The day had started off just as any other for Hypr Cat. Every morning, he takes a walk into town to a local juice bar. It was usually quiet, just the way he liked it. He would order a drink and hang out inside while he waited for the morning rush to come and go. Once the rush died down, he would continue with his day.
Hypr found it to be a relatively peaceful way to let the morning rush pass without getting behind in his day. He liked it that way but this was the day that things were going to be different.
The juice bar was run and owned by a cheetah. She believed in the athletic benefits of juice. Indeed, her juice recipes could boost one’s speed, strength, agility and other effects too. Hypr had shown up at her bar so much that she ended up getting quite chatty with the cat. She was slightly dismayed that Hypr preferred using juice to plump up as opposed to athletic reasons. However, Hypr was very nice and a loyal customer. She wanted to try to see if she could make a… what did Hypr call it? A “blueberrification” juice, just for him. Besides, she appreciated the challenge.
The cheetah lived in an apartment above her juice bar. It was where she created new brews before producing them for customers downstairs. Sometimes, she would make drinks for customers up there if the bar was swamped or had a tall order.
She had been working on the blueberrification juice for some time now. It was practically ready but there were still some tests that needed to be done. It would make Hypr big but she didn’t know how big. Today was the day of the final tests, then she could give it to Hypr the next time she saw him.
It was most unfortunate that on that day, the bar had a huge order of banana-apple strength juice from the local gym. The employees were busy trying to fulfill the big order in time and keep up with in-store orders. The cheetah helped by brewing some of the strength juice in her apartment.
She was so busy that the blueberrification juice completely slipped her mind. She had left it on the window sill to both keep it out of the way and to let the sunshine enhance the flavor. She was just moving a pack of juice ready to brought downstairs when her tail knocked against the bottle of blueberrifcstion juice. The moment she felt the impact, she turned and saw the bottle fall out the window.
“No, no, no, no, NO!” she exclaimed as she rushed over. All she could do was watch as it fell to the ground.
And who should be walking under the window at that moment other than Hypr?
Hypr never saw it coming. One moment, he was just about to enter the juice bar. The next, a bottle of something blue landed and smashed right in front of him. “Ack!” he exclaimed. “I had just showered today, too!” The blueberrification juice splashed all over him. Some ended up in his mouth. “Hm, blueberry. At least it tastes good.” He was going to go inside to ask if he could clean up when the cheetah came running downstairs and towards him. “Oh, hello. What’s the hurry?”
The cheetah barred his way. “Hypr, did any of that get in your mouth?”
“Get what in my mouth? Did you drop that?”
“Answer the question.”
Hypr was feeling a little put out. This wasn’t like the cheetah at all and all he wanted to do at that moment was to clean up. “Yes, some of it did,” he answered, “Now, can I please go inside and wipe it off? I think it’s staining my fur blue.”
The cheetah’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry, Hypr, you can’t come in. That was blueberrification juice and I don’t know how big you’ll get.”
Hypr was annoyed at not being allowed in but then the words began to sink in. His annoyance gave way to confusion. “Blueberrification?”
As if on cue, Hypr’s belly began to swell.
“Oh no! Hypr you need to stay outside where it’s more open,” said the cheetah.
“Why? How big am I gonna get?”
“That’s just it. I don’t know.”
Hypr knew better than to stick around in a small space right then. So, with some reluctance, he stayed outside and braced himself.
His belly seemed to be getting rounder and rounder. As it did so, it was clear that his fur wasn’t stained blue, it was actually turning blue. Eventually, it wasn’t just his belly that was becoming round, his whole body was becoming one big orb. The more spherical he became the bluer his fur turned too. It wasn’t long before he was one big blue ball with his, now comparatively, small head, hands, feet and tail sticking out. And he was only going to get bigger.
At first, by-passers took very little notice of Hypr’s transformation. They had their own days to get on with. However, as the transformation progressed, a lot more heads turned towards Hypr. Especially as he grew bigger and bigger and bigger.
Hypr was worried. He was already taking up the sidewalk and he was still growing. It wouldn’t be long before he would have to roll out onto the road. “I don’t want to get hit by a car,” he said.
“And who could blame you?” asked the cheetah. She racked her brain on how she could help. Then it came to her. “Hold on, I’ll be right back!” Quick as a flash, she ran up to her apartment and came back with a red shirt and a stick.
“What are you-?” But before Hypr could finish his sentence, the cheetah waved the shirt and the traffic like a red flag.
“Stop, stop!” she cried out.
Most drivers, at first, just rolled their eyes and kept on going. Then, as Hypr began to grow across the road, they took notice. Some of them tried to change over to a free lane. Others couldn’t change lanes in time and had to stop. Then Hypr grew larger and blocked another lane, and another, and another. Eventually, Hypr spanned across the entire road.
The cheetah didn’t need to wave her make-shift red flag anymore. If people see a giant, blueberry cat blocking the road, they’re going to stop. Instead, she went up to her apartment window to better talk to Hypr. She was closer to his ears, that way.
Hypr was feeling anxious. He was still growing.”Do you really not know how big I’ll get?” he asked.
“I really don’t,” replied the cheetah, “Truth be told, I’m surprised you ended up this big.” Suddenly, there was a sort-of groaning noise. “What was that?”
“I think,” said Hypr nervously, “I’m pressing up against the buildings.” Now the cheetah was on high alert. She was just about to evacuate everyone when Hypr called out. “Wait! I think I stopped growing!”
The cheetah stopped in her tracks. “What? Really?”
