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Kelvin is for Melbourne in Australia and he would like
a story with a tiger, a lion, a cheetah and
a snow leopard. You can learn more about these creatures
in the Animal facts after the story. Settle back, relax,
and I'll begin the wishing well. Calvin smiled and stood
back to admire his handiwork. Kelvin was a tiger and
he'd spent the whole weekend building a new well at
the bottom of his long back garden. He had built
it so he could have fresh water for all his
flowers and vegetables. First, he dug a deep hole down
to the water, lining it with bricks. At the surface,
He'd raised the bricks up into a small circular wall
then added wooden supports for a tiled roof. Finally, across
the drop, he'd made a winch with a long length
of rope attached to a bucket. Calvin couldn't be prouder
of himself, and now was the moment of truth. The
tiger wound the winch, lowering the bucket to the water below.
He heard the splash as it struck the water, so
gave it a moment to feel before winding it back
up again. Much to his relief, the bucket was full
of clear, shimmering water. Calvin grinned he'd done it. He'd
built a working well all by himself. Was there anything
he couldn't do? Whistling a happy tune, the tiger poured
the contents of the bucket into his watering can and
began sprinkling his vegetables. His success had got him wondering
what sort of project he could tackle next. When from
behind him he heard an echoing splash. Calvin was surprised
to see that some one was beside his knew well
it was a cheetah. His next door neighbor, the spotted Cat,
was looking down into the well whilst muttering to herself,
Um excuse me, Calvin called out, Can I help you? Oh, high,
replied the cheater, I was just using the wishing well.
Oh it's not a wishing well, Calvin corrected her. It's
just well, a normal well. I've just built it. I'm
afraid you're mistaken, chuckled the cheeter. All wells are wishing wells.
If you throw a penny in, that is, it's like
well magic or something. Calvin was doubtful. He felt that
if he'd made a magic wishing well, then he'd have
been the first to know about it. But the cheetah
seemed excited by what he'd built, so he let it be.
So what did you wish for? He asked. I wished
that my neighbor on the other side would stop being
so loudly at night. The cheeter sighed, I can't seem
to get a proper night's sleep because of them, so
now I'm tired all the time. That does sound frustrating.
The tiger agreed, let's hope that your wish comes true.
The cheetera thanked him for that, then left via the
back gate. Kelvin watched her go, then turn to the well.
Leaning over its low wall, he peered down into the depths.
It may have been his imagination, but he thought he
could see the tiny glint of a penny at the bottom.
Even so, he was sure his well wasn't a wishing well,
and yet despite this, he couldn't help but think that
it would be nice if the cheater's wish came true.
That night, Kelvin decided to go to the cinema to
watch a movie. It was dark when he returned, and
he was almost home when he heard a loud thumping
echoing along the street. It soon became obvious that it
was caused by some very loud music. He walked past
his own house and the cheeters to stand before the
next house in the row. He could see what the
cheetah was so upset about. Whoever was playing that music
was sharing it with the whole neighborhood. Checking his watch,
Calvin noticed that it was way past ten o'clock, far
too late to be so loud, and so the tiger
marched right up the driveway and knocked hard upon the door.
He had to bang very loudly to be heard over
the music, and it was some moments later that a
zebra answered the door. He looked quite startled to find
a cross looking tiger stood on his doorstep. Hum can
I help you? Zebra asked you most certainly. Can other
animals live in this street too? You know your music
is keeping them awake. It would be very kind and
neighborly to play it more quietly, especially after ten o'clock.
The zebra looked embarrassed. I'm sorry, he mumbled. I didn't
think I mean, I don't sorry. I'll turn it down
right away. Thank you, Calvin replied sternly, I'm sure all
your neighbors will appreciate it. The door closed, but Calvin
didn't move until a moment later the music shut off.
Satisfied the nuisance was over, Calvin went home, glad to
have been able to help the cheetah. The following morning,
Calvin was out in his garden bright and early. He
needed to get lots of weeding done to day. He
was head down amongst the flowers when he heard his
back gate creak. He looked up just in time to
see a snow leopard flip a coin into his well er. Hello,
called Kelvin, Can I help you? No need? The snow
leopard replied, I've found what I'm looking for. This really
is a wonderful wishing well. I couldn't wait to give
it a try. It would seem that the cheetah had
been talking, thought Kelvin. It's not a wishing well, Calvin insisted,
but because he didn't want to appear rude, he asked,
may I ask what you wished for? I wish that
the bakery would stop running out of strawberry tarts before
nine thirty. The snow leopard replied, with a lick of
his lips. I like to look in the window on
my way to work, but they always seem to have
sold out already. If you like strawberry tarts that much,
then I suppose that is a pretty good wish. Calvin admitted,
I've had one of those strawberry tarts before. It's no
wonder they go so fast. Well, hopefully not any more.
