23. Smelly Things

Swifty and his stuff are having fun in Atlantica. But they do need new skin. Flounder was unkind to them. Nasty! What smelly things! he said. Swifty was upset. Flounder, he asked. Why are you yellow with blue stripes? I'm a useful fish, replied Flounder, ''always prepared. I never get''

dirty. Oh!'' Swifty thought. ''That's why you once had a shoelace. To be prepared, eh, Flounder?'' Flounder ignored Swifty, and was gone. It was so upsetting to remember when his wagons had to be fixed with a shoelace. So Flounder left his wagons, and got ready for his next load.''

It was carts, stopping at every junction to pick up carts.

Flounder didn't like carts. ''Nasty carts in nasty places! Yuck!'' Starting with just some, he got more carts, until he had

a long load. The carts were good at first, but Flounder bashed them so angrily,

that they received their chance. They went up Scuttle's hill. Heavy carts stop here to put on their stoppers.

Flounder had an incident with carts before, and should have thought of this. ''Stop, Flounder! Stop!'' said his worker. But Flounder didn't stop. He was too busy thinking about what Swifty said to him. The carts got their chance. Yippie, hooray! they said. And they all pushed Flounder down the hill. Keep going! said the carts. Stop, stop! wailed Flounder. They went past the junction. Soon, they were in for trouble. Sticky black stuff

covered Flounder. He had crashed into some tar trucks, and was very dirty. Flounder wasn't hurt, but the tar trucks and the carts had been damaged. Swifty and Melody came to the rescue. Look, Melody. said Swifty.

Who is that smelly thing? Isn't that Flounder over there? asked Melody. It looks like Flounder, Swifty said,

but Flounder is a useful fish, and you never see him get dirty. Flounder wasn't listening. Swifty and Melody took

away the carts, and then helped Flounder. King Triton saw them. Great job, Melody and Swifty. Then, he looked at Flounder. ''Fancy letting your carts get away. I am pleased. You don't look so good. We'll get you clean. Swifty will hve new skin. Please, your Majesty,'' said Swifty. Can my stuff have new skin too? Of course. said the mighty king. All Flounder could do, was watch Swifty swim excitedly away.

by Julian Ayele Cumberbatch