Snorkel, snorkel. Slurp.

The sounds filtered up from the ocean floor to the Sea Rogue, the sunken ship where the pirates Patch, Woody and Wallace slept.

“Arg! Blast! If I hear that confounded sound one more…” said Patch furiously, but he was interrupted by the sounds again!

Gurgle, slurp, glug, glug.

“Ahhhh!” he screamed in sheer frustration.

“Blast me timbers! A man can ‘a sleep with all this racquet!”

Wallace rubbed his eyes and sat up in bed. This had been going on for too many nights for him to have kept count!

Woody sat up and strapped on his peg-leg.

“I say we go there and gut the barnacles keeping us outta sleep!” he vented.

“Aye, Woody be right!” agreed the angry Patch.

“I say we take Wusky along too.” suggested Wallace, thinking maybe a swim up to the beach might cool Patch and Woody’s anger a little.

“Aye laddie, good plan.” said Patch who was already beginning to feel less angry.

So the pirates got out of bed and swam to the surface of the sea. They marched all the way to Wusky’s Beach Cabana and, forgetting that it was still late at night, they knocked loudly on the door.

The pirates heard a loud bang as Wusky fell out of bed in shock. He rushed to the door and opened it wide, looking sleepy and a little dazed.

“Sorry to barge in like this at this late hour.” apologised Wallace.

“We’re going to the bottom of the sea to gut barnacles.” purred Woody, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight.

“Aye laddie and we thought you’d like to come along for the adventure.” said Patch beaming.

“Adventure!” now Wusky’s eyes had lit up.

“You can count me in!” he replied.

“When do we leave?”

“Right about now?” smiled Wallace, his friendly eyes a deep contrast to the menacing Woody, who had begun taking his cutlass from its sheath.

The four friends then set out to the bottom of the sea to find out exactly what was making all the noise.  They followed the gurgling slurping sounds to the sea floor.

“It’s here ladies!” whispered Patch.

Wusky held his breath, not knowing exactly what to expect.

Woody started digging sand away from the bottom of the ocean and discovered a giant chain!

“The landlubbers anchor no doubt!” whispered Wallace to no-one in particular.

The pirates followed the chain until it ended in a huge pile of sea sand.

“What do we do now?” asked Wusky, looking at the pirates.

“Heave!” shouted Woody as he began to pull the chain with all his might.

“Heave!” shouted the others, as they grabbed the chain and began pulling too!

Suddenly the chain gave way and a giant plug came with it! The pirates looked at each other in dismay! Sludge, slurrrrrrp, gurgle, glug. The sea began to drain down the huge drain hole that had been left uncovered!

“Shiver me timbers!” cried Patch in disbelief.

Woody gasped.

“Quick we need to get help!” said Wusky, quickly beginning to swim to the surface. But it was too late! The sea was draining too fast for any of them to do anything!

By sun rise, the sea was gone!

Wusky, Wallace, Woody and Patch walked back to the Sea Rogue, now fully exposed to the world, no longer an under-sea hideout.

“Can we still be pirates if there is no sea?” asked Wallace looking quite worried.

Patch and Woody were just embarrassed, soon the entire town of Acersville would know that the pirates had drained the sea! They had to do something to get the sea back! But what?

Wusky jumped up and snapped his fingers!

“I have a plan on how we can get the sea back!” he said happily.

“What are you going to do?” asked Wallace.

“I’m going to get Pilot!” Wusky replied.

“How’s a Pilot going to get us out of this mess laddie?” asked Patch, who seemed to be near tears.

“You’ll see.” Wusky grinned.

“Just trust me!”

Soon Pilot had been invited to join the pirates at their not so private hideout.

“A nice place you have here.” stammered Pilot, who was a little nervous of the pirates.

Woody scowled, Patch frowned and Wallace offered him a scone and some tea.

Wusky then began the tale of how he and the pirates had unintentionally drained the sea and how they needed his help to get the sea back.

Pilot went pale and held his scone in mid air.

“Me?”

“Yes!” replied Wusky confidently.

“We need you and your plane to take us to the North Pole and get us an ice-berg!”

“An ice-berg? Whatever for?” asked Pilot now very confused.

The pirates began understanding what Wusky wanted to do and began smiling! Eventually their smiling turned to relieved laughing which turned to uncontrollable singing about rum and yo-ho-ho’s!

Patch slapped Wusky on the back.

“Aye lad, a true pirate ya are!”

Wusky smiled. Pilot gulped.  His plane had never carried more than two Loopies at a time let alone a giant ice-berg! He was feeling quite ill!

“So what do you say Pilot?” All ready to go?” Wusky’s enthusiasm interrupted his worrying.

“Alright Wusky, we’ll give it a try!” said Pilot, slinging his scarf triumphantly over his shoulder!

They strapped themselves into Pilot’s plane, making sure they had plenty of ginger beer and rope for their trip to the North Pole. Wusky showed the Pirates a thumbs up as the noisy propellers began to turn. The plane began to lift off the ground and soon the pirates looked so tiny from so high up in the sky. Wusky turned to look at the sea. It now looked like a giant desert! Wusky gulped and looked forward concentrating on his mission.

It began to get very cold as the two friends neared the North Pole. Icy in fact, so icy that Wusky began to wish that he too had a big red scarf like Pilot’s! Eventually they began to see ice and snow and huge ice-bergs stretching as far as they could see. Wusky tapped Pilot and motioned him to land. Pilot found a good spot and steered the plane to a safe landing.

Crunch, crunch, crunch. Pilot and Wusky walked across the pure white snow. The sight was quite breath taking. Huge white mountains stuck their heads out of the horizon and big fluffy penguins waddled their way across icy paths toward the sea.

“There!” shouted Wusky.

“I see one!” he pointed to a rather large ice-berg.

Pilot helped Wusky tie lots of rope around the ice-berg and when they thought it was secure, they tied the rope to the plane. Pilot got back into the plane while Wusky checked that the ginger beer bottles were in place. He showed Pilot a thumbs up and Pilot started the engine. The plane spluttered and coughed as it began moving across the snowy embankment toward the sea. The plane gathered speed and whirred faster and faster, gaining momentum as it hurtled down the hill. The shaking of the plane caused the ginger beer bottles to rattle, causing them to pop open and supply more power to the plane. The little red plane took flight! It was glorious to see.

Wusky stuck out his chest, his idea was coming along brilliantly. Just then he realised that he better hold onto the rope and quick! He grabbed hold just in time! He looked back and saw the gigantic ice-berg swinging gently under the plane. He grinned his Wuskiest grin and began to sing about rum and yo-ho-hoing!

