Starfish Fred Flintstone was always getting into trouble. He was a natural at it and if it hadn't been for his friend Wilma Whale, Fred would have met a terrible fate.

 Fred didn't go out looking for trouble, trouble found him. He was always where he shouldn't be, doing things he shouldn't and hearing things that weren't for his ears. Wilma had a real job cut out for her when she took Fred into her protection.

 Take for example this afternoon. Fred had been listening in on a conversation between Morris Clam and Cedric Mussell. Morris had been telling Cedric about a secret birthday party he was arranging for his wife Mildred. Mildred had reached one of those turn points in her life with a zero on the end. Mildred didn't want anyone to know her age, but Morris told Cedric, telling him to please not repeat it.

 Fred had rushed to Wilma, who was taking the curlers from her hair and excitely nudged her.

 "Did you know that Mildred Clam is 40?" burst out the little starfish.

 "I don't think Mildred would appreciate you spreading that information around," said Wilma. She hadn't realized that Mildred was 40. "Where did you hear that anyway?"

 "Morris Clam was telling Cedric Mussell about a secret party he is having for Mildred and he said she was 40," said Fred.

 "Secret party? You shouldn't tell anyone in case Mildred was to find out," advised Wilma. "I think you had better keep that information quiet."

 If it hadn't been for Wilma, Fred's next stop would have been the seahorses and they were the biggest gossips in town. Mildred Clam would have known about the party and that her age was a known fact in 20 minutes.

 Fred, in his own way, didn't realize that spreading gossip was a no-no. Knowing something no one else did was exciting and everyone always was eager to hear whatever you knew, that they didn't.

 Fred would rush into things without thinking like the time he had upset a hungry lobster. He would put little bits of food within the reach of the lobster's claws and then draw it back just as the lobster snapped at it. To say the least, the lobster soon tired of this game and figured that a starfish would make a good meal if one didn't mind all the bumps and lumps.

 "I think I have something in my eye," said the lobster. "Could you see?"

 "No problem!" said the eager starfish, swimming close to the lobster.

 The lobster didn't waste a second as he snapped and caught Fred by the tip of one of his points.

 "Let go!" yelled the starfish, struggling.

 "You teased enough and now you will be my snack," said the lobster.

 Luckily for Fred, Wilma was nearby and she stared at the lobster with such a look that the lobster quickly let go. Fred was free!

 "I think you should be more thoughtful, Fred," said Wilma. "I might not always be there to get you out of scrapes and you could come to real danger."

 Fred realized that Wilma was a true friend and only true friends tell you the truth to help you stay out of trouble.

 This was a previously published story.