Speaker 1: Hey, yeah, 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.
To learn more about Animal Tales, please visit our new
website at Animaltales dot uk, where you can now find
stories more easily by animal type. Sophie is from Canberra
in Australia and she would like a story with a
guinea pig, a rabbit, a cat and a dog. 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'd like to buy a pet please. Sophie
had got herself a Saturday job. There was a small
pet shop near to where she lived, and Sophie had
been lucky enough to spot the small hand written notice
in the window as she was passing. She'd gone straight
in with a big smile and was hired there and
then Sophie began her new job the very next Saturday.
The morning was pleasingly busy and involved her stacking shelves,
sweeping the floor, and generally helping to keep the place
neat and tidy. After lunch, the owner of the shop
taught Sophie how to take payments behind the counter, meaning
Sophie was soon selling cat food, dog toys, and the
occasional goldfish. By late afternoon, though the pet shop had
become very quiet and there wasn't much to do, the
owner announced that she was heading out back to do
some paperwork, leaving Sophie in charge behind the counter. This
made Sophie feel very important. She realized that the owner
must think she was doing a good job to trust
her like this. She was just straightening out the displays
on the countertop when she heard a polite cough. On
the floor before the counter was a guinea pig, looking
up at her. Good afternoon, said the guinea pig politely.
Er Hi replied Sophie. She couldn't be certain, but she
was reasonably sure that this wasn't normal. I'd like to
buy a pet, please, said the guinea pig. You do,
asked Sophie in surprise. Is that a problem, asked the
guinea pig, sounding unsure. I mean this is a pet shop.
It is where people come to buy a pet. No, no,
it's not a problem. Replied Sophie, it's just that well.
She wanted to say that she thought it unusual to
be serving a guinea pig, but thought better of it.
I'm new, she blurted out. At last, this is my
first day. I'm still getting used to things. So I
can buy a pet, then, can, I asked the guinea pig. Well, uh,
I suppose, so, shrugged Sophie. What sort of pet did
you have in mind? A rabbit, please, said the guinea pig,
the black one with the twitchy nose. Sophie came out
from behind the counter, crossed to the rabbit pen, and
gently lifted out the rabbit. Should I put her in
a pet carrier for you, Sophie asked, gesturing to one
of the cardboard boxes with a carrying handle. No, no,
smiled the guinea pig. You can just put her down
next to me. Sophie did just that. Now, how would
you like to pay? She asked, remembering the words she
was supposed to ask each customer. Card or cash? Oh,
cash please, said the guinea pig, and held up a coin.
It wasn't a big coin, and it wasn't nearly enough
to buy a rabbit, judging from the cobweb dangling from it.
The coin had been found someplace dusty, where someone had
dropped it. Oh, said Sophie, not sure what to do.
I'm afraid you're going to need more than that. If
you want to buy a rabbit, I can go and
look for another coin, suggested the guinea pig, hopefully. I
still don't think that will be enough, said Sophie. I'm
ever so sorry. The guinea pig gave a big sigh
and sag forward. Oh whiskers, he said, looking disappointed. Sophie
couldn't help but feel extremely sorry for him. She had
imagined that working in a pet shop would be about
putting smiles on the customer's faces, and yet here she was,
on her very first day with a sad one look.
She found herself saying, why don't I lend you the money?
Then you can pay me back later. The guinea pig's
eyes brightened. You'd really do that, he smiled. Of course,
said Sophie. I have a Saturday job now, so I
can afford it. Then it's a deal, grinned the guinea
pig broadly as he turned to the black bunny. Oh wow,
look at me, I'm a pet owner. I now have
my very own rabbit. Can I get you anything else
while you're here? Sophie asked, no, not for me, nodded
the guinea pig happily. I've got everything I need. Glad
to hear it, smiled Sophie. In return, Um, can I
have something? Asked the black rabbit. This was unexpected, okay,
said Sophie. How can I help. I'd like to buy
a pet, please, said the rabbit. Oh, said Sophie. She
wanted to point out that pets didn't normally own a pet,
but Sophie believed in fairness. There wasn't any rule, not
that she knew of, that said that this couldn't be done.
What kind of pet were you thinking of, she said?
A cat, please, said the rabbit, the white one with
the green eyes. Sophie came out from behind the counter,
crossed to where the kittens were kept, and gently lifted
out the young cat. Would you like a pet, carrier,
offered Sophie. I don't think so, grinned the rabbit next
to me. You will be just fine. Sophie gently placed
the cat on the floor. There was now a guinea pig,
a rabbit, and a cat, all in a row before
the counter. How would you like to pay, Sophie asked,
card or cash? Can I use a carrot? Asked the rabbit.
A carrot, repeated Sophie. I don't think so. Normally, it's
some kind of payment card or banknotes and coins? Do
you have anything like that? How about two carrots, suggested
the rabbit. It's a lot, I know, but I'd be
willing to give you two for this lovely fluffy kitty. Unfortunately,
even two carrots isn't enough for a cat, explained Sophie.
I'm really sorry. The rabbit gave a big sigh, her
ears flopping downwards. Oh whiskers, she said, looking full of disappointment.
