One day there was a girl named Seleke (sell-a-key). Seleke lived in a house with her mother, not at the bottom of a cliff, not at the top, but right in the middle half way up. Above lived the Snarling Wolves, and below lived the Ugly Giants.
Today Seleke was out picking blueberries when she saw a ship on the horizon. Ships passed by from time to time, but this one looked different. It had big, black sails and a flew a black flag.
The ship got closer, and closer, and closer. It was a pirate ship! When the ship got close enough it weighed anchor, which means to drop a heavy piece of metal on a long chain over the side. The anchor would help keep the ship from floating away.
Then a rowboat launched from the big pirate ship. Seleke saw six sailors in the boat. Four of them rowed as a man said "stroke, stroke, stroke". That was how they kept their oars moving at the same time. Each time the man said, "stroke" the pirates would pull on their oars (show how oars are pulled, and say 'stroke' as you do it).
At the front of the boat was a tall man with a bushy black beard and a black hat. It was the pirate captain.
Seleke heard the captain say, "Men, if a giant comes, shout and row away to distract it while we can get up the cliff."
The pirates said, "Aye aye, Captain Slipjack."
When the boat reached shore Captain Slipjack and two pirates jumped to the sandy beach. The pirates carried long coils of rope, and grapples. They all ran to the bottom of the cliff.
Just then Seleke heard "Boom Thoom, Boom Thoom!" An Ugly Giant was coming down the beach! The pirates in the boat shouted and waved to get the giant's attention, then they started rowing out to sea. The giant ran down the beach. "Boom Thoom Boom Thoom!" and leaped into the water after the pirates.
"Stroke, stroke, stroke!" shouted the pirates as they rowed into the sea. The Ugly Giant waded up to his knees, but the pirates were out of reach. Then the Ugly Giant waded up to his waist. He was getting closer to the little rowboat! The pirates doubled their pace. "Stroke, stroke, stroke!"
By the time the water was up to the giant's neck the pirates were out of reach. They shouted and jeered at the giant, who shook his fist at them and returned to shore (show fist shaking).
While the giant was swimming after the boat, Captain Slipjack and his two pirates had been busy. They tied rope to a grapple, then threw it high onto the cliff. The grapple gripped and grabbed the rock, and the three men climbed up.
Seleke did not want to be seen by the pirates. She hid in a bush because she did not know whether they were good pirates, or bad pirates. Seleke knew that pirates with earrings in their left ear are bad, and pirates with a earring in their right ear are good. It is a very strict rule, and she waited to see.
When the pirates reached her level, she looked at their ears. All three pirates had earrings in their left ear. Bad pirates.
Seleke could hear their conversation.
"What are we here for, Captain Slipjack?" asked a pirate.
"That is for me to know, matey." said the Captain.
The pirates threw another grapple and climbed to the very top of the cliff, where the Snarling Wolves lived. Seleke climbed quietly behind.
When she reached the top she peaked over the edge. Captain Slipjack was looking at a map. The map showed the land of the Ugly Giants, and the forest of Snarling Wolves, and had a big 'X' on it.
"Next we head for the giant tree." said Captain Slipjack.
When they got to the giant tree, the Captain ordered one of his men, "Climb up this tree. Find a rock shaped like the head of a wolf. It is called Wolf's Head Rock."
The pirate had no trouble climbing the tall tree, because he was used to climbing up the mast of the pirate ship.
"Wolf's Head Rock, ahoy!" he shouted down. Ahoy means "I see it over there!"
"Keep your voice down," said the Captain. "There be Snarling Wolves about, and even your muskets won't save us if too many come."
The pirates all headed towards Wolf's Head Rock, and Seleke snuck after them. The rock was very big, shapes like the head of a wolf who is howling. The part that looked like a mouth was a big cave. At the entrance to the cave, lying on the ground, were some bones.
"Whose bones are these?" asked a pirate.
"Those be the bones of old Ivan." said Captain Slipjack, "That be what happens to them that cross me!"
The pirates went into the cave. Seleke snuck in behind them, being as quiet as she could. Using shovels, the men dug a big hole. Suddenly a shovel went 'bump' - it was hitting wood, not dirt. It was a treasure chest! When Captain Slipjack opened it, he pulled out a great big pearl.
When the pirates came out of the cave they found a surprise. Snarling Wolves were waiting outside the cave, a whole pack of them.
"Give 'em what for!" cried Captain Slipjack.
The pirates fired their muskets in the air. The loud noises startled the wolves, who backed away. Then the pirates ran, firing their muskets in the air. Blam! Blam! The wolves came after them, hungry, but they were scared of the loud noises.
Captain Slipjack and his pirates reached the edge of the cliff, with the wolves close after. Nobody noticed little Seleke sneaking behind. The pirates slid down the ropes, all the way to the beach. Whoosh!
The wolves stood on the edge of the cliff, barking at the pirates, but there was nothing they could do.
Seleke watched as the pirates got in their rowboat and returned to their ship. When the wolves got bored and left, Seleke slid down the rope.
When she got home her mom asked, "How was your day picking blueberries?"
Seleke said, "OK, I guess."
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Monday, January 28, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Seleke Makes Butter
One day there was a girl named Seleke (sell-a-key) who lived in a house with her mother. She lived not at the bottom of a cliff, not at the top, but half way up in a place called Betwickt. Above lived packs of Snarling Wolves, and below lived the Ugly Giants.
Today Seleke was out milking her goat. You probably get your milk from a cow, from a store, in a milk carton. But there are no stores near Seleke's house, and cows can't live on cliffs. Seleke's family kept mountain goats for their milk.
The goats were named Andi and Sandi. They had white curly hair, and they were both girls. They lived in a little shed near Seleke's house, and sometimes they ran around on the cliff eating whatever grass and twigs they could find.
As Seleke was milking she heard a deep, low rumble. She crept to the edge of the cliff and peaked over. Below she saw two Ugly Giants talking to each other.
The giant named Bok said, "Me so hungry. Smell goat, Shok."
The giant names Shok said, "We have plan. Found way up cliff!"
"Up cliff?" asked Bok.
"Yes," said Shok, "Up cliff. Get goats. Meet here at midnight."
"Midnight?" asked Bok.
"You deaf?" said Shok.
"Deaf?" asked Bok.
"Meet here. Midnight. Climb cliff. Steal goats." said Shok.
The two Ugly Giants walked away down the beach.
Seleke thought, "Oh no! The giants a planning to sneak up here and steal our goats. Tonight!"
Then she had an idea. Seleke milked both goats and poured all the milk into a great big butter churn. All day long she churned the milk. When she made butter, she would get more milk and churn it again. When the sun set Seleke's arms were aching. Her shoulders hurt so much she could hardly carry all the butter. But she did carry it, out to a big iron pot near the edge of the cliff. Beneath the pot she built a fire, and as the stars came out Seleke was stirring the melted butter.
Soon the moon rose overhead. It was midnight. On the beach below, Seleke heard the two giants come stomping up. Ugly Giant are too big to be sneaky, but since they are so big they don't really need to be.
"Climb cliff!" said Shok.
"Steal goats!" said Bok.
Seleke saw the giants climbing up. Although they were tall, the cliff was much taller. The giants grunted and struggled to climb. When they were nearly at the top Seleke tipped over he huge pot of butter. It ran down the cliff, coating the rocks and the giants.
The slippery butter made the giants lose their grip. First Shok slipped off the rock. He fell right into Bok, who also lost his grip and 'ker-boom!' both giants slammed into the beach below. They got up, tried to climb again, got a little way up and 'ker-boom!' slipped to the bottom. Again they climbed a little way, but the butter was too slippery and again they crashed 'ker-boom!' into the sand.
The Ugly Giants gave up. As they walked down the beach Seleke heard them licking their fingers and saying, "Butter... yum!"
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Today Seleke was out milking her goat. You probably get your milk from a cow, from a store, in a milk carton. But there are no stores near Seleke's house, and cows can't live on cliffs. Seleke's family kept mountain goats for their milk.
The goats were named Andi and Sandi. They had white curly hair, and they were both girls. They lived in a little shed near Seleke's house, and sometimes they ran around on the cliff eating whatever grass and twigs they could find.
As Seleke was milking she heard a deep, low rumble. She crept to the edge of the cliff and peaked over. Below she saw two Ugly Giants talking to each other.
The giant named Bok said, "Me so hungry. Smell goat, Shok."
The giant names Shok said, "We have plan. Found way up cliff!"
"Up cliff?" asked Bok.
"Yes," said Shok, "Up cliff. Get goats. Meet here at midnight."
"Midnight?" asked Bok.
"You deaf?" said Shok.
"Deaf?" asked Bok.
"Meet here. Midnight. Climb cliff. Steal goats." said Shok.
The two Ugly Giants walked away down the beach.
Seleke thought, "Oh no! The giants a planning to sneak up here and steal our goats. Tonight!"
Then she had an idea. Seleke milked both goats and poured all the milk into a great big butter churn. All day long she churned the milk. When she made butter, she would get more milk and churn it again. When the sun set Seleke's arms were aching. Her shoulders hurt so much she could hardly carry all the butter. But she did carry it, out to a big iron pot near the edge of the cliff. Beneath the pot she built a fire, and as the stars came out Seleke was stirring the melted butter.
Soon the moon rose overhead. It was midnight. On the beach below, Seleke heard the two giants come stomping up. Ugly Giant are too big to be sneaky, but since they are so big they don't really need to be.
"Climb cliff!" said Shok.
"Steal goats!" said Bok.
