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.

TWIGMAN AND THE TOUCHNGRABBIT MEET A MUSTNTOUCHIT

ONE DAY WHEN TWIGMAN WAS WALKING THROUGH THE FOREST HE MET A CREATURE HE THOUGHT WAS A SMALL BOY. TWIGMAN SAID, "HELLO LITTLE BOY." THE CREATURE REPLIED IN ANGER, "I AM NOT A LITTLE BOY!" TWIGMAN SAID, "YOU LOOK LIKE A LITTLE BOY. WHAT ARE YOU?" THE CREATURE SAID I AM A TOUCHNGRABBIT. I HAVE EYES IN THE FRONT OF MY HEAD JUST LIKE YOU BUT I HAVE BETTER EYES IN MY FINGER TIPS. I LOOK AT EVERYTHING WITH MY FINGERS." TWIGMAN SAID, "YOU SEEM VERY NICE. MAYBE WE CAN BE FRIENDS "THAT WOULD BE GREAT. LET'S GO."

THEY WERE WALKING ALONG AND HAVING A NICE TALK TOGETHER WHEN THEY SAW A PORCUPINE. TWIGMAN KNEW WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL THE PORCUPINE WAS AND KNEW ABOUT THE SHARP NEEDLES IN THE ANIMALS SKIN THAT WOULD STICK ANYTHING THAT TOUCHED HIM BUT HE ASKED HIM WHAT HIS NAME WAS SO THE TOUCHNGRABBIT COULD LEARN A WILD ANIMAL LESSON. THE PORKY SAID, "I AM A MUSNTOUCHIT. IF YOU TOUCH ME YOU WILL BE VERY SORRY." THE TOUCHNGRABBIT DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO GOOD ADVICE AND GRABBED THE MUSNTOUCHIT WITH BOTH HANDS. HE IMMEDIATELY LET OUT A LOUD SCREAM. "EYOUW!"

HE HAD REALLY LEARNED A WILD ANIMAL LESSON. TWIGMAN PULLED THE PORCUPINE QUILLS OUT OF THE TOUCHNGRABBIT'S HANDS BUT THE CHORE WAS VERY PAINFUL TO THE POOR ANIMAL. AS THE PORCUPINE WENT BACK INTO THE FOREST HE SAID, "I TOLD YOU SO!" WHEN ALL OF THE SHARP QUILLS HAD BEEN PULLED OUT OF HIS HANDS THE TOUCHNGRABBIT PROMISED HE WOULD NEVER LOOK AT A MUSNTOUCHIT WITH HIS FINGERS AGAIN BUT HE WOULD STILL USE HIS FINGERS TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING ELSE.

TWIGMAN SEES A GHOST

TWIGMAN WAS WALKING THROUGH A FOREST OF HUGE TREES WITH HIS AX IN HIS HAND WHEN HE HEARD A FEARFUL SOUND. WHOOOO! WHOOOO! WHOOO!
TWIGMAN WAS VERY MUCH AFRAID BECAUSE THE SOUND FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING RIGHT THROUGH HIS BODY. HE LOOKED AROUND AND AT FIRST HE DID NOT SEE WHAT WAS MAKING DREADFUL WHOOOO! WHOOOO! WHOOOO! BUT THEN HE SAW IT. A GHOST WAS SLOWLY COMING TOWARD HIM. HE SAID TO THE GHOST, "WHO - WHO - WHO ARE YOU?" THE GHOST REPLIED "I AM THE GHOST OF REDWOOD FOREST!

I AM GUARDING THESE TREES AGAINST ANYONE WHO HAS AN AX. THESE TREES ARE A THOUSAND YEARS OLD AND I AM GOING TO SEE THEY LIVE FOR A THOUSAND MORE YEARS. YOU HAVE AN AX AND I AM COMING AFTER YOU." TWIGMAN BEGAN TO RUN AND THE GHOST WAS FLOATING AFTER HIM.

