TWIGMAN MEETS A STRANGE CREATURE

ON A BRIGHT SUNNY AFTERNOON TWIGMAN WAS FEELING VERY JOLLY WHILE HE WORKED. HE STOPPED TO REST AND TO WIPE THE SWEAT FROM HIS FACE. TWIGMAN LOOKED DOWN AND SAW A STRANGE CREATURE WATCHING HIM. IT DID NOT LOOK TO BE DANGEROUS. TWIGMAN SAID, "ARE YOU A TASMANIAN DEVIL?" THE CREATURE SAID, "NO, I AM NOT A TASMANIAN DEVIL." TWIGMAN SAID, "WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT WITH ME FOR A WHILE AND TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF?" THE CREATURE REPLIED, "YES, I WOULD LIKE THAT."

TWIGMAN REACHED DOWN, PICKED UP THE NEW CREATURE AND SAT HIM ON THE LOG BY HIS SIDE. THE CREATURE DID NOT SPEAK. TWIGMAN ASKED HIS NEW FRIEND ABOUT HIS NAME. HE SAID PEOPLE CALLED HIM A WHATCHAMACALLIT. TWIGMAN THOUGHT WHATCHAMACALLIT WAS A MOST UNUSUAL NAME AND ASKED THE GENTLE BEAST WHERE HE CAME FROM. THE WHATCHAMACALLIT SAID A LITTLE BOY NAMED BRANDON HAD DRAWN HIM ON A PIECE OF RED PAPER AND CUT HIM OUT. HE HAD COME TO LIFE WHEN WHEN A WARM SUN, A FRESH RAIN DROP AND A GENTLE BREEZE ALL HAD FALLEN UPON HIM AT THE SAME TIME.

TWIGMAN INVITED THE WHATCHAMACALLIT TO GO HOME WITH HIM TO MEET HIS FAMILY AND HAVE DINNER. THE WHATCHAMACALLIT SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO MEET THE TWIGMAN CHILDREN BUT HE DID NOT EAT. TWIGMAN WAS AMAZED. "DON'T YOU EVER EAT ANYTHING?" THE ANSWER WAS NO. BUT THE LITTLE BEAST WANTED SEE TWIGMAN'S CHILDREN AND HE ASKED THEIR NAMES. HE WAS TOLD THE NAMES WERE THORNY, KNOBBY AND FUZZY. FUZZY WAS A LITTLE GIRL JUST ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE WHATCHAMACALLIT. THEY STARTED TO THE TWIGMAN HOME.

TWIGMAN INTRODUCED THE WHATCHAMACALLIT TO LEAFY TWIG, HIS TWO SONS, THORNY AND KNOBBY AND TO LITTLE FUZZY. FUZZY WAS SO HAPPY TO HAVE SOMETHING HER OWN SIZE TO PLAY WITH SHE GAVE THE WHATCHAMACALLIT A BIG HUG AND SAID SHE WAS GOING TO KEEP HIM FOR HER VERY OWN.

KNOBBY TWIG YELLED, "HEY, YOU CAN'T KEEP HIM ALL TO YOURSELF. WE ARE HERE TOO!" AND HE REACHED DOWN PULLING THE WHATCHAMALLIT FROM THE ARMS OF FUZZY. THORNY SAID, "WHAT ABOUT ME? I STILL LIKE TO PLAY GAMES AND HAVE FUN!"

LEAFY TWIG SAID IN HER STERNEST "MOTHER VOICE", "KNOBBY, PUT THAT WHATCHAMACALLIT DOWN. HE MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT HIS PLAY MATES." FUZZY SAID, "BUT MOM, HE IS SO LITTLE AND I AM THE LITTLEST. CAN I KEEP HIM?" I KNOW HE WON'T EAT VERY MUCH." TWIGMAN SAID, "HE DOESN'T EAT ANYTHING AT ALL." FUZZY SAID, "THAT IS EVEN BETTER."

