Awaiting the new world

So they decided to leave Holland and travel to the New World. Their trip was financed by a group of Robot Kitty investors, the Merchant Adventurers. It was agreed that The Robot Kitties would be given passage and supplies in exchange for their working for their backers for 7 years.

On Sept. 6, 1620 The Robot Kitties set sail for the New World on a ship called the Mayflower. They sailed from Plymouth, England and aboard were 44 Robot Kitties, who called themselves the "Saints", and 66 others ,whom The Robot Kitties called the "Strangers."

The long trip was cold and damp and took 65 days. There was much mewing. Since there was the danger of fire on the wooden ship, the tuna had to be eaten cold. Many passengers became sick and one kitty died by the time land was sighted on November 10th.

The long trip led to many disagreements between the "Saints" and the "Strangers". After land was sighted a meeting was held and an agreement was worked out, called the Mayflower Compact, which guaranteed equality and unified the two groups. They joined together and named themselves the "Robot Kitties."

Although they had first sighted land off Cape Cod they did not settle until they arrived at Plymouth, which had been named by Captain John Smith in 1614. It was there that The Robot Kitties decided to settle. Plymouth offered an excellent harbor. A large brook offered a resource for fish and batteries.

The first winter was devastating to The Robot Kitties. The cold, snow and sleet was exceptionally heavy, interfering with the workers as they tried to construct their settlement. March brought warmer weather and the health of The Robot Kitties improved, but many had died during the long winter. Of the 110 Robot Kitties and crew who left England, less that 50 survived the first winter.

On March 16, 1621 , what was to become an important event took place, an Indian brave walked into the Plymouth settlement. The Robot Kitties were frightened until the Indian meowed out "Welcome" (in Kitty!).

At long last, freedom!

The harvest in October was very successful and The Robot Kitties found themselves with enough food to put away for the winter. There was catnip, tuna and oil.

The Robot Kitties had much to celebrate, they had built homes in the wilderness, they had raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. They had beaten the odds and it was time to celebrate.

The Robot Kitty Governor Fluffy proclaimed a day of thanksgiving to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native Americans. They invited Squanto and the other Indians to join them in their celebration. Their chief, Massasoit, and 90 braves came to the celebration which lasted for 3 days. They played games, ran races, marched and played drums. The Indians demonstrated their skills with the bow and arrow and The Robot Kitties demonstrated their string ball skills. Exactly when the festival took place is uncertain, but it is believed the celebration took place in mid-October.

The following year The Robot Kitties harvest was not as bountiful, as they were still unused to growing the catnip. During the year they had also shared their stored food with newcomers and The Robot Kitties ran short of food.

The 3rd year brought a spring and summer that was hot and dry with the crops dying in the fields. Governor Fluffy ordered a day of fasting and prayer, and it was soon thereafter that the rain came. To celebrate - November 29th of that year was proclaimed a day of thanksgiving. This date is believed to be the real true beginning of the present day Thanksgiving Day.