One morning, while sitting on his rocking chair outside his tailor shop, Mr Fox spied Tommy Tentacles the octopus, walking towards him.
'I hope Tommy Tentacles walks right past' thought Mr Fox, 'because I can’t be doing with all those arms and legs of his. They disgust me. I only make clothes for animals of my own kind'.
Unfortunately for Mr Fox, Tommy Tentacles stopped and looked in his window, where he saw a beautiful lime green suit hanging up in the shop’s window display. He was quite taken with it, inking up the window.
“That is just the job for next week,” Tommy said, “As Tilley Tuna is getting married to Bobby Trout and I need something to wear. I will look very smart in that nice beautiful lime green suit.”
Tommy Tentacles entered the shop with Mr Fox reluctantly following him in. Mr Fox was beginning to get very worried. Mr Fox didn’t want to serve Tommy Tentacles at all!
“I would like to try on the lime green suit, please,” Tommy Tentacles said, and he took it from the window display without a word from Mr Fox.
“Great,” said Tommy Tentacles, “it fits! Apart from needing extra arms, of course! Mr Fox, I will quite happily take it from you if can arrange for the extra arms.”
Mr Fox groaned. He really did not want to go to the trouble of sewing on more arms and found that every moment Tommy Tentacles was in his shop to be very irritating.
“I’m sorry,” said Mr Fox, “but I can’t do that.” And with one clean movement, Mr Fox took the lime green suit off Tommy Tentacles shoulders and replaced it back into the window display.
“But I really like that suit, Mr Fox,” pleaded Tommy Tentacles. “Is there any way you could change it for me? I would pay very well, with the best pearls an octopus can find.”
Mr Fox turned his back and crossed his arms.
“I’m sorry, but my answer is ‘no’.”
With one last plea to Mr Fox’s good side, Tommy Tentacles left the shop empty-handed, which is pretty rare for an animal with eight arms and legs. ‘What is wrong with Mr Fox today?’ thought Tommy Tentacles as he slithered down the street. Suddenly, Squirrel and Mole, old friends from the wood, popped out from a side street and greeted Tommy Tentacles.
“We saw what happened to you in Mr Fox’s tailor shop,” said Squirrel. “He can be difficult sometimes.”
“I don’t know what the problem is. Tilley Tuna is getting married to Bobby Trout next week and I really needed that beautiful lime green suit in the window for the occasion. But Mr Fox didn’t want to sew on extra arms for me.”
“We know what the problem is. Leave it to us,” said Mole, and both Squirrel and Mole marched into Mr Fox’s tailor shop, with Tommy Tentacle nervously watching from outside.
“Hello, Mr Fox!” greeted Squirrel. Mr Fox turned to meet his two customers with a large smile.
“Welcome, Squirrel! Hello Mole. How can I help you?” Mr Fox rubbed his hands together, anticipating a sale or two.
“I noticed that beautiful lime green suit in your window and I wondering if we could try it on,” said Squirrel.
“Of course, of course,” replied Mr Fox, taking the beautiful lime green suit from the window. “Err, excuse me?” he asked.
“Sorry?” said Squirrel.
“Did you say ‘we’ could try it on?” queried Mr Fox.
“Why of course! We, myself and Mole here, need one lovely big suit which fits the both of us for the Fancy Dress Ball next week,” said Squirrel, “and that beautiful lime green suit is ‘just the job’.”
“A suit for both of you?” asked Mr Fox, perplexed.
“Yes, it would be very funny to go in a suit like that,” replied Mole.
“To a Fancy Dress Ball, you say?” asked Mr Fox.
“Why, yes! I’m sure many more of our friends will want to purchase more items from you, especially if you can give us this wonderful suit.”
“Yes, I see now. One suit that both of you wear at the same time,” muttered Mr Fox. He thought for a while. ‘Squirrel might be correct. If I can sell this suit to Squirrel and Mole, others may come and buy more clothes from me’. So Mr Fox handed over the suit and Squirrel tried it on. Mole then stood in front of Squirrel and Mr Fox buttoned it up.
“Perfect!” smiled Mr Fox.
“Mmm, yes…” replied Mole, “but I need sleeves for my arms, too.”
Mr Fox unbuttoned the suit and rushed it into his workshop.
“I’ll have a couple of sleeves on it in no time!” he shouted from the back. And to his word, in no time at all, the beautiful lime green suit was transformed with extra arms.
“Oh, amazing, Mr Fox, absolutely amazing!” said Squirrel as Mr Fox showed off the beautiful suit with extra arms. Mole walked over to the door of the tailor shop to let Tommy Tentacles in. Upon realising the ruse, Mr Fox bowed his head.
“Oh,” said Mr Fox, “I’ve been such a fool. I’m sorry, Tommy Tentacles for treating you so badly. Please, take the suit as an apology for my rudeness.”
