these books a lesson or carry on as if he hadn't heard them. [[Ignore the books]] [[Give them a good scratch]]

Jaco twisted his body around and licked frantically. Hairs collected on his tongue and his fur slicked down wetter than that one time he fell in his human's toilet, but the knot bulged just as big and embarrassing as ever. This wasn't working. He had to try something else. [[Try moving ->Get moving--maybe it will fall out on its own]] [[Brush up against something ->Find something to brush up against and try to smooth it out]]

Jaco exited the room as fast as his legs could carry him, leaving the magic disaster behind. He dashed down the castle hallway, darted past the dragon nursery, and skidded to a halt in the portrait room. He hadn't meant to come in here. When there was magic loose in the castle--and he'd just loosed plenty of magic--the portraits sometimes came alive. They could be nice. Or not. It all depended, and he wasn't sure he should risk it. On the other hand, maybe one of them would know how to get that horrid knot out of his tail. What should he do? [[Go back to the dragon nursery]] [[Ask the portraits for help]]

The apprentice girls spun and swiped at her head till Jaco simply had to let go. Thankfully, he landed on his bed, so she didn't even manage to ruffle his fur. Unfortunately, the apprentice didn't get off so easy. Her screaming and dancing had landed her right in the middle of the purple cloud. She gasped, her eyes going wide. Then she let out another shriek that turned into a bellow halfway through and--poof! Where the apprentice had been standing there was now a purple elephant made of a swirling, roiling, and very angry looking bruised cloud of purple mist. "The apprentice has breathed spilled dragon smoke, and been transformed!" one of the assitant's shouted. "Run for it!" Jaco glanced around wildly. Into his mind flashed the thought of his favorite little hidey hole under the stairs, but if he went there, he'd never get the knot out of his tail before his human got back. But what if he just ran, and the elephant chased him? The elephant let out an enraged trumpet, then lowered its head and charged at Jaco. [[Go hide under the stairs]] [[Dodge the elephant and run ->Run]]

Jaco whirled and dug his claws into the obnoxious books. He'd alwasy uspected that their leather would make for a very satisfying way to sharpen his claws, and he was right. It felt great. But the books didn't like it. Oh, what a howl they put up! You'd think from the sound of it that he'd gutted their last page and scattered them to the wind, not pricked their end cover just the littleist bit. Jaco pulled his claws out, ready to move on, but the big one who'd laughed loudest let out a ferocious, guttural sound and leapt at Jaco. His lunge made the other books jerk, and they all tipped off the shelf and banged onto the floor. Fluttering their pages and sputtering in fury, they advanced on Jaco. Should he run for it? Or stand and fight? [[Run for it ->Run]] [[Stand and fight]]

With a lofty lift of his chin, Jaco showed the books his absolute disdain for objects which--outside a sorceress' castle--really should be inanimate objects. As he walked on by he swept his tail along their faces, too...and that was his mistake. The bigger of the books opened wide its sturdy leather covers and chomped shut on Jaco's tail. It closed right on the knot, and hurt like a brick slamming down! "Yowl!" Jaco cried. [[He whirled, and gave them the scratching they deserved ->Give them a good scratch]] [[He leapt straight into the air ->Get moving--maybe it will fall out on its own]]

Jaco exited the portrait gallery with all reasonable haste and dashed back to the dragon nursery. Dragon's were highly volatile, and nearly as special as him. Surely the head dragonkeeper would know how to help him with his little tail problem. Of course, he had his pride, so the thing had to be done right. Just before entering the room he skidded to a halt and sauntered in casually. There was some kind of commotion going on and his ears pricked with curiosity. He really didn't want to show any interest in whatever it was, but he wasn't sure he could resist a peek. Should he... [[Take a quick look]] [[Ignore it all--he's a cat!]]