Soon they reached Acersville and by now everyone had heard about what had happened to the sea. All the Loopies were waiting patiently outside of Wusky’s Beach Cabana cafe along with the pirates to see how exactly Wusky’s plan would work. They began to cheer when Pilot’s plane came into view with Wusky and the ice-berg dangling beneath it. Slowly Pilot neared the spot where the sea used to be. And Wusky cut the rope that held the ice-berg. The ice-berg fell and landed with a huge thud!

The Loopies rushed towards it, eager to inspect such a huge piece of ice. But it didn’t stay icy for too long! It began to melt and soon the Loopies had a sea again! They splashed and laughed in the sun as they congratulated Wusky and Pilot! And as for the Pirates? Well let’s just say they won’t be in a hurry to gut barnacles any time soon!

© 2010 Ingrid Holtshausen. All rights reserved.

“There she is Ruff!” he smiled proudly as he polished the front of the speed boat.

“She’s all ready for a test drive!” he said smiling. Ruff rubbed his hands together and grinned. They had been building the speed boat all summer in the hope to have it finished by their birthday. Their plan was to have a quiet day by the Lake testing out the newest addition to their great treasury of mechanical things.  But Leechie had other plans!

She burst into their workshop sending a flurry of “how-to-build-a-speed-boat” instruction papers whirling into the air.

“Now I know it’s your birthday tomorrow and I know it’s short notice but try and look your best as I’ve arranged a birthday party for you!” she bubbled.

Rufus scratched his head. Ruff gulped.

“Well actually Leechie,” Rufus began, about to tell her of their plan to spend a quiet day at the lake testing out their speed boat.

“Yes, yes, no need to thank me, I needed to do something special for my friends.” She smiled warmly.

“The party is tomorrow, in your back yard. All of Acersville will be there! But don’t worry I’ve arranged everything!” she blurted as she grinned happily and then burst out of the workshop as violently as she’d burst in.

Rufus was taken aback, Ruff was unimpressed.

“She’s ruining our birthday plans.” whined Ruff later that evening as the two brothers were getting ready for bed.

“Now now little brother, a party won’t be that bad, we can always test the boat another day. Cheer up it’s going to be fun!” encouraged Rufus.

Ruff sat sulking a while until eventually he fell fast asleep.

The next day he was awoken with a bump! As a heavy table fell over in the back yard. He jumped out of bed and peered out of the window. It was Leechie, beginning with all of her birthday plans! The two brothers brushed their teeth and went down stairs to see what she was up to.

Leechie had arranged everything, from the decor to the food. There was a huge ice cream cake with hundreds of birthday candles and even an ice sculpture of a figure skating Loopie.

“Um Leechie” asked Ruff, as he walked up to Leechie, who was busily scolding a waiter for wearing a purple waistcoat.

“Don’t you think this is a little, um, over the top?” he asked quite concerned as another waiter carrying a highly polished silver tray whisked past him and into the kitchen.

“Oh nonsense!” she replied, waving her hands in the air to dismiss such a notion.

“You and Rufus deserve to be spoilt for your birthday! Sit back relax and let me take care of everything!” and with that she scurried off to find another waiter to scold.

Ruff felt lost amongst the waistcoats and the waiters, ice sculptures and food. He would have preferred a simple birthday party, not a stiff fancy affair!  But once Leechie had got something in her head there was no stopping her! She had even arranged a brass band to play “Happy Birthday” for the brothers!

Eventually everyone had arrived and Leechie had been right, all of Acersville was there, for the “Party of the decade” as Leechie had called it.

Once everyone had arrived, they all gathered around the birthday cake, which by this time was almost aflame because of all the hundreds of candles Leechie had used.

The fat Loopie with the immensely big tuba blew very hard to begin the tune to the Happy Birthday song. But he was standing right next to the cake! His big blast of air caused the candles to flare up violently. Dot Mayor Piney’s wife who was sitting next to the birthday cake had taken in a big breath of air to begin singing, but instead yelled, “Aahhhhhhhh!!!”

She shrieked as her hat caught fire! She tried fanning the flames out but only managed to make it worse! Mayor Piney’s wig was the next thing to catch a light. He ran around the yard yelping and shouting for help!

“Someone call the fire brigade!” yelled a Loopie from the crowd.

Leechie gasped, this was not going at all how she planned! Soon the entire yard was a light, complete with yelling Loopies that were on fire! It was a disaster! But not for long!

“Did someone call the fire department?” called a familiar voice above the mayhem. It was fireman Andy. The Loopies were so relieved to see him!

“Let her rip boys!” he shouted as he instructed the Loopies from the fire department to turn the hose on to full blast. He sprayed the garden, the brass band and the cake! Everything got soaked through, wet balloons, soggy sweets and waxy birthday candles littered Rufus and Ruff’s garden. It was a mess!  Leechie burst into tears; her perfect party for the brothers was completely ruined.  The garden lay in tatters. And the fire hose kept spraying!

“You can turn her off now boys the fire’s out!” said Fireman Andy desperately.

“Sorry chief, it’s no use, the valve is stuck!”

Try as they might, they couldn’t switch the hose off and gallons and gallons of water kept pumping into the yard.  By this time Leechie was reduced to a sobbing mess of tears while the brothers looked on in delight as their yard was transformed into a mini lake!

“Now I can test out my speed boat!” said a thrilled Rufus who smiled triumphantly and gave a thumbs up to fireman Andy. Ruff grinned with glee.

“I’ll get the skis!” he said happily.

The Loopies who had come to the party began bobbing up and down in the watery playground as Rufus and Ruff powered up the speed boat and whooshed past spraying everyone with a wave of water as they sloshed around the garden.

The Loopies spent the day enjoying themselves immensely! Fireman Andy had saved the day! What a grand birthday party all thanks to fireman Andy!

© 2010 Ingrid Holtshausen. All rights reserved.

It all started one windy day when Granny received a flyer advertising the annual Jamboree. Jamboree time in Acersville got jam lovers especially excited as the best jam makers from all over the country, from near and far gathered together to showcase their most delectable jams.

Granny grinned as she decided to enter her prize winning banana-lade jam. Once home, she got out all her pots and pans along with a truck load of bananas and equal amounts of sugar. The wind teased at her kitchen window and undid the window latch. The wind grinned as it carried the smells of the jam up the mountainside. A Shape who was resting in the long mountain grass smelt the jam, and jumped to its feet!

