TWIG FAMILY GOES TO ANOTHER ZOO

ONE DAY KNOBBY TWIG CAME HOME AND TOLD THE FAMILY HE HAD LEARNED ABOUT A ZOO THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE THEY VISITED LAST TIME. HE WANTED THE FAMILY TO GO THERE.

FUZZY TWIG SAID, "I DO NOT WANT TO GO WHERE THEY HAVE ANIMALS LOCKED UP IN CAGES. EVEN IF THEY DO HAVE LOTS OF FOOD AND A WARM PLACE TO STAY WHEN IT IS COLD. IT MAKES ME SAD TO KNOW THEY DO NOT HAVE THEIR FREEDOM TO ROAM IN THE FOREST."

TWIGMAN TOLD HER SHE DID NOT HAVE TO GO IF SHE DID NOT WANT TO. AND LEAFY SAID SHE AGREED WITH FUZZY. SHE WOULD STAY HOME WITH FUZZY AND TWIGMAN COULD GO VISIT THE ZOO WITH THE TWO BOYS.

TWIGMAN, THORNY AND KNOBBY WENT TO THE DIFFERENT ZOO. THE FIRST ANIMAL THEY SAW WAS A KOMODO DRAGON. HE WAS REAL NEAT. TWIGMAN TOLD THE BOYS THE KOMODO DRAGON USED TO LIVE IN THE JUNGLE WHERE HE ATE SMALL ANIMALS AND SOME TIMES EVEN ATE PEOPLE. THE KOMODO DRAGON WAS NOT PRETTY TO LOOK AT AND THE BOYS AGREED THEY WERE GLAD HE WAS LOCKED UP WHERE HE COULD NOT EAT THEM.

THEY ALSO SAW A GIRAFFE. HE WAS DOWN IN A PIT WHERE THEY COULD SEE HIM EAT AT THEIR FEET. WHEN THE GIRAFFE STUCK OUT HIS TONGUE TO EAT GRASS AT THEIR FEET THORNY SAID, "WOW! LOOK HOW LONG HIS TONGUE IS. IT IS AS LONG AS FUZZY'S ARM." AND IT WAS. IT WAS ALSO VERY ROUGH. THEY KNEW BECAUSE KNOBBY TOUCHED THE GIRAFFE TONGUE. HE SAID, "IT IS LIKE IT HAS A BUNCH OF NEEDLES ON IT."

THORNY SAID, "LOOK AT THAT LONG NECK. I BET IT HAS A MILLION BONES IN IT." TWIGMAN EXPLAINED THE GIRAFFE NECK HAD THE SAME NUMBER OF BONES WE HAVE IN OUR NECKS. BUT THEY WERE A LOT BIGGER AND LONGER, A LOT LONGER.

WHEN THEY WENT HOME THEY TOLD FUZZY ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW AT THE ZOO AND SHE SAID, "NEXT TIME CAN I GO TOO?" EVERYONE LAUGHED.

TWIGMAN MEETS SPACEMAN

IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY. AFTER A HARD DAY OF PLAY PLUS AN EVENING OF GREAT FIREWORKS, ALL THE TWIG CHILDREN WERE IN BED ASLEEP WHEN SOMETHING WOKE UP FUZZY. SHE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW A VERY BRIGHT LIGHT ON THE FRONT LAWN.

FUZZY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE LIGHT WAS BUT SHE WAS AFRAID AND SHE RAN TO TELL HER FATHER. SHE CRIED, "DADDY! DADDY! THERE IS A BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE FRONT YARD." TWIGMAN SAID, "YOU MUST HAVE HAD A BAD DREAM. GO BACK TO SLEEP." FUZZY PLEADED, "DADDY! PLEASE LOOK! I AM SCARED." BY THIS TIME KNOBBY AND THORNY WERE AWAKE AND KNOBBY SAID, "FUZZY, YOU ARE ALWAYS SCARED."

TWIGMAN DECIDED TO LOOK JUST TO PLEASE FUZZY AND CALM HER DOWN. HE WAS AMAZED AT WHAT HE SAW. A SPACE SHIP HAD LANDED IN HIS FRONT YARD.

