The  Porcupine’s Quills
By Jackie

             Oh, My Dear Child, come sit on my knee, and I will tell you a story.  This story is called “The Porcupine’s Quills.” 

          A long time ago in a land called Africa, a little, chubby, pink pig was as curios as the  Elephant’s Child that ran around trying to find out what the Crocodile  ate.

          “ What is your protection?” the Pig implored the Elephant.

          “Well I have my strength, and I am large” the Elephant spoke in a loud strong voice. “ Now go away, and let me eat!” the Elephant stomped her feet at the Pig.

         Next the Pig ran to the Antelope.  “What is your protection?” The little pig was so curious that he was jumping up and down.

          “Well stop jumping,” the Antelope spoke with a strong, hard voice. The pig stopped.  “Well, should I show you?” the Antelope bucked his head.

          “Well, um, no. I think I know by looking at the size of your horns on your forehead,” the Pig softly said while backing up.

          You see, My Dear Child, the little, pink Pig was so curious that he went to every animal every day asking what their protection was.  The pig had no protection of his own.   After a while the animals got really  uptight.

          “Let’s say we chase him out of here, and he’ll never bother us again,” the elephant softly spoke, so the pig wouldn't here the animals.

          “No, he would be back,” the Zebra disagreed.

          “How about we stomp on him until he is flat as a leaf?” the Zebra exclaimed.

          “No, that will be too mean,”the Elephant kindly told the others.

         “We can just ignore him,” the Antelope demanded in a strong voice.

          “Yeah, yeah, yeah!” everyone yelled in harmony.

          “What are you talking about?” the Pig appeared out of a bush.

          “I can’t take this!” the Elephant bellowed and started to chase the Pig.

          I can’t take this anymore either!” the Antelope angrily yelled.

          “Me either!”all the other animals bellowed at the same time.

        The Pig began to run, My Dear Child, and he ran until he could run no more.  When he came to a pricker bush, he had no choice, My Dear Child, so he did it. He jumped into the pricker bush!  My Dear Child, all the animals stopped.

           Then the pink Pig jumped out of the bush. The Pig, My Dear Child, just stood there.  The elephant started to put his foot down but she lifted her foot up and yelled “Ouch!”

          “What is it?“ the pink Pig asked.

          “You have spikes!” the Elephant stuttered.

         “Really?” the pink Pig said excitedly.

        “Wow, we can call you Porcupine! “ the Antelope said, examining the pig.

          Now, My Dear Child, every Porcupine you see has quills, just because of that little, pink Pig that jumped into the pricker bush.  He got the name Porcupine.  My Dear Child, that same Porcupine is still living today in Africa.