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Young World
Rumpus by the riverside
NIMI KURIAN
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The river glistened in the morning light and the scene was breathtakingly beautiful. Suddenly Hound began to shout that it was the end of the world…
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I am going fishing tomorrow,” announced Mr. Farmer. “I need a break from the farm and all the work.”“Yes, you have been working hard,” agreed Mrs. Farmer. “Why don’t you take Hound along? He would love to play around while you fish.”
“Splendid!” said Mr. Farmer. “I will set out early, well before sun rise so pack me a nice picnic.”
Hound was excited. He bounced out into the yard, shouting out his news to the other animals.
“I’m going fishing tomorrow! I’m going fishing tomorrow.”
Pig looked up lazily and grinned. “That should be fun. But rather you than me! Give me my straw and my slop and a bit of sun on my back… Oink!” And he rolled over to the other side.
It’s a picnic
Sophie the cow thought it was a great idea. “I bet there’s a lot of grass out there. Hmmm! There must be after all it’s near the river.”
Sultan’s eyes widened when he heard. “If it’s fishing I am sure I’ll be there too. After all Mr. Farmer has to ride on me!”
“Oh I’ll be there too,” said Sophie. “I’ll just wander over, pretending to be grazing…”
Early the next morning, even before the sun rose a strange party set out. There was Mr. Farmer on Sultan with his fishing gear, and Hound running beside them and at a distance was Sophie, meandering along.
The river flowed closeby, just beyond the woods. It was cool in the woods and pretty dark too. Hound didn’t dare wander too far. He was afraid of the dark shadows that moved ominously in the woods and didn’t dare wander away.
Once they reached the river, Mr. Farmer got busy with his fishing. By the time he threw out the line, the sun was just rising. It was beautiful. A hazy white mist rose up from the river and as the sun’s rays hit the water it glistened. Hound was fascinated by the colours in the water. He sat beside Mr. Farmer, mesmerised. Hound could not take his eyes away from the water. Sultan wandered around, chomping up great chunks of grass. Sophie was peaceably enjoying herself.
Then all of a sudden Hound jumped up shouting, “It’s the end of the world! It’s the end of the world!”
Sultan came charging in and so did Sophie. With all the stomping of hooves Mr. Farmer lost his rod and line in the river. He began shouting at Hound to keep quiet. Sophie mooed and Sultan neighed. There was a holy rumpus by the riverside.
“It’s the end of the world, I tell you!” shouted Hound. He refused to listen to Mr. Farmer. He kept shouting and running around, with Mr. Farmer running behind him shouting at him to keep quiet and Sultan and Sophie behind them trying to find out why the world was ending. Hound ran on and on until he reached the farmhouse.
He ran up to Pig and shouted, “It’s the end of the world. It’s the end of the world!”
Pig however, was unmoved. He opened one eye and looked around. He saw a very flustered Hound, a very angry Mr. Farmer and behind him a very frightened Sophie and Sultan.
With great difficulty he stood up, grunted and said, “What’s the noise?”
“It’s the end of the world! It’s the end of the world,” shouted Hound again.
“Why do you say that?” asked Pig, quietly and deliberately.
“I saw the salmon swim upriver. I saw the salmon swim upriver. It’s the end of the world when fish swim the wrong way!”
Pig’s eyes widened and he let out a great bellyfull of laughter. He laughed and laughed till tears rolled down his fat pink cheeks and his legs became weak and he had to sit down. “Stupid, stupid Hound! Salmon swim upriver to spawn. It’s not the end of the world.”
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