BY THE TIME TWIGMAN AND HIS FAMILY GOT TO THE SPACE SHIP A VERY STRANGE CREATURE HAD CLIMBED OUT OF IT. IT HAD FOUR ARMS AND THREE EYES AND TWO THINGS ON ITS HEAD WHICH LOOKED LIKE MECHANICAL HORNS. IT WAS STRANGE THE CREATURE SPOKE PERFECT ENGLISH AND HE SAID, "DO NOT BE AFRAID. WE WILL NOT HARM YOU." TWIGMAN AND HIS FAMILY WERE NOT SURE.

TWIGMAN ASKED WHY THEY HAD LANDED AND THE SPACEMAN TOLD HIM THEY WERE FLYING LOW AND MANY SKY ROCKETS AND AERIAL BOMBS WERE ATTACKING THEM. THEY LANDED HERE DEEP IN THE FOREST TO ESCAPE BEFORE THEY WERE SHOT DOWN. THEY HAD NOT BEEN HIT. TWIGMAN EXPLAINED THE ROCKETS AND BOMBS WERE JUST A CELEBRATION OF HIS NATIONS BIRTHDAY AND THEY WERE NOT MEANT TO HARM THE SPACE SHIP.

WHEN THE SPACE MAN FOUND OUT ABOUT THE FOURTH OF JULY HE WAS NOT AFRAID ANY MORE. HE SAID GOOD BYE TO ALL THE TWIGMAN FAMILY, GOT INTO HIS SPACE SHIP AND FLEW AWAY. TWIGMAN TOLD HIS FAMILY TO NOT TELL ANYONE ABOUT THE THINGS WHICH HAPPENED THIS NIGHT. HE SAID, "IF WE DO, THEY WILL THINK WE ARE ALL CRAZY." THE FAMILY AGREED BUT THEY ALL HAD A HARD TIME GOING BACK TO SLEEP.

TWIGMAN RIDES AN AIRPLANE

ONE SUMMER WEEKEND AN AIR CIRCUS CAME TO THE TOWN NEAR WHERE THE TWIGMAN FAMILY LIVED. THE TWIGMAN FAMILY WENT TO SEE THE SHOW AND WERE VERY MUCH AMAZED AT THE FLYING TRICKS THAT WERE DONE BY THE STUNT PILOTS.

AFTER THE SHOW THE PILOTS SOLD PLANE RIDES TO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE AT THE SHOW. TWIGMAN DECIDED TO TRY RIDING IN AN AIRPLANE. WHEN THE PLANE WENT STRAIGHT UP TWIGMAN WAS A LITTLE BIT AFRAID.

WHEN THE PLANE SENT STRAIGHT DOWN, AND REALLY FAST, TWIGMAN WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE AFRAID.

WHEN THE PLANE FLEW UPSIDE DOWN TWIGMAN WAS REALLY AFRAID AND HE TOLD HIMSELF IF HE EVER GOT BACK TO THE GROUND SAFE HE WOULD NEVER RIDE AN AIRPLANE AGAIN.

AFTER THE PLANE LANDED AND TWIGMAN CAME BACK TO HIS FAMILY, KNOBBY SAID, "BOY! THAT PILOT REALLY GAVE YOU A TRICKY RIDE!" THORNY ASKED, "WERE YOU SCARED, DAD?" TWIGMAN SAID HE WAS NOT AFRAID. FUZZY ASKED, "WERE'NT YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT AFRAID DADDY? "BEFORE TWIGMAN COULD ANSWER FUZZY, LEAFY LOOKED TWIGMAN STRAIGHT IN THE EYE AND HE SAID, "WELL MAYBE JUST A LITTLE BIT AFRAID."

TWIGMAN AND THE MUCKY MONSTER

ONE DAY TWIGMAN AND THORNY WERE SWIMING IN THE RIVER. THEY SAW A HUGE BUBBLE OF MUD RISING ON THE MUDDY BANK.

AS THEY WATCHED IN FEAR THE HUGE MUD BUBBLE BEGAN TO CRACK

OUT OF THE CRACKED BUBBLE CAME A SLIMY TERRIBLE MUDDY MUCKY MONSTER. IT HAD FOUR ARMS. TWO HAD SHARP CLAWS ON THE ENDS AND TWO HAD SUCTION CUPS ALL THE WAY UP TO THE ELBOWS. IT HAD LONG SLIMY SKINNY LEGS WITH FLIPPERS ON THE ENDS AND IT HAD EYES ALL OVER ITS HEAD. IT WAS AWFUL!

