Thomas
Aww… slugs again!
Samuel the Narrator
Yes, there were the slugs. Babies, mothers, and grandmothers, besides enormous great fat slugs, all eating away at the juicy leaves.
Mother
Oh Thomas, lets set some traps–some slug traps–and catch them all.
Samuel the Narrator
Did those slugs walk into the traps? No, not one. They just laughed their slimy laugh…
Slugs
Huh-huh, huh-huh…
Samuel the Narrator
… and went on eating the juicy lettuces.
Mother
Oh deary me, what shall we do? Therell be no lettuce left when little Tim comes home.
Thomas
I know! Ive got a good idea. Ill shoot those varmints!
Mother
Thomas!
Thomas
I will! Ill shoot them!
Samuel the Narrator
Thomas crept very carefully up the lettuce patch and fired his little gun. POP! POP! But did the slugs mind?
Slugs
Huh-huh…
Samuel the Narrator
No, not they. They laughed more than ever in their slimy way.
Slugs
Huh-huh, huh-huh…
Samuel the Narrator
And they ate up all the peas, and then they turned about and went on eating the lettuces.
Mother
Thomas, how are you getting on? We shant have any lettuce when little Tim comes home.
Samuel the Narrator
They hopped sadly down along the passage into the kitchen of their house… and then Mariah had arrived. ZAP!
Interlude
Slugs
Squealing.
Samuel the Narrator
The greedy slugs raised their heads to listen. They waved their bodies joyously, and laughed their slimy laugh.
Slugs
Huh-huh! Hear the sweet music at our feast. Hear the sweet music while we eat.
Samuel the Narrator
And then they laughed again happily in their slimy way…
Slugs
Huh-huh, huh-huh…
Samuel the Narrator
… and went on eating lettuces.
Interlude
Slugs
Huh-huh…
Mother
There wont be even a nibble of lettuce when our little Tim comes home! Sniffles.
Samuel the Narrator
Suddenly, a voice called out, and out rushed Tim, hopping and skipping and turning somersaults as he came towards his father and mother.
Tim
Hello, hello! I brought a friend! Oh… whats the matter?
Samuel the Narrator
The slugs are eating all the lettuce, Tim.
Tim
Oh hey there, Samuel! My friend Brush has just been wondering if youll have meat for supper. Why is it we only had lettuces, didnt I, Brush?
Brush
Ask Tim! I, uh, think I can help you… if you allow me, sir. Just watch me! Starts whistling.
Samuel the Narrator
He gobbled up the slugs faster than you could count–baby slugs, mother slugs, grandmother and great-grandmother slugs–before they had time to take to their slimy heels. Mariah and Thomas stood and watched in wonder at his huge appetite.
Thomas
Ho-ho-ho-hooo! Come and have supper with us whenever you like, Mr. Brush.
Tim
Oh, he will. Mr. Brush!
Thomas
Yes! Get in.
Brush
Whistles.