The Little Old Lady
It was a warm sunny day, a few days before Cheeky Pig was to fly away on the family holiday to Ibiza, one of the Spanish islands in the Mediterranean Sea. He had just broken up from school for the summer break and this morning he was walking along with a hop, skip and a jump planning to call for one of his friends and play outside. As he walked around the corner in to Edgioake Lane he noticed a little old lady some distance in front of him.
Now don’t ask me why but a very mischievous and cheeky thought came in to Cheeky Pig’s head. He looked around the street and noticed it was very quiet and no-one else was to be seen. All around him were lots of privet hedges, which made great hiding places, so he thought he would play a joke on the little old lady.
Looking around again to make absolutley sure that no-one could see him, he positioned himself behind the closest privet hedge and popping his head out shouted after the little old lady, “Oi, Big Bum!” Then he quickly moved back behind the hedge without being seen and peeped through the leaves.
The little old lady stopped. She slowly turned around but couldn’t see anyone. “Hmmm” she thought as she rubbed her chin. Then she turned back around and carried on her way. Cheeky Pig was giggling to himself and had to hold his hand over his mouth so as not to let out a squeal of laughter!
Don’t ask me why but Cheeky Pig thought it was soooo funny that he decided to do it again. He peeped out from his hiding place, cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, louder this time, “Oi, Big Bum!” Again, he ducked back out of sight and lay on the ground now hardly able to contain himself, tears rolling down his chubby cheeks with huge squeals of laughter. It’s a wonder he didn’t wee himself!
When he did manage to pull himself together, again he peeped his head out from the hedge. To his surprise the little old lady had gone and was no where to be seen. The street was now completely empty. “How strange”, he thought. Suddenly the hairs on the back of Cheeky Pig’s neck pricked up in the air as he sensed the presence of something close behind him.
“DID YOU WONDER WHERE I WAS?” came a shout in his ear!
“Aaaarrrrrghhhh!” screamed a shocked Cheeky Pig! He spun around and came face-to-face with the little old lady. Only, this wasn’t a meek-looking little old lady. “Aaaarrrrghhhhhhhh!” he screamed again, his mouth open wide, this was no little old lady…it was the Village Witch!
“Y-Y-Y-You’re th-th-th-the W-W-W-WITCH!!!” he stuttered.
“Indeed I am !” said the Witch, “And didn’t you pick the wrong person to be cheeky to?”
“No please, I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to…I…I…I…” The words just wouldn’t come out, he was frozen to the spot terrifiied! She smiled a rather evil smile, “I think I will turn you into stone for your cheekiness little pig!” she cackled.
“No, no, no, please nooooo!” he wailed. “Waaahhh, boo hoo hooooooo! I promise on my honour I’ll never be cheeky to you again! Please don’t turn me to stone, waaaahhhh!”
“Oh you promise do you?” she spat out the words.
“Yes yes, yes, yes, yes, pig’s honour, I promise, I promise, I promise I will be good. I won’t do it again. Please, please. I am sooo sorry!”
“Hmm. Very well, as you seem to regret what you did then on this occasion I will let you off. But, hear me and hear me well, if I ever catch you being cheeky to me again then I WILL turn you into stone. DO YOU HEAR ME?” she screamed.
“Yes, yes, yes! thankyou, thankyou!” he cried.
The Witch pointed her finger back down the road, “Now…be gone with you!!!!!!”
Cheeky Pig ran for his life, as fast as his little feet would trot along…and he didn’t stop until he was safely back at home locking the house door behind him.
“What on earth happened to you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” said his mum.
“N-n-nothing” said a shocked looking Cheeky Pig, “Erm, I-er, I fell over and it scared me! I’m ok, I’m ok though!”
“Oh no, come here my little pumpkin, let mummy have a look at you!” And with that Cheeky Pig was cuddled in her big arms and spoiled by her for the rest of the day. Indoors of course!
But two things stuck in his mind:
– the thought of being turned to stone by the wicked witch, and;
– that he must always be respectful of older people!
He had better be more careful in future, especially where seemingly little old ladies were concerned!
