Speaker 1: Yea, hello. My name's Josephine and this is the Animal
Tales podcast, where you suggest the animals featured in our stories.
There are new tales to enjoy every Monday and Wednesday,
with a third premium only story every Friday. Do let
your friends know about Animal Tales so that they can
enjoy our stories too. Edward is from Bournemouth in the UK,
and he would like a story featuring a blue footed booby.
You can learn more about these creatures in the animal
facts after the story. Okay, are you ready? That's good,
then I'll begin Sammy's Splendid Shoes. Edward was taking a
walk when he noticed a pair of ducks staring at him.
He tried to ignore them at first, but couldn't help
but overhear their whispers. Look at his feet, one of
the ducks said. Blushing, Edward hurried off the path into
some tall grass. Now alone, he looked down at his
feet and sighed at what he saw, because Edward's feet
were bright blue. This was because Edward was a blue
footed booby, a type of sea bird. No other birds
had bright blue feet, a fact that Edward was more
than aware of. To put it simply, Edward didn't much
like his blue, webbed feet. He felt like everyone was
always staring. It didn't help that whenever he told someone
what kind of creature he was, he just ended up
directing their attention to them. But what could he do.
They were the feet he was born with. He couldn't
exactly go anywhere without them. Leaving the grass, Edward tried
to ignore the flashes of blue that flicked out beneath
his belly. Instead, he tried to focus on the green
leaves of the trees above him. This meant that he
wasn't looking where he was going. Almost walking face first
into a small wooden cabin, somehow he managed not to
bash his beak into the wall. I've never noticed this
cabin before, he said to himself. There was a sign
fixed to the wall above his head. It said Sammy's
Splendid Shoes. Now there was an idea. If he had
a pair of shoes, he could cover up his vibrant feet.
Edward heard a faint chime as he pushed open the
cabin's door. It was gloomy in the room, taking him
a moment for his eyes to adjust, but when they did,
Edward saw he was in a small shop absolutely filled
with shoes. There are all sorts, large ones and small ones,
pretty ones and sturdy ones, and in every color imaginable.
They were piled so high that they were higher than
Edward's head. Can I help you, asked a voice, drawing
Edward's attention to a chair. Hidden amongst the piles of shoes.
There sat an elderly raccoon with glasses perched on the
end of his nose. He had a half finished red
shoe in his hands. Yes, please, said Edward, I'd like
to buy some shoes. The raccoon set his shoe down. Well,
you've come to the right place, he said, as he
peered down at Edward's feet. What interesting feet, he murmured.
You're a blue footed booby. I take it that's right,
said Edward, shuffling awkwardly. Well, I'm Sammy and I'm a shoemaker.
I've been making shoes for very many years. A shoe's expensive,
Edward asked. I really just want to cover up my feet,
and I don't have much money. You want to hide
your feet, said the surprised raccoon. But you're a blue
footed booby. You have remarkable feat I know, Edward sighed,
but I wish I didn't, I see, said Sammy. Unfortunately,
I don't have any shoes that would fit your webbed feet,
so I'll have to make them. But that's expensive. As
you don't have much money, you can help me around
the shop instead. Is that a fair trade? That's ever
so kind of you? Said Edward with a smile, looked pleased.
As you can see, it's not very organized in here.
I could do with some help. I'd be happy to
Edward said, it's a deal. Producing his tape measure, Sammy
measured Edward's blue webbed feet. I can make you something
solid that will last a good while, the raccoon said.
While I make them, you help any animals that come
through that door. Edward nodded in agreement, then asked, will
my new shoes fit perfectly? I mean, will they cover
up all the blue? All of my shoes fit the
owner just right, the raccoon replied, as he wound up
his tape measure, perfect in size and in style, and
with that he disappeared through a door to his workshop,
leaving Edward alone amongst the shelves and piles of shoes.
Certainly a mess, there didn't seem to be any rhyme
nor reason to what shoes were stacked or displayed were
He was just studying a pyramid of boots when the
bell above the door tinkled, although nobody appeared to have
come in, I'm down here, said a large centerpede, waving
a piece of paper. I'm here to collect my shoes.
Edward took the piece of paper, which simply said number
forty two. Edward looked towards the counter and saw there
was a shelf of numbered boxes behind it. One of
them had forty two written neatly on the front. Just
one moment, said Edward, and went to retrieve the box.
When he returned, the centerpede had taken a seat on
the edge of a battered leather chair. I'd like to
wear them right away, please, said the centipede. Allow me
to help, said Edward, as he removed the box's lid.
This box is full of tiny shoes, he said, before
he could help himself. How many were you expecting, asked
the center pede. Well, two, I suppose, said Edward. How
many are here? Eighty six, smiled the center pede. Oh my,
said Edward, this may take a while. Eighty six sure
is a lot of feet, and I'm still growing, the
center pede replied. Every time I molt, I gained two
new pairs of legs. One day I might even reach
one hundred. That is a lot, Edward said, as he
lifted out the first shoe. Like all the others, it
was ruby red with yellow sparkles. Sure is, said the
centerpede proudly. And every time I grow, I come here
for a new set of shoes. I think everyone notices
my many feet thanks to Sammy's shoes. Edward was amazed.
He only had two feet, but this centipede had so
many more, and with the ruby red sparkly shoes, he
wanted everyone to notice them. It took a while to
get all eighty six on and the laces tied, but
the centipede was soon leaving and looking very pleased with himself.
