35. Melody and Timon

Melody worked very hard at the new dockside. Men needed rocks for the wall. Swifty helped too, but sometimes, it was very heavy. Melody had to get them for herself. Sometimes, she'd meet Ariel. ''Great job, Melody! King Triton is proud of us!'' They saw an airfield near by. Melody heard airplanes and helicopters buzzing around. Then, she saw a flying creature. Silly object! said Melody. I wish it would be quiet! One day, Melody went by the airfield. Hi there. she said. What's your name? ''I'm Timon. What's your name? My name is Melody. Nice goggles. Yes, indeed.'' said Timon. Do you wish to fly? ''Of course not. I'd rather be on the ground. I think you're slow, Timon said, and not much use at all.'' Then, he flew off. Melody saw Swifty at the yard. ''Listen, Swifty, this Timon character thinks I'm slow, and not much use. Wait and see.'' I'll show him who's slow.'' She was attached to her carts, and then she was gone. Soon, they heard a buzz. Melody, her worker said softly, ''here's Timon. He's not far away. Let's have a race. Yeah, a race!'' cried Melody. Melody panted with her carts shaking along. Well, I'll be! her worker called. There went Timon. Melody was on. C'mon, Melody! he cried. You can do it! Melody had never gone so fast. She was having lots of fun. Come along, come along! she told her carts. No, no, no! said the carts. It didn't help. Melody was rocking and rolling, and Timon was up above her. The driver put some food in Melody's foodbox. Great job, Melody! cried the worker. ''We're in the lead! We can do it! That's a good girl!'' A light was telling them that the dockside was close by. Eeek! Stoppers, stoppers, stoppers! The worker checked the speed. They ran the main, and stopped at the dockside. Oh, my! moaned Melody. We didn't win the race. The driver got onto Melody's pink tail. ''We have won, we have won! Timon is still flying. He's going to land. Listen, guys. Melody's song. That stupid flying creature said you were slow. You were no use at all, and out of date, you know. But Melody with her carts, she won the race. And we beat the flying creature at our own pace. Melody blushed. Thanks. she said. She loved the last line in the song. She was proud to be classy and sassy. by Julian Ayele Cumberbatch