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.