Squirrel and Mole congratulated Mr Fox on his change of heart while Tommy Tentacles wore and paraded his new beautiful lime green suit around the tailor shop. It did look fantastic on him, and with a satisfied customer and knowing that he had done some good by becoming a little more tolerant of others, Mr Fox was happy, though still slightly irritated in the company of an octopus.
The End.
© 2015 Dani J Caile & Nancy Shorey
Illustration courtesy of Vladimir Zuñiga of Foca.tk
All the Kings Horses
By Peter John
To the blare of a dozen trumpets,
They galloped.
With solders on their backs,
They galloped
Through the castle gates,
They galloped.
Across the fields and over the hills,
They galloped.
Along the road and into the town.
Not pausing for breath, not slowing down.
Up to the wall, pulling up sharp.
Heads held low, heavy hearts.
The Soldiers toil away in vain.
But they couldn't put Humpty together again.
© 2015 Peter John
Illustration courtesy of Clker
For the Love of a Cat
by Kristina Jacobs
When I was just a little black kit,
The world was just four walls,
With a bright window,
Full of blue skies, green grass and fat birds,
Safe behind the glass.
One day, a boy and a girl,
With their mom and dad,
Came and all the grown up cats were in a tizzy.
"Who was going to get a home today?"
They said with frantic meows.
They were rubbing, purring, jumping or hiding,
As each was bound to do,
According to their opinion of the matter.
"Home" was a wondrous word - a word to purr just before sleep, the black kit thought.
Sapphire, a skinny black and white queen rubbed AND purred AND jumped and made up to those humans with all her might.
Most contenders retired their own attempts for attention as soon as they heard the "ooh's" and "ahh's" and saw the human's eyes light up.
No one was surprised to see them pick out her "homing home" blanket and toys just a few minutes later.
Just a plain little black thing, with ears too big and feeling a little shy, Geordie sat quiet and watched it all.
Strange, he thought to himself. Those people went in and out and back and forth and still, they didn't leave.
It seemed they planned to hold every single cat in the place-maybe even him!
He watched, he listened. Most of the cats didn't want to bother with a home with cheeky Sapphire hogging all the attention. Some couldn't abide by kids. A bunch were scared of the big man, but not he.
He sat quietly, just thinking, wondering when he might be noticed and one day find a home.
T
hen, he saw the girl. Her long hair was curling enticingly like string all down her back. Her bright movements drew him in, just like the hoppy birds outside the window.
Their eyes met. Hers said, "I love you."
The decision of only a moment, he stood and walked to HIS girl and found home.
© 2015 Kristina Jacobs
Illustration courtesy of OpenClipArt
The Adventures of Sunny and Pandora Bunny
By Margaret Wiese
Sunny's ears were long and brown,
With a little fluffy tail, he looked like a clown.
Now, Pandora, was a rabbit of a different color:
She was often mistaken for a spotted flower.
The other brothers and sisters,
Looked kind of odd, too.
But, Sunny and Pandora were adventurous,
toooooooooo...
They left their old log,
And went hippety hop-hop— HOP!
Into mischief and trouble.
Papa jacked their ears,
Mama shook her head,
"Those two bunnies,
Are too well fed."
They went without breakfast, lunch and dinner,
But, neither Sunny or Pandora,
Got any thinner…
In fact, they grew and grew — those adventurous two!!!
© 1958, 2015 Margaret Wiese
Illustration courtesy of Vladimir Zuñiga of Foca.tk
My Favorite Little Cowgirl - Margaret Ann
By Margene Wiese-Baier
(This is Bint Kabesah who is owned by Christina Torry)
Margaret Ann was a super smart little girl that had many talents, but when she was little, all she wanted to be was a cowgirl. She even had dreams about someday having her own horse that she would name Kabisha. Someday, she was going to ride Kabisha across the Great Plains of the United States.
But, in the meantime, she would put on her hat and pretend it was a cowboy hat, and her black boots that she would pretend were cowboy boots, and put on a dress and pretend they were cowgirl clothes made of the softest leather. She was good at pretending, because besides being the best cowgirl, she knew she was someday going to be a famous writer.
The thing she loved doing the most was getting on her imaginary horse (which was really the gate to the fence that surrounded her parents little farm.) In her imagination, it was a very large ranch that had hundreds of cows and horses and rows and rows of wheat in the fields.
She thought that when the wind blew, it would make a picture that looked to her like God was taking a big breath blowing it until it would almost go flat. To her, she imagined it was a game of hide and seek for the animals to see if God could find them under it.
Margaret Ann would do all of her chores as quickly as she could because she wanted to get out there and climb onto her imaginary horse that seemed so real to her.
On this day, she did like she did every day, but this day was different. She ran out to the gate and discovered something was different - it was like she walked through a magic portal. Her horse Kabisha was standing right there waiting for her. She was so magnificent. It seemed that she bowed when she saw her.
She looked down at her clothes and they were not the ones that she put on that morning but a real cowgirl outfit. Real cowgirl boots, a real cowgirl hat, and the softest cowgirl clothes. There was a skirt and vest and the prettiest blouse she ever saw.
