Trumpet Elephant looked down at his dusty ankles. His saggy, baggy skin was coated in brown mud and the circus performance would begin in less than two hours. Trumpet needed a bath!

 The big tub to water the animals was full to the brim and seeing that was the only water Trumpet could get into, Trumpet stepped in, saggy baggies and all.

 "Yeah, that's our drinking water," yelled the giraffe.

 "Well, I never," said Morris Lion, shaking his head.

 Trumpet wasn't really concerned about anyone else. He wanted to look his best and by the colour of the water, the dirt was coming off. Trumpet even used his new soap and soon bubbles were floating through the air. One settled on a peacock's head, one settled on the top of a seal's nose and one settled on Arnold Snake. Arnold didn't like that one bit.

 All the animals became very noisy as they made whatever noise was associated with them. The monkeys were dashing around breaking bubbles and bumping into everyone.

 Lucky Cat heard all the commotion as he woke from his afternoon nap. Something was definitely going on down by the elephant's cage. Stretching and yawning, Lucky wandered down to see what was the matter.

 Now to say that Lucky had picked the wrong time to go on that little wander would be stating the facts right. Trumpet was now spraying off the soap with his trunk. He would dip the trunk into the water, suck in a large amount of water and then blow it out all over his body. It was a great job, but it was also messy. Everyone around was covered in water and one of those was Lucky.

 Lucky wasn't impressed. Lucky hated water in the worst way and suddenly being drenched with a trunk that poured like a fire hose wasn't the way to have a good afternoon.

 "Look at me!" yelled the cat. " I'm soaking wet!"

 "So you are," said the elephant, "and clean too."

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 "I don't want to be wet because I hate water," yelled the cat louder.

 "No problem," said the elephant and he blew his now empty trunk in Lucky's direction. A blast of hot air hit the cat with such force that he was driven back against the cage.

 To say that Lucky was dry would be correct, but he now looked different. He was a giant furball. Hair stuck out all over his body pointing in every direction, causing him to shriek as he looked down at his now pitiful condition.

 "Look at me!" shrieked the cat. "I'm, I'm a giant furball."

 "Yes, you are that," said the elephant, "but a clean one."

 Lucky might have really lost his cool if his owner hadn't shown up on the scene, took one look at Lucky and wrapped him in her arms.

 "Poor kitty," said Leeanne.

 Lucky thought for a moment. He would get all the attention he craved for looking like this. First he pouted and then he sighed. Leeanne cuddled him really close and took him home.

 Trumpet didn't know what all the fuss was about. He was clean and after all, he had a show to perform.

 Question about the story: What was Lucky Cat's owner's name?

 Send answers to Storytime, c/o Verna Dunlop, RR#l Moser River, NS BOJ 2KO, or e-mail answer to vernadunlop@yahoo.com.

posted on 02/03/09