The Giant and the Dog

One day there was a great big giant named McMuffin. He was so huge that he could not fit into a house, and he could not us a bathtub, or a shower. So when he needed to get clean he would go into the ocean.

That is what he was doing on this one particular day. He was washing under his arms, and on his chest, and his back, and just as he got the the spot behind his ears he heard a commotion.

A house had caught on fire, and people were standing around it saying, "Oh no, the nearest fire station is twenty minutes away! The house will be burned up before the firemen can arrive."

You see, this town was a very small town, and not many people lived there because of the fear of giants. All the people in those parts thought that giants were mean, and clumsy, and bad tempered, and so very few people were willing to live in Giant Country.

Well, the people were looking at the house burning, and they saw the giant taking his bath in the ocean. They said to each other, "Perhaps that giant can help!" but they did not call him Mc Muffin, because nobody had ever bothered to learn his name. So the people ran over saying, "Please Mr. Giant, can you please help up put out this fire? The nearest fire station is twenty minutes away and that is too far to save this house!"

And McMuffin said, "No. I will not help you put out the fire. Humans have never been very nice to me, and I have not been treated with respect, so I will not help. I bet you do not even know my name."

Then the people were all very sad, and they said, "The house will be destroyed for certain."

Just then they heard a noise from the roof. "Woof woof woof woof."

There was a dog trapped up on the roof. When the fire had first started the dog had tried to escape, but the fire had blocked the door. So she ran up to the second floor. But soon the smoke had gotten to that floor, so she ran onto the roof.

When the giant saw this he thought about it. He thought, "If a house is destroyed, that is just a house. But if a dog loses its life when I could have prevented it, I would not feel right. A life is precious."

So McMuffin went over to a dock where there were many boats moored. He was so big that he picked up a whole rowboat that could hold six people. Using it like a bucket he dipped it into the water and filled the entire rowboat full of water. Then he held it over his head and went, stomp stomp stomp, over to the house carrying the heavy water-filled rowboat.

Then he dumped it right on the house! All the water went rushing down and Whoosh! the fire went out and steam went everywhere.

Then the huge giant gently picked up the dog, because the dog was so small he had to be careful, and he carefully placed the dog on the ground. The dog ran away barking happily.

The people went up to McMuffin and said, "Thank you for saving the house!"

And the giant said, "I did not do it for you. I did it to save the life of that dog."

Then he went back to the ocean to finish his bath. And that is how the giant saved the dog from a fire.

The End
(c) 2007 Ken Demarest

Bleep-a-freep's family

One day Spotty Spot and Teddy bear were sitting on Spotty Spot's porch talking like friends do. I couldn't tell you what they were talking about, and they probably wouldn't remember either, but that is how it can be with friends - they just liked being together.

As they sat they watched the river flow by, for Spotty Spot's house was situated on a wide river. They saw their friend Bleep-a-freep the Costa Rican frog come swimming out of the water. Bleep-a-freep walked up the tall, sloping bank of the river and right up to the two friends. He said, "Hello Spotty Spot. Hello Teddy Bear. I need your help down at the harbor."

Now, a harbor is a big place full of water where ships live. Teddy Bear had once visited the harbor, and he remembered that ships from far away places would sail into the harbor, stay a few days, and then sail off to new places.

Spotty Spot said, "How can we help you, Bleep-a-freep?"

"Well," said Bleep-a-freep, "today many new ships arrived! There will be frogs stowed away on those ships, and they will not know where to go. They are from far away and might get lost in the town, or even eaten by a cat!"

"I need you to swim down to the harbor and help me welcome them properly." said Bleep-a-freep. "I have special SCUBA gear for you to help you swim under water."

So Teddy Bear and Spotty Spot went to the river's edge, and Bleep-a-freep gave them each a mask, which they put on their face (demonstrate it), and an air tank, which they put on their backs (demonstrate it), and a respirator for their mouths that sounded like this. (make the noise, like Chih-Koo, Chih-Koo )

Then they all swam under the water and let the current push them down steam to the harbor.

