Saturday, October 25, 2008

GENTLE GIANT





rnold Rhinoceros loved the smell of flowers. When all his friends were out stomping through the jungle and roaring, Arnold would be just as happy gathering a posy of bright forest blooms.

Arnold's parents were worried about him. He was the laughing-stock of the jungle. The parrots made fun of him by perching oon his horn, the monkeys pinched his tail and the deer tapped on his thick scaly skin, but Arnold didn't mind. He just carried on sniffing the sweet flowers and humming a pretty tune to himself.

One day, while Arnold was strolling along the river bank, he met Big Ted the tiger. Everyone was afraid of Big Ted. The tiger roared ferociously, and bared his huge teeth at Arnold. The animals held their breath, wondering what gentle Arnold would do. But Arnold had just taken an extra big sniff of a jungle flower, and his nose was beginning to tickle...
"Aatchooo!" sneezed Arnold. It was the loudest, most terrifying noise Big Ted had ever heard - and he didn't scare easily. He turned on his heels and ran off as fast as he could!

How the other animals laughed - and they never teased Arnold again!


From FIVE MINUTE BEDTIME TALES by Dean
Illustrated by Peter Stevenson
copyright (c) 2002 by Egmont Books Limited

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