TWIGMAN FAMILY GOES FISHING

ONE MORNING WHILE THE TWIG FAMILY WAS EATING BREAKFAST TWIGMAN TOLD HIS WIFE THAT HE WAS GOING TO TAKE THE CHILDREN FISHING BUT ONLY ONE AT A TIME. LEAFY TWIG, HIS WIFE SAID, "WHICH ONE ARE YOU TAKING FIRST?" THORNY TWIG, THE OLDEST SON, SAID "ME FIRST". KNOBBY TWIG, THE MIDDLE CHILD WHO WAS A FUN LOVING YOUNG BOY, SAID, "I SHOULD BE FIRST THIS TIME BECAUSE THORNY IS THE OLDEST I HAVE TO ALWAYS GO SECOND." FUZZY TWIG, THE SWEET YOUNG SISTER SAID, "I WANT TO GO FIRST CAUSE I AM THE LITTLEST." LEAFY TWIG DECIDED TO DRAW STRAWS TO SEE WHO WOULD GO FIRST AND SHE GOT THREE BROOM STRAWS IN HER HAND WHICH WERE THREE DIFFERENT LENGTHS SAYING, "THE ONE WITH THE LONG STRAW GOES FIRST AND THE ONE WITH THE SHORT STRAW GOES LAST."

FUZZY, THE LITTLE SISTER, DREW THE LONG STRAW AND SHE WAS VERY HAPPY. SHE WOULD SHOW THOSE OLD BIG BROTHERS HOW TO CATCH FISH.

TWIGMAN AND HIS LITTLE DAUGHTER SAT ON THE LAKE SHORE AND EACH TIME HE CAUGHT A SMALL FISH THAT WAS TOO LITTLE TO KEEP, FUZZY CAUGHT A NICE SIZE FISH TO TAKE HOME FOR DINNER. FUZZY CAUGHT SEVEN FISH TO TAKE HOME TO HER MOTHER.

THORNY HAD DRAWN THE MIDDLE STRAW AND WENT TO THE LAKE WITH TWIGMAN THE NEXT DAY TO FISH. AGAIN TWIGMAN CAUGHT ONLY FISH THAT WERE TOO SMALL TO KEEP. HE FELT VERY BAD BECAUSE THORNY WAS CATCHING SOME FISH WHICH WERE BIG ENOUGH TO KEEP. BUT THORNY CAUGHT ONLY FIVE FISH THAT DAY. HE WAS HAPPY ABOUT THAT BUT WAS ALSO DISAPPOINTED HE HAD BEEN BEATEN BY HIS LITTLE SISTER. MAMMA LEAFY TWIG WAS GLAD TO GET THE FIVE FISH AND BRAGGED ON THORNY BUT SHE WAS GIGGLING INSIDE HERSELF BECAUSE FUZZY HAD CAUGHT THE MOST FISH.

ON THE THIRD DAY KNOBBY WENT WITH TWIGMAN TO FISH AND CAUGHT ONLY THREE FISH. MAMMA BRAGGED ON HIM BUT AGAIN SHE WAS LAUGHING INSIDE HERSELF BECAUSE NO ONE WAS ABLE TO BEAT FUZZY. SHE SAID, "I AM GOING TOMORROW AND I WILL BEAT YOU ALL!"

AND SHE DID. LEAFY TWIG CAUGHT TEN FISH THE NEXT DAY AND TWIGMAN STILL HAD NOT CAUGHT A FISH BIG ENOUGH TO KEEP. WHEN THE FAMILY WAS EATING A BIG FISH DINNER THE KIDS ALL CHEERED MAMMA LEAFY TWIG AND DECLARED HER THE FAMILY FISHING CHAMPION.

TWIGMAN THANKSGIVING

IT WAS THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND TWIGMAN HAD GONE TO THE STORE TO GET A TURKEY FOR THE FAMILY THANKSGIVING DINNER. AS TWIGMAN CAME BACK TO HIS HOME THE FAMILY WAS WATCHING. THORNY TWIG SHOUTED HE HAS A REAL LIVE BIRD. MAMA LEAFY TWIG SAID YES IT IS REALLY A LIVE BIRD. KNOBBY TWIG SAID, "I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE GETTING A LIVE TURKEY." LITTLE SISTER, FUZZY TWIG SAID, "LET ME SEE."