In the harbor there were so many boats! Boats of every kind, that people could get on and go where ever they wanted. But frogs were not allowed on the boats. That is why Bleep-a-freep's frog friends were called "Stow Aways", because they were not really allowed to ride the boats.

Spotty Spot asked, "Why are the frogs stowed away?"

Bleep-a-freep said, "In the countries where they live, these frogs are treated very badly. Even though they work hard, and contribute to society, the government does not protect them from cats, or racoons, and many frogs get eaten. They stow away on these boats to try to find a better life in a new country."

Teddy Bear said, "Like our country?"

"Yes," said Bleep-a-freep. "Here is what we need to do."

And Bleep-a-freep showed how to swim up below each boat, and knock on the hull - knock knock knock. When he did this, a little frog peeked over the side of the boat, and when Bleep-a-freep waved the frog jumped in and began to follow. Just like that, this new frog from a far away land was swimming with them, with hope in his heart.

The friends all split up, and each one of them swam up to a boat. Knock knock knock, and another frog from a far away land would hop over the side and join the group.

Soon they had twenty frogs from far away lands following them. Then Bleep-a-freep said, "Now we must bring all of our new friends down to the Frog Kingdom."

Spotty Spot said, "I have never heard of the Frog Kingdom. What is it?"

Bleep-a-freep said, "The Frog Kingdon is a great secret. We never speak of it, and we never take outsiders into it. But you have helped me today, so perhaps you will be welcome."

Then they all swam deep, deep, deep into the water of the harbor. Soon it got dark, because the sunshine could not penetrate the water, and then they saw a little glint in the darkness. Soon they saw another, and another, and then a whole town began to appear.

They swam to the front gate, and the Frog Kingdom mayor greeted them.

"Welcome to the Frog Kingdom," he said to the new frogs from far away lands, and he let them all in the gate. But to Bleep-a-freep he said, "Who are these two non-frogs you have with you? Outsiders may not enter the Frog Kingdom."

Bleep a freep replied, "These are my friends, and they have helped gather all these frogs from far away lands to bring them to safety."

The mayor said, "Very well, they may enter on one condition."

Turning to Teddy Bear he asked, "Do you promise never to speak of the Frog Kingdom to anyone?" and Teddy Bear responded, "Yes, I promise."

Then to Spotty Spot he asked, "Do you promise never to speak of the Frog Kingdom to anyone?" and Spotty Spot responded, "Yes, I promise."

Then they went into the frog kingdom and there was a great celebration. But I can not tell you what they saw, because Teddy Bear and Spotty Spot kept their promise and never spoke of the Frog Kingdom.

And that is how the three friends helped Bleep-a-freep with the frogs from far away lands.

The End
(c) 2007 Ken Demarest

Moobaloo makes Friends with a Whale

One day there was a mermaid named Moobaloo. Now, a mermaid is a lot like a person, except they have the tail of a fish. This particular mermaid was named Moobaloo and she had a friend. He friend was a little fish, named Horace.

Moobaloo and Horace were swimming along having a long talk. They were discussing what might be at the very, very deepest part of the sea (which neither of them could visit). They had heard all sorts of things - that huge creatures with eight tentacles might be down there, or glowing creatures that made their own light. But neither Moobaloo nor Horace knew for sure.

As they swam along they were so engrossed in their talk that they didn't really look around very much.

Now, there is a kind of fish in the sea called a shark. And there is a kind of shark called a "Hammer Head" shark. This is because their head look a bit like the head of a hammer. And every year many, many hammer head sharks all get together in a certain place in the ocean. They see each other, and as they pass they say "Hammer" and the other shark has to say "Head."

Moobaloo and Horace didn't notice they were entering one of these gatherings, until Horace heard "Hammer." He looked around and saw many, many hammer head sharks around them. Another shark answered the first. "Head".

Horace said to Moobaloo, "We have made a mistake. Sharks like to eat little fish like me, and they might even eat a mermaid like you. We have to hide."

