Pumpkin and the Seal
Pumpkin and the Seal
by Lynda Keen
After this, Pumpkin walked on and this time he walked North-East, to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Here he met up with a circus, the same one that had helped the farm animals, and he took on the job of manager.
Now near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on the coast, lived a baby seal. He had grey silky fur and his name was Supersonic. He had decided it was time he had an Adventure. He decided to hitch-hike South to the Big City, where he had heard the Great Seal lived.
He thumbed a lorry. It stopped.
Yes, hop in. The lorry driver was Pumpkin and the lorry was part of the circus, which was travelling to Leyland, Pumpkin's home town, to join in the Leyland Festival.
You're a Geordie, aren't you? asked Pumpkin.
Honk, aye, said Supersonic, a Sunderland supporter an' all. They're magic.
Rubbish, cried Pumpkin, Spurs are the greatest team in England.
They had a long and heated argument about football.
Where are you going then? asked Pumpkin after a while.
London, to see the Great Seal.
Ah, said Pumpkin.
How will you manage for money? Pumpkin asked.
Honk, I don't need money, said Supersonic. I'm going to hitch-hike.
You'll need some once you get there, said Pumpkin. It's an expensive place to live, London. Why don't you work for me a week or two before you go?
So Supersonic worked in the circus. He caught fish, which the ringmaster threw to him. He balanced a coloured ball on his nose. He did a tightrope walk.
The children who came to the circus loved him and clapped and clapped. Supersonic joined in, clapping his flippers and honking loudly and the children laughed and laughed.
Supersonic became the star of the circus. Pumpkin persuaded him to go on tour with them. They went to lots of different places - Nottingham, Barrow-in-Furness, High Wycombe, Liverpool and Reading.
Everywhere the children loved Supersonic and by the end of the tour he was very famous.
The circus was in Reading and next they were going back to Newcastle.
Supersonic said to Pumpkin, I can't go back to Newcastle yet, Pumpkin. Honk, we're in the South now, near the Big City. I have to leave the circus now.
But you're rich and famous, said Pumpkin. You can't give up your career now while you're at the top.
I didn't set out to become famous, said Supersonic. I set out to have an Adventure and to see the Great Seal. Honk, it's been an Adventure working in the circus making the children clap and laugh. But now I have to go and see the Great Seal.
After that you'll come back to the circus?
Honk, honk, aye bonny lad, like as not.
So Supersonic caught a train to London and went to see the Great Seal.
Honk, boomed the Great Seal. He was very big and glossy and black and looked very important. He smiled at Supersonic.
So you're the famous Supersonic Seal. Pleased to meet you. May I have your autograph for my children? They would like to see your act but the circus hasn't come to London yet. Perhaps you'd ask them to come? They could use the Albert Hall.
So the circus went to the Albert Hall and the Great Seal's children saw Supersonic's act. The Great Seal gave Supersonic a silver medal and held a party for all the circus animals at his house.
Then Supersonic went back to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and lived happily ever after.
Pumpkin set off on his walk again. Four or five days later, he found that he had walked home to his own back garden.
Doombrain cat, he said to himself. Here I am back here when I meant to walk to Onhyldani. I'd better set off again. And so he did and walked till he reached Onhyldani, where he too lived happily ever after.