LEAFY SAID, "IN THIS FAMILY WE DO WHAT IS BEST FOR EACH ONE. NOT ALL OF US ARE THE SAME. EACH OF HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS AT DIFFERENT TIMES BUT WE DO NOT OWN THE WHATCHAMACALLIT. HE MUST DECIDE FOR HIMSELF WHAT HE WANTS TO DO." THE WHATCHAMACALLIT THOUGHT AND THOUGHT. FINALLY HE SAID, "I WILL PLAY WITH THORNY AND KNOBBY WHEN THEY ARE SICK OR WHEN THEY ARE LONELY. BUT MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING ROUGH BOY GAMES I WILL PLAY WITH FUZZY BECAUSE SHE IS SMALL AND GENTLE. THAT WAY I CAN GET TO ENJOY EVERYONE. IS IT A DEAL?" THE KIDS ALL YELLED YEAH, YEAH! WE HAVE A NEW FRIEND!

TWIGMAN SAVES HIS GARDEN

ONE MORNING TWIGMAN WENT OUT TO WORK IN HIS GARDEN AND FOUND SOME ANIMAL HAD BEEN DIGGING UP HIS GROUND. HE WAS ANGRY AND SMOOTHED OUT THE DIRT FOR ANOTHER START.

THE NEXT MORNING IT HAPPENED AGAIN. TWIGMAN DECIDED TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT TO WATCH THE GARDEN AND CATCH THE BAD ANIMAL THAT HAD CAUSED HIM SO MUCH WORK AND WAS DESTROYING HIS GARDEN.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT HE SAW WHAT IT WAS. AN ARMADILLO! TWIGMAN HAD A LASSO AND WAS GOING OUT TO THROW IT OVER THE ARMADILLO TO CATCH HIM. FUZZY TWIG SAID, "DON'T HURT HIM DADDY! PLEASE!" TWIGMAN THREW THE LASSO OVER THE HEAD OF THE ARMADILLO BUT THE ANIMAL'S HEAD WAS TAPERED TO A SMALL POINT AND THE LASSO JUST SLIPPED OFF. THE TROUBLE MAKING BEAST RAN AWAY.

TWIGMAN KNEW HE WOULD BE BACK THE NEXT NIGHT SO WITH THE HELP OF THORNY AND KNOBBY HE DUG A BIG PIT. THEY COVERED IT OVER WITH VERY WEAK STICKS AND LEAVES. THEN THEY PUT SOME FAVORITE ARMADILLO FOOD IN THE MIDDLE. THIS WOULD CATCH HIM FOR SURE. FUZZY SAID, "DON'T HURT HIM DADDY! PLEASE!"

NIGHT CAME AND AS TWIGMAN WATCHED THE ARMADILLO FELL IN THE PIT BUT HE JUST JUMPED OUT AND RAN AWAY. TWIGMAN WAS VERY ANGRY AND TRIED TO THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO GET RID OF THE ARMADILLO.

LEAFY TWIG TOLD THEM TO TRY A CAGE TRAP. TWIGMAN, THORNY AND KNOBBY BUILT A FINE CAGE TRAP WITH ONE SIDE THAT WOULD FALL DOWN WHEN THE ARMADILLO GOT INSIDE. IT WORKED! THE NEXT MORNING THEY HAD A FINE HUGE ARMADILLO IN THE TRAP. KNOBBY SAID, "WOW!" THORNY SAID, "WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH HIM DAD?" LEAFY TWIG SAID, "YES, JUST WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH HIM NOW THAT YOU HAVE HIM?" FUZZY TWIG SAID, "DON'T HURT HIM DADDY! PLEASE!"

TWIGMAN FINALLY DECIDED TO GIVE HIM TO THE ZOO. THE ZOO WAS VERY GLAD TO GET THIS ARMADILLO BECAUSE HE WAS THE BIGGEST ONE ANYONE HAD EVER SEEN. TWIGMAN GOT HIS GARDEN BACK. EVERYONE WAS HAPPY ESPECIALLY FUZZY WHO SAID SHE WAS GOING TO VISIT HER ARMADILLO EVERY SUNDAY.

FUZZY TWIG GOES TO SCHOOL

FUZZY TWIG WAS NOW OLD ENOUGH TO GO TO SCHOOL. MOTHER LEAFY TWIG TOOK HER TO KINDERGARTEN THE FIRST DAY. WHEN LEAFY LEFT FUZZY WITH THE TEACHER AND STARTED HOME WITHOUT HER SHE WAS VERY SAD AND BEGAN TO CRY.

