Timmy and the Terrible Tiger

When telling this story, John would sing the song. Then for each group that joined in, he would make the sounds of that animal "singing" the song, but just making the noises instead of words.

He also would raise and lower his voice to give better "flavor". When the singing started, he would slowly get louder and louder to make it seem happy.
Then, when doing the roar for the Terrible Tiger, he would roar so loud, he would be nearly hoarse at the end of the story.
And immediately after the roar, his voice would drop to nearly a whisper as he described all of the animals' fear as they went into hiding.

And, when he showed how wide the Terrible Tiger opened his mouth, he started off by putting his arms straight out with one hand down 45° and the other up 45°. He would hold it there for a second, look at it, then put one hand straight up, and the other straight down and say "That wide!" He would keep them there until after Timmy says "Hey mister Tiger, you're in my road!" Then he would swing his hands together with a loud clap to indicate the Tiger closing his mouth.


Once upon a time, there was a bear named Timmy. Timmy was a special bear. He was black and white and very cute. He was a panda bear.

One day, Timmy's bowl of porridge was a little too hot to eat, so he decided to take a short walk while it cooled. And while he walked, he sang a song:

Pease Porridge Hot,
Pease Porridge Cold.
Pease Porridge in a Pot Nine Days Old.

Some Like It Hot,
Some Like It Cold.
Some Like It in a Pot Nine Days Old.

And when the Birds saw him singing, they joined in:

Chirp Chirp-Chirp Chirp,
Chirp Chirp-Chirp Chirp,
Chirp Chirp-Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp.
And when the Monkeys heard it, they joined in:
Chatter Chatter Chatter,
Chatter Chatter Chatter,
Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter.
And then the Bees joined in too:
Bzz Bzz-Bzz Bzz,
Bzz Bzz-Bzz Bzz.
Bzz Bzz-Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz.
And even the Breezes went:
Swish Swish-Swish Swish,
Swish Swish-Swish Swish,
Swish Swish-Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish.

But… There was one person who didn't join in. He stayed up late watching TV way past his bed-time, and was still trying to sleep in his cave, when the noise started to trickle in…
First one ear poked up…
Then the other poked up…
Then one blood-shot eye opened…
Then the other…
Then he said "Who is that interrupting my sleep!"

He walked out to the mouth of his cave and saw everybody happy and decided to put a stop to it. He went, "Roar. Roaarr. RRROOAAARRR!!!"

And the Birds hid their heads under their wings. And the Monkeys all scrambled up into the trees. And the Bees all zipped into their hives. Even the Breezes stopped blowing.
And the Terrible Tiger grunted to himself, "Huh. Ain't I great!" Then he turned around and went back into his cave.

But, there was one person who didn't stop. Guess who that was. That's right! It was Timmy!
Timmy just kept walking along, singing his song:

Pease Porridge Hot,
Pease Porridge Cold.
Pease Porridge in a Pot Nine Days Old.

Some Like It Hot,
Some Like It Cold.
Some Like It in a Pot Nine Days Old.

And when the Birds saw that he was still singing, they said, "He's not scared. Let's us not be scared too!" and they joined in:

Chirp Chirp-Chirp Chirp,
Chirp Chirp-Chirp Chirp,
Chirp Chirp-Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp.
And when the Monkeys heard that, came down from the trees and joined in:
Chatter Chatter Chatter,
Chatter Chatter Chatter,
Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter.
And the Bees came out too:
Bzz Bzz-Bzz Bzz,
Bzz Bzz-Bzz Bzz.
Bzz Bzz-Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz.
And even the Breezes started up again:
Swish Swish-Swish Swish,
Swish Swish-Swish Swish,
Swish Swish-Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish.

And all the jungle was happy again…
…except for one miserable person. Guess who? That's right! The Terrible Tiger.
He poked one ear up…
Then poked the other up…
Then one super blood-shot eye opened…
Then the other…
Then he said "How dare they interrupt my sleep again!"

So, he walked out to the mouth of his cave and saw everybody happy and decided to put a stop to it. He went, "Roar. Roaarr. RRROOAAARRR!!!"

And the Birds hid their heads under their wings. And the Monkeys all scrambled up into the trees. And the Bees all zipped into their hives. Even the Breezes stopped blowing.
And the Terrible Tiger was about to say, "Huh. Ain't I great!" when all of a sudden he heard a sound. It was Timmy. And the Terrible Tiger was not pleased.

So, he leapt down from his cave, went to the path right around the corner from Timmy and opened his mouth so big that Timmy could have walked right in. Then, Timmy came around the corner, saw the Terrible Tiger and said, "Hey mister Tiger, you're in my road!"
The Terrible Tiger was so stunned, his mouth clapped shut. Timmy continued, "Mister Tiger, get out of my way! I'm trying to walk here."

Now, nobody had ever talked to the Terrible Tiger like that before, and he didn't know what to do, so he just sat there shocked.
Timmy said, "Mister Tiger, if you don't get out of my way, I'm going to do something about it."
The Terrible Tiger was stunned. He just sat there thinking, "Is this for real?"
Timmy said, "Mister Tiger, I'm giving you until the count of 3! 1…
The Terrible Tiger thought, "Is he talking to me?"
"…2…"
"He can't be talking to me. He's a panda!"
"…2½…"
"What is going on here!"
"…3!" And with that, Timmy lifted his foot up, and brought it down hard, stomping on the Terrible Tiger's tail.

The Terrible Tiger shouted out the most blood-curdling scream you have ever heard! "RRRROOOOAAAARRRR OOOOOOOWWWWWWWW!" And he jump up, over the coconut tree, and was never seen in the jungle again.

Timmy just started up his walk again, and started to sing:

Pease Porridge Hot,
Pease Porridge Cold.
Pease Porridge in a Pot Nine Days Old.

Some Like It Hot,
Some Like It Cold.
Some Like It in a Pot Nine Days Old.
And there was:
Chirp Chirp-Chirp Chirp,
Chirp Chirp-Chirp Chirp,
Chirp Chirp-Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp.
And:
Chatter Chatter Chatter,
Chatter Chatter Chatter,
Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter.
And:
Bzz Bzz-Bzz Bzz,
Bzz Bzz-Bzz Bzz.
Bzz Bzz-Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz.
And even:
Swish Swish-Swish Swish,
Swish Swish-Swish Swish,
Swish Swish-Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish.

And when Timmy finally got home, his brother saw him and said: "Timmy! Were you out in the jungle today?"
And Timmy said "Yes."
And his brother said, "And did you hear the Terrible Tiger?"
And Timmy said "Yes."
And his brother said, "And did you see the Terrible Tiger jump over the coconut tree?"
And Timmy said "Yes."
And his brother said, "And weren't you scared?"
And Timmy said "Nope."

Pease Porridge Hot,
Pease Porridge Cold.
Pease Porridge in a Pot Nine Days Old.

Some Like It Hot,
Some Like It Cold.
Some Like It in a Pot Nine Days Old.



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Last updated: 2015 Jul 2015