Now nobody really knows very much about Shapes except that they are one of Acersville’s funniest species, known for their monkey-like behaviour and strangely shaped bodies. They live high up on mount Peakmore and generally don’t come down the mountain, except on rare occasion and today was such an occasion!

The Shape stuck out its head and gave a mighty sniff. It could smell bananas and better yet, Granny’s freshly brewed banana-lade jam! Soon all of the shapes who lived ontop of Mount Peakmore had begun sniffing the wonderous smell of Granny’s jam. Then one by one they began hopping down the side of the mountain as if overcome by some force, compelled to go and seize the jam for themselves!

The Shapes made their way down the mountainside and toward Granny’s home. Now if you know anything about Shapes, you will know that they absolutely have no manners at all.  The How-wheeler monkeys rolled like wheels all over the place killing the neatly planted flowers along the streets.

Leechie shook her paw at them, “You, you villans!” she shouted angrily at them, but they took no notice, none of them did, especially not the Band of Square-illas who had hopped exciteably all the way toward Loopie Hall, followed closely by the Triangle Tangs.

The Babmoons rocked violently on their crescent shaped backs, knocking everyone in their way clean off their feet.

It was a disaster! A complete fiasco! It was so bad that no-body could go out onto the street for fear of coming close to a Shape and being knocked down or rolled over.

Now of all the Loopies in Acresville, none was braver than The Flame. The Flame was better known to the Loopies as Spoof, the quiet and reserved store owner from Spruce Street. He lived a quiet life and nobody would have ever suspected him of being a super hero in his spare time, none excpet for Rufus, Ruff and a few others in Acesrville, but that’s another story entirely! Now on this particular windy and chaotic day, Spoof looked out of his window to find Acersville in ruins. The Shapes had left no stone unturned in their desparate persuit of Granny’s jam.

“Something has to be done!” shouted Mayor Piney to the few Loopies who had braved the mayhem had gathered together in Loopie Hall for the Jamboree.

“But what?” asked Giligan nervously, who secretly wished he had brought along his security blanket, for fear of its safety of course.

“I don’t know, but something!” cried the perplexed Mayor who had to dive beneath a nearby table to avoid being kicked by a Triangle Tang who had been swinging from the light fittings.

“Leave it to me.” thought Spoof as he raced home to put on his Flame disguise.

The Shapes continued to raid Acersville eager to find the jam that had got them so excited in the first place. Petrified Loopies had hid themselves in their homes, with Shapes banging wildly at their doors and trying to enter through the windows.

Suddenly and out of nowhere the Flame came whooshing past! With such speed that the Shapes stopped what they were doing to take a look. As he whooshed the Shapes noticed he had covered his cape in banana-lade jam! Jolly good Flame that’ll get their attention!

The Shapes stopped, smelled the jam and raced after the Flame who ran dripping through the streets! The Shapes followed wildly in pursuit and forgot about Acersville almost instantly. Luckily for Spoof, he could run extra fast and he outran the Shapes with such speed that the jam had difficulty clinging to his cape! Spoof ran all the way back up the mountain, with the Shapes close behind.

The Loopies clapped and cheered.

“Three cheers for The Flame! Hooray!” they shouted.

Later at the Jamboree, Rustaberry was given a gold medal for his Topical Coconut Jam which he’d brought all the way from the Island of Not. But Rustaberry was not the only one to receive a gold medal! Mayor Piney issued the Flame with a gold medal too for the bravery he’d shown in leading the Shapes back to their homes on the mountain side!

That night Spoof smiled as he looked at his gold medal. He chuckled as he thought about those naughty Shapes and tired from the day’s activities, soon fell fast asleep. The moon smiled down on him gently and it watched the Shapes too, as they lay outstretched on the grassy mountainside dreaming of the day’s events and especially Granny’s banana-lade!

Goodnight Spoof, a super hero you are indeed, and may you be close by always, well at least wherever banana-lade jam can be found!

© 2010 Ingrid Holtshausen. All rights reserved.

He was leaving for the Race meeting where Mayor Piney would be announcing the theme of this year’s race for all the Loopies wanting to enter. Every year the theme would change, last year the theme of the race was Birds. Toffee chuckled as he remembered his big chicken car driving over the finish line, covering the crowd in a great flurry of feathers. Mayor Piney had been coughing up feathers for a week after that!

Toffee rounded the corner and joined the other Loopies already there eagerly awaiting Mayor Piney’s announcement.

Mayor Piney finally arrived in his big limousine and walked into the centre of the crowd of Loopies, eating a big salami sandwich.

“This year,” he spluttered between chews,

“I’ve decided that the theme,” he continued at he took another bite of his lunch.

“of the race should be food.”

The Loopies smiled as the Mayor waddled off enjoying his sandwich as he went.

“Food,” thought Toffee.

Toffee thought and thought, what type of food car could he possibly build that would beat every other car that entered into the race? Toffee thought a little more and then chuckled to himself as he strolled home. He had an idea, a very wobbly idea in fact, but it would maybe just work!

A few weeks later, the Loopies gathered for the big Car Race.

All the Loopies who had entered drove their food car creations to the starting line. Mango and Sherbet, the twins of Acersville arrived with a sandwich bicycle car. Granny had helped them to paint the wheels of their car with her prize winning Banana-lade jam.

“It will help you stick to the road.” She explained as she slopped it on in huge dollops.

Next to the twins was Pilot’s hot dog car. He was very proud of his car and drove it slowly to the starting line, being very careful not to splash tomato sauce and mustard all over the road as he idled it along gently.

Behind Pilot was Toffee. The twins snickered and giggled from their sandwich perch as they saw his car, it was made entirely of jelly! Toffee waved at the twins and wobbled his car a little to make them laugh out loud. After Toffee was Crumpet’s Banana-spilt car, complete with whipped cream and lashings of chocolate sauce. Behind Crumpet were the Pirates and Wusky in their run barrel car, singing merrily and jo-ho-hoing!

“Ladies and gentlemen!” boomed Mayor Piney’s voice over the microphone.

“It seems we have a late entry.”

As he announced this Cabbage and Brussel-Sprout, the two naughtiest Loopies in Acersville rolled their cabbage motor-cycle to the starting line.

They nodded at Toffee and the other race entrants with naughty gleams in their eyes.

“Start your engines!” boomed the Mayor’s voice.

The robotic lights at the starting line flashed red then yellow and then green.

“And they’re off!” yelled Piney at the top of his voice as the Loopies and their food cars sped off.