LEAFY GOT HOME AND TWIGMAN ASKED HER WHY SHE WAS CRYING. LEAFY SAID HER LITTLE GIRL WAS GROWING UP AND SHE WAS THE LAST CHILD OF THE FAMILY. LEAFY WOULD MISS HAVING HER AROUND THE HOUSE ALL DAY WHILE TWIGMAN WAS AT WORK AND THORNY AND KNOBBY WERE AT SCHOOL. TWIGMAN TOLD HER TO CHEER UP. IN A FEW DAYS SHE WOULD GET USED TO NOT HAVING SOMEONE UNDER FOOT ALL THE TIME AND NOW SHE WOULD HAVE SOME TIME FOR HERSELF. TWIGMAN'S WORDS DID NOT MAKE LEAFY FEEL BETTER. SHE WAS STILL SAD.

AT SCHOOL FUZZY HAD THE FRONT SEAT IN THE CLASS. THE TEACHERS NAME WAS MRS. SNAPPYBRANCH. SHE WAS VERY NICE AND SHE STARTED TEACHING THE CHILDREN ABOUT THEIR LETTERS. SHE DREW A PICTURE OF AN APPLE ON THE BLACKBOARD AND PUT A BIG "A" BESIDE IT. THE CHILDREN LEARNED THE LETTER "A" AND LEARNED THAT "A" WAS THE FIRST LETTER OF THE WORD "APPLE". EVERYONE KNEW WHAT AN APPLE WAS.

LATER THE CLASS DID FINGER PAINTING. MRS. SNAPPYBRANCH GAVE EACH A CHILD A PIECE OF PAPER AND SOME FINGER PAINTS. THEY ALL COLORED THEIR PAPERS WITH FINGER PAINTS AND GOT A LOT ON THEIR FACES AND CLOTHES. IT WAS MESSY BUT A LOT OF FUN.

THAT AFTERNOON WHEN THORNY AND KNOBBY BROUGHT FUZZY HOME FROM SCHOOL SHE BROUGHT HER PAPER WITH HER SO LEAFY AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY COULD SEE WHAT SHE HAD DONE. SHE CAME RUNNING TO HER MOTHER WITH HER PAPER IN HAND. FUZZY SAID, "MOMMY, WE FINGER PAINTEDED. THE RED TASTES SOUR AND THE BLUE TASTES LIKE CELERY." EVERYONE LAUGHED AND DECIDED FUZZY HAD A GREAT DAY ON HER FIRST DAY IN KINDERGARTEN. LEAFY WAS NOT SAD ANYMORE.

KNOBBY TWIG HAS A SAD ADVENTURE

KNOBBY TWIG WAWNTED TO HAVE AN AX FOR HIS VERY OWN SO HE COULD CUT TREES LIKE TWIGMAN AND THORNY. ON HIS BIRTHDAY TWIGMAN GAVE KNOBBY A BRIGHT SHINY NEW AX TO HAVE FOR HIS VERY OWN.

THE NEXT DAY WHEN KNOBBY WENT WITH TWIGMAN TO THE FOREST TO CUT TREES HE SAW A STRANGE ANIMAL WITH A BUSHY TAIL AND A WHITE STRIPE ON ITS BACK AS THEY WALKED ALONG. KNOBBY ASKED HIS FATHER WHAT THE ANIMAL WAS AND TWIGMAN TOLD HIM TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT SMALL BEAST BECAUSE IT WAS A SKUNK AND IT WOULD MAKE HIM SMELL BAD IF HE GOT CLOSE TO IT.

KNOBBY DID NOT BELIEVE HIS FATHER AND HE RUSHED TOWARD THE LITTLE FURRY CRITTER. TWIGMAN COULD NOT STOP HIM BUT THE LITTLE ANIMAL HAD A WAY TO TAKE CARE OF LITTLE BOYS LIKE KNOBBY. HE TURNED AWAY BUT DID NOT RUN. INSTEAD HE RAISED HIS TAIL AND SQUIRTED A STRONG SMELLING LIQUID ON KNOBBY. THE BOY YELLED WHEWEEE AND HELD HIS NOSE BUT THE DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE.

TWIGMAN MADE KNOBBY WALK A LONG WAYS BEHIND HIM ON THE WAY HOME AND WHEN THEY GOT TO THEIR HOUSE KNOBBY HAD TO TAKE A BATH IN A BIG TUB A VERY LONG WAY FROM THE HOUSE. KNOBBY'S CLOTHES HAD TO BE BURNED.

