Post by Palustris on Jan 30, 2023 14:52:30 GMT 1
Glenda and Crunch
Glenda woke up from a horrible dream. She was dreaming that Feggy Wood was shaking dreadfully. She opened her eyes and sat up. Part of the dream was true, the house was shaking. She jumped up and went outside to see what was happening.
Outside, she found a large white creature covered in thick fur. It was busy eating Glenda's house.
A large, white, furry animal.
"Stop eating my house," said Glenda.
"This is your house?" said the animal.
"Yes," said Glenda. "And you are eating it."
"Oh!" said the animal.
Glenda looked at the animal. She thought that she knew all the animals that lived in Feggy Wood, but she did not know this one. "Who are you?" she asked.
The animal looked puzzled. "I am me," it said. "It took another bite at Glenda's house.
"Stop eating my house," said Glenda.
"This is your house?" said the animal.
"Yes," said Glenda. "And you are eating it."
"Oh!" said the animal.
"Where have you come from?" asked Glenda.
"I found a hole in the fence," said the animal proudly."
"You came through a hole in a fence?" asked Glenda.
"Did I?" replied the animal." It took another bite at Glenda's house.
"Stop eating my house," said Glenda.
"This is your house?" said the animal.
"Yes," said Glenda. "And you are eating it."
"Oh!" said the animal.
"Which fence did you come through?" asked Glenda.
The animal shook its head. "What fence is that?"
"You said that you came through a hole in the fence," said Glenda, getting rather annoyed.
"I must have then," said the animal. "It took another bite at Glenda's house.
"Stop eating my house," said Glenda.
"This is your house?" said the animal.
"Yes," said Glenda. "And you are eating it."
"Oh!" said the animal.
"Can't you remember where the fence with the hole in it is?" asked Glenda.
The animal looked round. "What hole?" it said. "We like going through holes. Better food when we go through a hole."
"But where is the hole?" said Glenda, feeling very confused.
"In the fence," said the animal. "We came through it." It took another bite at Glenda's house.
"Stop eating my house," said Glenda.
"This is your house?" said the animal.
"Yes," said Glenda. "And you are eating it."
"Oh!" said the animal.
Before Glenda could say any more, her friend Brenda arrived. She was followed by another animal, which looked exactly like the one Glenda was talking to.
"Hello," said Brenda. "I see you have one of these silly animals as well."
"It keeps eating my house," said Glenda.
Brenda nodded. "This one was eating my house."
"We came through a hole in the fence," said the second animal.
"They don't seem very bright," said Brenda.
"No," agreed Glenda. "Just hungry."
"I'm not sure what to do now," said Brenda. "I was hoping you would know what to do."
As they stood talking, another of the animals arrived. This was followed a few seconds later by six more. The first one took another bite out of Glenda's house.
More of the furry animals.
"Stop eating my house," said Glenda.
"This is your house?" said the animal.
"Yes," said Glenda. "And you are eating it."
"Oh!" said the animal.
"Well, I don't know where they came from, but they will have to go back," said Glenda, "before my house is completely eaten away." She thought for a moment. "You stop here and keep them away from my house, and I will go and see if I can find a fence with a hole in it. Then, we can push them back through it." She turned to the animals. "I don’t suppose anyone can remember which way you came from, do you?"
The animals just looked puzzled. "We found a hole in a fence and went through it," said one.
"We like going through holes," added another.
Glenda sighed. "I will go to the edge of Feggy Wood and follow the fence. Someone might have seen these silly creatures coming through it."
There was a squarrel sitting on a branch above the path. "Good morning," said Glenda. "Did you see a large fluffy white animal come this way today?"
"Good morning," replied the Squarrel. "Yes. It was very odd. There was a line of them all walking, one behind the other. They came from that way." It pointed towards the edge of Feggy Wood.
"Thank you," said Glenda. Next, she met a budger. "Good morning," said Glenda. "Did you see a large fluffy white animal come this way today?"
"Good morning," said the budger. "I did. It was very odd, they all walked along, one behind the other. They came from that way." It pointed towards the edge of Feggy Wood.
"Thank you," said Glenda. She walked on along the path. Eventually, she came to a wire fence. There did not seem to be a hole in it. She stood for a minute, trying to decide which way to go.
However before she could another new to her animal appeared. Glenda was a bit worried about this one. It looked rather like the wulluf, except that it was black and white. "If you are a wulluf," she said. "Wendles are mostly skin and bone and not at all good to eat."
The black and white wulluf.
Glenda remembered her manners. "Good morning," she said. "I am Glenda the Wendle."
"Hello Glenda," said the black and white animal. "My name is Crunch. He sat down. "Why should I want to eat you, and what is a wulluf?" It had a growly sort of voice.
"Wulluf are dangerous animals that loved nothing more than chasing Wendles." Glenda told him.
"Ah," said Crunch. "The only thing I chase are my silly sheep. I don't suppose you have seen them, have you?"
"Are they white and fluffy things?" asked Glenda.
"That's them," said Crunch. "They have found a hole in the fence and gone to explore. They are very good at finding holes in fences but useless at finding their way back again."
The hole in the fence.
Glenda nodded. "They are a little way into Feggy Wood. One of them was eating my house. They do seem very silly," said Glenda.
"If you show me where they are, I will round them up and take them back to the hole," said Crunch. "It would be a big help if you could block up the hole when they are back in the field where they should be."
"Of course," said Glenda. "Please follow me." She set off back along the path.
"Don't look now," warned the budger, "but you are being followed by a black and white wulluf."
"I am not a wulluf," snapped Crunch.
The squarrel was still sitting in its tree. "Don't look now," warned the squirrel, "but you are being followed by a black and white wulluf."
"I am not a wulluf," snapped Crunch. Soon they came to Glenda's house. The sheep were still there.
"Don't look now," warned Brenda, "but you are being followed by a black and white wulluf."
"I am not a wulluf," snapped Crunch.
When they saw Crunch, the sheep began to shout. "It's the chaser, it's the chaser."
"Yes," said Crunch, "And I am going to chase you ladies back to the field where you belong."
Very quickly, Crunch got the sheep into a line and chased them along the path. Glenda and Brenda followed. Soon they came to where there was a hole in the fence. With a little pushing and shoving from the Wendles, the sheep were soon back in their field. Glenda and Brenda collected some branches and blocked up the hole.
The hole was mended.
"Thank-you!" called Crunch. "Now I am going to see if there are any more holes in fences that these silly sheep can get through." He ran off across the field.
"Hmm," said Brenda. "He may not be a wulluf, but he runs like one.
"He may not be a wulluf, but he sounds like one," said Glenda.
The budger had walked up behind the Wendles. "He may not be a wulluf," it said. "But he smells like one."
The squarrel who was sitting up in a tree said, "He may not be a wulluf, but he does look like a black and white one."
"Perhaps," said Glenda, "but at least he was only chasing those silly sheep things and not Wendles. Now I am going home to mend my house."
