CREATION OF TWIGMAN
By His Creator
In 1996 I was without volunteer activity. I made contact with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Through them I made contact with, what was at that time, the Y.W.C.A. day care in North Kansas City, Missouri, and, because of my interest in children and history of telling and writing children’s stories, I started visiting there once every week. I began in rather feeble fashion, sort of feeling my way, getting library books and meeting with all of the kids at one time. The classes have since been divided and I spend about twenty or thirty minutes with each class every week. I also, early on, took some of my own stories which fell flat on their face. I soon realized my stories were targeted for children a little bit older. A few years later I found them to be immensely popular with eight, nine and ten year old kids. I thought I knew a lot about kids but it turned out I had a lot to learn. Among those things were; small kids like big colorful pictures; small kids like very little dialog; small kids do not have a long attention span; kids like stories they can relate to; reading to a group of small kids is in no way similar to reading to a small child, one on one. When reading to a group you are bound by the child with the shortest attention span. I also realized a few other minor but important realities needed to be dealt with. I decided to create a character and story style to meet some of the qualifications. I didn’t want to infringe on anyone’s copyright so I created Twigman. As you can see, my artistic level is that of a four year old. They really can relate to that. I am often asked, “Grandpa Harley did you draw that?” I sometimes wonder exactly what are they trying to say. When I read the first story, Twigman and the Wolf, I knew I had a really big hit. The kids asked the names of Twigman’s children. A challenge that I loved. Now every humanoid character has a tree related name. I wrote seventy five of these stories over a five or six year period. A few of them are adaptations of other stories told in Twigman format and one, or maybe two, are not about Twigman at all, but adaptations of other stories. Many are taken from actual family experiences. Kids have been observed on the playground putting sticks together and talking to Twigman. About a year ago one of the older ladies who volunteers at the Y asked me if I could write a story about a white squirrel. I thought she was pulling my leg but I gave it a shot. Think about it! How do you draw a white squirrel in black and white? She seemed surprised but pleased when I read story number seventy six, the final one. A few years ago the Y.W.C.A. got into financial and administrative trouble and I feared greatly that I would lose my device for keeping my grandchildren young forever but the Y.M.C.A. took it over, improved it immensely, and it is now called the Y.M.C.A. Early Education Center of North Kansas City. Four years ago my daughter suggested I make Twigman calendars for the kids using pages from these stories for the monthly panels which I have done every year. They have proved immensely popular. Twigman was never about money or fame. A significant number of these stories are protected by registered copyright which my daughter owns. Basically Twigman is for the purpose of entertainment for young and old. The copyright insures that purpose will be fulfilled but these stories may be used or reproduced for any purpose except resale.

FUZZY TWIG FINDS A WHITE SQUIRREL

ONE DAY WHEN FUZZY WAS COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL SHE SAW SOMETHING THAT SHE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. A WHITE LITTLE HAIRY ANIMAL.



SHE ASKED THE SMALL FURRY THING WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL IT WAS AND THE LITTLE CREATURE SAID, “I AM A SQUIRREL”



FUZZY SAID YOU DO NOT LOOK LIKE A SQUIRREL. YOU ARE WHITE AND SQUIRRELS ARE EITHER RED OR GRAY. THE SQUIRREL SAID “AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE BLACK BUT I JUST HAPPEN TO BE WHITE.”



FUZZY DECIDED TO GIVE THE SQUIRREL A NAME AND CALLED IT SPOOK. THE SQUIRREL LIKED THAT NAME AND FUZZY TOOK SPOOK HOME TO MEET HER FAMILY.



WHEN FUZZY WENT INSIDE HER HOUSE SHE TOLD THE FAMILY SHE HAD A WHITE SQUIRREL FOR A NEW PET. TWIGMAN SAID THAT’S DIFFERENT. LEAFY SAID THAT’S NICE AND THORNY SAID THAT SOUNDS LIKE YOU MADE THAT UP. KNOBBY SAID THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A WHITE SQUIRREL. FUZZY SAID THERE IF TOO!