WHEN IT CAME TIME TO EAT KNOBBY HAD TO EAT BY HIMSELF OUTSIDE IN THE YARD, A LONG WAY FROM THE HOUSE WHILE EVERYONE ELSE ATE AT THEIR DINING TABLE.

AT BED TIME KNOBBY HAD TO SLEEP OUT IN THE YARD UNDER A TREE. TWIGMAN DID NOT PUNISH KNOBBY FOR DISOBEYING HIS ORDERS BECAUSE THE SKUNK SMELL WAS PLENTY OF PUNISHMENT. KNOBBY HAD TO EAT AND SLEEP OUTSIDE FOR THREE MONTHS AND HE TOLD HIMSELF, FROM NOW ON I AM GOING TO LISTEN TO MY DAD WHEN HE TELLS ME TO LEAVE SOMETHING ALONE.

FUZZY TWIG HAS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER

MRS. SNAPPYBRANCH WAS WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL ON A WINDY AFTERNOON WHEN SHE TRIPPED OVER A SMALL ROCK ON THE PATHWAY. SHE SPRAINED HER ANKLE AND FELL TO THE GROUND. SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO TEACH THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS THE NEXT DAY.

THE NEXT MORNING A LARGE MAN WAS STANDING IN THE FRONT OF THE CLASSROOM AND WHEN THE CHILDREN HAD ALL TAKEN THEIR SEATS, HE SAID, "I AM MR. SCALYBARK. MRS. SNAPPYBRANCH HAS A SPRAINED ANKLE AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TEACH FOR A FEW DAYS. I WILL BE YOUR SUBSTITUTE TEACHER UNTIL SHE COMES BACK TO CLASS. I WILL NOT STAND FOR ANY FOOLISHNESS AND I KNOW ALL OF YOUR TRICKS. THIS A CLASS ROOM, NOT A PLAY PEN. YOU WILL BEHAVE YOURSELVES OR YOU WILL BE VERY SORRY."

THE LITTLE GIRL SITTING NEXT TO FUZZY LEANED OVER AND WHISPERED INTO FUZZYS EAR, "HE'S MEAN! MR. SCALYBARK DID NOT HEAR WHAT SHE SAID BUT HE SAW HER WHISPERING IN CLASS AND CALLED HER TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.

MR. SCALYBARK DREW A CIRCLE ON THE BLACKBOARD AND MADE THE LITTLE GIRL WHO HAD BEEN CAUGHT TALKING IN CLASS PUT HER NOSE IN THE CIRCLE AND STAND THERE.

A LITTLE BOY LAUGHED A LITTLE BIT AND MR. SCALYBARK CALLED HIM TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM AND PUT ANOTHER CIRCLE ON THE BLACKBORAD. YOU KNOW WHOSE NOSE WENT INTO THAT CIRCLE.A LITTLE BOY LAUGHED

SOON THERE WERE FOUR CHILDREN WITH THEIR NOSES IN CIRCLES AND TWO MORE WHO WERE STANDING WITH THEIR NOSES IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM. THERE WAS NOT VERY MANY CHILDREN LEFT IN THEIR SEATS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY MR. SCALYBARK SAID IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE CHILDREN SENT A GET WELL LETTER TO MRS. SNAPPYBRANCH. HE WOULD WRITE THE MESSAGE, "MRS. SNAPPYBRANCH WE MISS YOU. PLEASE GET WELL SOON." HE WOULD PASS IT AROUND THE CLASS FOR ALL THE CHILDREN TO SIGN.

AFTER THE CLASS HAD ALL SIGNED THE CARD AND MR. SCALYBARK GOT THE LETTER BACK ON HIS DESK HE SAW THAT ONE OF THE CHILDREN HAD WRITTEN SOME WORDS AFTER THE MESSAGE HE HAD WRITTEN. THEY WERE, "VERY, VERY SOON, PLEASE!" AND THE ADDED WORDS WERE UNDERLINED TWICE. MR. SCALYBARK SMILED JUST A VERY LITTLE BUT HE DID NOT SAY ANYTHING. HE PUT THE LETTER IN AN ENVELOPE AND MAILED IT.