Mango and Sherbet raced off, getting into the lead, but as they entered the woods the leaves and twigs littering the pathway stuck to their jam spread wheels! The banana-lade lathered wheels were so sticky, that they became caked in dry leaves in no time, causing the twins to go slower and slower until they stopped! The other racers cheered as they sped past the twins’ sandwich car.

“It will take forever to scrape this amount of junk off our wheels!” exclaimed Mango peering down to have a look.

“So I guess this means we’re out of the race?” asked Sherbet looking disappointed. Mango nodded and then took a bite out of his sandwich car. The twins giggled as they began munching their food car in the middle of the woods.

The race continued for the other Loopie racers as the race track went round a bend towards the mountain. Cabbage chuckled as she looked over her shoulder, the judges couldn’t see her anymore so she signaled her brother to carry out their naughty plan. Brussel-Sprout lifted a cabbage leaf on the back of their car and two hungry hyenas lept out of the Cabbage car and onto the race track.

The hungry hyenas raced towards Pilot’s hotdog car and began munching it up!! Pilot couldn’t believe his eyes as the two hungry dogs ate his car while he was riding in the race! They spotted Crumpet’s Banana-split car next and quick as a flash ate up her car too. Crumpet was cross. She shook her fist at Cabbage and Brussel-Sprout who were laughing and left her and Pilot in a puff of their smelly cabbage car fumes!

Soon Cabbage and Brusel-Sprout caught up to Wusky and the Pirates and past them too, now it was only Toffee that they had to get in front of to win the race. But Toffee was too far ahead and whizzed over the finish line, followed by an angry Cabbage and a not-so-happy-Brussel-Sprout. Last to finish were the Pirates, who were so jolly by now after drinking so much rum that they didn’t mind who won the race!

The Mayor smiled as he handed a shiny gold trophy to Toffee. Cabbage and Brussel-Sprout edged closer hoping to get some sort of second prize. The Mayor only looked them up and down and said,

“No one likes cheaters, or cabbages for that matter.”

The Loopies laughed. Toffee smiled and hugged his trophy, his silly plan had worked. His wobbly car had won the race!

© 2008 Ingrid Holtshausen. All Rights Reserved.

Download “The Wobbly Car” PDF Document

“Are you sure it’s the Christmas star Mango?” asked Sherbet.

“I’m not sure but I think so! It’s too bright not to be” he shrugged.

Just then they heard a crash! They looked up and to their amazement they saw Santa Clause! His sleigh had just come crashing down onto a nearby roof.

“Oh, ho-no!” cried Santa.

“Rudolph, it must be that nose of yours sonny!”

Rudolph looked at Santa and then shook his head and peered down to have a look at where they had landed. It was then that he spotted the Loopies looking up at him and Santa and the crash landed sleigh. Santa peered down to, to see what had caught Rudolph’s attention and he saw the Loopies too, looking up at him with gaping jaws.

Santa blushed, “Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

The Loopies just continued to stare.

“In all my years of delivering presents,” he said as he began climbing off the roof.

“I’ve never been spotted once! Until now that is!” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

“So you really are Santa?” asked Tubblie in surprise.

“Who’d you think I was, Billy the Kid?” he said with a jolly laugh.

“Not so! Yur beard is too white for ye ta be going by a name like kid.” said Patch.

Santa starred at Patch, “Is he for real? Or have I just entered into a time warp and gone back to Halloween?”

Santa looked very confused.

“Why did you crash Santa?” asked Sherbet in dismay.

“I dunno, I really think I may have hit a time warp as we were following The Star.” He replied, still trying to understand why Patch was dressed up in a Pirate suit.

“He really is a Pirate Mr. Clause!” said Wusky helping to clear Santa’s confusion.

“One of my closest friends too, along with his piratey crew Wallace and Woody here.” He pointed to the other pirates hidden among the other Loopies of Acersville. They had all been on their way home from Granny’s house after their annual Christmas Eve Dinner trying to spot the Christmas Star.

“And you certainly didn’t hit a time warp, our very own Professor Astro would have been aware of that I can assure you!” explained Rufus, as he slapped the Professor on the back.

“You said you were following the Star?” asked Mango, very interested to learn more about Santa’s Christmas travels.

“Yes! You see that very bright, very pointy one, high up there?” he asked.

“Mango! It is the one you spotted, bravo!” cried Sherbet who was very proud of her brother!

“Well done! Maybe I should down load your GPS system and give it to Rudolph; it might make it easier tracking the Star next year.”

Santa edged toward Mango and tugged his nose. Mango giggled.

“What are you doing that for?” he asked.

“Where do you keep your GPS? Rudolph has his in his nose.” He replied.

The Loopies grinned a little. They thought Santa was very funny.

“We don’t have GPS systems but we could always repair Rudolph’s one for you?” offered Rufus.

“Would you be able to do that?” asked Santa a little surprised.

Professor Astro grinned at Rufus.

“Of course, don’t worry a second longer!” replied the Professor, excited at the fact that his scientific knowledge could help at such an important time.

“Well we’ll have to hurry we only have 6 hours till everyone wakes up to open their presents on Christmas morning and my reindeer are fresh out of Brandy.” said Santa.

“Brandy?” said Tubblie, his eyes getting their naughty Tubblie gleam.

“Yes, it keeps them warm in the cold winter air and helps them to run faster so we can deliver all the presents on time. I’m already way off schedule!” he said grimly, looking at his watch.

“We’ll soon have you on your way! Mango and Sherbet, take Santa for Mince pies at Granny’s and we’ll sort out the rest!” said Rufus, eager to get started on repairing Rudolph’s GPS.

So the twins excitedly showed Santa the way to Granny’s house while the other Loopies set to work on fixing Santa’s sleigh and repairing Rudolph’s nose!

The Loopies worked so fast, in no time at all Santa’s sleigh was ready to leave Acersville.

“Here you go Santa.” said Leechie handing the jolly man a remote control.

“That’s for turning Rudolph’s GPS on and off.” explained Rufus.

“I have fitted the GPS with an extra magnet so it’s pull toward the Star will be stronger.” smiled Astro as he patted Rudolph on the nose.

“You’ve all been so kind.” Smiled Santa as a small tear formed in his eye, he then bent down to give them each a gift.

“Now those are for Christmas morning, and sorry I couldn’t place them under your trees and in your stockings, but you do understand, the sun’s nearly up and I still have so many deliveries to make.” He said brushing the tear away with his red glove.

The Loopies nodded and thanked Santa for their gifts.

“Now!” he said taking a deep breath to settle his emotions.

“Who was it that spotted the Christmas Star?” he said smiling a jolly smile.

Mango raised his hand slowly.

“Well then hop aboard son, don’t you want to see it up close?”

