Book Amended 2

Whistle-Stop Thistle

Jay Stelling

Whistle-Stop Thistle Jay Stelling, 2018 www. jaystelling.co.uk

One little magpie soaring through the sky in a rush.

Over the nettles, past the trees and behind a bramble bush. space He lands amongst the berries and calls out with a whistle, for he has just arrived in Whistle-Stop Thistle.

The town is filled with colourful buildings: lilac, pink and aquamarine.

When the Thistle-folk hear the tuneful whistle they know the friendly magpie has been.

Each morning the magpie visits and brings the Thistle-folk a thing, an object he’s found and carries under his wing.

The youngest and most curious Thistle-folk run to inspect the treasure he’s brought.

Benji, Brenna and Malcolm gather around, scratching their heads in thought.

“Mr Magpie, thank you!” said Benji, “What have you found?”

“Something shiny,” noted Brenna, and Malcolm said “The thing is very round.”

As swiftly as the Magpie arrived, he flapped his wings and went, leaving the Thistle-folk to work out for themselves what the thing was he’d sent.

“Maybe it’s the Moon, or a drum to hit with a spoon,” suggested Malcolm.

“Maybe it’s something to wear like a hat, or for hitting a ball like a cricket bat,” wondered Brenna.

The children took the thing to show Mrs Martha Maple at the toy shop in the hope that she might know of its use in Whistle-stop.

“If I rounded these edges, I could make a toy safe enough for play.

But I’m sure it could have better uses.

Go see what the others say.”

The children tried the cafe. Perhaps Mr Cedar knew if the thing could be used to help him serve his brew.

“Oh it’s definitely useful; it could fit our teacups in, but our trays are wooden and this one’s made of tin.”

The children approached Betty Bramble the baker. “I suppose it could be filled to the brim with hot steaming fruit and a thick pastry trim.�

“This was once a bottle cap for humans to close a bottle of pop or beer.

It will need a wash of course, but we’ll make use of it here.”

“Leave it with me. I’ll give it a good scrub.

Come back in the morning and I’ll show you the grub.”

The Thistle-folk slept in excited dreams whilst Betty Bramble, as usual, prepared delicious cakes and creams.

Benji, Brenna and Malcolm raced to the bakery when they woke.

How would the thing help the baker to feed Thistle-folk?

Betty opened the door, a large dish in her hand. “Children, the bottle cap you brought made the BEST PIE DISH in the land!�

The fresh pie was cut into pieces and shared around for all.

And one little piece was left in the field for the kind magpie’s next call.

Welcome to Whistle-Stop Thistle!

Join Benji, Brenna and Malcolm as they try to find a use for the kind magpie’s treasure!