Sophie's heart went out to the saddened rabbit. How could
it be right for the guinea pig to be allowed
a pet but not the rabbit. That wasn't fair at all.
How about this, she found herself, saying, what if I
lend you the money and you pay me back when
you can. The rabbit's ears shot upwards. That's very kind
of you, she said. I'm happy to help, said Sophie.
My Saturday job means I have a little extra money,
so I can afford to help you too. Thank you
so much, grinned the rabbit broadly as she turned to
the white kitten. This is just great. Who would have
thought I'm a pet owner? I now have my very
own cat. I'm pleased that you're pleased, said Sophie with
a smile. Now can I get you anything else while
you're here? No, thank you, replied the rabbit. Happily, this
is all I need. Very good, nodded Sophie. Excuse me,
said the white cat. May I have something you want
something as well, asked the astonished Sophie. Okay, how can
I help you exactly? I'd like to buy a pet, please,
said the cat. I had a feeling you were going
to say that, said Sophie. And what kind of pet
were you thinking? Of? A dog? Please, said the cat,
the spotty one with the waggy tail. Once again, Sophie
came out from behind the counter, this time crossing to
the puppies, where she selected the spotty one. It did
indeed have a waggy tail. I'm going to guess that
you don't want a pet, carrier, suggested Sophie. That's right,
nodded the cat. Pop her down beside me. That will
be fine. Sophie set the dog down carefully as instructed.
There was now a guinea pig, a rabbit, a cat,
and a dog all lined up before the counter. I'm
going to have to ask, Sophie said slowly, how would
you like to pay cash or card? I have no idea,
answered the cat. Honestly, I'm not even sure I know
what those things are. Well, that's fair enough, acknowledged Sophie.
But I can't just give you a dog. She has
to be paid for somehow. Oh whiskers, said the cat.
Could you pay for my dog and I pay you
back like you did for the rabbit. That seemed to work,
didn't it. Well? I guess so, said Sophie reluctantly. I'm
not getting paid all that much for my Saturday job,
but it should stretch to paying for a dog as well. Okay,
let's do that. Oh how wonderful, purred the cat. I'm
a pet owner. I've gone and got myself my very
own dog. I'm just happy that we were able to
work something out, smiled Sophie. Now I have to ask,
is there anything else I can get you while you're here?
I'm quite happy with just my dog. Thank you, replied
the cat. I don't need another thing. Then we're all done,
said Sophie. What about me, asked the spotty dog. Do
I get a go? Sophie realized that she should have
seen this coming, of course, she said, how can I
help you? I'd like to buy a pet, please, said
the dog, her tail wagging excitedly. Of course you do,
nodded Sophie. And what sort of pet did you have
in mind? A guinea pig, please, said the dog, A
brown and white one that makes squeaky noises. Then you're
in luck, said Sophie as she set off across the store.
We've only got one guinea pig, and it looks exactly
like that. But when she arrived at the guinea pig's cage,
she found the door wide open. She returned to the
animal line up to gaze down at the guinea pig
who had started all this. Ah, said Sophie, I think
I can see what's happened here, ye, well, asked the dog.
Can I buy him? Sophie rubbed her chin. I guess
you can, she said. I mean, strictly speaking, he does
belong to the pet shop and he is for sale,
so yes, I suppose you can. Oh goody, smiled the dog,
her tail thumping against the floor. Would I be right
in thinking, said Sophie. That you also don't have a
card or cash to pay for your pet. I could
give you a lick, offered the dog. I've got lots
of those to spare. Oh well, said Sophie, I've paid
for everything else. I suppose I ought to pay for
you too. In all honesty, she wasn't sure her wages
were stretched to paying for all four animals, but she
was sure she could work something out. But you've got
to pay me back, she insisted. Oh I will, I will,
agreed the spotty dog. I can't believe I'm a pet owner.
I have my very own guinea pig. I must ask
before we finish, said Sophie to the dog. Is there
anything else I can get you? Nope, replied the dog.
I'm quite happy. Sophie half expected one of the animals
to speak, but nobody did. The guinea pig stood next
to his rabbit, while the rabbit stood next to her cat.
The cat stood beside his dog, and the dog looked
across at her guinea pig. So now what do we do?
Asked the guinea pig. Well, normally you'd go home with
your new pet, said Sophie. But we don't have a home,
said the rabbit. We live in the pet shop. Not anymore,
said Sophie. You've been sold, oh, said the cat. From
What are we supposed to do? This was puzzling, thought Sophie.
Four animals, all bought and paid for, but with no
home to go to, You know, she said, at last,
until you pay me back. It's my money that's paid
for you all. I guess that means you're all coming
home with me. Animals. Fat guinea pigs have an unusual
arrangement of toes. They have four on each of their
front feet, but just three on each of their back feet.
When happy rabbits can purr, they make the sound by
gently chattering their teeth together. Cats make far more sounds
than you might realize. We've documented over one hundred distinct
noises a cat makes to communicate how it's feeling. Likewise,
dogs can display over a hundred facial expressions to show
how they're feeling too. Thank you for your suggestions, Sophie.
We hope you enjoyed the story, and thank you to
all of you across the world. For listening to it.
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