Mango could hardly believe it! Santa had chosen him to ride in his sleigh on Christmas Eve!

Mango climbed up and sat on the velvety seat and breathed in the Christmas smells of Santa’s sleigh. It was like being in a Chocolate factory that made gingerbread cookies too! Mango’s experience was interrupted when Santa said, “Don’t you have a sister son?”

“Huh, oh, yes! Yes I do, her name is Sherbet.” blushed Mango.

“Well then Sherbet, up you come too.”

So Sherbet jumped up and ran to the sleigh to join her brother. The twins were so excited!

Santa then took his place at the reigns and cracked his whip.

“On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer, on Vixen!” Santa began calling out all of his reindeer by name. The reindeer began to run, faster and faster, until they were moving at the speed of light.

“Oh my!” smiled Santa, “My reindeer don’t usually run this fast!”

Mango and Sherbet looked at one another and grinned. That Tubblie he must have fed the reindeer his Lighter Fluid from the Brandy Bottle he had handed Granny at dinner! That naughty rascal! But still they couldn’t blame him, it was the best way to get the reindeer to run extra fast to help Santa get back on schedule with his present delivering! So on they rode over the frosty sky all the while getting nearer and nearer to the Christmas Star.

© 2007 Ingrid Holtshausen. All Rights Reserved.

Download “The Christmas Star” PDF Document

“How will we find the treasure?” asked Wusky excitedly, he’d never gone on a treasure hunt before.
“It’s simple laddie,” replied Patch, “All we need do is build us a mighty Pirate ship and go and fetch it and bring it back here!”
“We won’t be doing any plundering will we?” asked Wusky cautiously.
Patch laughed a hearty laugh, “None at all I promise ye that lad.” Patch crossed his heart.
“Okay then what are we waiting for?” exclaimed Wusky, picking up his hammer.

Patch drew up the plans for the building of the ship and like one man, Woody, Wallace, Wusky and Patch began to build. When they had finished they stood back to admire their handy work.
“What should we call her?” asked Wallace.
“As the newest member of our Piratey crew, let Wusky have the honour in naming the ship.” Replied Patch.
“How about …” Wusky thought aloud, “The Sea Mermaid?”
“Aye! That’ll do!” smiled Patch approvingly.

So they all boarded their new Pirate ship, raised their flag and set sail. Woody climbed to the top of the mast and sat in the crow’s nest with his telescope. It was his job to be the look out. Wallace took his mop and began to swab the deck. Patch took his place at the bridge of the ship as ship’s captain.
“Wallace, bring me that map of yours ya sea dog!” yelled Patch.
“Aye Cap’n!” replied Wallace.
“Nothing like being out to sea, hey Wusky?” said Patch, the wind blowing through his beard.

They sailed for a while, while Patch studied the treasure map. He was then interrupted by a shout from Woody.
“Land ho!” he cried.
Wallace took out his binoculars and looked, sure enough, there it was a huge island. The Pirates and Wusky danced with glee.
“We found her lads!” shouted Patch.
As the Sea Mermaid neared the island, Patch gave the orders.
“Trim the sails and lower the anchor!” he barked.
“Aye, aye Cap’n!” said his crew.

They set down the anchor and the ship swayed gently in the tide. Patch looked at the treasure map.
“Yup, it’s this island for sure Mateys!”
So they took their shovels, got off the ship and waded through the water until they reached the beach.
“X would be marking the spot now.” Explained Patch.
Wusky grinned, Woody’s eyes glinted. They could smell the treasure!

“The map says to take twenty paces to the right.” Instructed Patch. The Loopie pirates followed Patches hand movements and took twenty paces in the direction he was pointing.
“Now it says to take fifty paces towards the Coconut Trees.” Wallace counted out the steps until they were right underneath the biggest tree.
“Now she says ta dig boys! X is where me treasure lies!”
The Loopies were so excited, they began digging ferociously. Sand flew in all directions, until … THUD!

“We’ve found her!” shouted Woody in glee as his shovel hit the chest.
“We sure have!” smiled Wallace, who was proud to have found the map in the first place. They dusted the sand off of the chest and opened the rusty lock with one of Woody’s knives. The chest creeked open, the Pirates danced and Wusky howled, the chest was filled to the brim with chocolate dog biscuits!

They shouted and laughed and threw sand into the air. Wusky did a jig, this was his first treasure he had ever found! Well if you don’t count Patch, Woody and Wallace that is! The Pirates excitedly picked up their prize and loaded it onto their ship. They sailed back to Acersville singing and drinking Rum all the way home!

When they got back, other Loopies from Acersville excitedly ran out to meet them. When the Pirates saw all of the Loopies they decided to share their treasure. The Loopies were delighted! They all enjoyed their shared treasure of chocolate dog biscuits with glasses of milk at Wusky’s Beach Cabana Café, listening to the pirates telling their piratey stories.

Surely these were the kindest Pirates that had ever lived!
Thank you Wusky, Woody, Wallace and Patch!

© 2007 Ingrid Holtshausen. All Rights Reserved.

Download “A Piratey Adventure” PDF Document

“Oh deary me, I’ve forgotten about you Linky.” said Granny, bending down to stroke the ginger animal. Just then she caught sight of Scales, her gold fish. Oh bother now she was really in a pickle. She couldn’t go away, she had to look after her pets!

Granny sat down in her favourite chair, to think about what to do.

Coo-coo-awk-awk-coo-coo-jolly good-awk!

“What on earth is that noise?” thought Granny as she got up to have a look.

It was Professor Astro, he was the nuttiest Loopie in Acersville! He wore thick glasses and was always coming up with new inventions! The Professor saw Granny peering out of her window at him. He grinned and waved at her, motioning for her to open the door.

“Hallo Granny!” he smiled, looking very pleased with himself.

“Good morning Astro, what have you there?” she asked.

“It’s my newest invention!” he smiled proudly, “It’s a Parrot-Cuckoo Alarm Clock!”

Granny looked puzzled, “What does it do?” she asked.

“Well, it’s pretty neat if you need to remind yourself what to do next.” The Professor looked at Linky, “Like perhaps feeding the cat?”

“Oh!” said Granny, smiling brightly. “That sounds like a perfect invention, and I know just how you can test it!”

She quickly explained that she had been deciding to take a vacation and couldn’t go because she had pets to look after, but now with Astro’s invention, all that could change!

“I’d be happy to look after your house and pets while you’re away Granny!” said Astro.

“Good! Let me quickly write you a list of all the things that need to be done around the house each day, and then you can set your invention to remind you!” Granny was twitching with excitement.