The snow leopard said, cheerfully, see you around. He disappeared
back through the gate, leaving Kelvin looking thoughtful. This was
the second time some one had thought his well was magic,
and he was still quite sure that it wasn't. Later
that day, Calvin realized he was out of milk, so
headed out to buy some. This meant he had to
walk past the bakery, and as he did so, he
caught sight of the owner, a chimpanzee, and went in
to say hello, good afternoon, Kelvin. The chimp said, hope
you're not after anything special. I've only got a couple
of lemon cakes left. Then, I guess I'll take both
of them, Calvin replied happily. In fairness, he'd have rather
had one of those strawberry tarts that the snow leopard
had mentioned. You've just reminded me about something, said Kelvin,
as the chimp put the cakes into a paper bag.
I was talking to some one who said that they
really love your strawberry tarts, but there's never any left
when they passed by in the morning. Could you, by
any chance make a bigger batch, the chimp sighed. I'd
love to, he said, but I never have enough strawberries.
If I had more, i'd make enough tarts to feed
the whole town. I grow strawberries, said Kelvin eagerly. I've
got lots growing in my garden. I could supply you
with some every day. That would be perfect. The chimp grinned.
In that case, you can have these lemon cakes. For free.
Then I'll go and fetch some strawberries now, said Kelvin,
with thoughts of buying milk forgotten. Calvin dashed home with
his lemon cakes to begin strawberry picking. The next day,
Kelvin was in his garden again, enjoying the morning sun.
This time when he heard some one come in through
the gate. He was all but expecting it. This time
it was a lion. Hullo. Kelvin called out, are you
here to use the well? The wishing well? She said,
I sure am, I've been hearing good things. She lifted
a coin and flicked it into the depths of the well.
This time he didn't correct the visitor for calling it
a wishing well. He was feeling quite proud of the
effect it was having. May I ask what you wished
for for? He asked, Oh, nothing much. The lion replied,
I just wish that my new restaurant, The Sizzling Cheese,
will be a huge success. I've put a lot of money,
time and effort into it. You see, it opens to night.
If I'm honest, I've been terrified that nobody will come.
I'm sure it would be fine. Calvin replied, of course
it will the lion said, I've used the wishing well.
Now I've heard it's done. Wonders. She waved good bye,
leaving behind a concerned Kelvin. If people think the wishing
well had granted the cheater's wish, and now that it
had granted the snow leopard's wish, it was no wonder
that the lion thought the well would grant her wish.
But it's just an ordinary well, said Kelvin to himself,
not a magic wishing well. The tiger scratched his head
as he peered down at the gathering coins. Unless he
could think of something, that lion would end up feeling
very disappointed. So instead of working in his garden, Calvin
spent the day running around town. He did his best
to talk to as many animals as possible, telling them
about the amazing, brand new restaurant, The Sizzling Cheese. He
discovered from an otter that the local fishing club had
been struggling for somewhere to meet up that evening, so
was able to persuade them to give the new restaurant
a try. Then he bumped into a bashful pair of
buffalo and suggested that they might like to go to
the restaurant on a date. He even persuaded a few
families that to day was International eat some Cheese Day,
so therefore they should head down to the Sizzling Cheese
to celebrate. By the time the restaurant's doors opened that evening,
there was a line around the block of excited animals,
all hoping to get a table. Kelvin watched all this
from a bench opposite. It had been a tiring day,
but it looked like his efforts had been worth it.
The lion saw him sat opposite and dashed over to
see him see. She said excitedly, your wishing well does work.
I'm so pleased. Now do excuse me, I've got customers
to serve. Kelvin grinned. The lion didn't know it had
been him, not the wishing well, that had made the
wish come true. Hi, Kelvin called out the cheetah as
she passed near by. I got such a good night's
sleep last night thanks to your wishing well. I'm off
to the restaurant. Would you like to join me? That
very kind, said Kelvin, but I'm thinking of heading home.
The cheeter accepted this and joined the back of the
queue as Calvin stood up from the bench. Oh hello, Kelvin,
fancy seeing you here, said the snow leopard through a
mouthful of strawberry tart. I've been eating these all day
thanks to your wishing well, he confessed. Are you going
to the new restaurant? No, not me, yawned the tiger.
It's been a very busy few days. I think I'm
just going to head home to bed. Fair enough, said
the snow leopard as he licked his paws clean of crumbs.
Feeling proud of himself, the tiger headed home. Although he
knew his well wasn't magic, he didn't mind if the cheater,
snow leopard, and lion thought it was. That was until
Kelvin turned into his street and found a long line
of animals snaking into his garden. He followed the queue
to its end, where, sure enough, the animals were taking
turns to make a wish at his well. What are
you going to wish for, asked a hippo. Kelvin sighed,
I'm going to wish for a little help, he said.
Animal fat tigers, lions, snow leopards, and cheetahs are all
part of the cat family. They're often known as the
big cats, along with leopards and jaguars, although cheaters along
with mountain lions really belong in the group known as
small cats. Lions have the mightiest roar of all the
cats because their larynx is longer than other cats. In humans,
we often the larynx the voice box. Sadly, cheaters and
snow leopards cannot roar. Thank you for your suggestions, Calvin.
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