The Story of Toby the Tortoise 64 Zoo Lane

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane... #

Hello, I'm Lucy.

I live at 64 Zoo Lane and I have some very special neighbours. Look.

# There's one with a hump and one who can jump

# And one who is a little bit plump

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# Some like it hot and some like it chilly

# And some like it both ways That's a bit silly

# Some are friendly, some are scary

# But one thing is sure Not one is ordinary

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# Some are spotty, some are stripy

# Prickly and woolly Furry and slimy

# Some are quite big Some very small

# And the last one's Georgina Who's incredibly tall

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane... #

Bedtime, Lucy! >

OK, Mum.

-Hi, everyone!

-ALL: Hi, Lucy!

Aaah!

-Oh!

-Lucy.

-It's only a little spider.

That spider's not little. It's big and hairy and scary.

THEY ALL LAUGH

-Since when have you been afraid of spiders?

-I saw a scary film on TV

-about big hairy ones that bite.

-Not all spiders are mean.

This one's very friendly.

-See?

-Ah! Get it away from me!

BOTH: Lucy's a scaredy-cat!

Now, now, everybody's afraid of something,

but even the shyest animals overcome their fears.

-Toby the Tortoise?

-Please tell me that story, Nelson.

Mm, Toby was so scared of thunderstorms

'and those happen a lot in Africa.

'None of the animals like them very much,

'so when a dark cloud covered the sky everyone ran for cover.

'But Toby couldn't run fast enough.'

Oh, no...

Leave me alone... thunderstorm.

'It was the sound of the thunder that really frightened Toby.

'He decided to stay inside his shell forever,

'because he never wanted to hear another thunderstorm again.'

Never! Never!

'The next morning, the sun rose over the savannah.

'All the animals came out.'

That was a wild storm last night!

I didn't mind. It's made everything smell really fresh now.

-Good morning, Toby!

-Come out and play with us.

-Toby, are you in there?

-Of course he's in there!

-Tortoises don't leave their shells.

-So, why is he ignoring us?

Have we made him cross?

'As Doris and Kevin wondered why Toby's shell was so silent,

'I happened to amble past.'

-Morning all.

-Toby won't come out of his shell.

-We think he's cross.

Nonsense! He just needs a wake-up call.

TRUMPETS

-He must be awake now.

-No sign of it.

'As we puzzled over it, Reginald the Lion walked up.'

Why are you all staring at Toby? Have you nothing better to do?

-He won't come out.

-I thought he was asleep.

We thought he was cross.

He's just being lazy and needs a good kickstart.

ROARS

Um, Reginald? It's not working.

-Toby hasn't come out.

-How annoying!

'As we puzzled over Toby's shell, Giggles and Tickles ran up to us.'

We know what's wrong! He's bored!

If we play with him, he'll come out.

Hey! Stop mucking about!

-Toby's not a toy!

-That's enough of that!

-Friends don't throw each other around.

-Sorry!

-That was silly of us.

It didn't help. Toby is still in his shell.

Maybe Toby is ill.

Oh, Kevin, you might be right.

-Let's take Toby to Uncle Gordon!

-He'll sort Toby out!

'So we took Toby to Dr Gordon Gorilla who was as busy as ever.'

Next! >

Always remember to look before you leap.

Next.

Just as I suspected - you have a tummy ache!

LAUGHING

Toby's the patient, Dr Gordon.

-He won't come out.

-We thought he was cross.

I thought he was sleeping. Or being lazy.

BOTH: We thought he was bored!

Hmm, let me see.

The problem is obvious.

-Really, Doctor?

-Is it serious?

Oh, no. Toby's as fit as a fiddle.

Something is troubling him, but only he can say what it is.

'Dr Gordon left everyone feeling very confused.

'How could we help if Toby wouldn't say what was wrong?

'Then Doris had a bright idea.'

I know! Let's take Toby to see Audrey the Agony Aunt.

Oh, yeah! She helps us with our troubles.

'When we arrived, Doris explained the problem.'

Toby has troubles that only he knows.

So we came to you.

Please, can you help get Toby out of his shell?

I'll do my best, Kevin. Now, off you go, all of you.

I need to talk to Toby alone. >

'Then Audrey leaned down to look at the dark hole inside Toby's shell.'

Tell me, Toby, what has frightened you?

How did you know I was frightened?

I'm very good at my job.

So, what was it?

Was it last night's thunderstorm?

Wow! How did you know?

I know thunder frightens almost everybody. It used to scare me.

I'd bury my head in the sand when a storm broke out.

Used to scare you? Doesn't it any more?

No, because I found a way to get rid of my fear.

Do you want to know how?

Oh, yes! Please!

The sound of thunder scared me most,

so I decided to block it out with these coconut ear protectors.

Try these seashells on for size.

Thanks, Audrey!

-What?

-What?

'Toby and Audrey couldn't hear each other,

'but they did see an angry thunder cloud passing overhead.'

Oh, no! Not again!

'Toby waited nervously for the thunder that follows lightning,

'but, to his surprise, the sound didn't arrive.'

Audrey, there's no thunder!

'Toby and Audrey couldn't hear the thunder,

'so they weren't afraid of the storm.'

Toby, you're back!

Yep!

Do you want to watch the lightning with me and Audrey?

Is that OK with you, Nelson?

Absolutely.

This thunderstorm is amazing!

-What?

-What?

How about you, Lucy?

-It's not the same as being afraid of spiders.

-Isn't it?

Ear protectors won't stop them from biting me.

-This one hasn't bitten me.

-Go on.

Ohh...oh!

It's soft and furry.

-It's tickling me!

-Hey! Tickling's my job!

Good night, Mr Spider. Good night, everybody.

ALL: Good night, Lucy!

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane... #