Arnold, The World’s Greatest Swordtoad & Martin The Huge, Hungry Spider

Daniel turned to Martin.  ‘That’s Granny Perkins,’ he said.  ‘She

 

won’t be at all pleased to find you’ve eaten all the bananas.’

 

‘It doesn’t matter, she’ll be scared of me,’ said Martin.

 

‘Everybody always is … except for you and I expect you’re just a bit

 

simple.’

 

‘I am not simple!’ said Daniel indignantly.  ‘And I’m not sure

 

Granny Perkins is afraid of anybody.  You’d better hide.’

 

‘I’m a bit big to hide,’ grumbled Martin.  But Daniel bundled him

 

out of sight behind the crate.  He was only just in time because

 

Granny Perkins came stamping into the yard.

 

‘Where are my bananas?’ she howled, seeing the empty crate.

 

‘There weren’t any,’ said Daniel.

 

‘You wicked little boy,’ screamed Granny Perkins.  ‘You’ve eaten

 

up all my bananas.’

 

‘Be serious Granny, I couldn’t eat that many bananas, I’d

 

burst,’ said Daniel.

 

‘I’ll burst you,’ said Granny Perkins lifting up her stick.

 

‘Ow!’ said Daniel, getting ready.  But as Granny Perkins came

 

after him the huge figure of Martin appeared behind her.  His bottom

 

jaw fell open like a draw-bridge, a leg shot out, and Granny Perkins

 

was tossed into the great cavern of a mouth.  Martin closed his eyes

 

and gave a deep swallow, and Granny Perkins had gone.

 

‘Well,’ said Daniel surprised.  ‘That’s solved the problem of the

 

bananas.’

 

Martin gave a deep rumbling belch, ‘Delicious,’ he said.  ‘What’s

 

for pudding?’  Daniel shook his head.

 

‘Not bananas,’ he said.