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Speaker 1: Yea. Hello everyone, and welcome to the Animal Tales podcast,

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where you suggest the animal for us to write a

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story about. My name's Josephine and I've got a brand

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new animal story here just for you. Animal Tales Premium

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members get an extra story every Friday. Find out how

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to listen to them by visiting Animaltales Dot uk and remember,

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for a tiny fee, all stories are advert free. Hudson

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is from the UK and he would like a story

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with a cheetah, a leopard, a jaguar and a snow leopard.

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You can learn more about these creatures in the Animal

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Facts after the story. Now settle back acts and I'll

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begin hear Me Raw. Nervously, Hudson lifted up his badge.

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The security guard smiled and waved him through. He was

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in The young cheetah couldn't believe he was actually here.

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Hudson was at hear Me Raw, the biggest music festival

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in the entire Animal Kingdom. It was huge, with all

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sorts of amazing musicians, bands and singers. The problem for

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Hudson was that everyone wanted to go and watch the

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musical acts, meaning actually getting a ticket was almost impossible.

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So in the end, Hudson had got himself a job

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there instead. It was nothing fancy. He was supposed to

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take things to where they were needed and help set up.

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He already had some equipment in a van outside, although

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he wasn't sure exactly where it needed to go. Although

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it was early, the festival's sight was already busy. The

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stages had been built and last minute checks were happening.

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Food trucks and stalls were setting up, the smell of

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burghers and waffles wafting through the air everywhere. There were

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festival employees running around with jobs to do. Hey you

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cheeah boy, called an important looking rhino. Er. Yes, answered

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Hudson quickly. I'm Hudson. However, that was all he managed

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to say, as the rhino quickly cut him off. Do

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you work for me? The rhino asked, Um, I think so,

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Hudson stuttered, Good names Jonah, follow me. The rhino was

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already marching away. Hudson had to jog to keep up

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with the rhino's mighty strides. As they walked, the rhino

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barked out a series of orders to various members of

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the festival staff before turning his attention back to Hudson.

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The guy I had lined up to help me called

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in sick. So I need you to take over, Jonah said,

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er okay, nodded Hudson. What is it you need me

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to do. We've got some huge stars performing here, animals

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that have been making music for decades. It's going to

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be your job to make sure they're comfortable and fetch

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them anything they need. Got it? What about the van,

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Hudson asked, remembering the equipment he was supposed to deliver.

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I was supposed to drop some things off. That can wait.

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Our stars are more important, Jonah said. They're all in

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the lodge. Do you know where that is? It's behind

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the main stage. Just get them what they need and

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don't mess anything up. This has to go perfectly well,

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don't just stand there. Off you go. Before Hudson could protest,

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Jonah the Rhino marched off in the opposite direction to

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the lodge. Hudson gulped, wondering what had just happened. He

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didn't even know who these big stars were. He was

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just supposed to be delivering instruments and helping set up.

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But he realized he'd been given a job to do,

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and he was determined to do it well. Even if

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he wasn't entirely sure what he was supposed to do.

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The lodge was easy to find behind the main stage.

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It was the only permanent structure on the festival site.

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Stepping inside, he was greeted by a huge lounge area

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with several comfortable looking sofas, a TV, and a bookcase

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with a small kitchenette at the back. Relaxing on the

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sofas were he presumed the three superstars he was supposed

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to be looking after. And what superstars they were. It

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was three of the most famous musicians in the world,

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Paul mc catney, Mick Jaguar and David Snowy. Here they

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were right before Hudson, just sat around chatting before their

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big show. Hudson tried to stay calm. He'd never been

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close to a famous person before, let alone three mega

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famous stars like these. Excuse me, Hudson managed to say,

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my name's Hudson. I've been asked to fetch anything you

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might need. Hi, Hudson, excellent timing, said Paul mc catney.

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Paul was a leopard and played piano in the group.

