Badger the Mystical Mutt and the Crumpled Capers Read Online Free Page B

the spike.
    Timmy looked on in horror, as he watched Snif yelp and howl with the spike spearing his side. He was bleeding badly.
    â€œOwww!” cried Timmy.
    â€œIt’s okay, Timmy. Just watch. He’ll be fine,” reassured Badger.
    The tomcat sat on the other side of the railing and smirked.
    The picture flickered. Badger looked at Timmy and said softly: “I think we now understand why Snif hates cats. Let’s see what happened next.”
    They peered back at the screen on the cave wall and saw the cat taunt Snif, before slinking off.
    Just then, a Big Folk farmer drove up in his tractor, saw Snif and ran out to help.
    The picture flickered again and showed Snif lying on his back with a huge red scar on his side.
    â€œNo wonder Snif doesn’t like cats. That tomcat just left him there bleeding. It washorrible,” said Timmy sadly.
    â€œThere’s still more for us to watch, Timmy. Look,” pointed Badger.

    Back on the cave wall, another image appeared. This time, it was Timmy looking at his reflection in the duck pond. He was touching his crumpled ear and trying to flatten it out.
    â€œThat’s me,” murmured Timmy.
    Badger said nothing. Then the image showed Timmy sneezing and wiping his nose with his paw as he tried to catch up with a clowder of cats, that was shouting at him to leave them alone.
    â€œWe don’t want you with us, with that crumpled ear, scruffy coat and snotty snout. Crumpled Lug, Crumpled Lug, makes you look an ugly mug!”
    â€œBut I was born like this,” Timmy whispered sadly. He walked back to the duck pond, his shoulders slumped and his head hung low.
    The screen went blank. Baby Unicorn and Badger looked at Timmy, who suddenly seemed very, very lonely.
    â€œSo this is why you want to join the gang? Because the cats don’t want you?” asked Badger kindly.
    â€œI just want to have pals and fit in somewhere,” said Timmy woefully.
    â€œLook Timmy, Baby Unicorn could uncrumple your ear right now, and give you something to help your sneezes … but Idon’t think that’s the answer.”
    Timmy looked up hopefully. “Could he really?”
    â€œYes, but then you wouldn’t be
Timmy
. That ear makes you who you are. It’s part of you. The sneezes we can work on back home, with a herbal potion of nettles, ginger and saffron, and a lotion of parsley, chamomile and basil.”
    â€œYuk!” said Timmy “I think I’d rather sneeze.”
    â€œBe proud of who you are and celebrate your crumpledness!”
    Timmy wasn’t entirely convinced, but nodded his agreement.
    â€œPet dander!” said Baby Unicorn.
    â€œDander what?” asked Timmy and Badger together.
    â€œIt’s a bit like Big Folks’ hay fever. That’s what’s causing your sneezing, Timmy. You’re allergic to dogs.”
    â€œI can’t be allergic to dogs, surely? I want to join their gang,” said Timmy, flabbergasted.

    â€œGoodness! So that’s a
real
reason why cats and dogs can’t be together?” asked Badger.
    â€œIt’s very rare for cats to be allergic todogs and, as you well know, Badger, there’s no such thing as problems … only solutions. And in this case, it’s a simple course of papaya and pineapple.”
    â€œAha! But they could be tricky to get in winter,” said Badger.
    â€œI’m sure you’ll find a way, Badger,” Baby Unicorn smiled.
    â€œOkay,” said Badger bowing. “Thank you, Baby Unicorn. So, now we know why Snif is horrible to you, perhaps we can help sort this out before a cat-astrophe occurs between you both.”
    Baby Unicorn bowed, and Badger led the way out of the cave where they all heard the distant tinkle of the ivory staircase.
    Back in the lane, Snif was holding a meeting with Pogo Paws, Pickle and Lennie, to decide Timmy’s last and ultimate challenge.
    â€œIt’s got to be something that he