Daddy Monkey and the Quest for Towels - Chapter 4

“Do we have to go in through the door?” said the deer. “I don’t think that people like having deer in their shops. And they’re probably not too keen on big-tummed monkeys or hungry glove monsters either.”

The Glove Monster  was worried but Daddy Monkey wasn’t. “I’ve got a super-duper, ace, excellent, extra-brainio plan!”

He reached in his pocket and pulled out his Fine Moustache, which made him look like a Fine Gentleman. He stuck it under his nose and started to climb down into the street. “Wait here.”

The Glove Monster shrugged at the deer. Deer can’t shrug, so she just looked back and twitched her ears.

After a few minutes there was a clonking sound behind them. They turned round, and someone was pushing open a sort of manhole in the roof. A lady from the shop climbed out, and then so did Daddy Monkey, standing up straight like a Fine Gentleman with a Fine Moustache. “Yes, those are my companions,” he said. “It seems the helicopter has left.”

The shop lady held the manhole open for the Glove Monster and the deer, and a shop man helped them climb down into the shop. He carried the deer, while the shop lady led Daddy Monkey and the Glove Monster down some dark steps and into the shop.

“Thank you,” said Daddy Monkey grandly, and the shop assistants bowed and left.

“That’s a bit weird!” said the Glove Monster. Daddy Monkey just twirled his Fine Moustache.

The deer looked around worriedly. The floor looked slippy, and there were lots of people looking at racks of clothes and sighing.

“Time for towels!” said Daddy Monkey. “They showed me where they were.”

But the problem was, the way to the towel section went past the plant section. “Munch-munch-munch,” went the deer. When she was all full up, it turned out that the way to the towel section went past the glove section. “Munch-munch-munch,” went the Glove Monster. The only section it didn’t go past was the banana section!

At last they got to the towels. “Here we are,” said Daddy Monkey. “Now you can dry yourselves.”

But it had taken so long to get to the towels that the Glove Monster and the deer were all dry and crispy – as crispy as Daddy Monkey.

“I think towels are a lot of trouble,” said the deer. But she couldn’t help nibbling the corner of an orange one on a nearby shelf.

“Mess,” said the Glove Monster, looking at the trail of chewed leaves and gloves all across the shop.

“Brrrrmbmmbmmbmboooooom,” said Daddy Monkey’s tum.

“Excuse me,” said Daddy Monkey, and he went off to the banana section.

Well, after that, and especially after Daddy Monkey’s moustache had fallen off, and everyone in the shop had gone for a surprising slide on a banana skin, they had to leave.

While all the shoppers and shop assistants were picking themselves up from the bananary floor, Daddy Monkey, the Glove Monster and the deer ran out of the shop, across the road and towards the Monkey Library. Sorely Monkey was glad to see them (except that Daddy Monkey’s tail bashed too loudly on the wall, the Glove Monster’s tum looked like it would knock a monkey over, and the deer’s hoofs looked quite sharp).

“So, no towels eh?” said Daddy Monkey, supping his banana tea and looking at the deer’s crispy fur.

“No,” said the deer, looking at Daddy Monkey’s crispy fur. “I think that deer just dry out. And so do monkeys and glove monsters.”

“I like my crocodile towel,” said Daddy Monkey.

“And I think Daddy, Mummy and Freya like it when we don’t bring mess home,” said the Glove Monster.

“Mess might have sharp bits in,” agreed Sorely Monkey.

“Oh no, everyone loves mess,” said Daddy Monkey. “I’ll just give Daddy a ring to come and get us.”

A long time later Daddy got to the Monkey Library in his wellies. Daddy Monkey and the deer climbed into the suitcase he’d had to carry through the flood water, and the Glove Monster put on a hat, a pair of pre-chewed gloves and some enormous wellies as a disguise.

They let the deer out at the edge of the flood water, near the pub. “Bye!” she shouted. “See you soon! Thanks for the adventure!”

Daddy Monkey climbed out of the suitcase too. “I’m tired. Let’s go home.”

But Daddy was worn out from carrying a suitcase with a deer and a monkey in it. “No, there’s too much mess. Let’s go to the pub.”

“Is there banana beer?” asked Daddy Monkey.

“Yes,” said Daddy.

“Can I eat the gloves of anyone who looks nice and warm?” asked the Glove Monster.

“If you ask first,” said Daddy.

And so it was dark when Daddy and the Glove Monster waded home, with Daddy Monkey sitting on Daddy’s shoulder.

“Mess!” said the Glove Monster as the water sloshed around them in the streetlight.

“Siiiiiiiigh,” said Daddy.

“I’m going to spend all of tomorrow wrapped up in my crocodile towel!” said Daddy Monkey.