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I'd love some tea tea, repeated Hudson, got it. I

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could do with a black coffee, said Mick Jaguar, he

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usually played maraccas, and a bag of sour sweets if

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you can get them. You know, those really sour candies,

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the kind that hurt your tongue. All that sounds good,

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said David Snowy, the snow Leopard, he played guitar. I'd

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like a bowl of gummy bears, but just the red ones.

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You you want a bowl of only red gummy bears,

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Hudson said, puzzled. Strawberry's my favorite, the snow Leopard said.

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Can you do that for me? Hudson nodded. If that's

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what was wanted, that's what he would get, of course,

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he said. So that's tea, black coffee, sour sweets, and

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red gummy bears, said Hudson. Will you still be in

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the lodge when I get back. Our stuff's on its way,

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said Paul McCartney. So if for not here, we'll be

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practicing behind the main stage. Hudson nodded to show that

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he understood, with the big cats calling out their thanks

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as he left. Tea, black coffee, sour sweets, red gummy bears.

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He repeated, over and over, if he could get this

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done quickly, then perhaps there would still be time to

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get back to the equipment in the van. He made

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straight for a truck with a big tea cup on

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its roof. A cup of tea, please, he said to

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the flamingo running the cart. Certainly, replied the flamingo what kind?

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She gestured to her sign, which listed black, green fruity, Earl, gray, Chai,

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Cammer mile, jasmine, English breakfast, and peppermint. Hudson felt his

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heart sink. He didn't know which one he was supposed

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to get. Um. I don't know, oh, he admitted. I

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guess I'd better have all of them and a black

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coffee please. The festival ground was already filling up with

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the public, so he was extra careful carrying his overloaded

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cardboard carrier full of hot drinks. Now he needed someplace

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that sold sweets and candies. Would there be anywhere at

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the festival like that? He needn't have worried. Finding a

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wagon called Blockbuster Sweets a short time later. May I

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have some of your sourest sweets? Please? He asked politely.

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It's your lucky day, said the crocodile running the wagon.

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Surrow is our speciality. What's your favorite? Oh? I don't know,

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said Hudson. He didn't say, I'll take whatever's best. Ha. Well,

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they're all good, the crocodile insisted. Here try some. Before

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Hudson could protest, the crocodile pushed a boiled candy between

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his lips. The sour taste hit him immediately, sucking in

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his cheeks and making his tongue go numb. They taste great,

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he squeaked. I'll take a bag full. Cheater boy, what

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are you doing, snapped Jonah as he strode past. It's

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Hudson said, Hudson, I'm just getting things for the acts,

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like you said. Well, don't dawdle, the rhino demanded. The

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public's here, and there's still plenty of work to be done. Yes,

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Jonah nodded Hudson, but the rhino was already distracted by

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some one else. Hudson turned his attention back to the

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crocodile and asked, you wouldn't happen to have some red

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gummy bears, would you? Red, yellow, green, orange. I've got

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them all, they're all mixed in together, the croc replied.

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Hudson sighed, okay, then I'd better have a really big bag,

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then overloaded with hot drinks and sweets. Hudson visibly staggered

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back to the lodge. The crowds were getting thick, with

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people slowring his progress. Eventually, arms fall. Hudson pushed through

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the lodge's door to be confronted by an argument. It

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was between Paul McCartney, Mick Jaguar, David Snowy and Jonah.

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Where's our stuff? Said David Snowy. We can't perform without it,

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Paul McCartney added forcefully, you said it was on the way,

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snapped Mick Jaguar. Look, I'm sure it will be here

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any second, said Jonah, holding up his hands. But we're

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you on soon, can tinued Mick Jaguar. We haven't even

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done a sound check. If you can't get this sorted,

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we can't perform. Look Fellers, said the Rhino with a

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worried smile. Leave it with me. I'll make some calls.

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The band members sank back onto their sofas, looking very grumpy.

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Hudson set down what he was carrying on the table

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before them. Oh is that my tea? Asked Paul McCartney,

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cheering up. H which one is it? I got all

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of them, said Hudson, worrying that he'd made a mistake.

