Читать книгу Granny's Favorite Tales - Carolyn D. Anderson - Страница 6

A WHALE OF A TALE

WRITTEN BY CAROLYN D ANDERSON

ILLUSTRATED BY CAROLYN D ANDERSON

ONCE UPON A TIME IN A LAND FAR AWAY, WHERE MYSTERY HANGS IN THE AIR AND MAGICAL THINGS ARE HAPPENING EVERYWHERE, LIVED A WHALE.

NOW, I JUST BET THAT YOU CAN GUESS THAT THIS TAKES PLACE ON THE OCEANS CREST, WHERE THERE ALSO LIVED A BOY.

NOW, THE WHALE WE’LL CALL JAKE, AND THE BOY WE’LL CALL TOM, OR MAYBE JOHN, OR HOW ABOUT RON OR DON? NO! I THINK I’LL CALL HIM SHAWN.

NOW ONE DAY JAKE MET SHAWN ONE EARLY DAWN. HE BLEW HIS SPOUT, A SHORT WAY OUT, OFF SHORE. SHAWN HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE.

“WHEW, THAT FELT GOOD,” SAID JAKE. “I SHOULD THINK IT WOULD,” SAID SHAWN. “HEY, HOW COME YOU CAN TALK?” JAKE YAWNED AND SAID, “COME WITH ME LAD, AND I’LL SHOW YOU SOME THINGS. UNBELIEVABLE THINGS, MAGICAL THINGS, THINGS THAT ON LAND I’M SURE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN. COME ON, CLIMB ABOARD. ALL YOU DO IS JUST GIVE ME THE WORD.”

SHAWN HOLLERED AS LOUD AS HE COULD. “WHAT WORD I SAY?”

JAKE SPOUTED BACK, “THE MAGIC WORD IS OK.”

“OK,” SHAWN YELLED AND THEN THE OCEAN SWELLED AND HE FOUND HIMSELF, NOT OUTSIDE BUT WITHIN. NEXT THING YOU KNOW HE DROPPED INTO A FIN.

“OH, WHERE AM I?” HE CRIED.

JAKE ANSWERED, “INSIDE, NO CAUSE FOR ALARM. JUST TAKE HOLD OF MY RIB AND FOLLOW THEM BACK. YOU’LL LIKE WHERE YOU ARE, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?”

“GUESS I’LL HAVE TO,” SAID SHAWN. “BUT IT’S DARK IN HERE AND I CAN’T SEE TO GO ON.”

“OH, WAIT, SAID JAKE. I CAN FIX THAT.” AND HE GULPED DOWN A SCHOOL OF NEONS AND SWALLOWED THEM BACK DOWN TO SHAWN.

“OH, JUST LOOK AT THIS. IT’S LIKE A BIG CAVE. AND JUST LOOK AT THE COLORS, BOY, ARE THEY MELLOW. THERE’S REDS, BLUES, PURPLES, AND EVEN SOME YELLOW.