Spotty bunks Math class

It had been quite some time since his brudders had taught Spotty how to change his form. Om, Aruna and Tiru had prayed to Bhagavan Ramana to share the siddhi he had given them, with Spotty too. This way they could all change form to elefinks or rhinos or whatever together. And most importantly, Spotty would not feel left out.

However, Spotty thought, I've tried out many things like large animals, and even small ones, but never a bird. Would it not be nice to have wings and fly a bit? Much better than climbing up a tree and spying on others. Cos now he was not dependent on any trees being in the right place. (But there was that warning Mum Lioness had mentioned.)

Mum Lioness teaches cubs Art Appreciation

And now that Mum Lioness was teaching the cubses History of Cats or Cathematics or something dreadful, he could quietly check up on those pesty swamis.

Unknown to all, he forst changed into a giraffe. With long strides he sailed across the land, occasionally chomping some tender leaves from the top of the trees. But then he hit his head two times against a low branch and decided to come back to leopard.

These clouds taste so ... (yuck) wooly

You see the problem with changing is that one is not used to the new form. So recently, Tiru, or was that Aruna, had been changed into a rhino, and he found the horn obstructing his sight. Not to mention the neckache. Om, had become a dragon, and his throat felt like he had swallowed Firebars or those explosive mints he had once had two of. Mum Lioness had become a peacock but found her feathers opening at the most unexpected moments and getting stuck in hedges, bushes and once in the refrigerator (when Om shut the door). So this siddhi had to be used with care, at the right moments, understanding the possible drawbacks. Prose and corns had to weighed to reach a decision. And transforming oneself on a full tumick (or cramped place) was the one thing to be avoided!

So rubbing his forehead, Spotty (as a leopard, oh, it felt so cumpsagul to be back in one's own body) scampered on towards the house which the swamis had taken over, humming Arunachala Siva as he went.

Meanwhile, unknown to the dwellers of Tiruvannamalai, the three swamis (Krackaswami, Jagaswami and Balanandaswami) had been conducting satsangs a few miles out of town. Sadly, as yet, their clientele consisted only of some bird-brained creatures (and possibly a couple of hare-brained ones).

Herman, I don't quite like the looks of that swami

Participants in the Krackaswami satsang. "Oooh, I feel so blissful."

As Spotty neared the mansion, he heard some growls and shrieks. Aah, thats dem, he thought. He heard the word siddhi being used several times, and then he heard one word that made his skin crawl -- his own name.

Then as he was about to change himself into a bird he rememborized the warning. Aunt Lioness had said that the danger of torning into a bird is that lions and tigers are not used to heights. And they panic once they fly up. So flying has to be done gradually in steps, with supervision. Although, being a leopard this should not apply to me, Spotty reasoned, but still he felt a wave of fear.

Perhaps a giraffe would be safer! And so he torned into a giraffe using the charm his brudders had taught him. He carefully strode to the window from which he thought the voices were coming. He put his head in, but there was noone in that room. As he tried retrieving his head, it hit the top of the window and he yelled, "Ouch!".

This was heard by the swamis and one shouted "Go out and see who it is."

Spotty realized that he had no time to run, or change form again. And so he thought he would play innocent. He took two steps towards the front door. WHAT would he say? Should he pretend to be a pizza delivery boy? He could hear someone approaching the door, it burst open!

At the door was Balanandaswami. From behind Krackaswami was shouting "Catch the intruder!". The other two were racing down the stairs!

Bala'swami barked "Who are you! What business do your have here?"

Spotty (the giraffe) quickly spoke "I am from Ace Window Cleaners. Your servicing is due today!"

Mebbe i could just walk in and say: Hiya swamis, I'm your new neighbor. Could i borrow some sugar?

Balanandaswami was taken aback for a moment. He torned to tell the other two. Spotty siezed the moment and torned to run.. But ouch! he hit his head again against the top of the door. He slammed the door behind him and ran for the bush.

He needed to torn into something small fast. But his head was spinning now, he could hardly think. In the confusion, he muttered some gibberish and suddenly realized he had torned back into his original self again.

Phew! Once again he felt a relief to become his normal self again. Home Sweet Home!

He could hear Jagaswami's voice in the distance, "You stupid fool! How could you let the person go! He has discovered us! Now go and catch --". He voice trailed away.

In the ascitement, Spotty didn't hear the sound of a dry twig cracking nearby. Now is the time, he thought.

(Look who we have here.) Hey, Spotty, come into my parlour, let me give you a treat!

He took a deep breath, repeated the mantra and changed form into a bird so he could go closer and hear more, or fly away.

In haste, Spotty becomes a bluebird

Balanandaswami blinked. Where had Spotty vanished? And where was the giraffe? Then he heard a flutter and his shoarp eyes settled on something blue.

What was THAT again?

His mind raced. He figured that the giraffe must have been Spotty! And now Spotty had changed himself into a bird. What other asplation could there be? If i could get him to teach me this trick, I could be a stinking rich guru. At the very least I could make him change himself in front of others, and take credit for that!

No longer would he have to be Jagaswami's sidekick. He could torn the udder two in rats and lock dem in a cage! He could sense stardom staring him in his face. But for the moment, he needed the other two swamis in order to succeed in his grand plans. "Come here, Dark Lord!" he called out, "I have something for you, something even better than that giraffe!"