Chapter 23

“Stop Thief! Stop Thief!” a voice shouted from the distance. “Stop Thief!”

Scottie, Merlin, Sally, Peppermint, and Tom T. all looked up to see a man with curly red hair, floppy shoes, and a big red nose, waving his arms above his head and shouting, “Stop Thief!”

“Quack?”

“He’s a clown,” Sally answered. “I wonder if the circus is in town?”

“Quack?” Merlin asked looking up at Peppermint.

“No,” Peppermint replied, “I’ve never seen that clown before.”

“Stop that blue turtle,” the clown shouted as he continued to run towards them. “He stole my unicycle!”

“Did you steal his unicycle?” Sally asked looking sternly at Tom T.

“I found it,” Tom answered. “I swear I found it this morning.”

“He stole my unicycle,” the clown shouted, pointing his finger as he stopped directly in front of Tom. “That thief stole my unicycle and I demand he return it to me now.”

“Now just wait a minute,” Peppermint growled. “I know you’re upset but you need to calm down.”

“You’re a real bear?” the clown said with alarm, his voice suddenly nervous. “Yes Sir, whatever you say Sir, ah, ah... I mean, Mister Bear.”

“Name’s Peppermint and don’t you forget it.”

“Yes Sir, Mister Peppermint. Whatever you say, Mister Peppermint.”

“Did you steal his unicycle?” Sally asked Tom Turtle again.

“I found it in the woods,” Tom answered. “It was leaning against a tree. I didn’t know it belonged to anyone, honest.”

“I leaned it against that tree,” the clown shouted, “and you stole it!”

“Calm down,” Peppermint growled again. “We’ve no need for shouting. I ran away from the circus because my trainer was always shouting at me. I hate it when people shout at me, understand.”

“Yes Sir, Mister Peppermint. Yes Sir.”

“Tom,” Sally asked, “what made you think it was okay to ride off on someone else’s unicycle? You know it didn’t lean itself against that tree, don’t you?”

“I’m sorry,” Tom whined as tears began to flow from his eyes, “I just didn’t think...”

“There, there,” the clown said, “please stop crying. I hate to see turtles cry. Here, take my hanky and dry your eyes.”

“Okay,” Tom sniffled as he reached for the handkerchief, but as he touched it to his face it changed to a bouquet of flowers. “What the?”

“Ha, Ha, Ha,” the clown started laughing and in moments they were all laughing. Even Tom T. began laughing so hysterically he fell to the ground and landed on his back.

“Oh my,” Peppermint laughed as he reached to roll Tom over, “here, let me roll you back on your belly.”

And with that they all set on the ground and laughed until they could laugh no more.

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