Chapter 22

“Quack!” Merlin shouted.

“You’re right,” Sally added, “He’s going to fall off that thing!”

“Be careful,” Peppermint roared, but it was already too late as the blue snapping turtle had rode the unicycle into a hole falling head first before landing upside down, his legs kicking in the air.”

“Help,” the snapper shouted, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”

“I’m coming,” Scottie shouted as he ran across the field towards where the blue snapping turtle laid kicking his legs, the red unicycle lying on the ground beside his head.

“Hurry up!” the turtle screamed. “I’ll die if I lie on my back too long.”

Scottie ran as fast as he could run, outrunning even Sally and Peppermint who were following behind him. Scottie ran so hard he thought his chest was going to explode but he knew he couldn’t stop to rest until the blue snapping turtle was again right-side-up. “I’m here,” Scottie gasped for air as he grabbed the turtle’s shell lifting as hard as he could and shouting, “Arrrgg!” as he rolled the turtle back to his feet.

“Thanks,” the turtle smiled. “You saved my life there, ah... ah, what do I call you?”

“I’m Scottie. What’s your name?”

“Thanks Scottie, thanks for saving my life. I’m Tom T. Turtle and I’m forever indebted to you for saving my life.”

“What’s the T stand for?” Scottie asked.

“The T stands for The,” Tom T. Turtle replied, “but I prefer to be called Tom T.”

“Is he okay?” Sally asked as she and Peppermint finally arrived out of breath and looking as if they might both fall down.

“I’m okay,” Tom T. said, “thanks to my hero, Scottie.”

“Quack,” Merlin quacked as he landed next to the red unicycle.

“You’re right,” Peppermint exclaimed, “his wheel is broken.”

“Oh no,” Tom T. cried, “how will I ever be able to ride around the world if it’s broken?”

“You’re riding a unicycle around the world?” Peppermint asked.

“How far have you gone so far?” Scottie asked.

“I’m afraid I haven’t gone far at all.” Tom T. answered. “You see, I only started this morning and I fall down a lot.”

“Why do you want to ride a unicycle around the world?” Sally asked.

“’Cause.”

“Quack?”

“Because no one’s ever done it before,” Tom answered.

“Well you’ll not be riding this unicycle anywhere,” Peppermint said as he picked the broken unicycle up from the ground and held it in the air. “Not unless you know someone who knows how to fix it.”

“Oh dear,” Tom T. moaned, “I’m afraid I don’t know anyone.”

“I might be able to fix it,” Sally said.

“You think so?”

“I’m not sure, but I work on my motorcycle and it’s got three wheels.”

“I wish my unicycle had three wheels,” Tom said. “Then I might not fall down so much.”

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