Selby's Stardom by Duncan Ball Read Free Book Online Page B

Selby said.
    â€˜And thank you for saying the words for me,’ Count Karnht said. ‘You saved my life — again.’
    â€˜Anytime, Count,’ Selby said, ‘but you’d better learn the secret code number before this happens again or you’ll be in big trouble.’
    â€˜I think I know it now,’ Count Karnht said. ‘One …’
    â€˜That’s good. What comes next?’
    â€˜Two …’
    â€˜And then?’
    â€˜Three …’
    â€˜Very good, Count!’ Selby said. ‘One more number and you’ll have it.’
    â€˜Nine!’ the Count said.
    â€˜Well, not quite,’ Selby said.
    â€˜But I’m getting there, aren’t I,’ the Count said excitedly. ‘Any day now I’ll be able to say 1–2–3–4.’
    â€˜You said it!’ Selby cried. ‘You took the words right out of my mouth. Only that time you didn’t have to.’
    Paw note: See the story ‘Selby Snaps!’ in the book
Selby Snaps!
S
    Paw note: See the story ‘Number Fumbler’ in the book
Selby Screams
. S

Selby’s Smile
    â€˜I’ve invented a new kind of cat,’ Dr Trifle announced, carrying a cat from his workroom.
    â€˜You can’t just
invent
cats,’ Mrs Trifle asked. ‘Besides, that one looks just like Postie Paterson’s cat, Ray.’
    â€˜Well, he sort of is but I’ve changed him,’ Dr Trifle said. ‘Give him a pat and you’ll see.’
    Mrs Trifle patted Ray and he began to purr. And just when the purring began, Ray’s lips suddenly curled up into a warm, friendly smile.
    â€˜Good lord!’ Mrs Trifle shrieked. ‘Look! He’s smiling!’
    â€˜Exactly!’ said Dr Trifle, smiling himself.
    â€˜I can’t believe it! I just can’t believe it!’
    â€˜I can’t believe it either,’ Selby thought. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’
    â€˜What have you done to him?’ Mrs Trifle shrieked.
    Slowly, Ray’s smile faded.
    â€˜I’ve turned him into a Happy Cat,’ Dr Trifle explained, stroking the cat and watching as he smiled again. ‘Everybody who wants a cat will buy one of these. The way I look at it is this: we keep pets to make us happy. We make
them
happy by feeding them and cuddling them and patting them and they make
us
happy by showing us that they’re happy. Cats purr to tell us they’re happy. This cat not only purrs but it smiles back at us and makes us feel even happier.’
    â€˜It makes me feel a bit weird,’ Mrs Trifle said. ‘How did you do it?’
    â€˜I’ll show you,’ said Dr Trifle.
    Dr Trifle gently opened Ray’s mouth with his fingers and took something out.
    â€˜These Lip Movers turn a normal cat into a Happy Cat,’ he explained. ‘The LMs hook gently over the lips from inside. They’re so soft that the cat can’t even feel them. They move the cat’s lips into a smile when it purrs.’
    â€˜But how?’
    â€˜With this,’ Dr Trifle said, taking off Ray’s collar. ‘Inside the collar is a tiny Purr Dectector. When Ray purrs, this sends a signal to the LMs which move his lips.’
    â€˜I guess it’s not such a bad invention,’ Mrs Trifle said.
    â€˜Unfortunately, the materials to make one are very expensive. I wouldn’t dare tell you how much this one cost,’ Dr Trifle said. ‘And I made another one too,’ he added, taking something out of his pocket. ‘Watch me turn Selby into a Happy Dog.’
    Dr Trifle parted Selby’s lips and pressed the device firmly down over his teeth. He then hooked the Lip Movers over Selby’s lips.
    â€˜How are you going to get Selby to purr?’ Mrs Trifle asked.
    â€˜Happy Pup is different from Happy Cat,’ Dr Trifle explained as he put a tiny band around Selby’s tail. ‘When Selby wags his tail the Wag Detector sends a