“What a wonderful plan.” beamed Astro.

Granny wrote out a long list, placed it on the kitchen counter, picked up her bags and waved to the Professor, “See you in a week!” she called and was soon out of sight.

The Professor smiled and stroked Linky.

“Looks like it’s just you, me and Scales for the next few days.”

“Awk! And me! Coo-coo!” said the alarm clock.

The Professor smiled, what a good invention he had made! He quickly went to work setting his Parrot-Cuckoo Alarm Clock to remind him about his tasks for the next few days.

The next day the Professor was woken early by the squawking of his clock.

“Make the tea! Awk, make the tea! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!”

The Professor rubbed his eyes and got out of bed, he stumbled down to the kitchen, without his glasses!

The Professor reached for the tea bags and hot water, but without his glasses he was as blind as a bat! He knocked over the kettle, which sent boiling water all over the kitchen! The boiling water spilled onto Granny’s list dissolving half of her writing!

“Awk! Not good! Coo-coo!” screamed the alarm clock.

“It’s alright, quite alright.” said the Professor dabbing up the water with a soft cloth.

“You’re programmed to let me know when I have to do things, remember?”

But the professor had forgotten that he needed the list to tell him other things he hadn’t programmed into the Parrot-Cuckoo Alarm Clock!

“Coo-coo, coo-coo! Awk, whistle, awk, time for the laundry, wash the clothes, whistle!”

The Professor looked pleased with himself.

“See, was that so difficult? You have all the information right up there.” He said pointing to the Parrot’s head.

The Professor busily went about collecting dirty clothes and sheets. He stuffed them all inside the washing machine until he couldn’t stuff anymore.

“Now, how many scoops of washing power do we need?” he asked the alarm clock.

“Awk!” squawked the Parrot looking at Granny’s frumpled list.

“Oh dear!” said the Professor, “it looks like we needed the list after all!”

‘Oh well, drastic measures call for drastic action! Let’s make it five scoops! Then it will be all nice, fluffy and clean.”

So the Professor began loading scoops of washing powder into the machine. He then hurried off with his Parrot-Cuckoo Alarm Clock to finish the other tasks set for the day, while the washing machine washed. The washing machine swished and swashed and swished and swashed until….

KERSWALLOOSH! SPLASH SPLISH!

The washing machine door popped off and all the sheets and clothes flopped in a soapy mess onto the floor. But the machine kept washing!

Wish-wash-wish. Wish-swash-swish it went, making more and more and more bubbles from the many scoops of soap powder the Professor had used!

But that wasn’t the only disaster of the day! Without his glasses or Granny’s list, the Professor had managed to turn Granny’s entire house on it’s head! He fed the cat fish food and poured milk in the fish bowl, he vacuumed the roses and watered the carpets. He boiled the ironing for dinner and folded the peas! Poor Granny! She was going to come home to such a mess!

By this time the bubbles had made their way out into the street! And the machine kept on washing. Wish-wash-swish-wash-wish-wash-wish!

“Hallo?” asked Rufus as he and Ruff had passed the bubbly mess.

“What’s this?”

“It looks like a whole lot of soapy bubbles to me.” said Ruff.

“Indeed! But this means someone is having a party without us! C’mon!” he replied, taking Ruff’s hand and dragging him to find the source of the bubbles.

Rufus and Ruff reached Granny’s house, which by this time was completely hidden from sight underneath all the washing foam.

“Awk! Whistle, tap the bath! Tap the bath! Coo-coo!” Came the muffled sounds of a Parrot’s voice from underneath the bubbles.

Rufus looked at Ruff, who shrugged.

“Maybe Granny has a new pet?” he offered.

“Only one way to find out!” said Rufus heading straight into the bubbles.

“La-la-li-tra-la-la!” It was the Professor, he looked quite funny without his glasses!

“Professor! Professor!” shouted Rufus, trying to shout loudly over the sounds of the vacuum and the Professor’s singing.

“What’s that?” the Professor turned.

“Oh, Rufus, what’s this you’ve brought with you?” he asked.

“It’s my brother Ruff Professor, you know who he is?” answered Rufus, not realizing that Ruff had been completely covered with bubbles on their way in.

“But then why does he look like that? Is it Halloween already?”

“Professor, turn off the vacuum! What are you doing to Granny’s house?” instructed Ruff who had had quite enough at this stage.

“Well..” said the Professor, obviously flustered at the unexpected interruption.

The Professor explained that Granny was away on holiday and that he was looking after her house using his latest invention, his Parrot-Cuckoo Alarm Clock.

“Professor, I think your alarm is broken.” Retorted Ruff looking at the house riddled with disaster.

“Quite the contrary, Ruff!” said the Professor proudly.

“Look at all the things I’ve been able to do for Granny. Why, my alarm is in perfect working order!”

Rufus quickly handed the Professor his glasses and with that the Professor’s face fell. His thick bottle-tops revealed what Rufus and Ruff had been trying to tell him.

“Egad! Good Heavens! This place is a mess! Someone should really clean it up!”

He looked at the brothers, a grave expression crossing his face, as he realized he couldn’t do it alone.

“No problems Professor!” Rufus answered Astro’s unasked question.

“We’ll get this place straight in no time!”

And with that the three Loopies began cleaning, tidying and straightening out Granny’s house. In no time at all Granny’s house was back to normal and ready for her return.

“Thank you Ruff and Rufus!” said a relieved Professor.

“It’s no problem Professor, really.” smiled Rufus.

“But before we go.” added Ruff, “There’s just one last thing we must do!”

With that he took the Professor’s Parrot-Cuckoo Alarm Clock and set it to remind Astro of one more task.

The brothers waved good night to the Professor and headed off home. The Professor was so tired he flopped onto the couch and fell into a deep sleep. In the morning he was again woken by the squawking of his alarm clock, but this time it had a different message:

“Awk, wear your glasses! Don’t forget your glasses! Coo-coo!”

© 2007 Ingrid Holtshausen. All Rights Reserved.

Download “Granny Goes Away” PDF Document

Pancake didn’t see her brother that often so she wanted everything to be just right.

Knock, knock, knock.

“He’s here!” squealed Pancake. She quickly tipped the last of her Pancake batter into the pan and hurried to the door.

“Pancake!” said Pascal, delighted to see his sister. The two Loopies hugged each other and then sat on Pancake’s comfy couches to catch up. They talked about this and that. They talked and talked. In fact they talked so much that Pancake forgot about her pancake, which is very unlike Pancake.

