Templeton's Story



 

 

Templeton's Story

 

 

 

                  One morning Templeton the rat woke up at a mysterious farm.  He was in the barn and he had no idea how he got there.  "Where am I," he asked the sheep.  "You are at Zuckerman's farm," replied the sheep.  "How did I get here?" asked Templeton.  "How should I know, I was asleep," said the sheep.  " I was awake," said a voice.  "Where are you and do you know how I got here," asked Templeton.  "I'm in the corner of the barn door, and last night a crow flew in to the barn wall and dropped something," said the voice. "That something was you," "The only thing I remember doing is falling asleep in my junkyard," said Templeton.  "The crow must have swept you up in your sleep," said the voice.  "Well I might as well live here," said Templeton.  "By the way, my name is Templeton," said the rat.  "My name is Charlotte," said the voice from the corner.  "Charlotte, do you know where I could get some junk, I want my home to be as much like my old one as possible," said Templeton.  "There is a junk yard about a mile down the road that you could pick some stuff up from," replied Charlotte. "But if you want junk in your house, our house has to be under ground," "That's fine," said Templeton.  "I like the dark,"

 

           So Templeton set to work.  He dug tunnels, got junk, and made friends and enemies at the barn.  A few weeks after he moved in, they got a new friend to the barn. Wilbur the pig.

 

           When Wilbur first arrived, Templeton tried to stay hidden.  The only thing he liked about pigs was their slop.  One day Wilbur go loose.  They chased him everywhere.  Finally Mr. Zuckerman got his attention with a bucket of slop.  Templeton decided that if he talked to the pig and became friends with him he might share his slop.  "Hey," said Templeton.  "Who's there," asked Wilbur with a mouth full of slop.  "It's me Templeton the rat," he replied. "Will you share your slop with me?"  "Sure, I'll save you a few noodles," said Wilbur.

            One day Templeton came out of his hole.  The whole barn was up and talking about Wilbur.  They were saying how Wilbur would die this winter.  Wilbur was very scared.  Charlotte had become Wilbur's friend and she wanted to help him.  So Templeton spoke up. "Charlotte you could write words in your web that describe the pig, so people will love him,"  "That's a great idea Templeton, but how will I know how to spell the words?" replied Charlotte.  "I will go to the junk yard and pick up some magazine clippings so you can copy them," said Templeton.  "That would be fantastic," said Charlotte.  So he set off to the junk yard.  He searched everywhere until he found the words "Some Pig".  When he got back Wilbur was asleep.  "Here you go," he said as he handed the magazine to Charlotte.  "Thank you Templeton, what does it say," asked Charlotte.  "It says "Some Pig," replied Templeton.  Then he scampered back into his hole and fell asleep.  When he came out the next morning there where tons of people taking pictures of the web and Wilbur.  Wilbur couldn't die this winter.  He was famous!

            The next few weeks Templeton went to the junk yard and found Charlotte words like Terrific, and Radiant. Charlotte spun the words in her web and every time news crews and people from everywhere would come see. 

 

           The next day Mr. Zuckerman said he wanted to enter Wilbur in the fair.  He had his son Lurvy build a green crate that said Zuckerman's famous pig.  "The fair is a rats dream," said Templeton.  "Can I come with you Wilbur," "Of course Templeton," replied Wilbur.  "You have to come too Charlotte," said Wilbur.  "I can't Wilbur, I am going to have my babies soon," replied Charlotte.  "Please," begged Wilbur.  "I need you to write more words in your web,"  "OK, said Charlotte. So her and Templeton climbed into Wilbur's crate.  Templeton then fell asleep and dreamed about eating all he could eat at the fair.

               When they go to the fair they unloaded Wilbur, Charlotte climbed into the corner and Templeton went to search for food.  He ran all over.  There were 65 garbage cans and he stuffed himself.  He ate nachos, hamburgers, hot dogs, and deserts.  This would keep him fed for at least a week.  When he got back to Wilbur's pen he had gained 6 pounds.  While he was out he found Charlotte the word "humble" in one of the garbage cans.  "Will this work?" he asked.  "Perfectly," replied Charlotte.   

 

                 When everyone woke up the next morning they found out that a different pig had won the blue ribbon, but then Zuckerman saw the web.  He called the owner of the fair and they awarded a medal to Wilbur.  Then Templeton went food searching again, and you can imagine how fat he was then.

            When Templeton got to Wilbur's pen Wilbur looked sad. "What's the matter," asked Templeton.  "Charlotte is going to die," said Wilbur. "Why?" asked Templeton.  "Because after she has her egg sack she will get sick and die," replied Wilbur sadly.  "Could you carry her eggs back to Zuckerman's barn so we will have her kids there, I'll give you first choice on my slop everyday," said Wilbur.  "I guess I could do that," said Templeton.  He wanted to help Charlotte and Wilbur because they were his only friends. 

             So he carried the egg sack back to Zuckerman's barn, and he and Wilbur had lots of new spider friends. He lived happily ever after eating Wilbur's slop.