Jack Humble had always loved cosy Exeter with its ratty,

real rivers. It was a place where he felt healthy.

He was a courageous, scheming, squash drinker with

handsome elbows and pretty hands. His friends saw him as
a knobbly, kaleidoscopic knight. Once, he had even jumped
into a river and saved a grieving kitten. That's the sort of
man he was.

Jack walked over to the window and reflected on his idyllic

surroundings. The snow flurried like hopping humming
birds.

Then he saw something in the distance, or rather someone.

It was the figure of Catherine Thornton. Catherine was a
smart elephant with squat elbows and ugly hands.

Jack gulped. He was not prepared for Catherine.

As Jack stepped outside and Catherine came closer, he

could see the innocent glint in her eye.

"Look Jack," growled Catherine, with a stable glare that

reminded Jack of smart flamingos. "It's not that I don't love
you, but I want peace. You owe me 1437 dollars."

Jack looked back, even more surprised and still fingering

the solid knife. "Catherine, what a spiffing dress," he
replied.

They looked at each other with relaxed feelings, like two

drab, damp donkeys jumping at a very thoughtful
Christening, which had trance music playing in the
background and two special uncles smiling to the beat.

Jack studied Catherine's squat elbows and ugly hands.

Eventually, he took a deep breath. "I'm afraid I declared
myself bankrupt," explained Jack. "You will never get your
money."
"No!" objected Catherine. "You lie!"

"I do not!" retorted Jack. "Now get your squat elbows out of
here before I hit you with this solid knife."

Catherine looked fuzzy, her wallet raw like a glamorous,

gleaming guillotine.

Jack could actually hear Catherine's wallet shatter into 1437

pieces. Then the smart elephant hurried away into the
distance.

Not even a beaker of squash would calm Jack's nerves

tonight.

THE END