“Yeah. I don’t feel myself getting bigger anymore or pressing against the buildings any harder.”
“Really?” The cheetah relaxed a little bit. “I’ll just go make sure.” She went down to the bar and explained the situation to the customers and employees. They all followed her outside. Once out, she looked all over Hypr. He was right. He had stopped growing. Hypr was now a great big blueberry cat wedged between two buildings. “Okay, it’s safe to go back in now,” called the cheetah. Most did though some opted to go home. “How’re you feeling Hypr?” she called to the cat.
“What?!”
“Oh, hold on!” She ran up to her apartment window. “I asked how you were feeling,” she said when she got there.
“Oh…” Hypr thought for a moment. “I feel… okay. Dare I say, good.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’m nice, big and round. I think I might take the day off and stay like this.” With that, Hypr began to settle into place.
“Oh. Well, that’s great Hypr but I think you forgot something.”
“What’s that?”
HONK! HONK!
“That,” said the cheetah. Hypr was blocking the road right in the middle of the morning rush. Many drivers were sensible and turned around. There were still plenty of drivers that opted to honk their horns instead.
Hypr didn’t like that at all. “Ack! Make them stop!” he wailed.
The cheetah thought for a moment. “There’s a t-intersection just down the road that ends in an open grassy area. You wouldn’t be in the way there.”
“Fine by me,” said Hypr. He looked down at where his body was wedged between the buildings. “But how am I going to get there?”
The cheetah hadn’t thought that far ahead. Luckily for her, an employee knocked on her door, at that moment.
“Sorry to disturb you,” said the employee when the cheetah answered, “There’s a guy downstairs here for the banana-apple juice.”
“Banana-apple? Oh!” With all the excitement going on, the cheetah had forgotten about the strength juice order. “Yes, of course. I’ll follow you down. Sorry, Hypr. I gotta take this.”
“Take your time,” said Hypr politely.
The cheetah went downstairs and found an ox waiting for her. “Hello, sir,” she greeted.
“Hi,” said the ox, “I’m here to pick up the strength juice. My gym mates and I want to see how they’ll affect our workout.”
“Ah, yes. I’m sorry, sir. Due to, erm, recent developments,” she said, gesturing towards Hypr outside, “we haven’t been able to complete your order yet.”
The ox grunted but accepted it.
Then, the cheetah had another idea. “How would you and your gym mates like a workout session sponsored by this juice bar? We’ll cut the price of your order in half.”
The ox raised an eyebrow. “You have my attention.”
The cheetah explained what she had in mind. “Just bring your gym mates here and your order will be ready by the time you arrive.
Meanwhile, Hypr was not happy. All the honking was giving him a headache. “Please, make it stop!” After a short time, he noticed a large group go into the juice bar. Then they all came out with the cheetah leading the way. The group went in front of Hypr while the cheetah went behind him. Since he was round, there was an opening just big enough to keep the sidewalks clear.
Hypr couldn’t see what was happening behind him but the honking stopped and he could’ve sworn he heard the sound of car engines going away.
Moments later, the cheetah returned. “The traffic’s clear,” said to the ox.
“Right,” said the ox. He turned to the crowd. “Okay, people. Let’s see what those strength potions can do! One, two, three, push!”
Hypr was taken by surprise. The crowd was pushing him. At first, nothing happened, then with a jolt, the blueberry cat came unwedged and started to be rolled down the street. As he rolled along, he did scrape against the buildings but there wasn’t enough pressure to cause much damage to them and no damage was done to Hypr either.
The cheetah had run ahead to guide the crowd pushing Hypr and to check-in on the blueberry cat himself. “How’re you holding up, Hypr?” she asked.
“A bit dizzy but fine,” Hypr replied.
At last, they reached the field. With one last shove, Hypr was rolled onto it. The crowd took a well-deserved rest.
“Well done, everyone!” said the ox, “That’s our exercise for the day.” He turned to the cheetah. “That certainly was a unique workout. Thank you for the opportunity.”
“And thank you for the help.” said the cheetah as she shook hands with the ox.
Hypr was relieved that all the honking had stopped. Now that he was in an open field, he wasn’t in anyone’s way and no one would bother him. He sat back to enjoy being a blueberry.
Seconds later, he began to deflate. It wasn’t long before he was back to his normal cat self. A collective groan erupted from the crowd. “Seriously?!” one voice exclaimed. Hypr was disappointed too but for a different reason.
The crowd dispersed after that leaving Hypr and the cheetah alone. “I’m sorry, Hypr, if I caused you any discomfort.”
“That’s okay,” Hypr replied, “I really enjoyed being a blueberry. Well, aside from all the angry drivers. I’ll need to be careful where I drink it next time.”
The cheetah chuckled. “Should I add it to the menu, then? I think your purchases alone would make it worthwhile.”
“Heheheh. Yeah,” Hypr laughed back. There was a brief pause. “Do you think,” he asked, “that I could have one right now?”
The cheetah pondered. “We have none in stock and it’s a new brew. It might take some time.”
“I don’t care, I can wait.”
The cheetah smiled and ran back to the juice bar. It was only about twenty-five minutes before the cheetah came back but to Hypr, it felt like ages. He was very eager when he saw her coming towards him with a blueberry bottle.
“Now this is a one-time special delivery,” said the cheetah as she handed him the bottle, “You’ll have to pick it up at the juice bar yourself, after this.”
“I understand, thank you,” said Hypr. He looked around the peaceful field and held up the bottle in cheers. “You know, I think I found a new routine.” With that, he chugged down the bottle and eagerly waited to be blueberrified again.