TWIGMAN WOULD HAVE TO BUTCHER THE TURKEY AND CLEAN IT SO MAMA LEAFY TWIG COULD PUT IT IN THE OVEN. HE RAISED HIS AXE TO CUT OFF THE HEAD OF THE TURKEY BUT FUZZY TWIG BEGGED HER DADDY, "DADDY PUULLEEEZE DON'T KILL THE TURKEY. HE IS SO PRETTY." TWIGMAN SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO HAVE FOOD OF SOME KIND FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER. FUZZY TWIG SAID, "I HAVE ONE DIME, TWO NICKELS AND FOUR PENNIES. TAKE THEM TO THE STORE AND BUY SOMETHING ELSE FOR DINNER.

THORNY TWIG SAID, "WE COULD HAVE HAMBURGER." TWIGMAN SAID HAMBURGER CAME FROM AN ANIMAL TOO. KNOBBY TWIG SAID, "WE COULD HAVE HOT DOGS." TWIGMAN TOLD THEM THAT HOT DOGS ALSO CAME FROM AN ANIMAL. FUZZY SAID, "WE CAN'T EAT ANY OF OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS FOR THANKSGIVING. PLEASE DADDY, MAMA WILL THINK OF SOMETHING.

TWIGMAN SAID O.K. AND ON THANKSGIVING DAY THEY ALL SAT DOWN TO THE DINNER TABLE AND ATE PANCAKES WITH LOTS OF BUTTER AND MAPLE SYRUP. TOM TURKEY ATE A PANCAKE TOO AND HE WAS THE MOST THANKFUL ONE OF ALL.

THE TWIGMAN FAMILY SAVES CHRISTMAS

THE TWIGMAN FAMILY WAS SITTING AT THEIR DINING TABLE AND TALKING ABOUT THE FINE CHRISTMAS PARTY THE VILLAGE WOULD BE HAVING SOON. TWIGMAN HAD CHOSEN A FINE CHRISTMAS TREE TO CUT AND SET UP IN THE VILLAGE SQUARE. IT WOULD BE DECORATED BY THE VILLAGE PEOPLE AND EVERYONE WOULD SING CHRISTAMS CAROLS, EAT LOTS OF GOODIES AND EXCHANGE GIFTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE. A KNOCK CAME ON THE DOOR.

THE MAYOR OF THE VILLAGE HAD BAD NEWS. SOMEONE HAD STOLEN THE TREE FROM THE VILLAGE SQUARE. IT WAS TOO LATE TO CUT ANOTHER. THE FOREST WAS BURIED IN SNOW. IT SEEMS WE WILL HAVE TO CANCEL CHRISTMAS FOR THE VILLAGE.

AFTER THE MAYOR WENT BACK TO THE VILLAGE THE TWIGMAN FAMILY STOOD IN THEIR FRONT YARD AND TALKED SOME MORE ABOUT THE PARTY. MAMA LEAFY TWIG SAID, "THIS IS A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY. I WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING WE COULD DO." SISTER FUZZY TWIG SAID, "WE JUST CAN'T CANCEL THE PARTY. ALL THE CHILDREN WILL CRY." THORNY TWIG SAID, "WE WILL JUST HAVE TO BE BRAVE AND WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR." KNOBBY TWIG DID NOT AGREE, "WE MUST THINK OF SOMETHING TO USE FOR A SUBSTITUTE AND HAVE THE PARTY ANYWAY." TWIGMAN SAID IT MIGHT WORK BUT IT WOULDN'T BE THE SAME. MAMA LEAFY SAID, "MMMMM, SUBSTITUTE, I THINK I HAVE AN IDEA." THEY ALL CRIED OUT, "TELL US MAMMA, TELL US!" MAMMA SAID, "LET'S ALL GO TO THE VILLAGE SQUARE.

