Well, I’m glad that’s over,’ says Terry. ‘Now we can all relax. I’m going back to frolic with the lambs in our beautiful sunny meadow.’
‘And I’m going to keep tracking that high-flying, mountain-dwelling Joke Writer-snatcher,’ says Jill. ‘They are such fascinating creatures. They’re even more rare than high-flying, mountain-dwelling worm-snatchers!’
‘Hey, not so fast, you two!’ I say. ‘Aren’t you forgetting something?’
Q Why do hummingbirds hum?
A Because they can’t remember the words.
‘No, I don’t think so,’ says Terry.
‘No, I can’t think of anything either,’ says Jill.
‘Okay, then let me ask each of you a riddle,’ I say.
‘Oh, goody,’ says Terry. ‘I love riddles!’
‘All right,’ I say. ‘Terry’s riddle first. What’s big and red and gets bigger and redder the angrier it gets and then explodes if a certain writer and illustrator don’t get their book delivered by two-thirty today?’
‘Hmmm,’ says Terry, scratching his chin. ‘Beats me.’
Q What bird can write?
A A penguin.
‘MR BIG NOSE’S NOSE!’ I yell.
‘Yikes!’ says Terry. ‘But it’s already two twenty-five! How are we going to get our book to him on time?’
‘I don’t know!’ I say. ‘But we’d better figure something out... and fast!’
‘Hang on,’ says Jill. ‘What’s my riddle? You said you had one for me, too.’
‘I sure do,’ I say. ‘What has 100 heads, 400 legs, lots of fur and is about to go to sleep for six months?’
‘Oh, my goodness!’ says Jill. ‘The answer is 100 bears! We promised to read them your book before they go to sleep. You have to deliver it to Mr Big Nose or those poor bears will have to go into hibernation without their bear-time story!’
Q What has 100 heads, 400 legs and is about to go to sleep for six months?
A 100 bears.
‘I know!’ I say. ‘But how are we going to get our book to Mr Big Nose?’
‘We could ask the high-flying, mountain-dwelling worm-snatcher to take us,’ says Jill. ‘She promised she would help us whenever we were in need, and we are definitely in need right now!’
‘Let’s call her,’ I say. ‘Everybody ready? On the count of three: one ... two ... three!’
Q Two silk worms were in a race. Who won?
A It was a tie.
We’ve barely had time to close our mouths when the worm-snatcher swoops down, snatches us all up in her mighty talons ...
and carries us off to Mr Big Nose’s office.
Q What can travel around the world while staying in a corner?
A A stamp.
Luckily for us, Mr Big Nose’s office window is open. The worm-snatcher releases us at just the right moment and we all tumble into Mr Big Nose’s office at exactly 2.30 p.m.
‘At last!’ shouts Mr Big Nose as we pick ourselves up off the floor and gather up the pages of our book. ‘I was just about to cancel your contract.’
Q What has words but never speaks?
A A book.
‘Sorry, Mr Big Nose,’ I say as I hand him the pages. ‘But we’ve been very busy. You can read all about it in The 104-Storey Treehouse. Here it is!’
‘Is it as good as the last one?’ says Mr Big Nose. ‘It had better be!’
‘Oh, it is,’ says Jill. ‘It’s a great story. Possibly the greatest story ever told.’
‘Hmmm,’ says Mr Big Nose. ‘I’ll be the judge of that! Well, what are you all standing there for? You can go now. I’ve got work to do. And so have you—don’t forget you have a deadline for next year’s book.’
‘We won’t forget,’ I say. ‘But before we go, we were wondering if you would be able to do us a very special favour.’
‘That depends on what it is,’ says Mr Big Nose. ‘I’m a very busy man, you know.’
Q What’s a frog’s favourite year?
A A leap year.
‘We know,’ I say, ‘but would it be possible to put our new book into super-fast production so we can take a copy to read to some bears before they go into hibernation? You see, we promised them we would in exchange for them agreeing to leave the treehouse so we could write the book.’
‘Hmmm,’ says Mr Big Nose. ‘It’s highly irregular, but I suppose a promise is a promise—especially where bears are concerned. Wait there and I’ll see what I can do.’
Q What do snowmen eat for breakfast?
A Snowflakes.
‘Here you are,’ says Mr Big Nose. ‘One freshly printed copy of your new book.’
‘Thank you, Mr Big Nose,’ I say. ‘We really appreciate it—and so will the bears.’
‘Let’s call the worm-snatcher to take us to the bears’ cave,’ says Jill. ‘There’s not a moment to lose. Winter is almost here!’
Q What is the best way to win a race?
A Run faster than everyone else.
Once again the worm-snatcher appears and snatches us all up, along with our new book.
Q What do you call an angry bear?
A Nothing, just run.
When we arrive the bears are all in their pyjamas, sitting up in a 100-bear bed.
Q What did the blanket say to the mattress?
A ‘I’ve got you covered.’
They let out a huge 100-bear roar.
‘That means, “Hooray for Andy, Terry and Jill!”’ says Jill.
Terry, Jill and I sit down in a big chair, get cosy and start reading to the bears.
Q What’s the last thing you take off before bed?
A Your feet off the floor.
A few hours later I finally reach this, the last page (just like you), but nobody is listening (except for you, of course). All the bears—and Terry and Jill— are fast asleep.
I’ve got to admit I’m feeling pretty sleepy myself. I might just nap for a little while—well, probably most of winter to tell you the truth—and then Terry and I will get busy adding another thirteen new storeys to the treehouse. Goodnight!
THE END
Q What building has the most storeys?
A A library.