Jaco walked cautiously up to the nearest portrait. This was of a man who was related to Jaco's human somehow. When the painting was still he looked to be in the middle of an alchemical experiment, but sometimes he'd wake up and report on his work to anyone walking by. Jaco squinted at him, but the man still didn't move. there was a low moaning, though, that raised a shivery chill all the way down Jaco's tail and then stuck in the knot in a most unpleasant way. Worse--it sounded like a ghost! [[Run for it! ->Go back to the dragon nursery]] [[Hold your ground and see who it is]]

He glanced over at the head dragonkeeper, just to see what was going on, and his eyes widened with delight. A stunning gold ball was hanging in the air. There seemed to be nothing keeping it up, but it shone like a sunbeam dancing across water, and every pulse called to him. It seemed to throb with words, telling him what fun it would be to bat it from the air and send it flying, tumbling, rolling, bouncing, while he raced after it. His paw itched to go for it. But this definitely looked like magic. His sorceress human was always telling him to leave magic alone. Maybe he'd better stay well away from it. [[Give it a solid swipe]] [[Leave it alone ->Ignore it all--he's a cat!]]

Ignoring the sparkly lights made Jaco's fur fluff with effort. But he managed it. Cool as you can be, he sauntered over to the head dragonkeeper's desk and hopped up, onto his favorite corner. Or tried to. Some rude person had left a glass vial in his spot. It had no scent and couldn't be opened, so was rather boring. In fact, to Jaco it looked like every other medicine flask or magic potion that cluttered up the castle. All the same, maybe he should stay on the head dragonkeeper's good side, since he wanted his help, and leave it alone. [[Leave it alone ->Take a quick look]] [[Flick it to the floor]]

In a leap that was both graceful and masterful Jaco cleared the head dragonkeeper's shoulders and caught the ball a mighty blow. Or, anyway, that's how he saw it playing out in his mind. Unfortunately, he'd forgotten--just for one critical moment--about the knot in his tail. Instead of soaring past the head dragonkeeper's shoulder he landed directly on his head. The dragonkeeper stumbled, the glass ball shattered, the little dragon below the ball--who was snoozing so quietly Jaco hadn't even noticed it--sat up with a squeal, and--poof! Where the dragonkeeper had been standing there was now a purple elephant made of a swirling, roiling, and very angry looking bruised cloud of purple mist. "Oh, no!" someone shouted. "A human has breathed dragon smoke, and been transformed! Quick, run for the sorceress' study and get the 26 pointed star!" Jaco glanced around wildly. Now that he thought about it, he'd once seen the mistress use a spikey star to absorb magic. Maybe that could help him. But if he went there, he might run into the new cat while he still had this knot in his tail! What else could he do, though? The only other safe place he could think of was the little hidey hole under the main stairs that only he ever used. The elephant let out an enraged sound, then lowered its head and charged at Jaco. Should he: [[Run for the sorceress' study ->Go straight to the Sorceress' study]] [[Go hide under the stairs]]

With a contempous flick Jaco removed the offending bottle from his spot. He sat down, prepared to be comfortable, but he couldn't quite manage it since in fact his skin was tingling all over. His fur ruffled and his paws twitched as a strange sensation of pricklies passed over his whole body. He looked down to see what the trouble was, and noticed two things. One, the bottle he'd flicked to the floor was leaking since its cap had come loose...and some of the silvery-blue liquid had splashed on him. Second, when he looked down he could see the desk through himself. He was invisible! He also found he couldn't move, which he knew was a common side effect of many invisibility potions. He had no choice to sit where he was, knot in his tail and all, and wait for his master to discover him and fix the problem. He had FAILED. His only comfort? Perhaps the visiting cat would laugh so hard her spots would fly off and then she'd be ridiculous, too.