WHEN THEY GOT TO THE SQUARE MAMA TOLD THEM ABOUT HER IDEA. HER AND TWIGMAN WOULD STAND SIDE BY SIDE, THORNY AND KNOBBY WOULD STAND ON THEIR SHOULDERS AND FUZZY WOULD STAND ON TOP. THE TWIGMAN FAMILY WOULD BE THE CHRISTMAS TREE. EVERYONE SHOUTED HOORAY, HOORAY! WE WILL HAVE A VILLAGE PARTY AFTER ALL.

THE VILLAGE PEOPLE DECORATED THE TWIGMAN FAMILY TREE WITH LIGHTS AND MANY OTHER BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS. THEY ALL SANG SONGS AND HAD A GREAT TIME. THE TWIGMAN FAMILY HAD SAVED THE VILLAGE CHRISTMAS.

TWIGMAN FAMILY MEETS RUDOLPH

ONE DAY WHEN TWIGMAN WAS WORKING IN THE FOREST HE SAW A REINDEER WITH A VERY STRANGE NOSE. TWIGMAN SAID, "WHY DOES YOUR NOSE LOOK SO STRANGE?" THE REINDEER SAID HIS NOSE WAS NOT STRANGE IT JUST GLOWED A LITTLE BIT AND IT WAS VERY USEFUL. TWIGMAN ASKED WHY THE REINDEER NOSE GLOWED AND THE ANSWER WAS, "IT GLOWS BECAUSE MY NAME IS RUDOLPH AND I USE MY NOSE TO GUIDE THE SANTA CLAUS SLEIGH ON FOGGY CHRISTMAS NIGHTS." TWIGMAN SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE IN THE FOREST SO NEAR TO CHRISTMAS TIME?" THE REPLY WAS A SIMPLE, "I AM LOST." AND THEN RUDOLPH ASKED TWIGMAN IF HE COULD SHOW HIM THE WAY TO THE NORTH POLE."

TWIGMAN SAID HE WOULD SHOW RUDOLPH THE WAY BUT IT WOULD NEED TO BE DURING THE DARK OF NIGHT. THEY COULD GO BACK TO MEET THE TWIGMAN FAMILY AND WAIT FOR DARKNESS. WHEN THEY CAME NEAR TO THE HOUSE, THE CHILDREN SAW THE REINDEER AND SHOUTED,"IT'S RUDOLPH!", AS THEY RAN TO MEET THEIR NEW FRIEND.

WHEN NIGHT CAME TWIGMAN SHOWED RUDOLPH THE NORTH STAR AND TOLD HIM TO FOLLOW IT TO THE NORTH POLE. AFTER THEY ALL SAID GOOD BYE, RUDOLPH FLEW OFF TO THE NORTH POLE AND THORNY TWIG ASKED HIS DAD A QUESTION. "HOW CAN A REINDEER WHO GETS LOST LEAD THE SLEIGH FOR SANTA?" TWIGMAN SAID, "I DON'T KNOW SON BUT I SURE HOPE HE FINDS HIS WAY BACK HERE FOR CHRISTMAS." ALL THE TWIGMAN CHILDREN SAID, "AND SO DO WE!"

DURING THE NIGHT ON CHRISTMAS EVE THE TWIG CHILDREN HEARD A LOUD NOISE ON THEIR ROOF AND RAN OUTSIDE TO LOOK. SANTA AND ALL HIS REINDEER WERE JUST TAKING OFF AFTER HIS VISIT TO THEIR HOME. RUDOLPH HAD FOUND HIS WAY BACK FOR CHRISTMAS.

TWIGMAN FINDS A NEW FAMILY PET

TWIGMAN WAS WALKING THROUGH THE FOREST ONE DAY WHEN HE SAW A REINDEER WITH A SHINY NOSE. TWIGMAN THOUGHT IT WAS RUDOLPH AND SAID, "RUDOLPH WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? YOU SHOULD BE AT THE NORTH POLE WITH SANTA." THE REINDEER DID LOOK A LOT LIKE RUDOLPH EXCEPT IT WAS HANGING ITS HEAD VERY LOW.