Just then a shark passed by them and said, "Hammer" and another responded "Head."

Horace ducked into some coral. He found a tiny little hole and he hid in it. But none of the holes in the coral were the right size for Moobaloo. Horace said, "Moobaloo, you must leave me and go hide. I will find you later."

So Moobaloo swam away, and she hoped none of the sharks noticed her. But as she passed one it said, "hammer" and when she said "head" in her high pitched, mermaid voice the shark noticed her. Moobaloo swam away, and the shark swam slowly behind.

She swam above where all the sharks were. "Hammer"... "Head"... "Hammer"... "Head"... she heard them all saying.

Then Moobaloo saw a whale. It was big. It was huge. It was almost as big as a house.

Moobaloo swam up to it and said, "Please Mr. whale, can you help me with this shark?" but the whale only spoke whale language, and he didn't understand. So Moobaloo swam up to his eye and waved at him. He winked back in a friendly way, but still didn't know what Moobaloo wanted.

So Moobaloo began to yawn. She stretched, like this, and she yawned, like this, and the whale could see her the whole time. Pretty soon, all he yawns caught on with the whale, and he opened his big huge mouth to yawn as well.

Quick as a wink Moobaloo swam into his mouth.

The whale was so big, and Moobaloo was so small, they the whale did not even know she was in his mouth. The shark thought Moobaloo had disappeared, and he got bored and swam away.

Back in the coral hiding place, Horace waited and waited. "Hammer..." "Head..." "Hammer..." "Head..." and soon the voices got more and more quiet. The sharks had moved on to another spot. Horace peeked his head out and looked around. The sharks were gone. So he swam out and began to look for Moobaloo.

He asked a starfish, "Have you seen a mermaid?" and the star fish pointed one spiny arm. Then he asked an angel fish,"Have you seen a mermaid?" and the angel fish said, "Yes. I saw a mermaid swim toward that whale, with a hammer head not far behind."

Now Horace was worried for his friend. He swam up to the whale. Horace spoke many of the languages of the sea, even whale, and he asked the whale, "Have you seen a mermaid?" The whale said, "I saw her, but I don't know where she IS." and just as he said "is", his mouth made a shape just like mine: "is" "is" and Moobaloo swam out!

She said, "Horace it is good to see you again!" and Horace said "I am glad you are OK Moobaloo!"

Moobaloo said, "Horace, please thank the whale for letting me hide in his mouth from the shark." so Horace translated her words into whale language, and the whale replied "She is welcome any time." because he was glad to be helpful and save a precious life.

"Any time she needs help," the whale said, "she can just make this symbol to me and I will open my mouth for her."

And that is how Moobaloo and the whale became friends.

The End
(c) 2007 Ken Demarest

Ted the Tractor makes his Engine Shine

One day there was a little tractor named Ted. Every day Ted worked on the farm. He worked very hard under the guidance of his friend the farmer. On a particular day, Ted and the Farmer worked late and at the end of the day the farmer said, "Ted, today was exhausting. I need a better tractor. Your engine is rusty and you aren't working as hard as we need."

Well, Ted was surprised to hear this. Even though the work was hard, he had always thought that he and the farmer would go on together, forever. Ted resolved that very night to make his engine new and shiney, so that he could work harder.

When the farmer went into the farm house, Ted started his journey. First he drove up a mountain. At the top he met a rock climber. Ted said, "Can you help make my engine shiney again?" and the rock climber said, "All I have is this rope, and this climbing axe. I can not help you."

So Ted drove down the mountain and into a swamp. A swamp is like a forest and a lake all mixed together. It is full of mud, and Ted had a difficult time rolling through the mud. But he tried hard and he made it. In the swamp he met an aligator. Ted said, "Please Mr. aligator, can you help make my engine shiney again?" and the aligator said, "All I have are these big teeth for chomping fish. I can not help with your engine."