WHEN THEY ALL WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE SPOOK WAS SITTING ON THE BIRD FEEDER EATING SUNFLOWER SEEDS AND HE SPIT ONE LITTLE BLACK SHELL RIGHT INTO KNOBBY’S EYE.

TWIGMAN AND THE WOLF

TWIGMAN WAS A WOOD CUTTER. EVERY DAY HE TOLD HIS FAMILY GOOD BYE AND WENT TO THE FOREST TO CUT TREES. THIS IS THE WAY HE EARNED MONEY TO BUY THE THINGS HIS FAMILY NEEDED TO LIVE. HE LIKED TO CUT TREES AND HE WAS VERY GOOD AT IT. HE WAS A HAPPY MAN AND HIS FAMILY WAS HAPPY TOO.

ONE DAY WHEN TWIGMAN WAS CUTTING TREES A WOLF CAME INTO THE FOREST LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO EAT. HE WAS VERY HUNGRY. WHEN THE WOLF SAW TWIGMAN HE SAID TO HIMSELF, "I HAVE FOUND SOMETHING TO EAT AT LONG LAST. THIS WOOD CUTTER WILL BE MY DINNER."

WHEN THE WOLF THOUGHT ABOUT THE DELICIOUS MEAL HE WAS ABOUT TO EAT HIS MOUTH BEGAN TO WATER. THE WOLF WAS DROOLING. HE WAS JUST ABOUT TO JUMP AT TWIGMAN WHEN TWIGMAN SAW HIM. TWIGMAN'S HAIR STOOD ON END.

THE WOLF JUMPED AT TWIGMAN AND BIT OFF HIS LEG. TWIGMAN SWUNG HIS AX AT THE WOLF AND CUT OFF HIS TAIL.

THE WOLF SPIT OUT TWIGMANS LEG AND SAID, "PTUII! YOUR LEG TASTES JUST LIKE A PIECE OF WOOD." TWIGMAN LAUGHED AND SAID, "IT IS WOOD! THE JOKE IS ON YOU."

THE WOLF RAN AWAY LEAVING HIS TAIL ON THE GROUND BESIDE TWIGMAN AND TWIGMAN STARTED TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER TWIG TO MAKE HIMSELF A NEW LEG.

THE FIRST TWIG THAT HE FOUND WAS TOO SHORT.

THE NEXT TWIG HE FOUND WAS TOO LONG.

THE THIRD TWIG THAT TWIGMAN TRIED WAS JUST RIGHT AND HE WENT HOME TO SUPPER TAKING THE WOLF TAIL WITH HIM.

TWIGMANS CHILDREN WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE THE WOLF TAIL TO USE FOR A TOY AND TWIGMAN'S WIFE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE HER HUSBAND HOME SAFE AND SOUND.

TWIGMAN AND THE CROCODILE

ONE DAY TWIGMAN DECIDED HE WOULD LIKE TO GO FISHING. HE TOLD HIS FAMILY GOODBYE AND TOOK HIS FAVORITE FISHING POLE WITH HIM AS HE STARTED FOR THE LAKE.

AT THE LAKE TWIGMAN MET A PARK RANGER. HE ASKED THE RANGER IF THERE WERE ALLIGATORS IN THIS LAKE. THE RANGER SAID NO AND TWIGMAN STARTED TO FISH.

AFTER A WHILE TWIGMAN GOT A GOOD BITE ON HIS LINE AND HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO PULL IN A FINE FISH. IT WAS NO FISH ON HIS LINE. IT WAS A BABY CROCODILE.

THE MAMA CROCODILE CAME CHARGING AT TWIGMAN AND HE STARTED TO RUN AS FAST AS HE COULD RUN. HE FORGOT TO DROP THE FISHING POLE WITH THE BABY CROCODILE AND THE MAMA CROCODILE WAS GAINING ON HIM. WHAT CAN I DO THOUGHT TWIGMAN.

AT LAST HE DROPPED THE FISHING POLE WITH THE BABY CROCODILE AND THE MAMA STOPPED CHASING HIM SO SHE COULD CARE FOR HER BABY.

