Erik would like to clear something up before introductions begin. This may be a world full of interesting animals, unexpected problems and perfectly capable individuals, but somebody still needs to be in charge. He has considered the candidates. He has chosen himself.
Welcome to the story world of Erik and Ernie, where the garden has rather more going on than a passing hooman might notice. There are friendships to navigate, mysteries to untangle and a younger brother whose latest idea probably needs looking into. At the centre of it all stands Erik, whiskers ready, quietly convinced that things would fall apart without him.
He is occasionally right. That does make him difficult to argue with.
A Cat with a Plan
Erik is clever, observant and very aware of both facts. He likes understanding what is happening, especially when someone appears to be keeping a secret. Give him a mystery and he will want answers. Give him a suspicious explanation and you can expect a meaningful stare. He brings that same confidence to the other animals in his world. Even the swans, who make a considerable effort to look intimidating, do not automatically get the last word when Erik is around.
There is something appealing about a cat who will step forward when things get complicated. Erik might have a sarcastic observation ready, but he also has the nerve to get involved. When somebody needs help, his carefully planned quiet afternoon becomes rather less important. Although he would appreciate everyone remembering that he had one planned.
Then There’s Ernie
You cannot get very far into Erik’s world without meeting his younger brother. Ernie brings energy, enthusiasm and a remarkable capacity for chaos. Erik brings the look of someone who suspected this would happen.
Their relationship gives the stories much of their humour. Erik wants to think things through. Ernie’s enthusiasm can make that difficult. There is affection between them, along with the everyday irritation of sharing your world with someone who borrows your things and keeps needing your help. Erik spends plenty of time rescuing his brother from trouble. He may roll his eyes while doing it, but he still turns up.
For readers with siblings, that combination might feel familiar: you can be thoroughly exasperated with somebody and still be the first to step in when they need you.
The Sandwich Incident Deserves a Mention
Before Erik becomes too pleased with this introduction, there is a small matter of a missing sandwich. He once called a full team meeting to investigate its disappearance. A serious mystery required serious attention. Then he discovered he was sitting on it. He blamed Ernie anyway.
It is a useful detail to know about Erik. His confidence does not always reflect how much he actually knows, and being the self-appointed leader does not prevent him from making a spectacular mistake. Sometimes the reader gets to enjoy spotting the gap between Erik’s opinion of himself and the evidence directly beneath him. Erik would probably prefer we moved on.
A Bigger World Beyond the Whiskers
Around Erik is a growing cast with their own interests and opinions. Zip-Artiste has painting to think about. Ruffel has his royal ambitions. Checkers is a formidable opponent at the chessboard. They give Erik plenty to respond to. He cannot simply announce a plan and expect every creature to agree, however reasonable that arrangement seems to him.
That is part of the pleasure of getting to know this world. Different personalities meet, rub each other up the wrong way and find reasons to work together. Erik has an important place in it, but there is always another character worth following.
Your Introduction to the Adventures
The Erik and Ernie books are a place to discover that mix of mischief, friendship and questionable decisions for yourself. Watch how Erik handles a problem, how he treats the animals around him and what happens when his certainty meets something unexpected. Just avoid mentioning tuna during the introductions. You will lose his attention immediately.