Jaco barreled out the door and ran, his only thought the tiny cupboard spot where no one ever bothered him. He hadn't made it far, though, before he smacked right into a firm flank covered in soft fur. The scent of another feline filled his nostrils and he sat back, blinking dazedly. A new face looked back at him. She was the leopard-spotted cat his human had gone to get, and she looked at him out of amused eyes the exact color of the sun. Frazzled and unsettled, Jaco wasn't sure what he should do next. Should he... [[Talk to her]] [[Check to see if he's being chased]]

"Er, hi," Jaco said. He sat down casually and gave his chest hair a quick lick to make it lay down flat. "Did you have a nice trip?" "Yes, pretty good--" the new cat started. But Jaco had just remembered his tail. He whipped it around so it was tucked under his feet, but not fast enough. Those golden eyes of hers narrowed as it went by, and Jaco knew in his bones that she'd spotted his knot. What he couldn't decide was if he should come straight out with it and admit the problem, or try and cover it up. [[No point in hiding it--tell her what's wrong. ->Check to see if he's being chased]] [[Take the secret to the grave]]

He looked around cautiously. "Keep this to yourself, but I--" "--have been having a little trouble with your tail?" the leopard-like cat asked, with a knowing smile. "Maybe a kink or a knot in it?" Jaco wasn't often thrown off his guard, but it had been a trying day and this was the last straw. His fur lifted. "How did you know?" he sputtered. "Oh, don't get your hackles up," she answered, her whiskers twitching. "The enraged purple elephant was a clue. My new human sensed it the second we walked in the door, but she doesn't have a clue what's been going on. Me? I've seen that kind of thing before so I took care of it...and you'll find that sorting the magic out took care of your tail, too." Jaco sat up a little straighter. He hardly knew what to do, but he really wanted to check his tail. [[Just glance down to see ->Take the secret to the grave]] [[Play it cool ->Take the secret to the grave]]

The new cat stood, interrupting Jaco's thoughts. Her purr rumbled across his furr. "You fret too much," she said. "I got you covered and any secrets you prefer to keep are safe with me. We magic cats have to stick together." She sauntered past him, letting her tail dip and curl in a clearly beckoning way. She was amazing, but there was one thing that made Jaco sit up even straighter. As she'd passed him he got a good look at her flank...where a very clear outline of an elephant stood out amongst her other spots. He couldn't believe--and yet he could. As she headed out the open door, toward Jaco's favorite corner of the castle's gardens, there was only one thing to do. [[Follow her.]]

The End. (Image of two cats sitting on a garden bench)

Jaco turned around as casually as he could. "Oh, it's you," he said. Membe the turtle was walking down the portrain hall. His best friend, Parsec, was walking beside him. It was Parsec who was doing the moaning. Jaco liked Membe okay, but Parsec really got on his nerves. The pearly white ghost man was chubby and round in shape with a big ball for a head, but insisted he was actually some kind of adventurer from the stars. Which was ricidulous. Jaco had seen his human sorceress capturing the light and power of stars and knew they didn't have any people in them. But maybe he should talk to Membe, even though Parsec was here. It was true Parsec knew the portraits better than anyone and Membe was slow, but often wise. Should he talk to them? Or beat a fast retreat? [[Get out now. Ghosts are too creepy ->Go back to the dragon nursery]] [[Smooth your fur down and chat them up]]

Jaco gave his chest fur a quick lick and spoke casually. "Oh, hello Membe. Parsec. I suppose you know there will be another cat familiar visiting today?" Parsec moaned in response, the sound drawn out and haunting in a way that instantly set Jaco's teeth on edge. Membe listened politely to the ghost, then turned back to Jaco to translate. "We had heard about the cat. Parsec wondered if you knew you have a knot in your tail. He thought you might want to fix it before the new cat comes, so you won't embarrass our mistress." For rude! Jaco's eyes widened and his ears laid back. As if he could ever be more of an embarrassment than a deluded ghost! A ghost with no social skills, because otherwise he'd know better than to mention a cat's tail that had been bent out of shape. He had half a mind to give them both the cold shoulder. [[Walk away now, without a backward glance ->Go back to the dragon nursery]] [[Stay and talk longer]]

