Once written twice espied. Well that is how it seems and now I can look to see where this is coming from or going to. You never know!
The last time he saw Edgar Earflap he (was subjected to a trial-run suction session) (had what could only be described as a vacuuming session.) Edgar had come up with an innovative idea for giving Percy a deep-root clean and invented a suction machine. The only problem was that it was in its infancy and there were the usual teething problems and Percy experienced them all! It was all well and good because at least it gave Edgar the chance to tweak the tool and get it perfected for treating those nooks and crannies that other picking tools failed to reach on Percy’s long and ungainly quills. Percy shuddered at the tortures he had undergone all in the name of a good pencil preening and deep-cleanse treatment and not vanity.
He was brought back to the present by a bee doing a close shave fly-by – not that it would have hurt him having so many spikes as he did, it was just that the sound of her passing buzz caused his quills stand on end for seemingly no reason. He still had no idea why it should be so and Percy regained some composure enough to relax. The startled porcupine shook his head in disapproval and wondered why Beryl chose to buzz him on her way through the jungle. It was not as if she ever stopped to say “Hello.” Percy watched her fly around and sniffing the air in the jungle undergrowth. Oh well, he thought, I had better press on, and off he went.
The air was thick and heavy with the scent of daytime flowers and Percy came out into the full sunlight feeling the heat beating down on his back. It was fierce and penetrated between the pencil pointed quills burning the tender skin on his uprotected hide.
The air was thick just like a blanket and as Percy came out into the full sunlight he felt it beating down on his back, penetrating between the pencil points.
He pondered about the warmth and began to think that maybe Edgar was right and he should take care of his body because the sun was starting to burn. Turning around, Percy went back to his den and walked towards his cache of lotions and potions, given to him by Edgar to treat his body and spikes. Percy rooted through the pile of jumbled bottles and sachets until he came across the bottle of spray. It seemed the most penetrating way to apply liquid formulae.
It had to be said that Edgar was nothing but innovative in his quest for perfection on behalf of his clients and he had tried all manner of potions and methods of application. Whilst Edgar was treating Percy he had a brain wave coming up with a spray that would protect his outer body as well as penetrate through the quills to offer his tender body protection from the sun. Percy always listened to Edgar’s lectures about the sun and the light spectrum in a wrapt manner as Edgar had a way with words, for all his bossing and preaching. It seemed that sunlight was not the only culprit for damaging the body but light itself, essential to life itself, caused damage too by virtue of its frequency. The thought-filled Porcupine sprayed his whole body liberally with the sweet smelling oil and made sure he had his eyes closed whilst he sprayed his face.
Once done Percy dumped the bottle back on the heap and went again in search of the Tinkertooth Booth for a supplementary quill sharpening treatment. He often went to Sebastien Sunstripe for additional therapy and was just going to visit Sebastien’s replacement, Trevalyan Tinkertooth. It was warmer now than ever and he found the air to be warm and airless, if that was possible, to breathe. Sweat was pouring off his quills and the droplets seemed to glisten in the blazing sun as they hung onto the tips prior to dripping off. He hoped that the administered potion was waterproof as Edgar had promised but judging by its present condition Percy had his doubts about it.
He ploughed on and finally he was back under cover and felt less hot, bothered and vulnerable. Because he was an artiste Percy admired all the beauty surrounding him and he noticed, in particular, a beautiful yellow flowering plant growing in the shade of a tree. It was one that he had not seen before and he went to have a closer look at its *. The aroma grew stronger as he neared it and by the time he was upon it Percy felt rather light-headed because of the heady odour. The scent was not one he had encountered before and he found it quite delightful even though he had to shake his head in order to bring him back to his senses.
The flower stared up at him with great beauty and he was overcome by how delicate it was despite its size. It reminded him of a star fish with a huge soft centre and just as he was pondering the leaves Beryl buzzed down by his ear and landed with grace upon the flower’s centre. (Note. This is a flower which Beryl had managed to *germinate* there. The one that was virtually extinct from the Island - except that one was purple with black stripes.)
