Authors - Alex Neary, Saxon Nichols and Tom Rosser

Saxon, Alex and Tom were walking through Poeilla Forest chatting about all types of things (girls, football, what they had for lunch).  Eventually they ran out of things to talk about. 

Saxon says “if you could be anything what would you be?”

Alex thinks, thinks harder.  Saxon says “You’d wanna be a centaur, Alex”. 

Thomas pops up.  “A griffin.  They have wings, can fly, are fast and strong”.

Alex in his mild voice says “A Gargoyle.  They too have wings, are athletic and creepy”

Saxon jumps in, “I’d be a dragon – they’re really big, tough, breathe fire and fly.”

The boys discuss all the good things about their chosen creature. 

Thomas starts “I’m thirsty, can we get a drink, come on fellas, like a drink, now, a drink, drink boys, time for a drink.” 

As they were all thirsty. Alex suggested they find something to drink.  Thomas starts again.  “It’s late, tired, tired, rest, drink, rest, sleep, rest, drink”. 

They walk on and come upon a small pool, beautiful, clear water.  The boys quench their thirst and retire for the night.  The three feel funny in the belly as they went to sleep, but nt knowing what it was they thought it was a lack of food. 

Just before dawn, Saxon rolled over and coughs.  A jet of flame shoots from his mouth and sets fire to Tom’s furry butt.  Tom jumps up and lets out a loud squawk squawk.  He rubs his burning butt onto the ground to extinguish the flames.  A few small leaves and dry grass burn for a short time. 

The commotion wakes Alex who rolls over saying in a sleepy voice “Shut up you fellas.  I’m trying to sleep”.  He lay still trying to sleep for a short time then realized his thirst had returned.  He stands and walks to get a drink.  As he leans over the lake he sees a strange face looking back at him.  He jumps back from the water and running back to his sleeping spot, all the time calling out to Saxon and Thomas. 

Thomas jumps up questioning “what’s wrong, what’s wrong”.  The two boys see each other and scream at each other in unison. 

Saxon now wide awake sees the other two and joins in the screaming,  A jet of flame from his mouth separating his mates. 

After what seems to be a very long time the boys realize they have been turned into the creatures they wanted to be the day before. 

The boys can’t believe their luck, they whoop it up flying around, setting fire to trees and bushes, pecking trees with their new beaks.  Picking up boulders and throwing tem, searing all the animals in the forest.  All seems to be going well until;….

Thomas needing to go to the toilet can’t believe his luck.  No fly, no undies.  He steps up to the nearest tree and promptly wees all over his legs.  He didn’t realize griffins need to cock their leg like a dog. 

Alex, though liking to scare things, is really loving at heart.  He never wants to see anything hurt.  He now finds that with his new found strength everything he touches he crushes. 

Saxon has been breathing fire all day.  His teeth, lips and gums are burning.  BBut nothing can ease the heat.  If he tries to cool it with a drink from the nearby river, plumes of steam rise up and burn his eyes only to have the heat return with the next breath. 

The boys now realize being these creatures isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  Alex going back to the water for a drink bumps into a tree and finds a sign

The boys discuss their new found bodies and decide they can’t live as these creatures. 

They all move to the enchanted pool and drink again.  The next morning as the boys awake they look at themselves.  Fingers first then hands, arms, it looks good so far.

Saxon notices it first.  He doesn’t have the normal male equipment.  He runs to Thomas and Alex and his worst fears are realized.  They have been turned into girls!  None of them pretty.  “I can live with this claims one of them”

“What!!!” the other two exclaim in unison. 

The boys try over the next 3 days to change into something better.  “That’s it” Alex says.  Three dung beetles standing beside the pool turn and walk away.  A dung beetle.  They can’t bear to think what is worse. 

A dung beetle’s tape worm, maybe??

A least dung beetles like dung and there is never a lack of it.  Chocolate , really, to a dung beetle.