THE REINDEER RAISED IT'S HEAD TO SPEAK. "I AM NOT RUDOLPH. I AM RUDOLPH'S SISTER. I AM OLIVE, THE OTHER REINDEER." TWIGMAN ASKED IF OLIVE WAS A PART OF THE SANTA TEAM AND IF SHE WAS LOST. OLIVE SAID SHE WAS NOT PART OF SANTA'S TEAM. SHE HAD LAUGHED AT RUDOLPH AND CALLED HIM NAMES AND EVEN WOULD NOT LET HIM PLAY REINDEER GAMES. SHE WANTED TO WORK FOR SANTA BUT SANTA ONLY NEEDED ONE REINDEER WITH A BRIGHT NOSE TO GUIDE HIS TEAM AND THAT JOB BELONGED TO RUDOLPH. BUT SHE WAS NOT LOST, SHE JUST DID NOT HAVE A HOME.

TWIGMAN SAID OLIVE COULD COME HOME AND BE A PART OF HIS FAMILY. HIS CHILDREN ONLY HAD TOM TURKEY FOR A PET AND THEY WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE A NEW FRIEND. WHEN THE TWIGMAN CHILDREN SAW OLIVE THEY SAID, "IT'S RUDOLPH, IT'S RUDOLPH!" TWIGMAN EXPLAINED THE NEW REINDEER WAS OLIVE, NOT RUDOLPH, AND OLIVE NEEDED A HOME. THORNY TWIG, KNOBBY TWIG AND FUZZY TWIG ALL SAID AT THE SAME TIME, "CAN WE KEEP HER, CAN WE KEEP HER, PLEASE DADDY CAN WE KEEP HER! TWIGMAN SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO ASK THEIR MOTHER FIRST.

MAMMA LEAFY TWIG DECIDED OLIVE WOULD BE A FINE FAMILY PET TO GO ALONG WITH TOM TURKEY AND SAID THE CHILDREN COULD KEEP HER BUT THE CHILDREN MUST FEED HER AND TAKE CARE OF HER. ALL THE CHILDREN JUMPED FOR JOY AND SAID YEA, YEA! WE PROMISE TO TAKE REAL GOOD CARE OF HER. AND THE TWIGMAN FAMILY HAD A NEW PET.

THE TWIGMAN FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE

IT WAS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. ALL THE TWIGMAN CHILDREN WERE PLAYING WITH THEIR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. THORNY TWIG HAD GOTTEN A BICYCLE FROM SANTA. KNOBBY TWIG HAD RECEIVED A NEW SKATE BOARD AND SANTA LEFT A NEW SLED UNDER THE TREE FOR FUZZY TWIG. SANTA HAD BROUGHT EVERYONE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED THE MOST.

TWIGMAN AND LEAFY TWIG WERE LOOKING AT THE FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE AND TRYING TO DECIDE HOW TO GET RID OF IT. THE HOUSE WAS CROWDED AND THE TREE MUST BE TAKEN DOWN SOON. LEAFY TWIG SAID, "THERE MUST BE A WAY TO MAKE IT USEFUL." TWIGMAN SAID, "LET'S TALK TO THE CHILDREN. THEY COULD HAVE SOME GOOD IDEAS.

TWIGMAN CALLED THE CHILDREN INSIDE AND TOLD THEM THEY ALL NEEDED TO THINK ABOUT HOW THEIR CHRISMAS TREE COULD BE MADE USEFUL AFTER IT IS TAKEN DOWN. THORNY TWIG SAID THEY COULD USE IT TO BUILD A BIG BONFIRE AND ROAST MARSHMALLOWS. KNOBBY TWIG THOUGHT THE FIRE IDEA WAS NICE BUT THE USEFULLNESS WOULD BE VERY SHORT AND THEN THE TREE WOULD BE GONE. HIS IDEA WAS TO PUT IT ON THEIR FRONT LAWN TO MAKE A HOME FOR THE BIRDS. THE REST OF THE FAMILY THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE GOOD BUT THE BIRDS HAD MANY TREES ALL AROUND THE HOUSE FOR HOMES AND SOON THE NEEDLES WOULD FALL OFF THE TREE AND IT WOULD BE UGLY.