“What’s that burning smell?” asked Pascal after a while.

Pancake’s eyes widened.

“My pancakes!” she exclaimed, and ran to the kitchen. Her last pancake had burnt to a crisp and was as hard as a rock.

“We can’t eat this one,” she despaired to her brother, who was busy eating a pancake from one of her earlier batches, “it’s as hard as a board.”

Pascal’s ears pricked up, “A board?”

Pascal was the best surfer in all the seven seas and all the towns surrounding Acersville. Saying the word ‘board’ to Pascal was like saying the word ‘cheese’ to a mouse.

Pascal took the burnt pancake and hurried out of the house so fast that Pancake could hardly keep up. Pancake followed Pascal all the way to the beach and was just in time to see him floating over the waves on her burnt pancake! He disappeared under a wave and then re-appeared, riding the wave! He was using the pancake as a surfboard! Pancake cheered with glee as Pascal rolled out of the sea, carrying his new surfboard with him.

“Thanks Pancake.” He grinned, “This is the best surfboard I have ever had! And it will be perfect for tomorrow’s competition.”

The following day the beach was full of umbrellas and excited Loopies. They had all come to watch the Surf Competition. Wusky was serving juice in his Beach Cabana Café as fast as his hands could pour! The judges sat under a big shaded area with lots of cool water to drink and lots of scorecards to do their scoring.

The surfers lined up on the shore. One by one they each had a chance to ride the waves. When a surfer finished, the judges would hold up their scorecards, revealing what they thought of that surfer’s efforts in the sea.

Eventually it was Pascal’s turn to surf. He picked up his burnt pancake and headed toward the ocean. All the Loopies were astounded by Pascal’s funny looking surfboard. But they soon forgot about his funny looking board as he surfed, flipped and splashed in the waves. The crowd cheered and the judges gave perfect ten scores! Pascal was overjoyed and so was Pancake!

Later Pascal received a trophy and a medal for the best surfing that day. He smiled when the news crew interviewed him and said, “I couldn’t have done it without Pancake’s pancake!”

© 2007 Ingrid Holtshausen. All Rights Reserved.

Download “Pancake’s Pancake” PDF Document

The Professor let the twins look inside his space craft.

“So when are you going to fly this thing Professor?” asked Mango excitedly.

“Oh yes!” exclaimed Sherbet, “Can we come too?”

“Uh…” Professor Astro looked frightened, “I never actually thought of flying the space ship. I just built it!”

The twins were very disappointed.

“What’s the point in building a space ship if you’re never going to use it?” asked Mango.

Sherbet looked as if she was going to cry. Astro looked nervous.

“If you can find someone to fly the ship, I will let you take it into outer space.” He offered.

Mango and Sherbet jumped and laughed. They were so excited. “Thank you Professor Astro!” They shouted as they ran out of the university. Professor Astro rubbed his head, what had he gotten himself into? He’d never flown anything before, especially not in space!

Later that day Mango and Sherbet returned to the university with Pilot behind them.

“Professor!” they shouted as they ran inside to meet him. “Professor we have found someone to fly your ship!” they panted. “No one can fly better than Pilot can!”

“I suppose you are right.” said Professor Astro, “Well Pilot have you ever flown a space ship before?”

“No I haven’t, but I can try.” he replied.

Professor Astro broke out in a cold sweat.

‘What!” he gasped, “And you want to take my precious invention up into the sky, into space!” Astro began hyperventilating.

“Calm down Mr. Professor sir.” said Sherbet rubbing his arm with her paw.

“Yeah Professor, give Pilot a chance. You don’t get anywhere without a chance!”

Professor Asro sat down and had some tea. He looked up at Pilot, “I’ll give you a chance if you promise to bring the twins safely back to Acersville.” Pilot and the twins cheered.

“Thank you Professor!” chorused the twins.

“I won’t let you down sir.” said Pilot.

Astro smiled, “If you are going up in space,” he said, “there are a few things you are going to need.”

“Like what Professor?” asked Sherbet with wide eyes.

“First you are going to need space suits.”

“That’s easy!” said Sherbet, “Granny can knit them for us!”

Mango and Pilot smiled this was going to be fun!

“Then you will need space helmets!” continued the Professor.

“No problem!” said Mango, “I’m sure Wusky has a few big Brandy glasses he can lend us from his Beach Café for helmets!”

“Or even better, fish bowls!” said Pilot, grinning.

Mango and Sherbet giggled at the thought of wearing fish bowls on their heads!

“Then the last and most important thing of all.” said Astro, very seriously. The Loopies looked intently at the Professor. “You will need four friends to go with you!”

Pilot, Mango and Sherbet cheered again, this was going to be more fun than they imagined.

They said hurries goodbyes to the Professor and rushed off to Granny’s house to ask her to knit seven space suits as fast as she could. Their next stop was Crumpet’s Bakery. They asked if she could pack them a picnic basket to take with them into outer space. Then they stopped at Wusky’s Beach Cabana Café to fit Brandy glasses onto their heads to use as space helmets. Mango’s ‘helmet’ got stuck on his head and Sherbet and Pilot had to get it off. What a commotion!

Eventually they had collected all the goodies they needed for their outer space trip. Now all they had to do was decide on who to take with them. They decided to take Granny because she had knitted their space suits and she had never been on a big adventure before. They also chose Crumpet because she had packed them such a lovely ‘Outer Space Picnic Lunch’. They decided to invite Wusky along too, because he had lent them Brandy glasses and fish bowls to use as ‘Outer Space Helmets’.

“Professor Astro has to come too!” said Sherbet as they walked back to the university to board the space ship with all their friends.
“Most definitely!” agreed the other Loopies.

They all boarded the space ship and waited for Professor Astro to begin the count down. The roof of the university opened slowly as the space ship turned and tilted toward the sky.

“Helmets on?” asked the professor, looking around the space ship at all the excited Loopies.

“Buckled in?” The Professor looked around again. Everyone was safely buckled into their seats and they were all grinning with excitement.

“Then away we go!” he said and began the count down.

The Loopies were so excited they began counting with him, “Five, four, three, two, one, BLAST OFF!” they shouted as their space ship shot through the sky and then hurtled through space. The Loopies gazed out of their windows in amazement at all the stars and planets they saw as they flew passed.

“I thought we could have our picnic on the moon.” smiled the Professor.

Granny giggled. Crumpet squealed. They were so happy that the twins had chosen them to come along into outer space.