So Ted drove out of the swamp and into a forest. In the forest he met a wood cutter. Ted said, "Please Mr. Wood Cutter, can you help make my engine shiney again?" and the wood cutter said, "All I have is an axe. I can not help you."

Ted began to think he would end his days with a rusty engine. But Ted had pride. He did not want to have a rusty engine. He believed that he was a good, strong engine and that his engine should shine!

So next Ted went to a city, and as he entered the city he crossed over a bridge. And on the bridge were some men working. The paint on the bridge was old and needed to be removed, and these men were using something called a "sand blaster" to do it. The sand blaster was kind of like a water pistol the shot really hard and fast, and had little grains of sand in the water.

Ted asked one of the workers, "Can you help make my engine shine?" and the worker said, "Sure. We can remove the rust with our sand blaster. But the san blaster hurts a lot. The little grains of sand will sting when they hit you. Do you still want a shiney engine?"

Ted thought about this. Was it worth being hurt so that he could have a shiney engine? It might mean the difference between working with the farmer and being put out to pasture. Ted asked, "Will it hurt me forever, or just for a little while?"

The worker said, "Well, it will only hurt while we blast you. Then it will ache for a day, and then it will hurt no more."

Ted said, "Then I want it."

So the worker blaster Ted's engine with sand, and the rust came flying off, but only a little bit at a time. It took two hours to blast all the rust off, and it hurt Ted the whole time.

When it was done, Ted drove back to the farm. As he drove, the ache of the blasting stayed with him, but by the time he got to the farm the pain and the ache were only a memory.

When the farmer came out the next day to see Ted he said, "Oh my! What a nice shiney engine! I do not need to get a new tractor, this one is terrific!" and sure enough, that day Ted and the farmer plowed the field in half the time it usually took them, and they spent the rest of the day together just talking.

The End
(c) 2007 Ken Demarest

The Stinkiest Shoes in the World

One day there was a boy named Roderic. Roderic was a boy a lot like other boys, except for one thing. He never washed his feet. Oh, Roderic would get in the shower sometimes and he would was his hair, and his face, and his body... but he never washed his feet.

This meant that Roderic's shoes were really stinky. Each day Roderic didn't wash his feet, and each day the shoes got more and more smelly. When Roderic would walk into a house, everyone would make a face, and wrinkle their nose, and say, "Ack! What is that smell?!"

There was a funny thing about Roderic. He never noticed. In fact, Roderic's nose didn't work at all. To him, if he couldn't smell his feet, then nobody else could either. But they did.

As time went on Roderic began to notice that his shoes were getting dirty. Soon there was dirt in the bottom of them, and they even began to fill up. Little bits of moss and lichen would cling to the outside of the shoes, yet he still wore them every day.

Then one day Roderic woke up and looked in his shoes, and there, in each shoe, was a tiny little plant sprouting. And Roderic said, "I can't put on these shoes any more. I could not live with myself if I harmed these little plants."

So Roderic left the house that day with no shoes. Since his feet spent the whole day outside of shoes getting fresh air, they started to stink a little less. But Roderic did not notice, of course, because his nose didn't work.

During the next week the little plants in Roderic's shoes grew every day. One morning, when Roderic woke up, they were trees growing right up to his roof. The next day, he saw little buds forming on the limbs. Roderic wondered - would they bear fruit? Would it be flowers? He did not know.

When Roderic returned home that night the little buds had turned into shoes. There are sandals, and work boots, sneakers and lady's high heeled shoes, spiffy leather loafers and even cowboy boots.

The next morning Roderic decided the new shoes on the trees were ripe, and he could start wearing shoes again. But the shoes looked so nice and new and clean that he couldn't bear to put his dirty feet in them, so he went to the tub and he washed them.

When Roderic washed his feet that first time, he had to take an ice pick and chip the crusty dirt off his feet. He used dental floss to remove the moss from between his toes. And he used a butter knife to clean under his long, curling nails, and finally clipped them with garden shears.

