After the Storm

Monty and Tawny the Fearless Lion are both yawning as they plod along the beach, heading for breakfast at the Island Cafe.

There was a huge storm in the night. Thunder crashed. Rain pelted down. Giant waves pounded the shore, moving the sand around. Now the storm’s moved on, but the sun’s hidden behind grey clouds, so everything is still very wet.

The big waves have left lots of things behind them on the sand, and Monty’s Pick-up Sled is piled high. He’s found plenty of driftwood for the Cafe stove. He’s also found a rusty saw, a big plastic cone, a canoe paddle, a useful wooden box and a fine broad-brimmed hat.

A huge fishing net clogged with seaweed is piled on the Sled as well. It’ll make a great sun shelter for the Islanders on hot afternoons. Usually, washed-up hats and fishing nets are chewed to pieces by Jinglebees before Monty can get to them, but this morning the Jinglebees are sleeping in.

Monty’s pleased with his Finds, but he wishes he was still in bed, too. He and Tawny were safe from the storm in their little grass hut, but there was too much noise for sleep.

First, there was the thunder. Then, in the jungle, there were the angry roars of the Island’s monster, the Hairy Horrible. The Horrible hunts at night, but it hates wet feet even more than it hates sand between its toes.

And as if those things weren’t bad enough, the two Argue Birds that live on the roof of the hut had started one of their loud quarrels.

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