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, and occasionally,
if we have the time, we'll do an extra one
like this one. Jack is in Ireland and he has
asked for a story featuring a buffalo. 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. I don't know,
said the buffalo. When Jack woke up that morning, the
room appeared to be done darker than usual. At first,
he thought he'd just woken up too early, until he
heard his mum moving about elsewhere in the house. It
must be bad weather today, thought Jack. The sky must
be full of gray clouds for it to be as
dark as this. But when he sat up, he saw
the reason for the lack of light was clearly something else.
There was a buffalo in front of his window. Good morning,
said the buffalo. It seemed almost as surprised to be
there as Jack was to see it, Um, said Jack.
Don't mind me, continued the buffalo with embarrassment. Er Okay,
said Jack. This sort of thing had never happened to
him before, so he wasn't entirely sure what he was
supposed to say. Was the buffalo somehow now his guest?
Did he need to offer it breakfast? And how was
he going to get the buffalo through his bedroom door
to reach the kitchen? The animal was far too big,
which made him realize something else. Um, how did you
get in my bedroom? Jack asked, I don't know, said
the buffalo. This seemed like a strange answer to Jack.
The buffalo had got in here somehow, and it couldn't
have been easy. It would have required some considerable squashing
and squeezing, and yet the buffalo was acting as if
it couldn't remember it happening. Jack swung his legs out
of bed, although he did it carefully, the buffalo was
taking up a lot of space. Have you been in
here long? Jack wondered, I don't know, said the buffalo.
Do you at least know how long you're going to stay?
Jack added, He felt as if asking so many questions
might be considered to be rude, but he reminded himself
it was his bedroom, after all. I don't know, said
the buffalo. Look, I'll tell you what, said Jack. I'm
just going to fetch my mum. Perhaps she can help
work out what's going on. Is that okay with you?
The buffalo shrugged, its very large hairy shoulders. Suppose, so,
the buffalo said. Jack managed to open the door just
enough to extract himself from the room, returning moments later
with his mum in toe. There's no buffalo here, Jack,
she said, as the pair of them gazed around the
empty room. But there was a minute ago, said Jack,
as he checked under his bed. There really was. Then
where did it go? Asked his mum, holding her palms
out facing upwards. I don't know, said Jack. Jack went
to the bathroom, making sure to check in the bath
in case there was a buffalo in it. He'd seen
a spider in there before now, so it seemed perfectly
reasonable that the buffalo could be in there too. But
it wasn't. Then he got dressed and went looking for breakfast.
Help yourself to whatever you want, said his mum as
she passed him at the kitchen door. I'm just going
to fetch the washing that needs doing, okay, said Jack.
He went to the fridge, first, opening the door wide
to remove the milk. Turning back around, Jack saw that
he was no longer alone. The buffalo was filling much
of the kitchen. Ah, there you are, he said. Where
did you go? I don't know, said the buffalo. It
sounded as if he was telling the truth. I see
that you managed to get in here, all right, observed Jack,
despite you being bigger than the door that is. How
do you do that? I don't know, said the buffalo.
Well you're here, and that's what matters. Would you like
some breakfast? Jack set the milk down on the side,
then pulled open the cupboard to see what cereal they
had to do this, He had to turn his back
on the buffalo. Have you still not chosen what you're having?
Asked his mum, as she arrived with arms full of
underpants and socks. Has it gone again? Asked Jack, sounding astounded.
There's what gone again, asked his mum. The buffalo. It
was right there, insisted Jack, gesturing to the now empty
space in my kitchen. His mum replied, what was a
buffalo doing in my kitchen? I don't know, said Jack.
Jack's mum said they needed some items from the supermarket,
so as soon as breakfast was over, they bundled into
the car. Jack made sure to check all the seats
in case there was a buffalo in there already, but
there wasn't. They'd gone out early, which was good because
it meant that the supermarket wasn't very busy. The smell
of freshly baked bread filled their nostrils as they went in,
prompting Jack to ask Mum, may I have some cookies?
Sure you can, she smiled at him. Go and choose
the ones you like, then come and find me. Jack
knew exactly where the fresh cookies were kept, so went
directly there. There were more flavors than he was used to,
so he spent a moment studying the packaging before selecting
the ones with white chocolate chunks. With this done, to
go and find his mum, but found his way blocked
by a gigantic, shaggy beast. Hello again, said Jack, Did
you need some shopping as well? I don't really know,
said the buffalo with a frown. I've chosen some cookies,
said Jack. Do you like cookies? I don't know, said
the buffalo, with a shake of its tremendous head. Have
you never tried cookies before, asked Jack in surprise, I'd
be very happy to share one of mine. Come with
me so we can pay for them. Then you can
have the first one out of the bag. Jack saw
his mum waiting near the front of the store and
so headed straight to her. Did you get what you wanted?
She asked? White chocolate chunks, grinned Jack. But I'm going
to share them with me, asked his mum hopefully. Of course,
he smiled. But also with the buffalo. Oh it's gone again.
It was right behind me. That's frustrating, said his mum,
as she started unloading their items to be scanned. Does
the buffalo like white chocolate? Jack realized he'd forgotten to ask.
