One thing you don't do is fight with someone that, no matter how tough you are, has the advantage. Another thing, is not to tempt fate.

 That was exactly what King Horse did when he crossed a skunk's path. King Horse wanted to eat the hay, and there was nothing wrong with that, but Mr. Skunk wanted to nap in the hay at the same time.

 Of course, if we look at it from Mr. Skunk's perspective, he was tired and snuggling down in the hay would lead to two hours of needed sleep.

 When King Horse's jaws nipped Mr. Skunk, the skunk did what was natural and sprayed with all his might. He didn't stick around to talk matters over either, because let's face it, the smell was pretty bad.

 Pauly Dog smelled King Horse before he ever got to the stall. Pauly Dog was picking up King Horse to go to school. "Well", said Pauly Dog, not picking him up as in carrying him, but calling on him to accompany him to school. It is funny how some words can be taken two ways.

 "That smell is terrible!" said Pauly Dog. "If you bought that at the mall, it wasn't worth the money you paid. It smells like skunk."

 King Horse was famous for trying on samples of aftershaves and colognes. If there were free samples, King Horse tried three or four on top of each other.

 "That is skunk!" gulped King Horse, trying to find a corner in his stall where he could get away from the odour.

 "We are going to be late for school, but you can't come to class like that. Mrs. MacGillivary will send you home," said Pauly Dog.

 "I haven't time to try tomato juice or my new watermelon soap. The test this morning is worth points toward grading," moaned King Horse.

 "Where are some of those samples you always bring home?" inquired Pauly Dog. "Maybe we can stop the smell with that."

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 King Horse opened his medicine cabinet and on the shelves were bottles and jars of samples. King Horse grabbed one and sprayed kiwi splash on his fur.

 "Well?" asked the horse.

 "Smells like skunk kiwi!" said Pauly Dog, truthfully.

 In a second, King Horse had sprayed on avocado, pomegranate, banana, cherry and blueberry colognes.

 "Enough!" said Pauly Dog, with his eyes watering.

 "Can you smell it?" asked King Horse.

 "Can't tell, you have completely destroyed my sense of smell" said Pauly Dog.

 Both started off for school, and to say that Mrs. MacGillivary sent King Horse home from class would be wrong. She was on yard duty and she wouldn't even let him on the playground.

 King Horse had to write his exam another day, but before he ever nibbled hay again, he always looked for Mr. Skunk.

 Winner:  Barb Himmelman of  Port Joli, N.S. was sent a prize to her home.    

 Question about the story: What did the kiwi splash perfume smell like on King Horse's fur?

 Send answers to Storytime, c/o Verna Dunlop, RR#1 Moser River, NS BOJ 2KO. Or, send the answer to the question to vernadunlop@yahoo.com. Prizes will be sent to those sending in the answers.

posted on 11/17/09