Seleke saw the giants climbing up. Although they were tall, the cliff was much taller. The giants grunted and struggled to climb. When they were nearly at the top Seleke tipped over he huge pot of butter. It ran down the cliff, coating the rocks and the giants.
The slippery butter made the giants lose their grip. First Shok slipped off the rock. He fell right into Bok, who also lost his grip and 'ker-boom!' both giants slammed into the beach below. They got up, tried to climb again, got a little way up and 'ker-boom!' slipped to the bottom. Again they climbed a little way, but the butter was too slippery and again they crashed 'ker-boom!' into the sand.
The Ugly Giants gave up. As they walked down the beach Seleke heard them licking their fingers and saying, "Butter... yum!"
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Seleke Cures the Hiccups
One day there was a girl named Seleke (sell-a-key). She lived in a house not at the bottom of a cliff, and not at the top, but half way up. Above lived the Snarling Wolved, and below, near the ocean, lived the Ugly Giants.
Today Seleke was out flying her biggest kite. It was shaped like a huge albatross and weighed almost as much as she did. Seleke loved flying this kite, because it could fly higher and lift more weight than any of the others. But today, that would get her in trouble.
As she flew the kite dark clouds gathered over the ocean. The wind got stronger, and suddenly 'whoosh!' the wind caught her kite. Seleke was pulled off her feet. The kite lifted her over the edge of the cliff, and Seleke glided gently to the beach below. She was in the land of Ugly Giants.
Worried a giant might see her kite she reeled it in. Then she went to the cliff, but she could not find any way up!
Boom Thoom, Boom Thoom! Seleke heard a giant coming down the beach. He was very tall, and bald, and had a hook shaped scar on his face. As he walked she heard him whistling, but the whistling was interrupted by 'hic', and then again by 'hic'.
The Ugly Giant walked right up to where Seleke was hiding, but he did not see her. He took out a fishing pole and began to fish. But then Seleke heard a loud 'hiccup!' The giant hiccuped so hard that he dropped his fishing pole. Frustrated, he picked it up again but 'hiccup!' he dropped it again.
Seleke giggled. The giant heard her, turned around, and grabbed her up in his big dirty hand. His skin smelled of fish.
"Why you laugh?" the giant said, "Maybe I eat you!"
But then the giant hiccuped again and dropped Seleke on the beach. Quick as a wink he picked her up again. "I eat you right now!" and he began to move her toward his mouth but 'hiccup!' he dropped her again.
"This pathetic!" said the giant. "Two weeks I have these hiccups. Not even able eat little girl!"
"I can help cure your hiccups," Seleke said, "if you will help me get back up to my home."
The Ugly Giant thought a moment, and said, "What I need do?"
"Close your eyes," said Seleke, "and I will cure your hiccups."
The giant closed his eyes. Seleke picked up two large shells and climbed quietly up the giant's arm. She climbed onto his shoulder, and stood right beside his ear. Then she took the two shells and 'bam!' smashed them right beside his ear.
"Oh!" exclaimed the giant, "You startled me!"
"Do you still have your hiccups?" asked Seleke.
The giant paused. He looked about. He waited. No hiccups!
Then he picked up Seleke. He picked up her kite. The giant said, "Girl hold kite!"
With a great big heave the giant tossed Seleke high up in the air! Far, far up she went, holding onto her kite. The kite was so big, she glided safely down to her own ledge, safe and sound.
"Thank you!" Seleke waved to the giant.
"No thank me." said the giant, "Next time I no have hiccups. Maybe eat you."
Seleke thought about his words, as she walked safely home.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Today Seleke was out flying her biggest kite. It was shaped like a huge albatross and weighed almost as much as she did. Seleke loved flying this kite, because it could fly higher and lift more weight than any of the others. But today, that would get her in trouble.
As she flew the kite dark clouds gathered over the ocean. The wind got stronger, and suddenly 'whoosh!' the wind caught her kite. Seleke was pulled off her feet. The kite lifted her over the edge of the cliff, and Seleke glided gently to the beach below. She was in the land of Ugly Giants.
Worried a giant might see her kite she reeled it in. Then she went to the cliff, but she could not find any way up!
Boom Thoom, Boom Thoom! Seleke heard a giant coming down the beach. He was very tall, and bald, and had a hook shaped scar on his face. As he walked she heard him whistling, but the whistling was interrupted by 'hic', and then again by 'hic'.
The Ugly Giant walked right up to where Seleke was hiding, but he did not see her. He took out a fishing pole and began to fish. But then Seleke heard a loud 'hiccup!' The giant hiccuped so hard that he dropped his fishing pole. Frustrated, he picked it up again but 'hiccup!' he dropped it again.
Seleke giggled. The giant heard her, turned around, and grabbed her up in his big dirty hand. His skin smelled of fish.
"Why you laugh?" the giant said, "Maybe I eat you!"
But then the giant hiccuped again and dropped Seleke on the beach. Quick as a wink he picked her up again. "I eat you right now!" and he began to move her toward his mouth but 'hiccup!' he dropped her again.
"This pathetic!" said the giant. "Two weeks I have these hiccups. Not even able eat little girl!"
"I can help cure your hiccups," Seleke said, "if you will help me get back up to my home."
The Ugly Giant thought a moment, and said, "What I need do?"
"Close your eyes," said Seleke, "and I will cure your hiccups."
The giant closed his eyes. Seleke picked up two large shells and climbed quietly up the giant's arm. She climbed onto his shoulder, and stood right beside his ear. Then she took the two shells and 'bam!' smashed them right beside his ear.
"Oh!" exclaimed the giant, "You startled me!"
"Do you still have your hiccups?" asked Seleke.
The giant paused. He looked about. He waited. No hiccups!
Then he picked up Seleke. He picked up her kite. The giant said, "Girl hold kite!"
With a great big heave the giant tossed Seleke high up in the air! Far, far up she went, holding onto her kite. The kite was so big, she glided safely down to her own ledge, safe and sound.
"Thank you!" Seleke waved to the giant.
"No thank me." said the giant, "Next time I no have hiccups. Maybe eat you."
Seleke thought about his words, as she walked safely home.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Seleke Station
One day there was a girl named Seleke (sell-a-key) who lived in a house with her mother, not at the bottom of a cliff, and not at the top, but half way up. At the cliff's top lived Snarling Wolves, and below, near the ocean, lived the Ugly Giants.
Today Seleke's mother showed her a letter.
"It is asking whether we want a steam train station near our house. We can check 'yes' or 'no'. What should we do?"
Seleke thought about it. "Lets check 'yes'!", she said.
About a month later Seleke was outside milking the goat. Far away she heard "clink clink clink, clang clang clang."
Seleke didn't know what was making the noise! It was very faint. She started walking towards the sound. Then she heard it again. "clink clink clink, clang clang clang" Soon she came to a place in the cliff where she could hear the sound loudly. She pressed her ear to the rock. "clink clink clink, clang clang clang." Whatever it was, it was coming right through the rock, and it was coming her way.
Seleke stepped away and "clink clink clonk!" a hammer broke through the rock. The a head poked out. It was a little man with a bushy beard and a tall, conical hat.
"Are you Seleke?" asked the little man.
Without waiting for an answer he hammered open a bigger hole, until it was about the size of a person.
Seleke ran back home and got her mom. When she returned there was a brand new door in the cliff wall. It opened, and the little man said, "Please do come it, and see the new station."
Inside the cliff had been hollowed out into a big cave. There were torches on the walls. A railroad track ran to a huge turntable. A big brass chain hung from the ceiling. Just then Seleke saw a light far down the track. She heard "chuff-chuff chuff-chuff chuff-chuff chuff!" An engine was coming!
When the engine pulled up Seleke could see that it was a brightly colored steam engine about as tall as the door. Fresh paint of red and green gleemed on the engine, and all its brass was polished to reflect the torch light. There was only one passenger car.
"This is Paul," said the little man, "and you can call me The Conductor."
"Nice to meet you!" said Paul.
"Very nice to meet you!" said Seleke.
Gears creaked and metal groaned as the great big turntable began to spin. Soon Paul and his passenger car had turned completely around, ready to race down the track.
"Since this is a brand new station," said the conductor, "you are entitled to a free ride so that you can see what our service is like."
Then he pulled out two large, brass tickets and gave them to Seleke and her mom.
"All aboard!" he shouted, and they all climbed on.
"Chuff... chuff... chuff... chuff chuff-chuff chuff-chuff" Paul began to move. Soon they were racing down the tunnel, the wind whipping through Seleke's hair. Paul's steam flew overhead. They could feel the heat of his mighty engine.
As they chuffed along Paul blew his whistle in a merry tune, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"
Ahead in the dark tunnel they saw a light. Seleke smelled ocean salt in the air. The train raced past giant windows, carved in the cliff wall. Outside, they could see the beach and the ocean. Whales in the water sent spray high into the sky. Then the windows were gone, and the train was wrapped in the darkness of the tunnel again.
Soon they returned to the station. Chuff chuff Sssssssss, said Paul as they came to a stop.
"Thank you for the ride!" said Seleke.
The Conductor said, "If you ever need to go someplace, just pull this brass chain."
Then he fished a big key out of his pocket. It was as long as Seleke's hand.
"Don't forget to lock the door on your way out!"
Seleke and her mom waved good bye, then went out the door in the cliff. Using the big key, Seleke's mom locked the door. It had been a big day.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Today Seleke's mother showed her a letter.
"It is asking whether we want a steam train station near our house. We can check 'yes' or 'no'. What should we do?"
Seleke thought about it. "Lets check 'yes'!", she said.