FUZZY TWIG WANTED TO TIE A BIG ROCK ON IT AND THROW IT IN THE LAKE TO MAKE A NICE HOME FOR FISH. THAT WAY IT WOULD LAST A LONG TIME AND THE FAMILY COULD GO BACK TO THE SPOT NEXT SUMMER AND CATCH FISH. EVERYONE AGREED FUZZY HAD THE BEST IDEA OF ALL AND THAT IS WHAT THEY DID. TWIGMAN DROVE A STICK IN THE GROUND TO MARK THE PLACE AND THE TWIGMAN FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE HAD A NEW LONG LIFE.

TWIGMAN AND THE BEE TREEE

ONE MORNING TWIGMAN WAS LOOKING FOR A TREE THAT HE COULD CUT FOR FIRE WOOD TO BURN IN HIS FIREPLACE. HE FOUND A TREE THAT SEEMED TO BE VERY OLD AND ITS TRUNK WAS HOLLOW. TWIGMAN THOUGHT THIS TREE WOULD BE FINE FOR FIREWOOD BECAUSE IT WOULD SOON DIE AND FALL TO THE GROUND. HE STARTED TO CHOP BUT HE DID NOT CHOP LONG. A SWARM OF BEES LIVED IN THE HOLLOW TREE TRUNK AND THEY ALL CAME OUT AT ONCE. THEY SWARMED AROUND TWIGMAN AND BEGAN TO STING HIM. TWIGMAN STARTED TO RUN.

TWIGMAN RAN TO THE LAKE AND JUMPED IN THE WATER. THE BEES COULD NOT FOLLOW INTO THE WATER. SOON THEY LEFT TWIGMAN ALONE AND FLEW AWAY.

TWIGMAN TOLD HIS FAMILY ABOUT HIS TROUBLE WITH THE BEES AND THEY ALL LAUGHED. TWIGMAN DID NOT THINK IT WAS SO FUNNY. BUT HE DID TELL HIS CHILDREN THEY WERE GOING TO GET SOME HONEY FROM THE BEE TREE. THORNY TWIG SAID, "NOT ME!". KNOBBY TWIG SAID, "ME EITHER!". FUZZY TWIG SAID, "I DON'T WANT TO GET STUNG BY A BEE!" TWIGMAN SAID, "DON'T WORRY, NOBODY IS GOING TO GET STUNG. I KNOW HOW TO DO IT." SO ALL THE TWIG CHILDREN WENT TO THE BEE TREE WITH THEIR DADDY.

TWIGMAN BUILT A BIG FIRE UNDER THE BEE TREE AND ALL THE CHILDREN PUT WET LEAVES ON THE FIRE. A HUGE SMOKE AROSE AROUND THE BEE TREE AND ALL THE BEES FLEW AWAY. THEY COULD NOT ATTACK ANYONE IN THE SMOKE.

TWIGMAN GOT A HUGE BUCKET OF HONEY. THORNY TWIG GOT A LARGE BUCKET OF HONEY. KNOBBY TWIG GOT A SMALL BUCKET OF HONEY AND FUZZY TWIG GOT A TINY LITTLE BUCKET OF HONEY. THEY ALL WENT HOME AND MAMMA LEAFY TWIG WAS VERY HAPPY TO GET THE NICE SWEET SYRUP FOR THE FAMILY PANCAKES.

