Clumsy & Dotty

Clumsy the panda loved quiet afternoons.

He sits in the bamboo grove, chewing leaves slowly and watching butterflies float through the warm sunlight. Everything was peaceful.

Clumsy liked it when it was peaceful.

But his little sister, Dotty, did not.

Dotty loved surprises.

One afternoon Clumsy lay on his back under a tall bamboo stalk, munching happily.

Crunch… chew… crunch…

Behind him, Dotty tiptoed through the grass.

Quietly and carefully.

She climbed onto a little rock and raised her paws.

Clumsy didn’t notice.

He was busy chewing.

Dotty grinned.

“Ready…” she whispered to herself.

Then she jumped out from the rock.

“POP GOES THE PANDA!”

Clumsy’s eyes went wide.

“WAAH!”

He jumped so high he almost dropped his bamboo! Dotty burst into giggles.

“HAHAHA! Pop goes the Panda!”

Clumsy blinked and looked around.

Then he looked at Dotty.

Then he laughed too.

“You scared me!”

Dotty fell onto the grass, laughing.
“That’s the fun part!”

Clumsy tried to go back to eating his bamboo.

But a moment later…

Rustle… rustle…

He turned slowly.

Dotty was gone.

Clumsy squinted.

The grove was quiet again.

Too quiet.

Then…

“POP GOES THE PANDA!”

Clumsy jumped again!

Dotty rolled around laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

Soon Clumsy was laughing too, and all afternoon long, the bamboo forest echoed with giggles and one very loud phrase:

“POP GOES THE PANDA!”