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Now that's service, Paul McCartney said, what a fabulous choice.

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He picked up two teas and took a swig of each.

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Is my coffee there, asked Mick Jaguar Hudson passed it over,

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along with the sour sweets. The jag immediately dropped several

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of the sour candies into the hot coffee and took

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a long slurp Oh yeah, he yowled, That's exactly what

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I needed. Did you get my sweets, kid, David Snowy asked,

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I did, the Cheetah replied, handing him the gummy bears.

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I had to pick all the red ones out myself.

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It took a while. David Snowy looked very pleased. Good lad,

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he beamed. At least this part of the day has

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gone right. Bad news, said Jonah as he finished on

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his phone. Look, Fellers, I don't know how to tell

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you this. Your instruments have gone missing. What stolen? Said

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a wide eyed Paul McCartney. Let's not be hasty, now,

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fretted the Rhino. Let's just say misplaced. What are we

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going to do, David Snowy asked, we can't perform without

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our instruments. Paul needs his piano, Mick needs his moracas,

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and I need my guitar. I'm sorry, Fellers, said Jonah,

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looking dreadful. I just don't know where they are. Er

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I do, said Hudson. Those items are in the van

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that Jonah called me away from so I could get

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your drinks and sweets. Meek, said Jonah quietly. I did

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do that, didn't I, ay Man? No harm done, said

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a jovial Paul mc cotney. Sure, the instruments are really important,

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but we also needed our coffee, tea and sweets. Hudson

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here did a great job doing that. And what's more,

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he knows where our missing stuff is and just in time,

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added Mick Jaguar. We're on soon. Without being asked, Hudson

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was already racing to the door. I'll be right back,

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he shouted. Ten minutes later, Paul McCartney, Mick Jaguar and

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David Snowy got ready to step out onto the main stage,

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where their instruments were now waiting for them. Good work, kid,

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David Snowy said to Hudson proudly. But you haven't had

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time to rehearse or do a sound check, Hudson fretted.

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The three band members laughed, Gid, We've been playing for decades,

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chuckled Paul McCartney. We could perform these songs in our sleep.

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And with that they ran on to the stage, with

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a crowd erupting into thunderous roars at the sight of

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the mega famous band and on the wings of the stage,

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Impossibly the greatest spot there was to watch, stood Hudson.

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As the band launched into their first song, Hudson felt

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a gentle tap on his shoulder. I'm sorry about to day, kid,

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said Jonah the Rhino. That was all my fault. It

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all worked out fine in the end, said Hudson, and

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I got to meet three of the most famous animals

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in the world. Hey, they know my name, They sure do,

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smiled Jonah. You know you handled yourself well today. Would

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you like to do more of this sort of thing,

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perhaps meet more megastars. You're clearly very good at it.

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There are three very happy musicians out there right now

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to prove it. I'd love to, Hudson replied, but I'm

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afraid I can't now, If you'll excuse me, I just

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need to disappear for a while. But you'll miss the show,

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said Jonah. Where are you going to get a round

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of burghers for the band ready for when they come

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off stage, explained Hudson. And It's okay if I miss

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a bit. Now, I'll have plenty of chances to see

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them on their world tour. They've asked me to be

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their personal assistant. Animals that all the creatures Hudson were

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crested for this story are members of the cat family,

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and all of them have spots, rosettes, and blotches marking

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their fur. It's thought that two thirds of all wild

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cat species have markings of this kind. Their patterned fur

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helps to camouflage them, making them hard to see while hunting.

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And just like no two humans have the same fingerprints,

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no two cats have the same pattern of spots. Thank

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you for your suggestions, Hudson. We hope that you all

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enjoyed the story. Wherever you're listening in the world, discover

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our Animal Tales books at animaltales dot uk. Great bedtime reading,

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especially if you've discovered the joy of reading for yourself.

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Make sure you join us next time for another great

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animal tale. Good Bye,