TWIGMAN TEACHES THORNY A LESSON

ONE DAY TWIGMAN DECIDED THORNY TWIG WAS GETTING OLD ENOUGH TO LEARN ABOUT WOOD CUTTING. HE GAVE THORNY A BRAND NEW AX AND TOOK HIM INTO THE FOREST THE NEXT MORNING TO START HIS TRAINING. AS THEY WALKED ALONG THORNY WANTED TO CUT THE FIRST TREE THEY CAME TO BUT TWIGMAN TOLD HIM THE TREES IN THIS PART OF THE FOREST WERE ALREADY A NICE DISTANCE APART AND IT WOULD BE BETTER TO CUT WOOD WHERE THE TREES WERE CLOSER TOGETHER AND NEEDED MORE SPACE TO GROW.

WHEN THEY GOT TO A PLACE WHERE THE TREES WERE CLOSE TOGETHER THORNY WANTED TO CUT THE BIGGEST TREE HE COULD FIND. TWIGMAN SAID O.K. AND THEY FOUND A LARGE TREE. THORNY SWUNG HIS NEW AX AND MADE A CHIP IN THE TREE BUT TWIGMAN EXPLAINED THE AX STROKE WAS TOO HIGH. IT WOULD LEAVE TOO MUCH WOOD TO BE WASTED IN THE STUMP.

THORNY SWUNG HIS AX AGAIN AND HIT THE GROUND BESIDE THE TREE. TWIGMAN EXPLAINED AGAIN. IF YOU HIT THE GROUND WITH YOUR AX IT WILL MAKE THE AX BLADE DULL AND YOU CAN NOT CUT TREES WITH A DULL AX BLADE. THE TROUBLE WAS THORNY SWINGING THE AX JUST TOO HARD. HE COULD NOT HAVE GOOD AIM WITH A HARD SWING. THORNY TOOK GOOD AIM FOR HIS NEXT SWING AND STRUCK THE TREE JUST AT THE RIGHT PLACE. TWIGMAN WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS SON.

WHEN THE TREE WAS LAYING ON THE GROUND TWIGMAN AND THORNY SAT ON IT TO REST AND EAT THEIR LUNCH. THORNY TWIG WAS NOW A SKILLED WOOD CUTTER JUST LIKE HIS FATHER. THORNY SAID, "NOW THAT I AM A WOOD CUTTER I CAN QUIT GOING TO SCHOOL, YIPPEE!" TWIGMAN SAID, "JUST A MINUTE NOW. BY THE TIME YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO QUIT SCHOOL NO ONE WILL REMEMBER HOW TO CUT A TREE WITH AN AX. YOU MUST ALWAYS LEARN EVERYTHING YOU CAN. ITS BACK TO SCHOOL FOR YOU TOMORROW." THORNY SAID, "AW SHUCKS!" BUT HE WAS KIND OF GLAD INSIDE BECAUSE HE REALLY DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE HIS FRIENDS.

TWIGMAN AND THE BEAVER

ONE DAY TWIGMAN WENT TO A PLACE IN THE FOREST NEAR A SMALL STREAM TO CUT WOOD. WHEN HE GOT THERE HE SAW A TREE HAD BEEN CUT BY THE STRANGEST ANIMAL THAT HE HAD EVER SEEN IN THE FOREST. HE SAID TO THE ANIMAL, "WHAT KIND OF AN ANIMAL ARE YOU?" THE STRANGE ANIMAL SAID, "I AM A BEAVER."

TWIGMAN ASKED THE BEAVER WHY HE WAS CUTTING HIS TREES. THE BEAVER TOLD TWIGMAN HE USED THE LARGE BRANCHES AND SOME OF THE SMALL ONES TO BUILD A DAM ACROSS THE STREAM TO MAKE A LAKE WHERE HE COULD BUILD HIS HOME. HE ALSO SAID THE SMALL BRANCHES AND TWIGS WERE USED TO BUILD HIS HOME AND SOME OF THE SMALL BRANCHES AND TWIGS WOULD BE USED FOR FOOD DURING THE COMING WINTER. AND HE ADDED HIS FAMILY ATE THE BARK FROM SMALL BRANCHES AND TWIGS.

THE BEAVER LOOKED AT TWIGMAN AND TWIGMAN KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE BEAVER WAS THINKING. HIS ARMS AND LEGS WERE NOTHING BUT FOOD FOR A BEAVER.