Every muscle of Jaco's body was tensed with the effort, but he cleared his throat. He knew Parsec could understand him but he spoke stiffly, coldly, to Membe. "Tell Parsec that a cat's tail is always his own business, and his own business alone." Membe nodded his craggy turtle head and turned to Parsec, but only to listen. After the ghost moaned and groaned his way through another tortured sentense Membe turned back. "Parsec apologizes. Even on his home world in the stars, cats were known for being sensitive about their tails. However, he'd like you to know that the portrait of A Woman in Brocade at the Stairs is awake today and might be helpful to you." Jaco gave a stiff nod of thanks, still ignoring Parsec. The brocade woman had been a resident of the castle long before the current sorceress, and seemed to know just about everything that happened in the castle. Parsec might be right that she could be helpful. He might chat with her. If Parsec and Membe weren't watching. [[Go talk to her]] [[Check out the other portraits first]]

"I'm happy to hear she's awake today," Jaco said. He stook and sauntered toward the far end of the hall, where the brocade lady's portrait was. Membe called after him, in the ponderous way of turtles. "She's in one of her moods, though, so notice the details of her portrait before you ask her any questions." Jaco purred briefly in response. He appreciated Membe's reminder of the brocade lady's little word games. She had once been a sorceress herself and liked to keep everyone on her toes. He stopped in front of the lady and sat down on his haunches with his tail tucked out of sight underneath him. [[Stop and examine her portrait before talking to her]] [[Ask her how he can get rid of the knot in his tail]]

"Perhaps I will, perhaps I won't," Jaco said with a flick of his ears. He still hadn't unruffled his fur from the rude remark Parsec had made, and wasn't about to seem eager to take the bumbling ghost's advice. He sauntered down the portrait gallery examining the figures in them, while Membe and Parsec continued their walk in the other direction. When he was sure they weren't looking, he scooted over to the portait of the brocade lady. She was always a little intimidating, and today she seemed especially inegmatic. Perhaps he should have asked Membe and Parsec what kind of mood she was in. But surely, as a creature of grace and charm, he could handle this without their help? [[Talk to her ->Ask her how he can get rid of the knot in his tail]] [[Go ask the others for advice]]

<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1e-_uoKVcWmLXKQlmiDYYPOIVE1FfTGaA"> Jaco flicked the tip of his tail as he examined the portrait. There really wasn't much to it, especially today. Sometimes the lady had a few small extras in her frame, but this time there were only the stairs behind her and her, standing in her big swishing dress. [[Talk to the lady->Ask her how he can get rid of the knot in his tail]]

Jaco gave an ingratiating purr and put on his most charming cat-smile. "My dear lady, it is good to see you so alert today. I have a small problem which requires someone with your wisdom and brilliance." "Oh?" she asked, turning to look at him. "You're generally quite resourceful. What's giving you trouble today?" "A small matter," Jaco said, trying to keep his purr confident. "It's only that...well, a visiting cat familiar is coming soon and I seem to have a small..." he choked on the word, but got it out. "...a small knot in my tail." The cruel-hearted lady chuckled, she actually chuckled! Jaco's ears went back, but only for an instant. He didn't dare show his anger. "I can help you," the brocade lady said. "But magic always comes with a price so first you must solve my riddle. It's simple enough. Answer me this: what is it that a gracious lady can always hold in her hand?" Jaco thought furiously, but couldn't pick between two possible answers. Which one should he say? [[Love. A woman could always hold love in her hand.]] [[Her sweeping, elegant skirts.]]

Trying to walk swiftly without being obvious about it, Jaco hurried back to Membe and Parsec and caught up to them just as they were about to leave the portrait room. Thankfully, turtles are so slow he could act casual when he strolled up. "I meant to ask, how is the brocade lady today? In one of her better moods?" Membe tilted his craggy turtle head, and nodded in agreement as Parsec gave a small moan. "We think she's in a decent mood. But still inclined to ask riddles. I'd examine her portrait carefully before talking to her, if I were you, and take careful note of her hands. She's been asking odd questions about them lately." Jaco gave a quick nod and a rumbled purr of thanks, then went back to the brocade lady's portrait. He sat down in front of her. [[Ask her how he can get rid of the knot in his tail]] [[Before saying a word, he took a careful look ->Stop and examine her portrait before talking to her]]