TWIGMAN FOUND THE PARK RANGER AND SAID TO HIM, "I ASKED YOU IF THERE WERE ALLIGATORS IN THIS LAKE AND YOU TOLD ME NO. I WAS JUST CHASED BY A CROCODILE." THE PARK RANGER SAID, "YOU DID NOT ASK ABOUT CROCODILES."

TWIGMAN RETURNED TO HIS HOME WITHOUT FRESH FISH. HE ALSO DID NOT HAVE HIS FAVORITE FISHING POLE BUT HIS FAMILY WAS HAPPY TO SEE HIM ANYWAY.

TWIGMAN AND THE SQUIRREL WITHOUT A TAIL

ONE MORNING WHEN THE WOOD CUTTER, TWIGMAN, WAS GOING TO THE FOREST TO CUT TREES, HE SAW A SQUIRREL LAYING ON THE GROUND. THE SQUIRREL DID NOT HAVE A TAIL. HE SAID TO THE SQUIRREL, "WHY ARE YOU LAYING THERE ON THE GROUND. THE SQUIRREL SAID, "I FELL FROM THAT ELECTRIC WIRE BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE A TAIL TO HELP ME KEEP MY BALANCE."

TWIGMAN ASKED THE SQUIRREL WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIS TAIL. THE SQUIRREL TOLD HIM A HUNGRY FOX HAD TRIED TO EAT HIM FOR BREAKFAST BUT HAD ONLY BITTEN OFF HIS TAIL BEFORE HE HAD RAN AWAY. THE SQUIRREL SAID, "I WISH HE HAD EATEN ME. I CAN NOT RUN ON THE ELECTIC WIRES BECAUSE I CAN NOT KEEP MY BALANCE.

I CAN NOT SIGNAL DANGER TO MY SQUIREL FRIENDS WITH MY TAIL AND I CAN NOT JUMP FROM TREE TO TREE WITHOUT MY TAIL TO USE FOR A RUDDER TO GUIDE ME FOR A SAFE LANDING. I WISH I WAS DEAD."

TWIGMAN SAID, "DO NOT BE SO SAD. I CAN FIX YOU A NEW TAIL WITH A TWIG. BUT WHEN TWIGMAN FASTENED THE NEW TAIL TO THE SQUIRREL, IT WAS TOO LONG.

TWIGMAN TRIED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE TAIL WAS TOO SHORT. THE SQUIRREL BEGAN TO CRY. TWIGMAN SAID, "WE CAN TRY AGAIN."

ON THE THIRD TRY THE TAIL WAS TOO BUSHY BUT TWIGMAN WOULD NEVER GIVE UP AND TRIED AGAIN.

THIS HIS TIME THE TAIL WAS JUST RIGHT AND THE SQUIRREL RAN UP THE POLE AND ACROSS THE WIRE AS HE SAID THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO TWIGMAN.

TWIGMAN AND THE TIGER

ONE MORNING WHEN TWIGMAN WAS CUTTING TREES A TIGER CAME OUT OF THE FOREST BEHIND HIM. THE TIGER WAS HUNGRY AND HE THOUGHT HE HAD FOUND HIS BREAKFAST. YUMMY, YUMMY, MEAT IN THE TUMMY.

TWIGMAN HEARD THE HEAVY BREATHING OF THE TIGER AND FELT HIS HOT BREATH ON THE BACK OF HIS NECK. TWIGMAN TURNED AROUND AND THERE WAS A HUNGRY TIGER READY TO JUMP ON HIM AND FILL HIS TUMMY. TWIGMAN THOUGHT FAST! WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO?

WHEN THE TIGER CHARGED HIM TWIGMAN KNEW WHAT HE HAD TO DO. HE PUSHED HIS HAND FAR DOWN INTO THE INSIDE OF THE TIGER, CLEAR TO THE TIP OF HIS TAIL.

HE GAVE A BIG JERK AND WHAP! HE TURNED THE TIGER WRONG SIDE OUT. THE BEAUTIFUL STRIPES WERE ON THE INSIDE AND THE TIGER WAS FACING AWAY FROM TWIGMAN.