BEFORE TWIGMAN AND THORNY COULD GET OUT OF THE WATER THE MUCKY MONSTER JUMPED INTO THE WATER AND BEGAN TO SWIM TOWARD THORNY. THORNY TRIED TO SWIM AWAY AS FAST AS HE COULD BUT THE MUCKY MONSTER WAS CATCHING UP TO HIM.

WHILE THE MUCKY MONSTER WAS CHASING THORNY TWIGMAN JUMPED OUT OF THE WATER TO GET HIS AX WHICH WAS LAYING ON THE RIVER BANK.

TWIGMAN CUT OFF THE HEAD OF THE MUCKY MONSTER AND HE SANK INTO THE WATER OUT OF SIGHT. THORNY WAS SAVED.

TWIGMAN FAMILY GOES TO THE ZOO AGAIN

TWIGMAN AND LEAFY TWIG DECIDED TO TAKE THE FAMILY TO THE ZOO AGAIN. FUZZY TWIG SAID HOORAY! THORNY TWIG SAID COOOOL! KNOBBY TWIG SAID, "WE'VE BEEN TO THE ZOO! DO WE HAVE TO GO AGAIN?" LEAFY TWIG SAID, "YES WE DO BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE WANTS TO GO!" KNOBBY SAID, "AW SHUCKS!" BUT THE FAMILY WENT TO THE ZOO.

THE FIRST ANIMAL THEY CAME TO WAS AN ALIGATOR. FUZZY SAID, "LOOK AT THAT ALIGATOR. IT HAS A MOUTH JUST LIKE AN ALIHUMBIRPHANT." EVERYONE LAUGHED.

THE NEXT ANIMAL THEY CAME TO WAS A FLAMINGO. THORNY SAID, "LOOK AT THOSE SKINNY LEGS ON THAT FUNNY LOOKING BIRD. THEY LOOK JUST LIKE THE LEGS ON AN ALIHUMBIRPHANT." EVERYONE LAUGHED AGAIN.

AT LAST THE CAME TO AN ELEPHANT WHO WAS DRINKING FROM A LARGE TUB OF WATER. KNOBBY SAID, "LOOK AT THE FEET ON THAT SCREWBALL ANIMAL. THEY ARE JUST LIKE THE FEET ON AN ALIHUMBIRPHANT."

WHEN THE ELEPHANT HEARD WHAT KNOBBY SAID HE POINTED HIS TRUNK AT KNOBBY AND LET HIM HAVE A HUGE BLAST OF WATER. THE WATER KNOCKED KNOBBY FLAT ON HIS BACK AND EVERYONE REALLY HAD A GOOD LAUGH.

ON THE WAY HOME TWIGMAN AND LEAFY TWIG AND THORNY TWIG AND FUZZY ALL SAID THEY REALLY HAD A GOOD TIME AT THE ZOO BUT KNOBBY SAID HE WAS NEVER, NEVER GOING BACK TO THAT ZOO AGAIN.

KNOBBY TWIG GETS ROLLER BLADES

KNOBBY TWIG WANTED ROLLER BLADES FOR HIS BIRTHDAY PRESENT. LEAFY TWIG THOUGHT THEY WERE TOO DANGEROUS BUT KNOBBY KEPT BEGGING UNTIL LEAFY SAID OK.

WHEN KNOBBY GOT HIS ROLLER BLADES FOR HIS BIRTHDAY HE ALSO GOT PADS FOR HIS ELBOWS AND HIS KNEES AND A SAFETY HELMET FOR HIS HEAD. LEAFY SAID HE MUST ALWAYS WEAR HIS SAFETY HELMET AND HIS PADS WHEN HE USED HIS ROLLERS BLADES. KNOBBY SAID, "OOOH MOM!" BUT LEAFY SAID THERE WOULD BE NO EXCEPTIONS.

THE FIRST TIME KNOBBY WAS ON HIS ROLLER BLADES HE FELL ON HIS BACKSIDE.

TWIGMAN HELPED HIM BACK TO HIS FEET FOR ANOTHER START.

KNOBBY FELL ON HIS BACKSIDE AGAIN.

WHEN TWIGMAN HELPED HIM UP TO HIS FEET AGAIN KNOBBY SAID TO LEAFY, "MOM, I THINK I HAVE THE PADS ON THE WRONG PART OF MY BODY.

KNOBBY TWIG AND THE WATER PUDDLE

KNOBBY TWIG WAS NOT A LITTLE KID BUT HE WAS STILL YOUNG ENOUGH TO ENJOY JUMPING INTO WATER PUDDLES TO MAKE A BIG SPLASH LIKE EVERY LITTLE KID.