But before the door could swing shut, it was pushed
open by a long gray trunk. Hullo, said the elephant
from outside the door. Is anyone there? Edward looked up
into the elephant's face. Can I help, he asked. I've
come to collect my shoes, please, replied the elephant, handing
over a ticket that said number forty six I'll be
right back, said Edward, propping the door open with a sandal. Strangely,
there wasn't a box with forty six written on it
behind the counter. Surely shoes big enough for an elephant
should be easy to spot, but Edward couldn't see them anywhere.
What do they look like, called out Edward. There's four
of them, the elephant said, Black boots with blue laces,
thick and sturdy and big. Edward said, almost to himself. Huge,
the elephant grinned from the doorway. I'm a big animal.
I need big boots. Edward laughed. When he found the box.
It was so large that the raccoon had been using
it as a table. Shall I help you try them on?
Edward asked, yes, please, replied the elephant. He was soon
admiring his new boots. Somehow, they made him look even bigger.
They're perfect, the elephant beamed. I feel and look great.
He strode away happily, his powerful footsteps making the ground shake.
Edward couldn't help but admire the elephant's confidence. With the
shop quiet apart from the noise from the workshop, Edward
got to work tidying up. He was half way through
the first pile of shoes. When the door opened for
the third time. This time it was a Tuken with
the biggest beak the blue footed Booby had ever seen.
The beak was bright orange, long, and impossible to miss. Hello,
Edward said, how can I help you? I'm picking up
my shoes, the Toucan replied, waving her ticket. This time
the number was forty five. At least, thought Edward, there
would be only two shoes this time. He suggested the
toucan take a seat on the chair before quickly locating
the correct box on the shelf. But when he lifted
the lid, he was stunned by what he saw. They're orange,
he said, holding the pair of shoes up. Of course,
the Toucan replied, it's a fantastic color. Yes, But well,
your beak's orange too, Edward said, exactly, said the Toucan proudly.
I wanted them to match. With a beak like this,
I simply have to make the most of it. Edward
couldn't believe his ears. If his beak was as big
and bright as hers, he didn't think he'd be happy
at all. It was just as bad as having blue feet.
But the Tucan wasn't bothered at all. She slipped them
straight on and admired herself in a near by mirror.
They're just what I wanted, she said. Please tell that's
Sammie that he's wonderful. With a wink, she left, skipping
out in her brand new, bright orange shoes. Edward got
back to sorting shoes. He was so wrapped up in
the task that he failed to notice the time passing
until Sammie came out of his workshop a box in
his hands. How have you found to day, the raccoon
asked I really enjoyed it, Edward admitted, I helped a
lot of interesting animals with a lot of interesting shoes.
That's good to hear, said Sammie, holding the box out
for the blue footed Booby to take. As agreed, he said,
Edward took the box, revealing a pair of ankle high
sports shoes. They were plain white, with no other color whatsoever.
Try them on, the raccoon encouraged. Edward did, marveling at
how well they fit and they covered the blue of
his feet perfectly. I love them, he said. It was
a fair trade, Sammy said, showing Edward to the door.
Good Bye, my blue footed booby friend. Edward marched off
down the path, feeling great. For the first time in
his life, he didn't feel as if he was being
stared at. His blue feet were safely covered. Almost immediately,
he ran into the ducks from the morning. He flinched
as he walked past, fearing they would make a comment,
but they barely took any notice of him at all.
Edward grinned, feeling victorious, or rather he did for a while.
He glanced downwards and there was no flicker of bright
blue from beneath his belly. That didn't feel quite right.
Oh my, he said, realizing he'd made a terrible mistake.
I'm not myself. Moments later, the shop bell tinged once more.
As Edward pushed the door open. Sammy appeared to have
been waiting for him. Are you unhappy with the shoes,
the raccoon asked, a twinkle in his eye. They feel great,
Edward replied, but I'm afraid I need something that's a
little bit more. Me tell me more, said the raccoon. Well,
the centipede wasn't bothered about having so many legs. In fact,
he wanted to show them off, and the elephant, despite
his size, wanted to appear even bigger, and the tuken
was so proud of her bright orange bill that she
wanted shoes the same color, blurted out Edward, so is
the blue footed booby? Regretting covering up his blue feet,
asked the raccoon, I think so, nodded Edward, which was
how the next day Edward took a walk in his
brand new shoes. They're nice, said the centipede. Lovely color.
The elephant agreed, they suit you perfectly. The tucun grinned,
and they did. For Edward was wearing a pair of
dark blue sandals to really show off his bright blue feet.
His feet weren't something to be ashamed of. They were
a part of him, and for the first time in
his life, Edward was pleased to be a blue footed
booby animal fat. Blue footed boobies are sea birds found
off the Pacific West coast of the USA, Central America,
and parts of South America. There are several species of booby,
but only one has bright blue feet. There is another
called the red footed booby, but you'll have to guess
what color its feet are. They feed on fish, which
they'll dive into the ocean to catch, even swimming under
water if they have to. The name Booby comes from
the Spanish word bobo, which means clown or foolish. This
is because they have such large webbed feet that they
look a bit silly when walking on land. Thank you
for your suggestion, Edward. We hope you enjoyed the story,
and thank you to all of you across the world
for listening to it. Remember, if you prefer your stories
advert free, please consider our premium service through Apple or
Supercast for a tiny fee, the stories are advert free.
Join us next time for another great animal tale. Good Bye,