About a month later Seleke was outside milking the goat. Far away she heard "clink clink clink, clang clang clang."
Seleke didn't know what was making the noise! It was very faint. She started walking towards the sound. Then she heard it again. "clink clink clink, clang clang clang" Soon she came to a place in the cliff where she could hear the sound loudly. She pressed her ear to the rock. "clink clink clink, clang clang clang." Whatever it was, it was coming right through the rock, and it was coming her way.
Seleke stepped away and "clink clink clonk!" a hammer broke through the rock. The a head poked out. It was a little man with a bushy beard and a tall, conical hat.
"Are you Seleke?" asked the little man.
Without waiting for an answer he hammered open a bigger hole, until it was about the size of a person.
Seleke ran back home and got her mom. When she returned there was a brand new door in the cliff wall. It opened, and the little man said, "Please do come it, and see the new station."
Inside the cliff had been hollowed out into a big cave. There were torches on the walls. A railroad track ran to a huge turntable. A big brass chain hung from the ceiling. Just then Seleke saw a light far down the track. She heard "chuff-chuff chuff-chuff chuff-chuff chuff!" An engine was coming!
When the engine pulled up Seleke could see that it was a brightly colored steam engine about as tall as the door. Fresh paint of red and green gleemed on the engine, and all its brass was polished to reflect the torch light. There was only one passenger car.
"This is Paul," said the little man, "and you can call me The Conductor."
"Nice to meet you!" said Paul.
"Very nice to meet you!" said Seleke.
Gears creaked and metal groaned as the great big turntable began to spin. Soon Paul and his passenger car had turned completely around, ready to race down the track.
"Since this is a brand new station," said the conductor, "you are entitled to a free ride so that you can see what our service is like."
Then he pulled out two large, brass tickets and gave them to Seleke and her mom.
"All aboard!" he shouted, and they all climbed on.
"Chuff... chuff... chuff... chuff chuff-chuff chuff-chuff" Paul began to move. Soon they were racing down the tunnel, the wind whipping through Seleke's hair. Paul's steam flew overhead. They could feel the heat of his mighty engine.
As they chuffed along Paul blew his whistle in a merry tune, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"
Ahead in the dark tunnel they saw a light. Seleke smelled ocean salt in the air. The train raced past giant windows, carved in the cliff wall. Outside, they could see the beach and the ocean. Whales in the water sent spray high into the sky. Then the windows were gone, and the train was wrapped in the darkness of the tunnel again.
Soon they returned to the station. Chuff chuff Sssssssss, said Paul as they came to a stop.
"Thank you for the ride!" said Seleke.
The Conductor said, "If you ever need to go someplace, just pull this brass chain."
Then he fished a big key out of his pocket. It was as long as Seleke's hand.
"Don't forget to lock the door on your way out!"
Seleke and her mom waved good bye, then went out the door in the cliff. Using the big key, Seleke's mom locked the door. It had been a big day.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Friday, January 18, 2008
Seleke Tries a Pet
One day there was a girl named Seleke. She lived in a house with her mother, not at the top of a cliff, and not at the bottom, but right in the middle half way up. Above was a forest filled with Slavering Wolves, and below a beach inhabited by Ugly Giants.
It was a windy day. The rainy season was over. Warm winds blew from the south, sending the clouds away. It was perfect weather for kite flying.
Seleke got out a special kite today. It was shaped like a three masted sailing ship, all made of silk. Its hull was black, and its sails were every color of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.
Soon she had her kite flying high in the air. The wind was steady, and strong. When lunch time came Seleke tied the kite to a little tree and let it fly itself. Sure enough, when she returned after lunch the kite was still flying.
Seleke put little pieces of paper on the string and watched as the wind blew them up and up, all the way to the kite.
When the sun reached the ocean it started to get dark. Seleke tied her kite to a little tree again, hoping it would fly all night long, and went inside. That night in bed Seleke looked out her window. The little kite was visible by the light of the full moon, flying bravely in a starry sky.
When Seleke woke the next morning the sky was empty. Her kite was nowhere to be seen!
Running to the little tree, Seleke traced the string, right over the edge of the cliff. Hoping her kite hadn't been ruined, Seleke pulled up the string. She couldn't see over the edge of the cliff, but the kite felt a lot heavier than yesterday.
What should come over the edge of the cliff but a big pinchy crab! Not her kite at all, a crab was gripping the end of the kite string in its claw.
Seleke thought the crab was cute, so she brought it inside and put it in a big glass bowl for a cage. She brought the crab sea shells for decoration, and put some sand in the bowl so it would feel at home. But Seleke was not sure what crabs ate. She put in carrots, and some lettuce, and even a little piece of meat. She looked at her crab on and off all day long.
The next morning the crab hadn't eaten anything. It looked sluggish, and sad. Seleke thought, "Maybe keeping a crab as a pet is not a good idea. If I went a whole day without food I would be really hungry. I better let it go before it starves."
So Seleke put the crab back on her kite line and lowered it back down the cliff. When she pulled the string back up she was surprised to find that her kite was back on the line!
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
It was a windy day. The rainy season was over. Warm winds blew from the south, sending the clouds away. It was perfect weather for kite flying.
Seleke got out a special kite today. It was shaped like a three masted sailing ship, all made of silk. Its hull was black, and its sails were every color of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.
Soon she had her kite flying high in the air. The wind was steady, and strong. When lunch time came Seleke tied the kite to a little tree and let it fly itself. Sure enough, when she returned after lunch the kite was still flying.
Seleke put little pieces of paper on the string and watched as the wind blew them up and up, all the way to the kite.
When the sun reached the ocean it started to get dark. Seleke tied her kite to a little tree again, hoping it would fly all night long, and went inside. That night in bed Seleke looked out her window. The little kite was visible by the light of the full moon, flying bravely in a starry sky.
When Seleke woke the next morning the sky was empty. Her kite was nowhere to be seen!
Running to the little tree, Seleke traced the string, right over the edge of the cliff. Hoping her kite hadn't been ruined, Seleke pulled up the string. She couldn't see over the edge of the cliff, but the kite felt a lot heavier than yesterday.
What should come over the edge of the cliff but a big pinchy crab! Not her kite at all, a crab was gripping the end of the kite string in its claw.
Seleke thought the crab was cute, so she brought it inside and put it in a big glass bowl for a cage. She brought the crab sea shells for decoration, and put some sand in the bowl so it would feel at home. But Seleke was not sure what crabs ate. She put in carrots, and some lettuce, and even a little piece of meat. She looked at her crab on and off all day long.
The next morning the crab hadn't eaten anything. It looked sluggish, and sad. Seleke thought, "Maybe keeping a crab as a pet is not a good idea. If I went a whole day without food I would be really hungry. I better let it go before it starves."
So Seleke put the crab back on her kite line and lowered it back down the cliff. When she pulled the string back up she was surprised to find that her kite was back on the line!
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Seleke the Spider
One day there was a girl named Seleke (sell-a-key). She lived in a house with her mother, not at the top of a cliff, and not at the bottom, but right in the middle. Above was the land of Snarling Wolves, and below was a beach inhabited by Ugly Giants.
It was breakfast time, and Seleke was sitting at the breakfast table with her mother. Breakfast at Seleke's house is a little different than breakfast might be at your house. For plates they used sand dollars gathered from the beach of the Ugly Giants. They drank orange juice from sea shells. The handles of their forks and knives were made of deer antlers from the land of Snarling Wolves.
They were eating blueberry pancakes. Seleke loved to eat butter on her pancakes. In fact, Seleke liked butter so much she would try to eat it all on its own. Today she reached across the table and put her fingers right in the butter, but her mother scowled,
"Seleke! You know you are not allowed to eat butter straight. It is only for putting on other things!"
"All right mom." Seleke said.
When Seleke picked up her sea shell cup to have a sip of water it slipped from her buttery hands. Crash! The shell smashed on the floor and broke into many pieces. Seleke felt tears coming, but her mother said, "Butter sure is slippery. Come help me clean this up."
Seleke felt better helping her mother sweep up the broken shell.
Later that day, Seleke was near the cliff edge throwing feathers over the edge. The feathers floated down and down, spinning in lazy circles as they dropped. Far below, Seleke could see the beach, and on the beach, shells. She thought of the cup she had broken that morning and decided she would get a new one.
So Seleke got a rope, and put on her climbing harness, and she took off her shoes so that her feet could grip the rock. She tied off the rope and clipped in, then double-checked everything. Jump, jump, jump she rapelled down the rope and soon she was on the beach.
The beach was covered with bleached drift wood. Long fronds of brown kelp lay baking in the bun. Shells of many sizes lay scattered about. Many of the shells were very large, too big for Seleke to pick up. But she looked around and found one that was just right. She felt good knowing that she could replace the shell she broke.
Just then Seleke heard Boom Thoom, Boom Thoom. An Ugly Giant was coming! She grabbed her shell and ran to the rope. Then Seleke had an idea! She ran back and picked up eight of the long, brown fronds of sea weed.
By the time the Ugle Giant reached her she was only up to the height of his chin. But Seleke had been busy. She had put all eight fronds into her clothing: Two out the neck two out her sleeves, two in her waist band, and two out the legs of her pants.
Seleke could see the giant's beard stubble. Seleke felt his hot breath as he said, "You will make a tasty meal!"
"Why how strange!" said Seleke. "I did not know Giants ate spiders!"
"What you say?" said the Ugly Giant. "You no spider. You person. Yum."
"Is that so?" asked Seleke. "How many limbs does a person have?"