I don't know, he replied. Jack had a hospital appointment
that afternoon, so straight after lunch, he and his mum
were sat on neighboring chairs waiting to be called in
to see the doctor. Jack had studied the car park,
the entrance, and the corridors, but hadn't seen the buffalo
once since the supermarket. He was beginning to think that
was the end of it. Mum whispered Jack as he
tugged on her sleeve. I need the toilet. They're right there,
said his mum, pointing to a door a short distance away.
Make sure you wash your hands. Jack hopped down from
the chair and crossed to the toilet door. Unfortunately, it
was locked, but there was another door beside it with
a wheelchair symbol on it. Jack tried the handle, pulling
the door open. Oh sorry, said Jack as he realized
that this toilet was occupied. After all, there was something
hairy in it. Although this toilet was larger than the
one next door, it wasn't much larger than the bulk
of the buffalo. You really should lock the door, said
Jack helpfully. Do you know how to do that? I
don't know, said the buffalo. Look, you just lift the
handle upwards to lock it like this, said Jack, demonstrating
on the partially opened door. Then push it down when
you want to come out. Does that make sense? I
don't know, said the buffalo. It was looking very worried.
If you don't mind me saying Jack said gently. You
don't seem to know much, do you. The buffalo considered
this for a moment. No, I don't do, I realized
the buffalo. If I'm honest, to day has been very confusing, Jack,
are you going in the toilet or not? Called his
mum from her chair. Just waiting my turn, he called back,
but when he looked back into the toilet, it was
completely buffalo free. A short time later, after washing his hands,
of course, Jack retook his seat. The buffalo was in there,
he explained to his mum, but it disappeared again. It
gets about, doesn't it, she observed. Do you think it's
following you? I don't know, admitted Jack. They picked up
pizza on the way home, but Jack didn't see the
buffalo once. He made sure to look in all the
cars they passed, down all the side streets, and even
looked over the counter when they collected their pizzas in
case there was a buffalo beside the pizza oven. Back home,
once the pizza had been devoured, Jack's mum asked him
to choose a movie for them to watch. He scrolled
through the choices, wondering if there was one about a buffalo,
but couldn't see one. He picked one about aliens instead.
By the time they'd watched that, it was bedtime, so
after a trip through the bathroom and a quick story,
Jack's mum kissed him on the top of his head
and wished him good night. Mum asked Jack as she
was leaving the room. You do believe me when I
say I saw a buffalo, don't you? Of course I do,
smiled his mum. That's good, said Jack, returning the smile.
See you in the morning. The door was pulled too.
As Jack wriggled down, getting snugly, he was right on
the brink of falling asleep when something snorted near the
end of his bed. It sounded like it might have
come from a buffalo. You're back, said Jack, sitting up.
I am, said the buffalo, And to be truthful, I'm
still not really sure what's going on here. One moment
I'm here, the next I'm there, then I'm somewhere else.
It seems like a very strange way for a buffalo
to behave, it does, agreed Jack. But wherever I go,
continued the buffalo. You're there. Are you important? I don't know,
said Jack. At least I don't think so. No more
important than anyone else. Well, it seems to me, said
the buffalo. But maybe you are, and perhaps that you
and I are connected. It does seem that way, doesn't it,
nodded Jack. It's just that we don't know. Why do
you think that matters? I don't know, said the buffalo.
I just hope I'm not being a nuisance. You know,
with all this appearing and disappearing, you're not a nuisance,
insisted Jack. It's not everyone that gets their very own
buffalo following them around. I rather like the idea, and
I'm quite sure my mum wouldn't mind if you were
to stay. She's great like that. That's good to know,
said the buffalo. Then I'll do just that. It's looking
like that's what I'm supposed to do. Anyway. That way,
whenever you need me, I'll be there, white by your side.
Jack like the sound of this. He'd grown quite fond
of his new buffalo friend. Do you think other children
have their own buffaloes, he asked. I don't know, said
the buffalo. But what I do know is that you
have one. I intend to be around whenever you need me.
Thanks Buffalo, said Jack. Reaching down beside his bed, he
lifted up a paper bag with a white chocolate chunk
cookie inside. I saved you one, he said. Ooh, grinned
the buffalo. I was looking forward to that. With the
cookie eton Jack said good night to the buffalo. Sleep tight.
The buffalo answered, settling its considerably large body upon the
bedroom floor, and much to Jack's mum's surprise, that's where
she found them both in the morning. Animals fact, all
buffalo are bovines, which also includes other large cattle such
as goers and yaks. Bow vines, along with all other
animals with hoofs such as antelope, pigs and horses, are
what we call ungulates. If that sounds complicated, wait until
you hear about the buffalo, because buffalo covers several species
of wild cattle. These include water buffalo, a Noah's or
dwarf buffalo, and the African buffalo. It can also mean
an American bison, which isn't actually a buffalo at all.
I wonder which kind of buffalo you were imagining when
you heard the story. Thank you for your suggestion, Jack,
We hope you enjoyed it, and thank you to all
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Join us next time for another great animal tale good Bye,