Slubrug of the Blueberry Tribe looked at the stripy record in his hands and felt sneezy.

He walked over to the window and reflected on his deprived surroundings. He had always loved industrial Ferthillon with its tiny, teeny-tiny trees. It was a place that encouraged his tendency to feel sneezy.

Then he saw something in the distance, or rather someone. It was the figure of Juvoo of the Raspberry Tribe. Juvoo was a grateful raspberry with sticky elbows and ample fingers.

Slubrug gulped. He glanced at his own reflection. He was a virtuous, friendly, blueberry music drinker with ruddy elbows and sloppy fingers. His friends saw him as a brainy, blue-eyed blueberry. Once, he had even made a cup of tea for a mute someone NOT WEARING ANY MAKEUP.

But not even a virtuous person who had once made a cup of tea for a mute someone NOT WEARING ANY MAKEUP, was prepared for what Juvoo had in store today.

The sun shone like boating elephants, making Slubrug happy.

As Slubrug stepped outside and Juvoo came closer, he could see the roasted smile on her face.

“Look Slubrug,” growled Juvoo, with a brutal glare that reminded Slubrug of grateful tortoises. “It’s not that I don’t love you, but I want to be more FABULOUS. You owe me 7520 Rupees.”

Slubrug looked back, even more happy and still fingering the stripy record. “Juvoo, can you test those buttons for-me,” he replied.

They looked at each other with delighted feelings, like two pleasant, purple pigeons loving at a very snotty wedding, which had piano music playing in the background and two intelligent uncles bouncing to the beat.

Slubrug studied Juvoo’s sticky elbows and ample fingers. Eventually, he took a deep breath. “I’m afraid I declared myself bankrupt,” explained Slubrug. “You will never get your money.”

“No!” objected Juvoo. “You lie!”

“I do not!” retorted Slubrug. “Now get your sticky elbows out of here before I hit you with this stripy record.”

Juvoo looked jumpy, her wallet raw like a poised, poor piano.

Slubrug could actually hear Juvoo’s wallet shatter into 7520 pieces. Then the grateful raspberry hurried away into the distance.

Not even a drink of blueberry music would calm Slubrug’s nerves tonight.

THE END