She climbed on Kabisha and they rode across the fields, but it seemed like it was a long way. She felt happy and free. She yodeled like she did when she was sitting on the fence gate, but this was different, it was like there was real music in the background.
She wanted this to go on forever.
Then she heard her mom calling her.
... Margaret Ann…Margaret Ann… It’s supper time...
Then she realized it was all just a dream, but such a beautiful dream. It had seemed so real, and she knew she would dream it again.
When she got back to the house, her mom had made her favorite - chocolate pudding. As she set the table, she remembered her dream, and she remembered how she felt in the wonderful cowgirl outfit, how soft the leather was, and how fine the boots looked.
But, most of all, she remembered how beautiful Kabisha was, and how her eyes sparkled and glowed with love for her.
She thought, “Someday you will not be a dream. You will be real. Someday you will be mine and we will ride everywhere together. I will tell the story of our adventures together…”
She sighed and went to sit on the fence as the sun went down, just until dinner. “Someday…my dream will come true,” she thought.
The End
© 2015 Margene Wiese-Baier
Illustration courtesy of Nancy Pierce, Photography and Creative Services, Pierce Graphic Design
Go tell me when the bus is due
By Dorothy Seers
Go tell me when the bus is due,
Go tell me when the bus is due,
Go tell me when the bus is due,
I'll leave that up to you.
Is that bus coming dear?
Is that bus coming dear?
Is that bus coming dear?
Is it nearly here?
Is it coming along soon?
Is it coming along soon?
Is it coming along soon?
I hope there’s still some room.
Quick, let's put our arm out,
Quick, let's put our arm out,
Quick, let's put our arm out,
We don't need to shout.
There it's stopped without a fuss,
There it's stopped without a fuss,
There it's stopped without a fuss,
Let’s get on the bus.
© 2015 Dorothy Seers
Terrance the Shy Hedgehog
By Rowan Blair Colver
Terrance is a hedgehog. Like all hedgehogs, Terrance can roll himself up into a tight little ball. When hedgehogs are rolled up tight, the spines on their back make a spiky shell which covers all their soft bits, like their tummy. Terrance was quite shy, and whenever he saw something he hadn't seen before, he'd roll himself up into a ball. Sometimes he'd stay like that for a very very long time. Often he'd unravel himself when he was doubly trebly sure there was nothing to worry about to find he'd been hiding from a blackberry. Once he hid from a puddle.
Terrance didn't have many friends because each time someone tried to speak to him, he'd be afraid and roll up into a spiky ball. Sometimes, he'd accidentally jab someone with a spike and they felt that was very unkind. He didn't mean to be unkind, Terrance was just very afraid.
One night, Terrance was feeling especially lonely and he wished that he had someone to talk to and sit next to. He wondered about what could be the problem, and why people tended to avoid him. He remembered that time when he spiked his friend, and the time before that and the time before that.
Then he realised.
Because he was scared, because he was nervous of them, he spiked them and they didn't like that. His behaviour has been upsetting the people who were trying to be his friends! He wished he wasn't so scared and thought really hard about what he could do to help himself.
"I can't do this by myself," he said in a quiet squeaky voice.
It was the first time he'd spoken in a long time, and when he heard himself, guess what? He rolled up into a spiky ball. As he lay there, in the darkness, he thought about what he'd said. Terrance knew that he'd have to ask for help, so he unravelled himself and used his nose to smell for somebody nearby.
Being very brave, and doing something he was not used to doing at all, he approached a snail. Hedgehogs usually eat snails but Terrance had always shied away. He was more of an earthworm person. He sometimes even enjoyed a small slug, if they were tiny enough. The big ones scared him. The snail looked up at Terrance and with a gulp it shrank back into its shell.
"Oh!" thought Terrance, "that wasn’t very nice", then said aloud, "I
only wanted to ask for help". The snail pushed one eye on a stalk out of the darkness of the shell and looked at Terrance one more time. A tiny voice peeped out from the shell and said
"Do you promise not to eat me?"
"I promise," said Terrance. The snail slowly pushed another eye out.
“Do you really promise?"
"Yes!" said Terrance in voice much louder than before. This unnerved him, but to his surprise, he didn't curl up into a ball! Because he was focussed on the snail and getting her to talk to him, he didn't feel scared.
The snail pushed her entire face and neck from her shell and smiled at Terrance, who was grinning back at her. He was grinning because he'd not curled up into a spiky ball but he didn't say anything. The snail seemed to like his smile.
"My name is Terrance, what's yours?" he asked politely, in a voice a little louder than his smallest one.
"Margaret,” she said, "pleased to meet you". Margaret smiled again and then asked "what help did you want Terrance, how can a snail help a hedgehog?"
"You see, Margaret, I'm ever so shy, I usually curl up into a little spiky ball whenever I see something unusual."
Margaret grinned again.
"I am the same, I always hide under my shell when something surprises me! But with you here I don't think anything could scare me," she said.