When his feet were clean he went to the shoe trees and picked a pair of sneakers. That day he went out and played basketball with his friends. Everybody noticed that the bad smell was gone when Roderic was around. They liked that.

The day after, Roderic picked a pair of work boots and helped a friend build his house. He learned how to use a nail gun, and a screw gun, and a saw. When a wooden beam fell on his toes, a metal jacket in the work boot's toe stopped his toes from being crushed.

Each day Roderic put on a new kind of shoes, and he used each shoe in a different way. But Roderic was always glad to have his original shoes, with their trees growing out of them.

And that is the story of the stinkiest shoes in the world, and what happened to them.

The End
(c) 2007 Ken Demarest

Moobaloo Eats a Hamburger

One day there was a mermain who lived in the ocean. Now, mermaids are a lot like people, except they have a great big fish tail instead of legs.

Most mermaids eat fish, but Moobaloo was alergic to fish. She couldn't eat it. So she had to live on seaweed.

She said to her friend, the little fish (whose name was Horace), "I am SO sick of eating seaweed. And I can't eat fish. I wish I could eat something new."

And Horace said, "Well, I have a story for you. One day a fisherman caught me on his line. He measured me, and because I was too small he threw me back into the ocean. But while he was measuring me I saw people eating hamburgers in a little bungalow. Hamburgers are made of beef, not fish, so I bet you could eat one."

Moobaloo was very interested in this. "I am going to eat a hamburger." she said.

"But the shore is very far away!" said the little fish Horace.

"It does not matter." said Moobaloo.

So she set out. She swam for a day, and then for another day. When she finally got to the shore it was night time. She pulled herself out onto the sand, wiggling across the beach because she had a tail and no legs.

Just then, clouds moved out from in front of the moon. It was a full moon that night, and when the moonlight touched Moobaloo's tail, PLOOF, it turned into two legs! She stood up, and shee could see the little bungalow where the hamburgers were being made.

But as she looked she realized that all the people in the bungalow were wearing clothes. But mermaids don't wear clothes. Moobaloo was totally naked. So she looked around on the beach and she found a towel that somebody had left at the beach. Maybe it was your family that forgot the towel.

She wrapped the towel around her chest so that she covered up he girl parts, and into the bungalow she went.

She said, "I would like ahamburger please!"

The man at the counter said, "Would you like it rare, medium, or well done?"

Moobaloo said, "What do you mean?"

The man, whose name was Mike, said, "What do you mean what do I mean? Haven't you ever had a hamburger before?"

"Nope," said Moobaloo, "This is my first one."

"Holy Moley!" said Mike, "That is hard for me to imagine! Well, rare is when we only cook the hamburger a little bit. Medium is when we cook it more, and well done is when we cook it so much that there isn't any pink left inside it."

Moobaloo thought about this. All of the mermaids she knew ate their fish raw. "I would like it rare, please." she said.

So Mike cooker her a hamburger, and he gave the french fries and ketchup. Moobaloo sat down and ate everything. She thought it was so good!

Then Mike came over and said, "OK. That will be eight dollars please."

"What is a dollar?" asked Moobaloo.

"You don't know what a dollar is?" Mike asked.

"No, I've never used one before." said Moobaloo.

Then Mike got a look on his face that made Moobaloo worried. She ran out of the bungalow towards the ocean. Mike came out after her, chasing. As Moobaloo got near the ocean a cloud went in front of the moon. Moobaloo's legs turned back into a tail, and she had to drag herself across the sand. Of course Mike caught up to her.

He said, "Holey Moley! You are a mermaid! No wonder you didn't know what money was. You don't have to pay for your hamburger. I will take it out of my pay for you."

"Thank you." said Moobaloo.

Mike picked Moobaloo up and carried he the rest of the way to the ocean. He waded in all the way up to his chest. As Moobaloo swam away she popped up above the surface and waved back to Mike. "Thank you!" she said.

"I will never forget this!" said Mike.

Then Moobaloo swam away, and that was the only hamburger she ever ate.