"Uhhh..." said the giant. He scratched his filthy noggin. "Four. Two arms, and two legs."
"And how many do I have?" asked Seleke, wiggling her eight kelp fronds.
"Uhhh..." said the giant. His eyesight was not very good. He counted the fronds. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight."
"See!" said Seleke, "I am a spider. Not good for eating."
"But you talk." said the Ugly Giant. "Spider no talk."
"But look, I'm hanging from my web. Do persons spin a web?" Seleke asked. She bounced up and down on the rope to make her point.
"Uh, no. You must be spider." said the Ugly Giant. He turned away dejected.
Seleke scrambled up to the top of her rope. When she came into the house her mom asked her what she had been doing to get the shell. Seleke said, "Oh, nothing special!"
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
It was breakfast time, and Seleke was sitting at the breakfast table with her mother. Breakfast at Seleke's house is a little different than breakfast might be at your house. For plates they used sand dollars gathered from the beach of the Ugly Giants. They drank orange juice from sea shells. The handles of their forks and knives were made of deer antlers from the land of Snarling Wolves.
They were eating blueberry pancakes. Seleke loved to eat butter on her pancakes. In fact, Seleke liked butter so much she would try to eat it all on its own. Today she reached across the table and put her fingers right in the butter, but her mother scowled,
"Seleke! You know you are not allowed to eat butter straight. It is only for putting on other things!"
"All right mom." Seleke said.
When Seleke picked up her sea shell cup to have a sip of water it slipped from her buttery hands. Crash! The shell smashed on the floor and broke into many pieces. Seleke felt tears coming, but her mother said, "Butter sure is slippery. Come help me clean this up."
Seleke felt better helping her mother sweep up the broken shell.
Later that day, Seleke was near the cliff edge throwing feathers over the edge. The feathers floated down and down, spinning in lazy circles as they dropped. Far below, Seleke could see the beach, and on the beach, shells. She thought of the cup she had broken that morning and decided she would get a new one.
So Seleke got a rope, and put on her climbing harness, and she took off her shoes so that her feet could grip the rock. She tied off the rope and clipped in, then double-checked everything. Jump, jump, jump she rapelled down the rope and soon she was on the beach.
The beach was covered with bleached drift wood. Long fronds of brown kelp lay baking in the bun. Shells of many sizes lay scattered about. Many of the shells were very large, too big for Seleke to pick up. But she looked around and found one that was just right. She felt good knowing that she could replace the shell she broke.
Just then Seleke heard Boom Thoom, Boom Thoom. An Ugly Giant was coming! She grabbed her shell and ran to the rope. Then Seleke had an idea! She ran back and picked up eight of the long, brown fronds of sea weed.
By the time the Ugle Giant reached her she was only up to the height of his chin. But Seleke had been busy. She had put all eight fronds into her clothing: Two out the neck two out her sleeves, two in her waist band, and two out the legs of her pants.
Seleke could see the giant's beard stubble. Seleke felt his hot breath as he said, "You will make a tasty meal!"
"Why how strange!" said Seleke. "I did not know Giants ate spiders!"
"What you say?" said the Ugly Giant. "You no spider. You person. Yum."
"Is that so?" asked Seleke. "How many limbs does a person have?"
"Uhhh..." said the giant. He scratched his filthy noggin. "Four. Two arms, and two legs."
"And how many do I have?" asked Seleke, wiggling her eight kelp fronds.
"Uhhh..." said the giant. His eyesight was not very good. He counted the fronds. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight."
"See!" said Seleke, "I am a spider. Not good for eating."
"But you talk." said the Ugly Giant. "Spider no talk."
"But look, I'm hanging from my web. Do persons spin a web?" Seleke asked. She bounced up and down on the rope to make her point.
"Uh, no. You must be spider." said the Ugly Giant. He turned away dejected.
Seleke scrambled up to the top of her rope. When she came into the house her mom asked her what she had been doing to get the shell. Seleke said, "Oh, nothing special!"
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Seleke is Visited by the Miller
One day there was a girl named Seleke. She lived in a house near the ocean with her mother, not at the bottom of a cliff, and not at the top, but right in the middle. Below the cliff lived Ugly Giants, and above lived Snarling Wolves.
Today Seleke asked her mother, "Can we eat pancakes for breakfast?"
Seleke's mother replied, "I am sorry, but we are out of flour. I can not make pancakes without flour."
Seleke was very unhappy about this. She really liked pancakes.
"But," said Seleke's mother, "we can have pancakes tomorrow."
"Why?" asked Seleke, "I thought you said we were out of flour."
"Because," said her mother, "today you will be getting more flour for us."
"How?" asked Seleke.
"Come with me." said her mother.
First, Seleke's mother got out a large bolt of red silk. Using two sticks they make a very large kite and tied a tail on it, with many bows. Then they attached a strong, thin string.
Seleke carried the kite outside. The wind from the sea was always very strong, and with the kite in her hands Seleke was nearly blown off her feet.
Seleke's mother put some money in an envelope and attached it to the kite. Holding the kite string Seleke ran. The kite flew high into the air. Seleke played out the string, bit by bit, and the kite rose ever higher, the little envelope of money dangling below.
"Now wait," said Seleke's mother, and she went back inside the house.
Seleke did not like waiting. But she liked flying kites, so the waiting was easier. The sun reached noon, and was almost starting to set when Seleke saw a strange cloud out over the ocean. The cloud was coming towards her very fast.
When it got closer Seleke thought she saw something on it, but that couldn't be true, because there is nothing among the clouds but more clouds. Still, it got closer and closer.
Then Seleke saw that on the cloud was a great big windmill. The mill had four large arms on the front, each with a great big sail on it. A man stood by the mill, at the edge of the cloud, looking over the edge at Seleke and waving.
Seleke waved back. The man waved at her. She waved. He waved. Then she realized he was waving for a reason. Seleke flew her kite to the edge of the cloud.
The man used a gaff to snare the string of the kite. Then he removed the envelope of money and tied something new to the kite. It was heavy, and the kite dipped down, but kept flying.
Seleke reeled the kite in to see what it was. The man had attached a big sack of flour! Seleke ran inside to tell her mother.
Seleke's mother took the flour as if she had been expecting it.
"Now we can have pancakes for breakfast tomorrow!" Seleke said. She ran outside and waved at the miller as his cloud began to drift away.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Today Seleke asked her mother, "Can we eat pancakes for breakfast?"
Seleke's mother replied, "I am sorry, but we are out of flour. I can not make pancakes without flour."
Seleke was very unhappy about this. She really liked pancakes.
"But," said Seleke's mother, "we can have pancakes tomorrow."
"Why?" asked Seleke, "I thought you said we were out of flour."
"Because," said her mother, "today you will be getting more flour for us."
"How?" asked Seleke.
"Come with me." said her mother.
First, Seleke's mother got out a large bolt of red silk. Using two sticks they make a very large kite and tied a tail on it, with many bows. Then they attached a strong, thin string.
Seleke carried the kite outside. The wind from the sea was always very strong, and with the kite in her hands Seleke was nearly blown off her feet.
Seleke's mother put some money in an envelope and attached it to the kite. Holding the kite string Seleke ran. The kite flew high into the air. Seleke played out the string, bit by bit, and the kite rose ever higher, the little envelope of money dangling below.
"Now wait," said Seleke's mother, and she went back inside the house.
Seleke did not like waiting. But she liked flying kites, so the waiting was easier. The sun reached noon, and was almost starting to set when Seleke saw a strange cloud out over the ocean. The cloud was coming towards her very fast.
When it got closer Seleke thought she saw something on it, but that couldn't be true, because there is nothing among the clouds but more clouds. Still, it got closer and closer.
Then Seleke saw that on the cloud was a great big windmill. The mill had four large arms on the front, each with a great big sail on it. A man stood by the mill, at the edge of the cloud, looking over the edge at Seleke and waving.
Seleke waved back. The man waved at her. She waved. He waved. Then she realized he was waving for a reason. Seleke flew her kite to the edge of the cloud.
The man used a gaff to snare the string of the kite. Then he removed the envelope of money and tied something new to the kite. It was heavy, and the kite dipped down, but kept flying.
Seleke reeled the kite in to see what it was. The man had attached a big sack of flour! Seleke ran inside to tell her mother.
Seleke's mother took the flour as if she had been expecting it.
"Now we can have pancakes for breakfast tomorrow!" Seleke said. She ran outside and waved at the miller as his cloud began to drift away.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Seleke Regains the Bucket
One day there was a girl named Seleke. She lived in a house with her mother, not at the bottom of a cliff, and not at the top, but right in the middle. Below the cliff lived Ugly Giants, and above lived Snarling Wolves.
One morning Seleke's mother said, "Seleke, I am making pancakes this morning. Bring me some water from the cistern."
During the rainy season water rolled down the cliffs and collected in a big slate cistern behind Seleke's house. But this was the dry season, when rain never came.
When Seleke got to the cistern she saw that it was nearly empty. It had not rained for many days, and Seleke knew that no more rain would come for many days.
Seleke scooped up the last of the water. Her mother made delicious blueberry pancakes with maple syrup. Seleke was very happy.
But that night, as she lay in bed, Seleke was troubled. She thought about the cistern, and how it was empty.
Luckily Seleke's family had another way to get water. They could lower a bucket down the cliff into a water fall that gushed from the cliff's face. Unluckily, Seleke had lost the bucket many weeks ago and now it sat at the bottom of the cliff.
Seleke decided that she would have to get the bucket. Very quietly she snuck out the front door and into the moonlight.
