To us on Earth, the thought that an animal would spend time on the moon to see if it could find a cure for purple-dot disease would cause us wonderment.

  You may chuckle when you first hear purple dots, but as those of you that have been covered in red dots from measles know, it was no laughing matter.

  Purple-dot disease did, as it suggests, cause the skin to be covered in purple dots. All animals were in danger and as one polar bear stated, "It was the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me. I was a deep purple, not mauve or lilac, and being in the Arctic, I could be seen for miles on the frozen ice."

  Purple-dot disease was in the papers for weeks and when Nana sent Humphrey Donkey to the moon to get moon dust and do experiments, it was for all animals everywhere. His mission was Earth shattering, indeed.

  After Humphrey Donkey's shuttle landed on the moon, it didn't take long for life to become the same old, same old routine. There was dark, then light, lots of dirt and lots of holes. The only problem was gasses that heated up in the holes when the light from the sun shone on it. The gasses then belched like giant bubbles spewing dirt and hot air several feet.

  Humphrey Donkey had been careless when the sun shone on the ground and the gasses bubbled and burst from its confining spaces. Dirt spew landed on Humphrey Donkey's hoofs and he instantly placed a 911 call to Earth for help. Blisters covered his legs and feet, making walking very difficult. Humphrey Donkey felt very alone on the moon with no mother and no chicken soup.

  It would take four days for help to arrive so Humphrey Donkey did as little as possible and his experiments were put on hold. He had to reserve his strength to use the foot levers to activate his ship home. He could only wait.

  Humphrey Donkey watched with anticipation as four days later, the shuttle landed and Ralph Gorilla, who had trained for space missions with him, scurried down the steps carrying a small case.

  "Humphrey Donkey, I've brought medicine for your burns, " said Ralph Gorilla rushing to the donkey's side and assessing the burns.

  "I'm so glad to see you. It gets pretty boring up here, but if my experiments cure purple-dot disease, it will be worth it,' said Humphrey Donkey with conviction.

  "They have found a cure for purple-dot disease while you were away. You are to return to Earth with me," explained the gorilla. "Leave the shuttle here for the next mission."

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  "What did the doctors cure the disease with?" asked the curious Humphrey Donkey.

  "White out!" said Ralph Gorilla, preparing the ship to re-enter Earth's atmosphere.

  Humphrey Donkey tried to figure out how that would work. Couldn't it mean that one would be covered with white dots now? He would find out, he figured, when he got back to Earth.

  Winner: Mason Freeman, RR#1, Waterville received a prize through the mail for sending in the answer.

  Question about the story: With what did the doctors cure purple-dot disease?

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

posted on 04/13/10