With a gentle bump they landed on the moon. The Loopies hopped out of the space ship in their new space suits onto the surface of the moon. They soon discovered that on the moon, gravity is not very strong! So they used moon rocks to weigh down their picnic blanket and laughed as their picnic basket floated in mid-air. The Loopies had fun for the rest of the day and spent their time picnicking and pretending to fly!

Soon it was time to leave the moon and go back to Earth. So the Loopies tidied the moon while Professor Astro took some pictures and gathered some moon rocks to take back to Acersville.

The Loopies had a great time, I’m glad we could go too, aren’t you?

© 2007 Ingrid Holtshausen. All Rights Reserved.

Download “The Space Adventure” PDF Document

“I’m counting on you to hang rainbows in the sky each time it rains.” said the Great Loopie, picking up his rucksack and heading for the door.

“I will be gone for a few days and I need someone to do it while I’m away.” He explained.

The Great Loopie was the wisest and oldest of all the Loopies. They didn’t know much about Him except that he loved them very much and that it was His job to look after the seasons, making sure they came on time and to put rainbows in the sky after it had rained.

“You can count on me Mr. Great Loopie sir.” Air put his hand to his head and gave the Great Loopie a salute.

“Very well then, I must be off and remember you can’t forget, it’s very important that a rainbow gets up into the sky after each rain storm. With your wind glider I’m sure it won’t be a problem. You’ll find the recipe in my Big Book.”

“I promise!” smiled Air.

The following day there was a huge storm. The rain clouds got big and puffy, lightning flashed and thunder crashed and rain came pouring down and Air Loopie got to work making his very first rainbow!

He found the Great Loopie’s Big Book and set to work following the rainbow Recipe inside. After some mixing he stuck his finger in the bowl and licked it clean. The mixture was sweet and melted away in his mouth, like Candy Floss, just not as sticky.

“Hey that looks like Air!” called Leechie from below, watching him hang the rainbow in the sky.

“You’re right!” Rufus agreed, ‘I wonder where the Great Loopie is? Usually He hangs a rainbow in the sky after the rain.”

So the two friends headed up the steep mountain path to where the Great Loopie lived to find out why the Great Loopie had left such a big job to Air. They found Air dusting off his Wind Glider.

“Looks mighty fine don’t-cha think?” asked Air as he nodded in the direction of his freshly hung rainbow.

“Must have been hard work doing it all by yourself.” said Leechie.

“Why are you doing it anyway?” asked Rufus.

“The Great Loopie is away and He said it’s very important, I can’t forget! He asked me to do it because I’m an Air Glider.” smiled Air.

The friends smiled as they starred at the rainbow for a while, until it began to melt and then headed down the mountain as the sun began to set.

The next day it rained again. It rained again the following day and the next!

Air mixed rainbows until he knew the recipe by heart.

“Whew!” he rubbed his forehead, this was hard work. By nightfall he had managed to hang the last rainbow.

“At last!” he sighed. “Maybe it won’t rain tomorrow and there will be time for me to have some fun on my Wind Glider!” he smiled as he hopped into bed, imagining the wonderful time he would have in the sky the following day.

“Surely it can’t rain again …” he mumbled as he fell fast asleep.

But sure enough, rain it did! The raindrops splattered on the window panes and drummed at the paving. Air felt exasperated! And then he felt plain angry.

“I’m not the Great Loopie,” he shouted, “and it’s not my job to hang rainbows in the sky!” he shook his fist at the rain and decided that today he just was not going to hang a single rainbow, no matter what the consequence!

So he ate his cereal, took his umbrella and went for a walk in the rain, making sure to splash in every puddle he passed! He drank hot chocolate and ate mounds of pancakes at Crumpet’s bakery. Eventually the rain stopped and the sun came bursting through the clouds.

“Looks like it’s time for you to head up into the sky with one of your rainbows!” smiled Crumpet as she cleared the dirty dishes from Air’s table.

“I will be heading into the sky today, but not with any rainbows this time, thank you very much!” he smiled as he paid for his meal.
“It’s time for me to have some fun for a change!”

Crumpet looked confused.

“But the Great Loopie said…”

“I know what he said, but what’s the worst that could happen?” and with that he headed for the mountain with his Wind Glider under his arm forgetting about the promise he had made to the Great Loopie.

So that day, true to his word Air didn’t hang a single rainbow! By nightfall nothing serious had happened.

“Just as I had expected.” He chuckled to himself, “I wonder what the Great Loopie was so worried about?” but Air fell asleep smiling before he could ponder an answer to his question, his rainbow hanging days were over and all that mattered now was having fun!

The following day Air left his house and was heading for his favourite Air Gliding launching spot on Mount Peakmore but found the Loopies to be in an uproar!

Crumpet was angry with Pancake because she had broken her promise and had eaten all the food in Crumpet’s Bakery again!

Wusky was angry because the pirates, who had promised to come in to the Beach Cabana Cafe early that day to learn how to fold cloth napkins had decided to go off looting and plundering instead. Something they had promised that they’d never do again!

Tubblie was up to his old tricks as usual and had forgotten about his promise to Leechie and Chelsea about being a better Loopie! It was a disaster, the whole town seemed to be falling apart.

Air began to slink away as he had some idea this was partly his fault for not hanging the rainbow yesterday after the rain!

“Air!” boomed a loud voice from among the Loopies.

Air gulped and turned around, it was the Great Loopie, He had returned from his trip.

“Why didn’t you hang a rainbow in the sky yesterday after the rain like you promised?” He asked, looking very disappointed.

“I just didn’t feel like it. I was tired and angry with you for giving me such a big responsibility. And I wanted to have some fun!”
Air replied, looking down at the ground.

The Great Loopie smiled, took Air in His arms, kissed him and forgave him.

“Rainbows symbolize promises.” He explained. “I put the first rainbow in the sky as a promise to Noah and his family and ever since then I’ve been putting rainbows in the sky.”

“Is that why everyone in Acersville forgot about keeping their promises?” asked Air.

The Great Loopie nodded.

“Do you think we can fix it?” Air asked, finding it difficult to look the Great Loopie in the eye.

“Maybe if we had an Air Glider around here somewhere we could, otherwise I’m not so sure it can be done.” replied the Great Loopie.

“Aye Aye Mr. Great Loopie Sir!” saluted Air as he ran off to make his biggest rainbow yet.

And from that day on all the promises in Acersville were saved, as the Great Loopie went back to putting His rainbows in the sky! And as for Air? You will still find him Air Gliding close to the top of Mount Peakmore, back flipping and swirling around rainbows after the rain.

© 2007 Ingrid Holtshausen. All Rights Reserved.

Download “The Rainbow Maker” PDF Document