The End
(c) 2007 Ken Demarest

Teddy Bear's Lunch Becomes an Adventure

One day there was a knock on Spotty Spot's door. It was his good friend Teddy Bear. When Spotty Spot opened the door and saw who it was, he jumped onto his friend. Lick lick lick lick lick lick lick lick lick lick lick lick. He was so happy to see his friend.

"Come inside," he said, "and I will make us some lunch."

So Teddy Bear came in and sat down at Spotty Spot's large dining room table. Spotty Spot went into his pantry to get some food. He opened one cabinet door, but the cabinet was empty. He opened another door. That one was empty too. He looked everywhere.

"Teddy Bear, I am sorry. I have forgotten to go shopping, and I have no food for lunch! This is so embarrassing for me!"

"Don't worry," said Teddy Bear, "Perhaps we can go find some food right now!"

So Teddy Bear picked up a basket and the two friends began to walk down the road. It wasn't long before they passed a farm. There a farmer stood in the field with a hoe. "Mr. Farmer, do you have any food that we could buy?" Spotty Spot said.

"Why yes. I have these carrots right here. I just dug them out of the ground, and you can have them if you don't mind that they're dirty. That will be one dollar for five carrots."

So Spotty Spot give the farmer a dollar, and Teddy Bear put the carrots in their basket.

So the two friends walked a bit more down the road. They went around a corner, and through some woods, and came to a river. Out in the river a fisherman was fishing.

"Mr. Fisherman, do you have something for our lunch?" Spotty Spot asked.

"Why yes I do. I just caught this fresh salmon for the river. You can have it for eight dollars."

So Spotty Spot gave the fisherman eight dollars, and Teddy Bear took the salmon and put it in the basket. Now the two friends has carrots, from the farmer, and salmon from the fisherman in their basket.

They began to walk again, when Spotty Spot said, "Mmm! Teddy Bear, I smell something good up ahead!" and Teddy Bear said, "I don't smell anything yet." But soon he did smell something. It was the rich, warm smell of baking bread. "This is a bakery," said Spotty Spot, "There will be bread inside."

Sure enough, inside the bakery a man was just taking bread from the oven.

"Mr. Baker, do you have any bread you could sell us?" asked Spotty Spot.

"This bread is fresh from the oven, still warm!" said the baker, "You can have a loaf for two dollars." So Spotty Spot counted out one, two dollars, and Teddy Bear put the bread in the basket. Now the two friends had carrots from the farmer, salmon from the fisherman, and bread from the baker in their basket.

After some more walking the two friends were passing a large field with a tree in the middle. Teddy Bear heard a buzzing noise. He said, "I know what that means! There is a bee hive in that tree, and bee hives mean honey!"

Spotty Spot said, "But Teddy Bear, don't bees sting?"

Teddy Bear said, "Yes they do, but I am a bear! My skin is so thick, and my fur is so thick, that the bees can not hurt me."

So Teddy Bear climbed the tree. He put his paw into a hole, and pulled out a big glob of sticky honey. Now the two friends had carrots from the farmer, salmon from the fisherman, bread from the baker, and honey from a bee hive. It was time to eat.

So they sat down in the field and made a fire. They cooked the carrots with the salmon. They toasted the bread and spread honey upon it. And they both agreed it was the best lunch they had ever eaten.

The End
(c) 2007 Ken Demarest

Teddy Bear is Lost in the Woods

One day Teddy Bear set out from his house to visit his friend, Spotty Spot. Now, Spotty Spot's house was not close by. There were woods, and a river to cross.

Teddy Bear and Spotty Spot had agreed to meet at the bridge, and from there they were to go fishing together.

When the time came, Spotty Spot arrived at the bridge to meet his friend. But Teddy Bear was not there. Spotty Spot sat and waited, but still Teddy Bear did not come. What had happened to him?

Here is what happened with Teddy Bear. That morning he woke up early and got ready for his trip. "Today I must walk through the woods to meet Spotty Spot," he said. So he packed up a bag with some food and water for the trip. Then he went outside and began his walk through the woods.