ONE DAY HE WAS DOWN BY THE RIVER WHEN HE SAW A PUDDLE THAT LOOKED JUST RIGHT FOR JUMPING INTO.

HE JUMPED AS HIGH AS HE COULD AND CAME DOWN WITH A BIG SPLASH.

THERE WAS A BIG SURPRISE FOR HIM WHEN HE DISCOVERED UNDERNEATH THE WATER WAS SOFT GOOEY MUD AND HIS FEET SANK INTO THE MUD.

HE STRUGGLED TO GET HIS FEET FREE BUT EACH STRUGGLE JUST PULLED HIM IN DEEPER.

WHEN KNOBBY DID NOT COME HOME FOR SUPPER THE REST OF THE FAMILY WAS WORRIED AND STARTED TO SEARCH FOR HIM.

THEY SEARCHED FOR HIM ALL NIGHT AND WHEN THEY FOUND HIM THE NEXT MORNING HIS ARMS WERE STARTING TO GROW LEAVES ON THEM. HE WAS VERY SCARED. THE WET MUD WAS SO RICH HIS TWIGS HAD COME TO LIFE AND HE WAS STARTING TO TURN INTO A TREE.

WHEN TWIGMAN AND THORNY PULLED KNOBBY OUT OF THE PUDDLE HIS FEET HAD NEW ROOTS ON THEM JUST LIKE A TREE.

WHILE FUZZY WAS PLUCKING THE LEAVES FROM KNOBBY'S ARMS TWIGMAN CUT THE ROOTS OFF HIS FEET. AND YOU CAN BE SURE KNOBBY DID NOT NEVER JUMP INTO A PUDDLE AGAIN.

KNOBBY TWIG WANTS A DOG

THE TWIGMAN FAMILY HAD MANY ANIMAL FRIENDS BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE A DOG. KNOBBY TWIG WANTED A DOG. HE BEGGED HIS MOTHER FOR PERMISSION TO GET A DOG. HE SAID, “PLEASE, MAMMA, IF ONLY I CAN HAVE A DOG I WILL FEED IT AND WATER IT AND BRUSH IT AND TRAIN IT. I WILL DO EVERY THING FOR IT AND IT WILL BE NO TROUBLE.”

THE MOTHER DOG WHO BELONGED TO A NEIGHBOR FAMILY HAD SOME NEW PUPPIES. KNOBBY WANTED ONE OF THE PUPPIES. A SPOTTED ONE.

LEAFY TWIG DECIDED TO GET THE SPOTTED PUPPY FOR KNOBBY ON HIS BIRTHDAY. KNOBBY WAS SO HAPPY HE TURNED HAND SPRINGS. HE NAMED THE PUPPY SPOT.

IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE THORNY TWIG FOUND HIS BALL GLOVE HAD BEEN CHEWED BY THE PUPPY. HE TOLD KNOBBY ABOUT IT AND KNOBBY SAID HE WAS SORRY AND THORNY COULD HAVE HIS.

A FEW MORE DAYS AND FUZZY TWIG FOUND THAT SPOT HAD CHEWED HER BARBIE DOLL. KNOBBY SAID HE WAS SORRY AND WOULD BUY HER A NEW ONE WITH MONEY FROM HIS ALLOWANCE.

IT WAS NOT LONG UNTIL KNOBBY WOULD FORGET TO FEED AND WATER SPOT EVEN THOUGH HE LOVED HIM. TWIGMAN GAVE HIM FOOD AND WATER.

TWIGMAN LIKED SPOT AND SO DID ALL THE REST OF THE FAMILY SO TWIGMAN DID NOT MIND TAKING CARE OF THE PUPPY.

ONE DAY WHEN KNOBBY FORGOT TO FEED AND WATER SPOT TWIGMAN TOLD HIM IF HE FORGOT ONE MORE TIME THAT SPOT WOULD NOT BE HIS DOG ANY MORE AND HE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO EAT HIS SUPPER IF HE DID NOT FEED SPOT.

KNOBBY PROMISED HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF SPOT BUT ONE DAY HE FORGOT AND TWIGMAN DID NOT LET HIM HAVE HIS SUPPER THAT DAY. BUT HE DID NOT TAKE SPOT AWAY FROM HIM. HE NEVER FORGOT TO FEED SPOT AGAIN.