Seleke got a long rope. She tied it to a great big rock and began to climb down the cliff. Below her the gushing waterfall sparkled from the light of the moon.
Just as she reached the water fall she saw an Ugly Giant coming up the beach. It carried a heavy club made from a tree trunk, and a great big torch. The torch's fire was bigger than Seleke's whole fireplace. The giant was so tall he could have reached up and grabbed Seleke off the rope.
Seleke hid under the gushing waterfall, and hoped the giant would not see her.
Boom Thoom! Boom Thoom! The giant's footsteps approached. Seleke could see nothing through the rushing waterfall. Soon the orange glow of the giant's torch lit the falls. Seleke held her breath. Then the orange glow moved away. When Seleke peaked out she saw the giant walking away down the beach.
When she got to the bottom of the cliff Seleke looked around for her lost bucket. It was not there. Instead she saw many large sea shells. Some were as big as her foot, some were bigger than a chair.
All of the shells were occupied by strange creatures called Hermit Crabs. Hermit crabs have pinchy claws. One claw is very big and can give you a big pinch. The other is teeny tiny and doesn't hurt at all.
Hermit crabs live in sea shells that were made by other animals, like snails and conches.
As Seleke watched one of the Hermit crabs walked over to another, raised its big pinchy claw, and said, "Humminy hubbidy, humminy hubbidy. Get out!" The other crab raised it's claw, but it was smaller, so it left its shell and the bigger clawed crab moved in.
The hermit crabs didn't look very interested in her. Mostly they walked around looking for nicer shells, and the ones with bigger claws usually got what they wanted from those with smaller claws.
Then Seleke saw her bucket. As she got close to it her bucket moved. Then it moved again. A hermit crab had decided her bucket was a great place to live and moved in. When she got close the Hermit crab retreated inside the bucket. How would Seleke get her bucket back?
As she stood thinking Seleke heard something. Boom Thoom! The giant was returning. Quickly Seleke found a great big shell. She hid inside.
The giant stopped near her. She could hear him sniffing the air. Then the giant got down on his hands and knees and looked very closely at all the shells. The hermit crabs hid and Seleke did too.
After turning a few shells over, the giant got up and stomped off.
Then Seleke had an idea.
Seleke dragged a shell near the hermit crab that was in her bucket, and climbed in. She picked up a big piece of drift wood and waved it around.
"Humminy hubbidy, humminy hubbidy." Seleke said, "Get out!"
Sure enough the crab in her bucket raised his claw, but Seleke's drift wood claw was bigger. The little crab left the bucket.
Seleke grabbed the bucket and began climbing up the rope. On the way up she stopped at the water fall, filled her bucket, and continued to climb. The water made the bucket heavy, but Seleke was determined to get to the top.
The next morning when Seleke's mom asked for water for pancakes there was plenty.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
One morning Seleke's mother said, "Seleke, I am making pancakes this morning. Bring me some water from the cistern."
During the rainy season water rolled down the cliffs and collected in a big slate cistern behind Seleke's house. But this was the dry season, when rain never came.
When Seleke got to the cistern she saw that it was nearly empty. It had not rained for many days, and Seleke knew that no more rain would come for many days.
Seleke scooped up the last of the water. Her mother made delicious blueberry pancakes with maple syrup. Seleke was very happy.
But that night, as she lay in bed, Seleke was troubled. She thought about the cistern, and how it was empty.
Luckily Seleke's family had another way to get water. They could lower a bucket down the cliff into a water fall that gushed from the cliff's face. Unluckily, Seleke had lost the bucket many weeks ago and now it sat at the bottom of the cliff.
Seleke decided that she would have to get the bucket. Very quietly she snuck out the front door and into the moonlight.
Seleke got a long rope. She tied it to a great big rock and began to climb down the cliff. Below her the gushing waterfall sparkled from the light of the moon.
Just as she reached the water fall she saw an Ugly Giant coming up the beach. It carried a heavy club made from a tree trunk, and a great big torch. The torch's fire was bigger than Seleke's whole fireplace. The giant was so tall he could have reached up and grabbed Seleke off the rope.
Seleke hid under the gushing waterfall, and hoped the giant would not see her.
Boom Thoom! Boom Thoom! The giant's footsteps approached. Seleke could see nothing through the rushing waterfall. Soon the orange glow of the giant's torch lit the falls. Seleke held her breath. Then the orange glow moved away. When Seleke peaked out she saw the giant walking away down the beach.
When she got to the bottom of the cliff Seleke looked around for her lost bucket. It was not there. Instead she saw many large sea shells. Some were as big as her foot, some were bigger than a chair.
All of the shells were occupied by strange creatures called Hermit Crabs. Hermit crabs have pinchy claws. One claw is very big and can give you a big pinch. The other is teeny tiny and doesn't hurt at all.
Hermit crabs live in sea shells that were made by other animals, like snails and conches.
As Seleke watched one of the Hermit crabs walked over to another, raised its big pinchy claw, and said, "Humminy hubbidy, humminy hubbidy. Get out!" The other crab raised it's claw, but it was smaller, so it left its shell and the bigger clawed crab moved in.
The hermit crabs didn't look very interested in her. Mostly they walked around looking for nicer shells, and the ones with bigger claws usually got what they wanted from those with smaller claws.
Then Seleke saw her bucket. As she got close to it her bucket moved. Then it moved again. A hermit crab had decided her bucket was a great place to live and moved in. When she got close the Hermit crab retreated inside the bucket. How would Seleke get her bucket back?
As she stood thinking Seleke heard something. Boom Thoom! The giant was returning. Quickly Seleke found a great big shell. She hid inside.
The giant stopped near her. She could hear him sniffing the air. Then the giant got down on his hands and knees and looked very closely at all the shells. The hermit crabs hid and Seleke did too.
After turning a few shells over, the giant got up and stomped off.
Then Seleke had an idea.
Seleke dragged a shell near the hermit crab that was in her bucket, and climbed in. She picked up a big piece of drift wood and waved it around.
"Humminy hubbidy, humminy hubbidy." Seleke said, "Get out!"
Sure enough the crab in her bucket raised his claw, but Seleke's drift wood claw was bigger. The little crab left the bucket.
Seleke grabbed the bucket and began climbing up the rope. On the way up she stopped at the water fall, filled her bucket, and continued to climb. The water made the bucket heavy, but Seleke was determined to get to the top.
The next morning when Seleke's mom asked for water for pancakes there was plenty.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Seleke Loses the Bucket
One day there was a girl named Seleke. She lived in a house with her mother, not at the bottom of a cliff, and not at the top, but right in the middle. Below the cliff lived Ugly Giants, and above lived Snarling Wolves.
Seleke's house was very simple. She did not have things like electricity for lights, or television, or the internet. No water pipes came to her house. Instead they kept water in a big water barrel by the side of the house. Today the water barrel was empty.
Seleke's mother said, "Today you must learn how to get water."
Seleke's family used water for all sorts of things! They used it for cooking, and for washing their hands, and to take baths, and even for flushing away their poop and pee. Without water they would get very thirsty, and very dirty.
"We only have one bucket.", said Seleke's mother, "Take the bucket, and take this rope."
Seleke and her mother walked to the edge of the cliff. It was the rainy season. Dark clouds hovered above, and the ground was very muddy. "Squish squish." said their shoes as they walked.
When they reached the cliff edge they both got down on their bellies and together they peaked over.
"Look down there," said Seleke's mother, "do you see that waterfall?"
"Yes mom," said Seleke, "I see it way below us, gushing out of the cliff."
"That is where we get our water. Be careful to hold on tight to the rope - the force of the water can pull the bucket pretty hard."
Seleke tied the rope to her bucket. Then she lowered the bucket over the edge of the cliff (make the motions of doing this). Down and down it went. Soon, the bucket was near the waterfall. A bit more, and the water was gushing into the bucket.
Seleke nearly lost her hold on the rope! (make the motions) The bucket slipped, but Seleke grabbed tight to the rope. The bucket was full, and became very heavy. Seleke struggled to hold on. With all her strength she pulled the bucket up and up. (make the motions)
Suddenly the rope became slack. Seleke's knot had come loose. The bucket plunged downward, lost.
Seleke began to cry.
"That was our only bucket!" cried Seleke's mother. "How will we get our water now?"
"Mom, if you lower me down on the rope I can get the bucket back." Seleke said through her tears.
"No, that is too dangerous." said her mother as she hugged Seleke in comfort, "You might slip, or be eaten by an Ugly Giant."
Seleke knew her mother was right. To make things even worse, thunder rumbled and it started to rain. Wind blew from the sea, sending the rain against the cliff.
Seleke and her mother walked back to their house. The rain mixed with Seleke's tears.
When they got inside their clothing was wet all through. They made a fire and hung their clothes up to dry. Drip, drip, drip the water droplets fell onto the bricks of the hearth, making little puddles.
Seleke had an idea.
The next morning Seleke went out early and walked to a part of the cliff made of slate. Slate is a very flat rock like a pancake. You might have seen slate up on rooves. Seleke collected as much slate as she could.
Soon it began to rain. Seleke saw that the rain water was running down the cliff face above her house. Seleke arranged her pieces of slate like this (make a bowl with your hands) into the shape of a great big bowl called a cistern. Then she made slate gutters (make a V with your hands) so that the water from the entire cliff face would run down and collect in the cistern.
Before long the cistern was full of rain water.
Seleke showed her mom, who said, "What a smart daughter I have! I am so proud of you."
