Hoppy Kangaroo loved to play hopscotch. It was a hoppy game, as one hopped from square to square. Hoppy Kangaroo had found a special rock that he tossed into the square. Hopping on one foot, he retrieved the rock with not so much as a wobble.

 Hoppy Kangaroo loved playing so much that sometimes he played all day, forgetting to go home for lunch. Not only was it good exercise, but there was lots of time spent outside in the fresh air.

 Hoppy Kangaroo was concentrating so hard on the game that when Spot Giraffe spoke to him, he almost stumbled.

 "Can I try that?" asked the giraffe.

 Hoppy Kangaroo looked at the giraffe and wondered if the giraffe was indeed serious about the request. Spot had these long legs and he was so awkward and besides, Hoppy Kangaroo had never seen a giraffe hopping anywhere.

 "The winner gets this banana that Marvin Monkey dropped," said the giraffe, producing the banana.

 "Look, I don't think it would be a very fair game. After all, I play day in and day out and you have never actually played this game, have you?" asked the kangaroo.

 "Well no, but I aim to try," said Spot Giraffe.

 "Instead of winning the banana," said Hoppy Kangaroo, "We will share it."

 First thing that Hoppy Kangaroo did was enlarge the game area, thinking that Spot Giraffe would find that easier. The kangaroo didn't take into consideration the spread of those long legs and had to enlarge the area once again.

 Every time Spot Giraffe tried to land in a square, his legs were outside the lines.

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 "We could play tag or something else," suggested the kangaroo.

 "No, I want to play hopscotch," insisted the giraffe.

 "The problem is, with not hopping, you land all sprawled over the space," said Hoppy Kangaroo, trying to remedy the situation without hurting Spot Giraffe's feelings. "You need a little spring action to make you hop better."

 "Spring is a nice time of year," said the giraffe.

 "Not the season spring, but spring, as to leap," said Hoppy Kangaroo, suddenly snapping his fingers. "I know just the thing."

 Quickly, Hoppy Kangaroo dashed to the nearby lairs with mother who had young and got four Slinkys. She attached a wire spring to each foot of the giraffe.

 On the word go, Spot Giraffe sprang and promptly fell to the ground. Second time, he crashed into a tree and the third time, he hit his head on the tree branch above. Spot Giraffe considered calling it quits.

 "Try once more," urged Hoppy Kangaroo, watching as a reluctant giraffe got into position.

 Spot Giraffe did a little jump and landed in the square, teetering and tottering. Finally, he righted himself.

 "That's it!" cheered Hoppy Kangaroo.

 Before the day was over, just like training wheels, the springs were removed and Spot Giraffe was playing hopscotch like a pro.

 Question about the story: What happened the second time Spot Giraffe hopped with the springs on his feet?

 Send answers to Storytime, c/o Verna Dunlop, RR#1 Moser River, NS BOJ 2KO. Prizes will be sent to those sending in the answers.

posted on 12/01/09