Disclaimer: This is my original story and I do not want it borrowed, copied, or anything of the sort.  It is still in a non-profit mode and thus, I am not making any money.  But still, you may not use any of my characters from this story.

P/L: Meet Hopper Leopard, a rambunctious leopard who has a rough morning getting ready for school.

                                                                                 Original Stories                                 spring of 2002     Four Times Since

            Hopper Leopard, a rambunctious leopard from Lake Stevens faintly heard his shrilling alarm clock calling him to awareness.  Without much effort, Hopper slammed his fist upon the metal clock, silencing its alarm and relenting to its forceful call.  The leopard's eyelids gradually opened to half-staff.

            Down below in the kitchen, Mother Tahiri finished cleaning the morning dishes, gently placing them in the drying rack next to the sink.  Her eyes stayed level as she thought to herself, "Four times since six has that alarm clock gone off.  Hopper should be realizing this in three…two…"

            THUMP!  A horrendous thud shook the hanging chandelier that was in the dining room.  The teacups in the kitchen cupboard rattled against the cacophony sound.  Heavy pitter-patter of four furry paws switching to high gear alerted Tahiri that her son would be arriving at any moment.

            Racing out of his bedroom wearing a gold, number twelve, t-shirt; purple soccer pants, and a purple and gold LS hat  (worn backwards), Hopper narrowly avoided a head on collision with his elementary-school brother, Ikrit.  The poor brother had to dive back into his own bedroom to avoid being knocked over by his stampeding sibling. 

            Upon the ninety-degree turn onto the stairs, the unfortunate leopard stumbled over Ikrit's "sleeping" Furby, sending the animated toy down the stairs.  The Furby awoke and began its typical callings.  Dancing on one foot from the pain inflicted from kicking the Furby, Hopper could hear the Furby calling out its ("Yahoo!   Hmmm…me scared!") sounds. 

            Shaking his head, Hopper regained his senses and gripped the post at the top of the staircase.  The top had felt wobbly before, Hopper knew, but just as he got a good grip on the post, it gave way, sending Hopper tumbling down the stairs.  The Furby had already hit the bottom of the stairs by the time Hopper began his tumbling descent.

            Hopper grunted as he fell down the stairs, "Back!  Shoulders!  Head!"  Each word Hopper spoke reflected each step he landed on and what body part he had fallen on.   Then, as Hopper sprawled out onto the decorative Husky carpet at the base of the stairs, the Furby (still rolling) hit the wall.

            "Ouch!" the Furby seemed to say in a deranged sort of way. 

            Hopper though, a minute past the hour, couldn't rest his aching muscles.  Thus, heaving himself up, Hopper tore towards the kitchen.  Hopper sped towards the kitchen at an incredibly fast speed.  But, the wily leopard was going to fast for as he put on the brakes, Hopper skidded right past the kitchen entrance and crashed into the front door.  Wasting no time though, Hopper righted himself, dug his claws in the wood floor, and raced back towards the kitchen entrance.

             Smashing into the side of the entrance, Hopper landed in the kitchen.  The leopard was panting slightly from his early morning bumble-bee dash.  Hopper then slid into his sacred chair.  Hopper patiently waited for his favorite plain bagel (with cream cheese) to arrive  Not a second after the meal was set before him by his loving mother, Hopper grabbed the bagel and proceeded to chow it down, giving his mouth a splash of milk. 

            Using the back of his paw, Hopper wiped the milk and the crumbs away from his whiskers.  Pushing himself out of his chair, Hopper rose and started hastily towards the door.

            Tahiri stood at the kitchen entrance, holding Hopper's one-strap back pack in her paws.  She smiled knowingly at her son as she watched him zip by.  Tahiri chuckled at her son's pleasant but hurried, "Bye mom!"

            Just as Hopper was reaching for the door handle, the door suddenly swung open, smashing the leopard's delicate whiskers.  Hopper staggered back a couple steps, clutching his nose and bent whiskers with his paws.  Hopper muttered curses o the antares.

            Simba Pride, Hopper's best friend, stuck his head through the door.  Noticing his pal right there, Simba greeted, "Come on dude!  Let's get going!  We're not getting any younger and those quizzes we have to take today will always be there!  So c'mon dude, let's go!"

            Nodding in acknowledgement of his fate, Hopper disappeared outside.  After closing the door, Simba raced Hopper to the car.  Simba went straight for the backseat while Hopper dove to shotgun.  Once inside, Buttercup Ipkiss, the two's designated driver, turned to the shotgun side of the car and watched as the gallant leopard slid into the seat.

            Slamming his door shut, Hopper then quickly fastened his seatbelt.  Turning a goofy grin upon the rabbit, Hopper gleefully announced, "Made it in four minutes and fifteen seconds!"

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