"It must be...love," Jaco said. He felt sure of the answer. After all, love took up no space so there'd always be room for it in her palm. The brocade lady's eyes turned cold. "What a tiresome, stupid cat you are. What use has a woman like me for love? No, you silly beastie. The answer is not love--and now your tail will be the least of your problems as I think an appropriate punishment is that you be stuck here. Sitting with me will give you the chance to examine my stunning portrait a little more carefully." With that, she gave a swoosh of her skirts and Jaco found himself sitting inside the portrait at her feet, a painted kitty complete with a knotted tail. He had FAILED. His only hope was that his human wouldn't find him till after that dratted visiting cat was sent back home.

"That's it!" the brocade lady cried. "You'd never guess how many people get that wrong. Alright, I'll help you. But you must pay attention. Are you ready?" Jaco opened his eyes wide and nodded his head. "You must make your way to the sorceress' study. There you will find a metal spikey ball, with tiny sparks of electricity shooting off it. Brush against one of the spikes and the magic that has caused your tail to knot will be sucked out, leaving your tail normal again." Jaco didn't much like the sound of that. Brushing against one of those spikes sounded like getting a static electric shock, and he hated those. Still, she'd tried to help. [[Thank her and go]] [[Ask her if there's anything else]]

Jaco arched his back and hissed, but the stupid books didn't take warning. He tried to keep his focus loose so he was watching them all, but the one in the middle kept fluttering its pages just like the wings of a broken thing, and his predatory instincts zeroed in on it. Whoomp! The biggest bully book swelled with magic, and snap! Before Jaco could do more than yowl it had closed its pages around him. He found himself sitting next to a well on a cold, blustery night. There was a new moon in the sky and several of the bigger stars Jaco's human called planets shining bright behind the scudding clouds. That probably explained the centaur who was watching the sky and taking careful notes. He ignored Jaco, just like he ignored the weather, having eyes only for the stars. Jaco sighed and crept over to the sheltered side of the well. He knew this scene, and it never changes since the whole book was about this centaur fellow's astrological notes. Jaco would simply have to wait until his human went looking for him, and found him. He had FAILED. His only hope was he'd get to shake the wet off of his fur onto this book, once he was let out. That, and the visiting cat would be nowhere around to see him.

Jaco gave the brocade lady a cat bow. He called his thanks over his shoulder, and the lady nodded to show she'd heard. All the way back down the portrait gallery he kept thinking about those yucky electric sparks. He'd seen them before, and they always made his fur bristle. He could hear sounds coming from outside the portrait gallery which suggested that the dragon keeper was up to something interesting in the dragon nursery. Maybe he'd find a better solution in there. [[Go into the dragon nursery ->Go back to the dragon nursery]] [[Go straight to the Sorceress' study]]

"Thank you." Jaco was eager to go but he held himself politely as he purred his thanks. "Was there anything else?" "Ah, what a smart cat you are," the brocade lady said, nodding her approval. "Only this. Don't allow yourself a moment's distraction or something will prevent you. There's very capricious magic loose in the castle just now." "I'll go straight there," Jaco said, giving her a deep nod. "Thank you again." He left the brocade lady and hurried down the portrait gallery. There was no sign of Membe or that annoying ghost, which was good as they always distracted him. However, just as he reached the end of the gallery he heard the most curious sounds coming from the dragon nursery. Checking that out might count as a distraction. But then, the brocade lady knew how cats were. She wouldn't have meant he couldn't stop at all. She just meant don't get distracted by stupid things. Right? [[Check it out super fast ->Go back to the dragon nursery]] [[Go straight to the study ->Go straight to the Sorceress' study]]