Now, normally the path through the woods is very clear, but on this day Teddy Bear was distracted. He was thinking of all the fun he would have with his friend fishing. When he came to an important turn in the woods, he missed it and kept going. Soon he could not see the path any more. He looked around, then walked a bit farther. Still the path was nowhere to be seen!

"I am afraid I have become lost" Teddy Bear said to himself.

He though about what he should do. Should he keep walking, even though he was not sure which way to go? Should he stop and wait to be found?

Teddy Bear decided to wait. He sat down on a log and opened his bag of food and began to eat.

Now, back at the bridge, Spotty Spot decided that Teddy Bear was not going to arrive. He thought, "I know my friend Teddy Bear. He would not forget to meet me like this. I will go down the path to find him."

Spotty Spot was a dog, and dog's have excellent noses for smelling. Spotty Spot put his nose nbear the ground, and his ran along sniffing. Pretty soon he smelled his friend, Teddy Bear! Spotty Spot followed the scent. In one direction it lead back to Teddy Bear's house. In the other, it went off into the woods!

"Teddy Bear must have gone the wrong way!" thought Spotty Spot. Using the scent he went off into the woods. Soon he found Teddy Bear.

Teddy Bear was so glad to see his friend that he jumped up and down, saying "Spotty Spot, I am so glad you found me!" and Spotty Spot jumped onto his friend. Lick lick lick lick lick lick lick lick lick lick! Spotty Spot was happy to see his friend too.

Then Spotty Spot and Teddy Bear walked together to the bridge, and they had a beautiful day fishing.

The End
(c) 2007 Ken Demarest

Teddy Bear Crosses a River

One day Teddy Bear was traveling to Spotty Spot's house. Now, Teddy Bear's home is a long walk through the woods, so he set out early in the morning to make his visit. After he got through the woods he came to the a river. On the far side he could see Spotty Spot's house. Teddy Bear said to himself, "Oh my, I must get across this river to visit my good friend, Spotty Spot." Not far away he saw a bridge. Teddy Bear walked over to the bridge. It was small, and old, an it did not look very sturdy.

Teddy Bear stepped one foot onto the bridge. CREAK. Carefully he stepped another foot onto the bridge. CREAK.

"Oh my," Teddy Bear said, "This bridge does not seem safe to me!"

So he stepped off the bridge and went down the bank to the river's edge. Teddy Bear looked across the river and he could see the house of his friend, Spotty Spot.

"I must get across this river!" he said to himself.

So he stepped one foot in the river. The current felt quite strong. Then he gently put his other foot in the river. But he felt the current pulling at him. It was too fast!

Before he could be swept down the river he stepped right out onto the shore again. But he looked across the river and said, "How will I get the my friend Spotty Spot's house?"

Then Teddy Bear looked down the river. He saw a man in a boat. He said, "Hello fisherman! Can you bring me across the river?"

The fisherman said, "I can not bring you across. I am a fisherman, and I make my living by catching fish. This is my work, and I must do this work to feed my family. I can not leave it to help you across the river."

Teddy Bear said, "But I need to cross the river to see my friend, Spotty Spot. Please won't you help me cross?"

"Well," said the fisherman, "since you ask so politely, I will take you across."

So the fisherman rowed his boat to the shore. Teddy bear put one foot in. Then he put the other foot in. And the Fisherman rowed him across.

On the other side Teddy Bear said, "Thank you Mr. Fisherman for helping me across."

"You're welcome. Have a good time with your friend."

Teddy bear climbed up the bank and went to the front door. He rang the bell. From inside he heard, "Who is it?"

"It is me, Teddy Bear."

The door opened, and Spotty Spot jumped out onto Teddy Bear. Lick lick lick lick lick lick lick lick lick Spotty Spot was so happy to see Teddy Bear!

And they sat down inside and had a nice talk together.

The End
(c) 2007 Ken Demarest