The 'Highest' Voice

In a three way contest between Lish Orumi, Karu Bluelitter and her younger sister Mio to see who could make the silliest voices, 18-year-old Karu won - and paid a 'high' price.

The three catgirls were trying to make the most of a warm sring day in the Bluelitter rumpus room. The video games had been watched and the video tapes have been watched and rewatched when Mio had a brainstorm.

"I wanted to see who could make the funniest voice!" the 10-year-old girl recalled.

Using a canister of helium left over from Mio's birthday party, the girls started inhaling small amounts so they could have the squeekiest voice. Each taking a bit more than the other in competition.

"Karu is very competitive and was determined to win," her mother said later. "She took a really long hit of gas."

The excess helium slowly expanded Karu's fit body to three times her normal size. Her tiny toes gently lifted off the floor and soon she was bobbing around the rumpus room like an astronaut leaping across the moon.

"Mio called for help but I couldn't hear her because of the way she sounded," Mrs. Bluelitter recalled. "Then Lish told her not to worry. She knew about helum from school and said the effects would wear off soon. So they just tied a jump rope around Karu's ankle and took her outside to play."

Mrs. Bluelitter happened to look out the window as they jumped into the pool. She watched, with horror, as they used Karu as a beach ball!

"She floated real good," Mio said. "I was sorry when mom ran out and took her away."

The girl's mother put her arms around Karu and her lips to her mouth and literally sucked the helium out from her lungs.

"Karu made some pretty funny noises," Mio giggled.

Karu recovered, unfazed by the excitement. "That was the most fun I ever had," she smiled.

"But I think I lost the contest. Mom won that after she sucked the helium out of me and inflated just like I was."