And that is how Seleke lost their only water bucket.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Seleke's house was very simple. She did not have things like electricity for lights, or television, or the internet. No water pipes came to her house. Instead they kept water in a big water barrel by the side of the house. Today the water barrel was empty.
Seleke's mother said, "Today you must learn how to get water."
Seleke's family used water for all sorts of things! They used it for cooking, and for washing their hands, and to take baths, and even for flushing away their poop and pee. Without water they would get very thirsty, and very dirty.
"We only have one bucket.", said Seleke's mother, "Take the bucket, and take this rope."
Seleke and her mother walked to the edge of the cliff. It was the rainy season. Dark clouds hovered above, and the ground was very muddy. "Squish squish." said their shoes as they walked.
When they reached the cliff edge they both got down on their bellies and together they peaked over.
"Look down there," said Seleke's mother, "do you see that waterfall?"
"Yes mom," said Seleke, "I see it way below us, gushing out of the cliff."
"That is where we get our water. Be careful to hold on tight to the rope - the force of the water can pull the bucket pretty hard."
Seleke tied the rope to her bucket. Then she lowered the bucket over the edge of the cliff (make the motions of doing this). Down and down it went. Soon, the bucket was near the waterfall. A bit more, and the water was gushing into the bucket.
Seleke nearly lost her hold on the rope! (make the motions) The bucket slipped, but Seleke grabbed tight to the rope. The bucket was full, and became very heavy. Seleke struggled to hold on. With all her strength she pulled the bucket up and up. (make the motions)
Suddenly the rope became slack. Seleke's knot had come loose. The bucket plunged downward, lost.
Seleke began to cry.
"That was our only bucket!" cried Seleke's mother. "How will we get our water now?"
"Mom, if you lower me down on the rope I can get the bucket back." Seleke said through her tears.
"No, that is too dangerous." said her mother as she hugged Seleke in comfort, "You might slip, or be eaten by an Ugly Giant."
Seleke knew her mother was right. To make things even worse, thunder rumbled and it started to rain. Wind blew from the sea, sending the rain against the cliff.
Seleke and her mother walked back to their house. The rain mixed with Seleke's tears.
When they got inside their clothing was wet all through. They made a fire and hung their clothes up to dry. Drip, drip, drip the water droplets fell onto the bricks of the hearth, making little puddles.
Seleke had an idea.
The next morning Seleke went out early and walked to a part of the cliff made of slate. Slate is a very flat rock like a pancake. You might have seen slate up on rooves. Seleke collected as much slate as she could.
Soon it began to rain. Seleke saw that the rain water was running down the cliff face above her house. Seleke arranged her pieces of slate like this (make a bowl with your hands) into the shape of a great big bowl called a cistern. Then she made slate gutters (make a V with your hands) so that the water from the entire cliff face would run down and collect in the cistern.
Before long the cistern was full of rain water.
Seleke showed her mom, who said, "What a smart daughter I have! I am so proud of you."
And that is how Seleke lost their only water bucket.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Seleke Goes too far for Eggs
One day there was a girl named Seleke. She lived in a house with her mother, not at the bottom of a cliff, and not at the top, but right in the middle. Below the cliff lived Ugly Giants, and above lived Snarling Wolves.
Seleke's house didn't have any electricity for lights, or gas for heat. To keep things cold they used real ice in an ice box. They couldn't go to a store and buy food, because there were no roads and no stores. Instead, they would collect eggs from the nests of birds who lived on the cliffs.
Seleke's mother was pregnant, and it was almost time for the baby to arrive. Her tummy was very big, and it was hard for her to walk, and she felt tired all the time.
Seleke said, "Mom, let me gather the eggs today. You look like you need the rest."
Seleke's mother said, "Here, take this basket to carry the eggs, and whatever you do, don't go near the Quartz Cave."
"OK Mom." Seleke said.
Seleke took the basket and went outside. There were lots of nests near the cabin, and pretty soon she had plenty of eggs.
That night Seleke's mom made a nice dinner of deviled eggs with paprika, and everyone went to bed with a full stomach.
The next day Seleke's mom looked even more tired.
Seleke said, "I will go get eggs again."
Seleke's mother said, "Take the basket, and whatever you do, don't go near the Quartz Cave."
Seleke went outside. The nests near the cabin were all empty. In fact, every nest Seleke checked was empty. She walked farther, and farther from the cabin, checking every nest.
Soon she found herself near the Quartz Cave. There were plenty of nests above the cave entrance, and they seemed to have eggs in them! Seleke climbed up onto the glittering quartz, but her foot slipped. She slid into the cave.
Down and down she went. The quartz was like a bunch of twisty, winding slides that branched and looped. Seleke was going fast. Her hair blew in the wind. At the bottom she popped out onto a sandy beach.
"That was fun!" Seleke thought, but then she realized she was in the land of the ugly giants. She tried to climb back up the quartz, but it was too slippery!
Just then she felt the ground shake. Boom Thoom! It was a giant, walking along the beach right towards her. Seleke wanted to hide, but the beach was very empty. She put her back to the cliff and stayed very still.
The giant walked into view. He was taller than her house. His head was bald, and he carried a great big club. His face had many scars on it from fighting, and his right ear was missing.
The giant walked right up to her and picked her up in his giant hand.
Seleke looked right at the giant and said, "I am not for eating!"
The giant said, "Well, we'll see about that."
As they walked down the beach, the giant hummed to himself. Seleke did not like being in his hand. It was sweaty and dirty. Giants don't clean their nails, and they file them to points like animal claws.
As they walked the giant took out a handkerchief and blew his nose into it. It sounded like a garbage truck compressing trash. The handkerchief was enormous, and stained with colors of yellow and green.
Soon they came to an enormous lean-to with a hole in the roof. Smoke rose up through the hole, drifting lazily up the cliff face. The lean-to was made from entire trees ripped from the ground and leaned against the cliff. Stretched across the entrance was the skin of a whale.
Again Seleke looked right at the giant and said, "I am not for eating!"
The giant said, "Well, we'll see about that."
Inside the lean-to the giant put Seleke in a great ceramic pitcher. The sides were so steep and tall that she couldn't get out. She heard the giant putting logs on the fire. Then she heard him put water in a big metal kettle. The kettle went onto the fire, and soon Seleke could hear water boiling.
Then the giant dumped her out of the pitcher onto a great big table. Below, Seleke could see the fire and the kettle of boiling water. Steam rushed up from the kettle.
Seleke looked right at the giant and said, "I am not for eating!"
The giants said, "I am not hungry right now, and anyway you are too skinny. I have decided to keep you here as my slave to do my work. You will never see your home again."
Seleke nearly burst into tears, but she thought it was a bad time for such things. Seleke looked at the giant. She looked at the boiling water. Steam rushed up through the hole in the lean-to's roof, and beyond sea birds circled on rising thermals. Seleke wished she were free like those birds, and not trapped by an ugly giant.
Then Seleke had an idea.
"Let me clean your hand kerchief for you, oh mighty giant!" Seleke said.
The giant fished his handkerchief out of his pocket. It was covered in a dry crust of disgusting colors.
Seleke did not want to touch it, but she had to. She tied the ends of the handkerchief beneath her arms, first the left arm, and then the right. Seleke held the handkerchief above her head like a parachute and jumped off the table towards the boiling water.
Above her the handkerchief caught the rising thermals of the steam. It balooned up like a parachute and Seleke was swept upward and out through the hole. Up and up she rose, passing the nests of many birds. Seleke grabbed as many eggs as she could.
Seleke pulled down on different sides of the handkerchief and soon learned how to steer. She landed on a ledge not far from her house.
Seleke took off the giant's handkerchief and hid it behind a rock.
When she got home, her mother asked her, "What took you so long?"
Seleke said, "Oh, nothing mom. Here are the eggs!"
That night Seleke's mom made a nice dinner of deviled eggs with paprika, and everyone went to bed with a full stomach.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Seleke's house didn't have any electricity for lights, or gas for heat. To keep things cold they used real ice in an ice box. They couldn't go to a store and buy food, because there were no roads and no stores. Instead, they would collect eggs from the nests of birds who lived on the cliffs.
Seleke's mother was pregnant, and it was almost time for the baby to arrive. Her tummy was very big, and it was hard for her to walk, and she felt tired all the time.
Seleke said, "Mom, let me gather the eggs today. You look like you need the rest."
Seleke's mother said, "Here, take this basket to carry the eggs, and whatever you do, don't go near the Quartz Cave."
"OK Mom." Seleke said.
Seleke took the basket and went outside. There were lots of nests near the cabin, and pretty soon she had plenty of eggs.
That night Seleke's mom made a nice dinner of deviled eggs with paprika, and everyone went to bed with a full stomach.
The next day Seleke's mom looked even more tired.
Seleke said, "I will go get eggs again."
Seleke's mother said, "Take the basket, and whatever you do, don't go near the Quartz Cave."
Seleke went outside. The nests near the cabin were all empty. In fact, every nest Seleke checked was empty. She walked farther, and farther from the cabin, checking every nest.
Soon she found herself near the Quartz Cave. There were plenty of nests above the cave entrance, and they seemed to have eggs in them! Seleke climbed up onto the glittering quartz, but her foot slipped. She slid into the cave.
Down and down she went. The quartz was like a bunch of twisty, winding slides that branched and looped. Seleke was going fast. Her hair blew in the wind. At the bottom she popped out onto a sandy beach.
"That was fun!" Seleke thought, but then she realized she was in the land of the ugly giants. She tried to climb back up the quartz, but it was too slippery!
