2 Andy’s Aching Toothache

CHAPTER 2 ANDY'S ACHING TOOTHACHE If you're like most of our readers (moan), you're probably wondering (groan) why I'm moaning and groaning so much. Well, the reason is I've got a really bad toothache. 'Hi, Andy,' says Terry, prancing towards me with a

couple of lambs by his side. 'What a lovely day it is in our beautiful sunny meadow full of buttercups, butterflies and bluebirds!' 'No, it's not,' I say. 'It's a terrible day! I've got the most aching toothache in the world!' Q What time do you go to the dentist? A Two-thirty.

'Hey, that reminds me of a joke,' says Terry. 'What time did the boy go to the dentist?' 'I don't know and I don't care!' I say. 'My tooth is hurting!' 'That's right,' he says, laughing. 'Two-thirty. Get it? Tooth-hurty. Just like you!' 'Yes, I get it,' I say. 'Then why aren't you laughing?' 'Because my tooth is hurting too much! It's hard to

laugh when I'm in so much pain.' 'That's too bad,' says Terry, 'because I love jokes! I reckon we should write a whole book of them.' 'I'd love to,' I say, 'but with this toothache I just don't feel funny enough to write jokes. In fact, I'm not sure I even feel funny enough to write this book.' Q If life gets tough, what do you have that you can always count on? A Your fingers. 'But we have to write this book,' says Terry.

'Otherwise, Mr Big Nose will get mad!' 'I know,' I say. 'I just don't know how we're going to do it. This toothache is killing me.' 'Hey, look up there in the sky!' says Terry. 'It's a bird!' I look up to where Terry's pointing. 'I don't think it's a bird,' I say. 'That's Superfinger.' 'No, it's not a bird or Superfinger,' says Terry. 'It's a biplane! And it's got a sign!'

Q Why did the plane crash? A Because the pilot was a loaf of bread. 'A joke-writing pencil, Andy!' says Terry. 'That's exactly what we need! It could help us write jokes and it might even help us write our book even though you have a toothache. We should get one. Today!' 'But where from?' I say, just as a second biplane flies overhead.