Jaco dashed through the study doors. On his human's desk the spikey star ball sizzled quietly. Jaco approached it cautiously. His fur prickled at the thought of all those tiny eletric shocks, but he could do this. He could...after all, he really couldn't face the new cat with this knot in his tail. It didn't bear thinking of. He gave himself a quick lick to help gather his courage--and the spikey ball let off a sizzling, zapping sound that made every hair on his body stand straight up. [[Forget this--he was heading for his favorite hidey hole! ->Go hide under the stairs]] [[Quick--brush the thing and get it over with]]

Jaco leaped onto the table and delicately touched one of the spikes with his front paw. Zap! The magical shock shivered through him. Woompf! The knot popped out of his tail. Simple. Why had he thought getting rid of the knot would be difficult? That hadn't been any trouble at all! A wire sphere with a ball in the center hung by the window. Now the ball began to ping and bounce round and round its wire cage--a sure sign the sorceress was back. Jaco licked his paw, considering. If he went out to meet the newcomer cat he could put on some swagger and impress her with the tales of his morning's daring do. On the other hand, there was a small chance the sorceress would see the magic messes around and blame him. She was human and therefor sometimes unreasonable. Maybe it would be best to curl up here and pretend he'd been sleeping. [[Swagger out to meet them]] [[Curl up and pretend to sleep]]

Jaco met the newcomer cat just outside his human's study. The sorceress herself was in too much of hurry to stop and say hello, but for once Jaco didn't mind. His eyes were on this fascinating leopard-colored cat with eyes like two suns. In fact, without intending to, he'd stopped to stare. The she-cat advanced toward him and briefly touched noses in hello. "Hi there. Is it always this exciting around here?" "It is when I'm around," Jaco answered, allowing his cocky side to show. After all, hadn't he solved his pesky knot problem without hardly any help? And navigated all kinds of magic misbehaving while he did it! "Of course," the new cat purred. "I can see why that would be." She stood and took a few steps down the hall. "I'd like to go out into the garden. Perhaps you'd like to come and tell me all your best stories?" "Lead the way," Jaco said, standing his tallest and puffing out his chest. The new cat gave another purr, and flicked her tail as she walked down the hall. [[Follow her.]]

Jaco leapt down from the desk and padded over to the pillow in front of the fire's banked goals. This was the only spot in the sorceress' study where he could nap without risking her squaking. Of course, he generally did whatever he liked, but today he figured he'd play it safe. He was being a good cat, after all. He turned once and curled up. He'd no sooner closed his eyes than the sorceress hurried into her study. He was pretending to sleep, but he could easily track her movements as she rushed around, grabbing her pendulum and a spell book. She hurried back out, and Jaco cracked one eye open. The new cat sat in the middle of the floor, watching him with an amused expression on her face. Her leapard-like coat shone in the sun's slanting rays, and her eyes looked like two suns themselves, and seemed to notice everything. [[Stretch casually]] [[Invite her to sit by the fire]]

Jaco stood and stretched casually. "How was your travel?" "Highly uneventful...until just at the end," the new cat answered. Her tail flicked with amusement. Jaco waved his own tail once, just to enjoy the feeling of its being knot-free. The new cat watched it and narrowed her eyes, as if she suspected something. "There's always a lot going on around here," Jaco said, speaking quickly to distract her. "The dragonet gets up to no end of trouble, of course." "I suspected as much," the new cat said. Those were her words. Her eyes said she knew who the real trouble was. She stood and took a few steps toward the door. Glancing back at Jaco, she gave him a tiny beginning of a purr. "I'd like to go out into the garden. Perhaps you'd like to come. You can tell me all the adventures you get up to...what with the dragon, and all." "Lead the way," Jaco said, standing his tallest and puffing out his chest. The new cat gave another purr, and flicked her tail as she walked away. [[Follow her.]]

Jaco lifted his head, still pretending sleep. "The fire is warm. Would you like a nap?" The new cat shook her head. "There's too much stray magic in here. I could never settle." Now that she mentioned it, Jaco could feel the buzz in the air that said the castle was overloaded with unassigned magic. If he'd been truly sleepy, it would have gotten on his nerves. She probably new that. Which meant she knew he'd only been pretending to nap. [[Act cool ->Stretch casually]]