TWIGMAN LOOKED AT THE LEGS AND TAIL OF THE BEAVER AND WAS NOT AFRAID. HE KNEW THE BEAVER WAS AN EXCELLENT SWIMMER BUT HE WAS A COMPLETE FAILURE AS A RUNNER. THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AS LONG AS HE DID NOT GO SWIMMING IN THE BEAVER POND AND KEPT HIS EYES ON THE BEAVER. THE BEAVER CERTAINLY COULD NOT RUN AS FAST AS TWIGMAN.

THAT EVENING TWIGMAN TOLD THORNY, KNOBBY AND FUZZY TO NEVER GO SWIMMING IN THE BEAVER POND. WHEN THEY ASKED WHY, HE SAID, "BEAVERS EAT TWIGS AND IF YOU GO SWIMMING IN THE BEAVER POND YOU WILL SOON BE YUMMY IN THE TUMMY FOR A BIG FAT DUMMY!"

THE TWIGMAN FAMILY BOAT RIDE

IT WAS A BEATIFUL SUNSHINY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. TWIGMAN SAID TO HIS CHILDREN. "WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THIS AFTERNOON?" THORNY TWIG SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO GO FOR A BOAT RIDE. KNOBBY TWIG SAID, "CAN WE DADDY? CAN WE DADDY? PLEASE!" FUZZY TWIG SAID, "PULLEEZE! DADDY! PULLEEZE!" TWIGMAN SAID, "O. K. BUT WE MUST ASK YOUR MOTHER IF SHE WANTS TO GO ALONG." LEAFY TWIG DID NOT WANT TO GO ON THE BOAT RIDE. SHE WANTED TO STAY HOME AND WATCH THE FOOTBALL GAME ON TV AND SHE TOLD TWIGMAN AND THE CHILDREN TO GO AHEAD WITHOUT HER AND HAVE A FUN TIME.

THEY ALL WENT TO THE RIVER AND CLIMBED INTO THE SMALL FISHING BOAT THAT HAD AN OUTBOARD MOTOR. THEY WERE RIDING ALONG AND HAVING A REAL FINE TIME. THE DAY WAS PRETTY AND THE WATER WAS SMOOTH. THE BIRDS WERE SINGING AND THE FISH WERE JUMPING. EVERYTHING WAS JUST TOO NICE.

THEY CRUISED AROUND A SHARP BEND IN THE RIVER AND A HUGE ROUND ROCK WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM JUST AHEAD. IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WOULD BE A DISASTER. THE BOAT STRUCK THE ROCK BUT TWIGMAN WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT RIGHT SIDE UP AND THEY WENT ON THEIR WAY.

SOON THEY HEARD A LOUD ROAR. WHAT COULD IT BE? THORNY TWIG WHO WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT YELLED IT IS A WATER FALL! WE ARE GOING OVER! WE WILL ALL BE KILLED! EVERYONE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE END AND LEAFY TWIG WOULD LOSE ALL HER FAMILY. SHE WOULD BE LEFT BY HERSELF AND BE VERY LONELY.

TWIGMAN ACTED QUICK. HE SWUNG THE BOAT AROUND WITH THE HANDLE ON THE MOTOR. JUST IN TIME! THE BOAT HEADED BACK UP STREAM. EVERYONE LET OUT A HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF. TWIGMAN KNEW HE HAD MADE A MISTAKE BY TAKING THE CHILDREN ALONG A RIVER WHERE HE DID NOT KNOW THE DANGERS.

THIS TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO GET PAST THE ROCK WITHOUT HITTING IT AND THEY ALL ARRIVED SAFELY HOME. WHEN LEAFY TWIG ASKED IF THEY HAD A GOOD TIME, TWIGMAN SAID, "IT WAS NOT THE BEST FUN WE EVER HAD." FUZZY TWIG SAID, "I WAS SCARED!" THORNY TWIG SAID, "IT WAS INTERESTING, VERY INTERESTING!" KNOBBY TWIG SAID, "I WANT TO DO IT AGAIN!" MAMMA LEAFY TWIG SAID, "THAT IS NICE." TWIGMAN SAID, "NOT A CHANCE! ONE OF THOSE TRIPS IS ENOUGH ANYONE!"