Just then she felt the ground shake. Boom Thoom! It was a giant, walking along the beach right towards her. Seleke wanted to hide, but the beach was very empty. She put her back to the cliff and stayed very still.
The giant walked into view. He was taller than her house. His head was bald, and he carried a great big club. His face had many scars on it from fighting, and his right ear was missing.
The giant walked right up to her and picked her up in his giant hand.
Seleke looked right at the giant and said, "I am not for eating!"
The giant said, "Well, we'll see about that."
As they walked down the beach, the giant hummed to himself. Seleke did not like being in his hand. It was sweaty and dirty. Giants don't clean their nails, and they file them to points like animal claws.
As they walked the giant took out a handkerchief and blew his nose into it. It sounded like a garbage truck compressing trash. The handkerchief was enormous, and stained with colors of yellow and green.
Soon they came to an enormous lean-to with a hole in the roof. Smoke rose up through the hole, drifting lazily up the cliff face. The lean-to was made from entire trees ripped from the ground and leaned against the cliff. Stretched across the entrance was the skin of a whale.
Again Seleke looked right at the giant and said, "I am not for eating!"
The giant said, "Well, we'll see about that."
Inside the lean-to the giant put Seleke in a great ceramic pitcher. The sides were so steep and tall that she couldn't get out. She heard the giant putting logs on the fire. Then she heard him put water in a big metal kettle. The kettle went onto the fire, and soon Seleke could hear water boiling.
Then the giant dumped her out of the pitcher onto a great big table. Below, Seleke could see the fire and the kettle of boiling water. Steam rushed up from the kettle.
Seleke looked right at the giant and said, "I am not for eating!"
The giants said, "I am not hungry right now, and anyway you are too skinny. I have decided to keep you here as my slave to do my work. You will never see your home again."
Seleke nearly burst into tears, but she thought it was a bad time for such things. Seleke looked at the giant. She looked at the boiling water. Steam rushed up through the hole in the lean-to's roof, and beyond sea birds circled on rising thermals. Seleke wished she were free like those birds, and not trapped by an ugly giant.
Then Seleke had an idea.
"Let me clean your hand kerchief for you, oh mighty giant!" Seleke said.
The giant fished his handkerchief out of his pocket. It was covered in a dry crust of disgusting colors.
Seleke did not want to touch it, but she had to. She tied the ends of the handkerchief beneath her arms, first the left arm, and then the right. Seleke held the handkerchief above her head like a parachute and jumped off the table towards the boiling water.
Above her the handkerchief caught the rising thermals of the steam. It balooned up like a parachute and Seleke was swept upward and out through the hole. Up and up she rose, passing the nests of many birds. Seleke grabbed as many eggs as she could.
Seleke pulled down on different sides of the handkerchief and soon learned how to steer. She landed on a ledge not far from her house.
Seleke took off the giant's handkerchief and hid it behind a rock.
When she got home, her mother asked her, "What took you so long?"
Seleke said, "Oh, nothing mom. Here are the eggs!"
That night Seleke's mom made a nice dinner of deviled eggs with paprika, and everyone went to bed with a full stomach.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Seleke and the Squirrel
One day there was a girl named Seleke. She lived in a house with her mother, not at the bottom of a cliff, and not at the top, but right in the middle. Below the cliff lived Ugly Giants, and above lived Snarling Wolves.
One morning, after Seleke had eaten breakfast, she sat down to do some reading. It was a book about a [boy/girl] named [your child's name] who lived in a far away land called [your town]. Seleke was very interested in [your child's name's] adventures.
As she read Seleke heard a sudden (rap on wood once with your hand). She looked up, but didn't see anything. Then it came again (rap twice). Seleke looked around, but again she couldn't see anything making the noise. She went back to reading.
Suddenly she heard (rap a lot). It was coming from the roof! She got up and went outside to see what was disturbing her reading. When she looked at the roof nothing was there except a few acorns. What could be making that noise?
As she watched more acorns fell from the sky and landed (rap rap) on the roof, then rolled down and landed at her feet. Looking way up the cliff she saw a big tree, and in the tree was a squirrel. The squirrel was collecting nuts for the winter, but he was dropping many of them out of his nest and onto Seleke's house.
Seleke wanted to read, but the banging of the nuts was too bothersome. She decided to do something about it. She gathered up all the nuts she could find into a basket.
Seleke walked along the cliff ledge to where a long, strong vine hung down. Vine's didn't always hang from above, but it was the rainy season and everything was growing and growing. Seleke slung the basket over hear shoulder and began to climb up and up the vine.
After a few minutes she was near the top. When she peaked over she saw a big snarling wolf. It was not one of the baby wolves, this one was full grown and had great big teeth (make teeth with your hands).
The wolf hadn't seen her, and Seleke ducked. She waited, and tried to decide whether to give up because the wolf was so scary. After a few minutes she peaked up again, and the wolf was gone. But which way had it gone? She did not know.
Seleke climbed over the edge and stood up. She looked around. She listened. Then she started walking as quietly as she could towards the tree.
When she reached the tree she looked right up at the squirrel and said, "Hey, squirrel, stop dropping nuts on my roof!"
The squirrel looked down and said, "I am not dropping them on purpose, I assure you" (bring your hands to your chin like paws, and chitter with your mouth, blink your eyes, and look nervously about)
"I don't want to lose these nuts!" said the squirrel, "but they just keep slipping out of my paws."
Seleke said, "Oh! Well, that is different. Maybe I can help you."
"That is very nice of you," said the squirrel (make the face), "What is your idea?"
"Do you have cloth?" Seleke asked.
"Yes." said the squirrel. (make the face)
"Do you have rope?" Seleke asked.
"Yes." said the squirrel. (make the face)
"May I climb up?" Seleke asked.
"Certainly." said the squirrel. (make the face)
Below the squirrel's nest were other branches. Seleke climbed up, and using the cloth and rope she made a net to catch any nuts the squirrel dropped. When she was done the squirrel said, "Why, that is terrific! Now if I drop a nut I can go get it from the net!"
Just then Seleke and the squirrel heard, "Arroooooo" (howl like a wolf).
The wolf was coming. It had smelled Seleke! Wolves prefer to hunt in groups called packs, and the wolf had gone to get some friends.
Seleke said, "Oh no, the wolves! There is nowhere for me to hide."
"Hide inside my nest!" said the squirrel, "They will never find you there."
Seleke climbed into the squirrels nest. It was a bit small for her, but she managed to fit.
The wolves ran up to the bottom of the tree.
"Come down from your tree, squirrel, so that we can eat you!" they said.
"I will not come down," said the squirrel.
"Have you seen a little girl?" asked the wolves, "If you tell us where she is, we will eat her instead of you."
"Yes, I have seen her." said the squirrel.
Inside the squirrel's nest Seleke thought "Oh no! The squirrel will give me away!"
"I have seen her, and she went that way!" the squirrel said, and he pointed away from Seleke's vine.
The wolves snarled and went running off in the wrong direction.
"Thank you!" said Seleke. She climbed down the tree and ran as fast as she could to her vine. Seleke climbed down. When she got to her house she sat in the big, comfy chair and read her book to the very end.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
One morning, after Seleke had eaten breakfast, she sat down to do some reading. It was a book about a [boy/girl] named [your child's name] who lived in a far away land called [your town]. Seleke was very interested in [your child's name's] adventures.
As she read Seleke heard a sudden (rap on wood once with your hand). She looked up, but didn't see anything. Then it came again (rap twice). Seleke looked around, but again she couldn't see anything making the noise. She went back to reading.
Suddenly she heard (rap a lot). It was coming from the roof! She got up and went outside to see what was disturbing her reading. When she looked at the roof nothing was there except a few acorns. What could be making that noise?
As she watched more acorns fell from the sky and landed (rap rap) on the roof, then rolled down and landed at her feet. Looking way up the cliff she saw a big tree, and in the tree was a squirrel. The squirrel was collecting nuts for the winter, but he was dropping many of them out of his nest and onto Seleke's house.
Seleke wanted to read, but the banging of the nuts was too bothersome. She decided to do something about it. She gathered up all the nuts she could find into a basket.
Seleke walked along the cliff ledge to where a long, strong vine hung down. Vine's didn't always hang from above, but it was the rainy season and everything was growing and growing. Seleke slung the basket over hear shoulder and began to climb up and up the vine.
After a few minutes she was near the top. When she peaked over she saw a big snarling wolf. It was not one of the baby wolves, this one was full grown and had great big teeth (make teeth with your hands).
The wolf hadn't seen her, and Seleke ducked. She waited, and tried to decide whether to give up because the wolf was so scary. After a few minutes she peaked up again, and the wolf was gone. But which way had it gone? She did not know.
Seleke climbed over the edge and stood up. She looked around. She listened. Then she started walking as quietly as she could towards the tree.
When she reached the tree she looked right up at the squirrel and said, "Hey, squirrel, stop dropping nuts on my roof!"
The squirrel looked down and said, "I am not dropping them on purpose, I assure you" (bring your hands to your chin like paws, and chitter with your mouth, blink your eyes, and look nervously about)
"I don't want to lose these nuts!" said the squirrel, "but they just keep slipping out of my paws."
Seleke said, "Oh! Well, that is different. Maybe I can help you."
"That is very nice of you," said the squirrel (make the face), "What is your idea?"
"Do you have cloth?" Seleke asked.
"Yes." said the squirrel. (make the face)
"Do you have rope?" Seleke asked.
"Yes." said the squirrel. (make the face)
"May I climb up?" Seleke asked.