KNOBBY TWIG HAS A FALL

IT WAS RECESS TIME AT THE SCHOOL AND ALL THE CHILDREN WERE PLAYING ON THE PLAYGROUND. KNOBBY TWIG WAS SHOWING OFF. HE WAS STANDING ON THE TOP OF THE SLIPPERY SLIDE, POUNDING ON HIS CHEST AND GIVING THE TARZAN YELL. EEI! EEI! EEI!

THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS TEACHER, MRS SNAPPYBRANCH, WAS THE PLAYGROUND MONITOR THAT DAY AND SHE SAID, "KNOBBY TWIG YOU STOP THAT AND GET DOWN FROM THERE THIS VERY MINUTE!" SHE WAS TOO LATE. KNOBBY FELL AND WHEN HE HIT THE GROUND HIS LEG BROKE.

MRS. SNAPPY BRANCH SENT SOMEONE TO CALL 911 AND TRIED TO MAKE KNOBBY COMFORTABLE. WHILE SHE WAS DOING THIS A SMALL DOG PICKED UP THE BROKEN PIECE OF KNOBBY'S LEG AND RAN AWAY.

THE CHILDREN ALL SAID, "MY OH MY! WHAT WILL WE DO NOW!" THORNY TWIG ACTED VERY SMART AS HE SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. HE WOULD JUST GO INTO THE WOODS AND USE HIS POCKET KNIFE TO GET A NEW ONE FOR KNOBBY. WHICH HE DID.

THORNY PUT A NEW LEG ON KNOBBY AND IT SEEMED TO WORK VERY WELL BUT WHEN KNOBBY LOOKED DOWN AT IT HE WAS VERY ANGRY. HE SAID, "THORNY, YOU KNOW I AM MADE OF HICKORY TWIGS AND YOU PUT A MAPLE TWIG ON ME FOR MY NEW LEG. IT IS EVEN A DIFFERENT COLOR." ALL THE CHILDREN BEGAN TO YELL. "KNOBBY MAPLE LEG! KNOBBY MAPLE LEG! KNOBBY MAPLE LEG!" KNOBBY YELLED AT THEM TO SHUT UP BUT HEY JUST KEPT YELLING, "KNOBBY MAPLE LEG! KNOBBY MAPLE LEG!" KNOBBY WENT HOME CRYING.

WHEN KNOBBY TOLD TWIGMAN ABOUT THE ACCIDENT AND WHAT THE CHILDREN WERE SAYING, TWIGMAN TOLD HIM TO JUST TELL EVERYONE HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD DRIP MAPLE SYRUP OUT OF HIS KNEECAP AND HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAD A BUNCH OF HUMMINGBIRDS FOR PETS. THAT MADE KNOBBY FEEL BETTER.

THE NEXT DAY AT SCHOOL WHEN EVERYONE STARTED WITH THE KNOBBY MAPLE LEG AGAIN, KNOBBY JUST SHOWED THEM HOW HE COULD GET MAPLE SYRUP OUT OF HIS KNEECAP AND HE SHOWED THEM ALL OF HIS HUMMINGBIRD PETS. EVERYONE WISHED THEY COULD HAVE A MAPLE LEG TOO.

THE TWIGMAN FAMILY PICNIC

IT WAS A WARM AND SUNNY DAY. THE TWIGMAN FAMILY DECIDED THEY SHOULD GO ON A FAMILY PICNIC BECAUSE THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT. TWIGMAN WAS CARRYING THE PICNIC BASKET THAT LEAFY AND FUZZY HAD PACKED. THORNY TWIG WAS CARRYING A BLANKET FOR THEM TO PUT ON THE GROUND FOR A TABLE. KNOBBY TWIG WAS BRINGING A FRISBEE FOR THEM TO PLAY WITH. KNOBBY, THORNY AND TWIGMAN JUST LOVED TO PLAY FRISBEE.

WHEN THEY GOT TO THE PARK LEAFY PUT THE BLANKET ON THE GROUND AND FUZZY WAS HELPING HER SPREAD THE NICE PICNIC LUNCH. THEY HAD FRIED CHICKEN, POTATO SALAD, CELERY AND CARROT STICKS, BAKED BEANS, OLIVES, PICKLES AND BEST OF ALL, CHOCOLATE CAKE.