THE TIGER WAS NOW JUST A BIG PUSSY CAT. HE WAS VERY CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIM AND HE RAN AWAY. TWIGMAN WENT BACK TO CUTTING TREES JUST AS THOUGH NOTHING HAD HAPPENED.

TWIGMAN AND THE SNAKE

ONE MORNING WHEN TWIGMAN WAS WALKING ON A MOUNTAIN HE CAME UPON A HUGE CREATURE HE THOUGHT WAS A SNAKE. HE SAID, "ARE YOU A SNAKE?" THE SNAKE REPLIED, "YES I AM." TWIGMAN SAID, "ARE YOU GOING TO BITE ME?" THE BIG SNAKE TOLD TWIGMAN THAT HE WAS NOT THAT KIND OF A SNAKE. HE SAID “I AM A BOA CONSTRICTOR.”

TWIGMAN SAID TO THE SNAKE, "WHAT DOES A BOA CONSTRICTOR DO? “THE SNAKE SAID, "I WILL SHOW YOU!" AND QUICKLY WRAPPED HIMSELF AROUND THE LEG OF TWIGMAN, SAYING "I SQUEEZE MY FOOD UNTIL IT IS SOFT AND THEN I SWALLOW IT."

TWIGMAN WAS VERY STRONG AND HE TORE THE SNAKE OFF OF HIS LEG AND HELD IT UP BY THE TAIL. THE SNAKE SAID, "LET ME GO AND I WILL NOT WRAP MYSELF AROUND YOUR LEG AGAIN.” TWIGMAN LET GO OF THE TAIL AND THE SNAKE DROPPED TO THE GROUND.

THE SNAKE WAS NOT TO BE TRUSTED. HE WRAPPED HIMSELF AROUND TWIGMAN'S BODY. TWIGMAN SAID, "YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD NOT DO THAT." THE SNAKE SAID, "I ONLY SAID YOUR LEG."

THIS TIME WHEN TWIGMAN TORE THE SNAKE AWAY FROM HIS BODY HE SAID, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE A BOA CONSTRICTOR ANY MORE. HE TIED THE TAIL OF THE SNAKE TO HIS HEAD, MAKING A LARGE ROUND CIRCLE. TWIGMAN TOLD THE SNAKE HE WAS NOW A HOOP SNAKE AND ROLLED HIM DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.

TWIGMAN MEETS A DRAGON

ONE DAY WHEN TWIGMAN WAS WALKING TO HIS JOB IN THE FOREST HE MET AN ANIMAL HE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. HE HAD HEARD MANY STORIES ABOUT DRAGONS AND THOUGHT THIS ANIMAL MIGHT BE A DRAGON. HE ASKED, "ARE YOU A DRAGON?" THE ANIMAL REPLIED, "YES I AM A DRAGON, A FIRE BREATHING DRAGON."

TWIGMAN KNEW THAT FIRE WAS VERY DANGEROUS IN THE FOREST. A FOREST FIRE WOULD DESTROY ALL THE BEAUTIFUL TREES AND HE WOULD NO LONGER HAVE A JOB TO EARN MONEY TO FEED HIS FAMILY. HE QUICKLY GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND SPRAYED THE FOAM INTO THE MOUTH OF THE DRAGON.

THE FIRE BREATHING DRAGON WAS VERY UNHAPPY. NOW HE WOULD HAVE NO WAY TO CATCH HIS FOOD. HE WOULD STARVE. THE DRAGON BEGAN TO CRY AND SAID TO TWIGMAN, "WHAT WILL I DO NOW? YOU HAVE MADE ME HARMLESS." TWIGMAN SAID, "HAVE NO FEAR. DRY UP YOUR TEARS AND I WILL TAKE YOU TO MY HOME AND YOU CAN BE A PET FOR MY CHILDREN."

TWIGMAN PUT A COLLAR AROUND THE NECK OF THE DRAGON AND LED HIM TO HIS HOME WHERE THE TWIG CHILDREN WERE DELIGHTED TO BE THE ONLY FAMILY IN THE WORLD TO HAVE A DRAGON FOR A PET.