"Certainly." said the squirrel. (make the face)
Below the squirrel's nest were other branches. Seleke climbed up, and using the cloth and rope she made a net to catch any nuts the squirrel dropped. When she was done the squirrel said, "Why, that is terrific! Now if I drop a nut I can go get it from the net!"
Just then Seleke and the squirrel heard, "Arroooooo" (howl like a wolf).
The wolf was coming. It had smelled Seleke! Wolves prefer to hunt in groups called packs, and the wolf had gone to get some friends.
Seleke said, "Oh no, the wolves! There is nowhere for me to hide."
"Hide inside my nest!" said the squirrel, "They will never find you there."
Seleke climbed into the squirrels nest. It was a bit small for her, but she managed to fit.
The wolves ran up to the bottom of the tree.
"Come down from your tree, squirrel, so that we can eat you!" they said.
"I will not come down," said the squirrel.
"Have you seen a little girl?" asked the wolves, "If you tell us where she is, we will eat her instead of you."
"Yes, I have seen her." said the squirrel.
Inside the squirrel's nest Seleke thought "Oh no! The squirrel will give me away!"
"I have seen her, and she went that way!" the squirrel said, and he pointed away from Seleke's vine.
The wolves snarled and went running off in the wrong direction.
"Thank you!" said Seleke. She climbed down the tree and ran as fast as she could to her vine. Seleke climbed down. When she got to her house she sat in the big, comfy chair and read her book to the very end.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Moobaloo finds the Sunken Fire Truck
One day Moobaloo the mermaid and horace the fish were swimming in a large bay. Above the water's surface they heard a big commotion. They popped their heads up and saw a warehouse, on fire.
A warehouse is a big place where people keep things, and this warehouse had a guard who smoked cigarettes. He fell asleep, and his lit cigarette fell and touched some papers. By the time he woke up there was a fire. He ran out of the warehouse and called the fire department.
So Moobaloo and Horace were watching the firemen work. One of the firemen was talking to the other.
"Bob," he said, "it is taking too long to put out this fire! The warehouse will burn down. I wish we could save it."
"Well Sam," said the other fireman, "I've heard stories of a shiny fire truck from the Old Days that could put out fires really fast. My great grandfather told me about it. But that truck was lost years ago, sunk, I heard, in the bay."
"I have heard about that truck", said Sam, "but I thought it was just a legend!"
When Moobaloo heard this she said to Horace, "We should find that sunken fire truck!"
Horace said, "That is a great idea, but I've never seen one here in the bay."
"Maybe we should ask somebody really old, who might remember something from the old days." Moobaloo said, "Who do we know that is really old?"
Horace and Moobaloo thought and they thought. Most of their friends were young.
"Whales live a long time." said Moobaloo, "But whales don't come in the bay."
"Turtles!" said Horace, "Turtles live longer than almost anybody."
So the two friends swam off to find a turtle. On an island, in the middle of the bay, they found Tomas the Turtle, sunning himself on some rocks. It took a minute to wake him up.
"Tomas," said Moobaloo, "We are looking for a sunken fire engine. Can you help?"
"Ahhhh... Welllll..." said Tomas, "I don't go near the piers. You would have to ask the barnacles about that."
A barnacle is a tiny creature who lives in a shell. The shell is a little white circle about the size of a wedding ring. It is made of calcium, just like your finger nail. Barnacles don't live very long, but they tell each other everything, so everything a barnacle colony ever knew they all know.
"But we don't speak barnacle language," said Horace, who knew a great many languages.
"Then go ask the crab," said Tomas. "He speaks English and Barnacle too."
So Moobaloo and Horace swam to the piers. There, hiding in a little hole, they found Pierre the crab. Pierre was in a crabby mood. His shell was covered with algae, and it itched.
"No," said Pierre as he scratched his itchy shell, "I will not speak to the barnacles for you! Why should I?"
"What if we scrubbed your shell for you?" Horace asked.
Pierre said, "No promises!"
Moobaloo and Horace decided to chance it. They scrubbed and they scrubbed. Soon Pierre's shell was shiny as a whistle.
"Ahh! That is so much better!" cried Pierre. "What do you want to talk to the barnacles about?"
"Ask them if they have seen a fire engine sunken in the bay!" said Moobaloo.
Pierre turned to the barnacles on his pier. Now, barnacle language is not like people language. A person might say, "hello there" but a barnacle would say "(make clicking noises with your mouth)"
So Pierre said, "(click click click raise the tone of your voice at the end, as if asking a question)"
And the barnacles replied "(click click lower your tone as if in answer)"
Pierre turned to Moobaloo and said, "Pier 33. The fire engine is sunk below pier 33."
Quick as they could, Moobaloo and Horace swam to pier 33 dragging Pierre along with them. But when they arrived there was no fire truck in sight. All they could see were lots and lots of barnacles, and a great big bed of mussels. Mussels live in a black shell shaped like this (cup your hands) in big groups all together. The mussels and the barnacles like to hang on tight to things like piers, and the bottom of boats, and most anything they can grab onto. They even grab onto each other.
"Where is the fire truck?" asked Moobaloo.
Pierre spoke to the barnacles at pier 33, "(click click click)"
As Moobaloo and Horace watched the barnacles and the mussels all let go. Beneath them was a big shiny fire truck, looking as good as the day it sank into the bay.
Moobaloo wrote a letter to the fire fighter Bob that said, "Your grand father was right. Look below pier 33."
The next day, a big crane arrived at the pier. Scuba divers jumped in the water. In no time the crane was lifted from the bottom of the bay.
And that is how Moobaloo and Horace discovered the Treasure of the Sunken Fire Truck.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
A warehouse is a big place where people keep things, and this warehouse had a guard who smoked cigarettes. He fell asleep, and his lit cigarette fell and touched some papers. By the time he woke up there was a fire. He ran out of the warehouse and called the fire department.
So Moobaloo and Horace were watching the firemen work. One of the firemen was talking to the other.
"Bob," he said, "it is taking too long to put out this fire! The warehouse will burn down. I wish we could save it."
"Well Sam," said the other fireman, "I've heard stories of a shiny fire truck from the Old Days that could put out fires really fast. My great grandfather told me about it. But that truck was lost years ago, sunk, I heard, in the bay."
"I have heard about that truck", said Sam, "but I thought it was just a legend!"
When Moobaloo heard this she said to Horace, "We should find that sunken fire truck!"
Horace said, "That is a great idea, but I've never seen one here in the bay."
"Maybe we should ask somebody really old, who might remember something from the old days." Moobaloo said, "Who do we know that is really old?"
Horace and Moobaloo thought and they thought. Most of their friends were young.
"Whales live a long time." said Moobaloo, "But whales don't come in the bay."
"Turtles!" said Horace, "Turtles live longer than almost anybody."
So the two friends swam off to find a turtle. On an island, in the middle of the bay, they found Tomas the Turtle, sunning himself on some rocks. It took a minute to wake him up.
"Tomas," said Moobaloo, "We are looking for a sunken fire engine. Can you help?"
"Ahhhh... Welllll..." said Tomas, "I don't go near the piers. You would have to ask the barnacles about that."
A barnacle is a tiny creature who lives in a shell. The shell is a little white circle about the size of a wedding ring. It is made of calcium, just like your finger nail. Barnacles don't live very long, but they tell each other everything, so everything a barnacle colony ever knew they all know.
"But we don't speak barnacle language," said Horace, who knew a great many languages.
"Then go ask the crab," said Tomas. "He speaks English and Barnacle too."
So Moobaloo and Horace swam to the piers. There, hiding in a little hole, they found Pierre the crab. Pierre was in a crabby mood. His shell was covered with algae, and it itched.
"No," said Pierre as he scratched his itchy shell, "I will not speak to the barnacles for you! Why should I?"
"What if we scrubbed your shell for you?" Horace asked.
Pierre said, "No promises!"
Moobaloo and Horace decided to chance it. They scrubbed and they scrubbed. Soon Pierre's shell was shiny as a whistle.
"Ahh! That is so much better!" cried Pierre. "What do you want to talk to the barnacles about?"
"Ask them if they have seen a fire engine sunken in the bay!" said Moobaloo.
Pierre turned to the barnacles on his pier. Now, barnacle language is not like people language. A person might say, "hello there" but a barnacle would say "(make clicking noises with your mouth)"
So Pierre said, "(click click click raise the tone of your voice at the end, as if asking a question)"
And the barnacles replied "(click click lower your tone as if in answer)"
Pierre turned to Moobaloo and said, "Pier 33. The fire engine is sunk below pier 33."
Quick as they could, Moobaloo and Horace swam to pier 33 dragging Pierre along with them. But when they arrived there was no fire truck in sight. All they could see were lots and lots of barnacles, and a great big bed of mussels. Mussels live in a black shell shaped like this (cup your hands) in big groups all together. The mussels and the barnacles like to hang on tight to things like piers, and the bottom of boats, and most anything they can grab onto. They even grab onto each other.
"Where is the fire truck?" asked Moobaloo.
Pierre spoke to the barnacles at pier 33, "(click click click)"
As Moobaloo and Horace watched the barnacles and the mussels all let go. Beneath them was a big shiny fire truck, looking as good as the day it sank into the bay.
Moobaloo wrote a letter to the fire fighter Bob that said, "Your grand father was right. Look below pier 33."
The next day, a big crane arrived at the pier. Scuba divers jumped in the water. In no time the crane was lifted from the bottom of the bay.
And that is how Moobaloo and Horace discovered the Treasure of the Sunken Fire Truck.
The End
(c) 2008 Ken Demarest
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