TWIGMAN FAMILY GOOSEBUMPS IN THE GRAVEYARD

LATE ONE AFTERNOON THORNY TWIG AND KNOBBY TWIG DECIDED TO TAKE FUZZY TWIG, THEIR LITTLE SISTER ALONG ON A WALK THROUGH THE FOREST. THEY WERE WALKING ALONG AND ENJOYING THE SONGS OF THE BIRDS AND THE BEAUTY OF THE TREES EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER WAS COOL AND THE SKY WAS CLOUDY.

THEY FORGOT ABOUT THE TIME AND HOW FAR THEY WERE FROM HOME. THORNY SUDDENLY REALIZED THEY MUST GO BACK NOW AND THEY WOULD NEED TO HURRY TO GET HOME BEFORE DARK.

KNOBBY TWIG KNEW ABOUT A SHORT CUT THROUGH THE GRAVE YARD AND SAID THEY SHOULD TAKE IT BECAUSE THE SKY WAS NEARLY DARK NOW. FUZZY TWIG SAID, "I'M SCARED!" THORNY TWIG WAS ACTING BRAVE AND SAID, "DEAD PEOPLE CAN'T HURT YOU. LET'S GO!" BUT HE WAS NOT AS BRAVE AS HE WAS ACTING. KNOBBY LED THE WAY INTO THE GRAVE YARD. THEY WERE CAREFUL TO NOT BUMP INTO ANY TOMB STONES. NONE OF THEM WANTED TO DISTURB THE DEAD PEOPLE.

EVERYTHING WAS VERY QUIET. WHEN THEY REACHED THE MIDDLE OF THE GRAVE YARD. THEY HEARD A LOW SOUND! WHOOOO! WHOOO! ALL OF THE KIDS GOT INSTANT GOOSE BUMPS. THORNY TWIG'S GOOSE BUMPS WERE THE BIGGEST OF ALL AND HE SAID, "IT MUST BE A G-G-GHOST!" FUZZY TWIG SAID, "I'M SCARED!" KNOBBY TWIG WAS SCARED TOO. IN THEIR MINDS THEY COULD SEE A HUGE GHOST COMING AFTER THEM.

THEY BEGAN TO RUN AND A WHOOO, WHOOO CAME FROM IN FRONT OF THEM. KNOBBY TWIG SAID, "THERE MUST BE MORE THAN ONE GHOST! WE WILL JUST HAVE TO RUN PAST HIM. ALL OF THE CHILDREN NOW HAD HUGE GOOSE BUMPS. THEY RAN OUT OF THE GRAVE YARD AND DID NOT LOOK BACK.

WHEN THEY GOT HOME THE STORY ABOUT THE GHOSTS WAS TOLD TO TWIGMAN AND LEAFY TWIG. THEY STILL HAD THE GOOSE BUMPS AND SHOWED THEM TO THEIR PARENTS TO PROVE THE STORY.

TWIGMAN DID NOT BELIEVE IN GHOSTS SO HE INSISTED THEY GO BACK TO THE GRAVE YARD TO PROVE GHOSTS WERE ONLY IMAGINATION. THE CHILDREN DID NOT WANT TO GO BUT THEY HAD TO OBEY THEIR FATHER. THEIR GOOSE BUMPS CAME BACK.

WHEN THEY GOT TO THE GRAVE YARD TWIGMAN POINTED TO A TREE WHERE A BIG HOOT OWL WAS SITTING. THE OWL WAS SAYING WHOOO, WHOOO. TWIGMAN SAID TO HIS CHILDREN, "THERE IS YOUR GHOST." EVERYONE SUDDENLY LOST THEIR GOOSE BUMPS AND THORNY TWIG SAID, "I KNEW ALL ALONG THAT IT WAS NOT A GHOST." KNOBBY TWIG SAID, "BAAALONEY!"