WHILE LEAFY AND FUZZY WERE GETTIN THE MEAL READY, TWIGMAN, KNOBBY AND THORNY WERE PLAYING FRISBEE.

THORNY GAVE THE FRISBEE A SPECIAL HARD THROW AND TWIGMAN RAN AFTER IT. HE DID NOT SEE THE EDGE OF A CLIFF AS HE RAN. THE FRISBEE SAILED OUT OVER THE CLIFF AND TWIGMAN FELL OVER THE SIDE AS HE CHASED IT.

HE WAS LUCKY. A TREE ROOT WAS STICKING OUT AND TWIGMAN WAS ABLE TO CATCH IT AS HE FELL. HE BEGAN TO HOLLER! HELP! HELP! GET A ROPE! CALL 911! DO SOMETHING!

THE REST OF THE FAMILY RAN TO THE EDGE AND LOOKED DOWN. QUICKLY, LEAFY, THORNY, KNOBBY AND FUZZY BEGAN TO LAUGH. TWIGMAN SHOUTED, "WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING? DO SOMETHING! HELP ME!"

THORNY SAID, "LOOK DOWN, DAD." TWIGMAN LOOKED DOWN AND HIS FEET WERE ONLY SIX INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SHALLOW DITCH.

EVERYONE BUT TWIGMAN WAS STILL LAUGHING AS THEY ATE THAT GREAT TASTING FRIED CHICKEN. EVERYONE, THAT IS, BUT TWIGMAN. HE DID NOT THINK THE JOKE WAS SO FUNNY.

TWIGMAN MEETS A SPIDER

ONE MORNING AS TWIGMAN WAS GOING INTO THE FOREST TO CUT TREES HE CAME TO A SPIDER WEB RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS PATH. THERE WAS A HUGE SPIDER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEB. THE WEB HAD NOT BEEN THERE WHEN TWIGMAN HAD PASSED THAT WAY ON HIS RETURN HOME FROM WORK THE EVENING BEFORE.

TWIGMAN LOOKED AT THE SPIDER. IT HAD A BIG FUZZY BODY AND EIGHT FUZZY LEGS. IT LOOKED VERY DANGEROUS. HE SAID TO THE SPIDER, "ARE YOU POISON?" THE SPIDER SAID, "NO I AM NOT A POISON SPIDER." TWIGMAN SAID, "YOU LOOK DANGEROUS." THE SPIDER SAID, "I AM NOT DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE BUT I AM VERY DANGEROUS TO FLIES AND BUGS AND ANTS. YOU MUST HAVE ME CONFUSED WITH MY COUSIN, VENOM."

THE SPIDER THEN SAID, "SIT OVER THERE ON THAT LOG FOR A WHILE AND WATCH MY WEB. YOU WILL SEE THAT I AM A VERY GOOD SPIDER. TWIGMAN SAT DOWN AND WATCHED AS THE SPIDER WEB CAUGHT LOTS OF BUGS AND FLIES. THE SPIDER ATE THEM ALL. TWIGMAN WENT AROUND THE SPIDER WEB AND LEFT THE SPIDER TO DO HIS IMPORTANT WORK OF CATCHING BUGS.

WHEN TWIGMAN GOT HOME HE TOLD HIS CHILDREN ABOUT MEETING THE SPIDER. THE FIRST THING KNOBBY ASKED, "WAS IT VENOM?" TWIGMAN TOLD HIM IT WAS NOT VENOM. IT WAS A GOOD SPIDER. THORNY SAID, "THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A GOOD SPIDER." TWIGMAN TOLD HIM MOST SPIDERS ARE GOOD AND DO AN IMPORTANT JOB OF EATING INSECTS. THERE ARE ONLY A FEW DANGEROUS SPIDERS AND THEY WILL NOT HARM US IF WE LEAVE THEM ALONE. FUZZY TWIG SAID, "I'M SCARED!"

KNOBBY SAID, "YOU ARE ALWAYS SCARED!" THORNY LAUGHED BUT TWIGMAN GAVE FUZZY A BIG HUG. AND THEY ALL SAT DOWN TO SUPPER. NO ONE TALKED ABOUT THE SPIDER. THEY WERE TOO BUSY EATING.