THE GHOST OF REDWOOD FOREST WAS CATCHING UP. WHAT WAS TWIGMAN GOING TO DO? SUDDENLY HE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT THE GHOST HAD SAID ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE WITH AXES. JUST IN TIME TWIGMAN THREW THE AX AWAY AND THE GHOST DISAPPEARED. TWIGMAN NEVER WENT BACK TO REDWOOD FOREST TO GET HIS AX. HE WAS TOO AFRAID OF THE GHOST. HE JUST BOUGHT HIMSELF ANOTHER AX TO USE FOR CUTTING TREES BUT YOU CAN BE SURE THE TREES HE CUT WERE NOT REDWOODS.

TWIGMAN AND THE ALIHUMBIRPHANT

TWIGMAN CAME UPON A VERY STRANGE CREATURE IN FOREST ONE DAY. HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. HE SAID TO THE CREATURE, "ARE YOU AN ANIMAL?" THE CREATURE REPLIED, "YES, I AM AN ANIMAL." TWIGMAN SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN AN ANIMAL WHO LOOKED LIKE THIS ONE AND ASKED, "WHAT KIND OF AN ANIMAL ARE YOU?" THE STRANGE ANIMAL SAID VERY LOUD AND STRONG, "I AM AN ALIHUMBIRPANT!" TWIGMAN SAID, "WHY DO THEY CALL YOU THAT?" THE BEAST SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF HIS LOOKS. "YOU SEE MY MOUTH STICKS OUT IN FRONT LIKE AN ALIGATOR. MY TINY LITTLE BOTTOM IS LIKE A HUMMINGBIRD. MY LONG SKINNY LEGS ARE LIKE A BIRD THAT WADES IN THE WATER AND MY FEET ARE LIKE AN ELEPHANT. IT IS JUST NATURAL THAT I AM AN ALIHUMBIRPHANT." TWIGMAN SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO BE FRIENDS WITH THIS NEW ANIMAL AND ASKED IF THE ALIHUMBIRPHANT WOULD LIKE TO GO FOR A WALK IN THE FOREST. THE ALIHUMBIRPHANT THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE FINE.

TWIGMAN ASKED THE ALIHUMBIRPHANT WHAT HE DID. HIS NEW FRIEND SAID HE LIKED TO RUN AND JUMP AND PLAY AND ESPECIALLY LIKED TO BE HUGGED. TWIGMAN ASKED IF HE DID ANYTHING USEFUL. THE ALIHUMBIRPHANT DID NOT KNOW OF ANYTHING HE DID THAT WAS USEFUL. AS THEY WERE WALKING ALONG IN THE FOREST AND TALKING THEY CAME TO A PLACE WHERE SOME CAMPERS HAD LEFT THEIR CAMP AND DID NOT DROWN THEIR CAMPFIRE WITH WATER BEFORE THEY LEFT. THE FIRE WAS SPREADING TO THE BRUSH AND WOULD SOON BE INTO THE TREES. TWIGMAN WAS VERY MUCH AFRAID, HE KNEW THAT HE COULD NOT STOMP ON THE FIRE BECAUSE THE FLAMES WOULD BURN HIS TWIGS AND THEN MOVE RIGHT ON TO THE TREES BEFORE HE COULD FIND NEW ONES FOR REPLACEMENT.

THE ALIHUMBIRPHANT WAS NOT AFRAID. HE JUMPED RIGHT OVER TO THE FIRE AND STARTED STOMPING THE FLAMES WITH HIS ELEPHANT FEET. SOON THE FIRE WAS OUT AND ONLY A LITTLE SMOKE WAS LEFT. TWIGMAN SAID YOU WERE VERY USEFUL TODAY. YOU CAN BE VERY PROUD OF YOUR BRAVERY. YOU ARE A HERO.

TWIGMAN TOOK THE ALIHUMBIRPHANT HOME TO MEET HIS FAMILY AND HAVE A FINE DINNER. HIS WIFE AND FAMILY WERE VERY HAPPY TO KNOW THE NEW HERO OF THE FOREST. AND THEY WERE ALL FRIENDS FOR EVER AFTER.