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Table of Contents
Chapter One: Excitement on the Farm
Chapter Two: Time for a Haircut
Chapter Three: Off to the Fair
Chapter Five: A Very Bad Feeling
Chapter Eight: Wanderers Returned
Chapter Nine: Final Performance
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Lewie was not the obvious choice, not by any means. The farmer’s previous Guard Llama, Livingstone, had been so tough he’d been nicknamed The Terminator. Even compared to his older brothers, Leo and Lamar, and his tough sister, Latisha, Lewie seemed … giddy, dizzy, a bit of a joke, really.
It was certainly true that Lewie was no ordinary llama. Other llamas didn’t spend their days singing … and dancing … and acting! Even his parents, Mama and Papa Llama, had to admit that Lewie was a bit of a Drama Llama.
As a Guard Llama, though, Lewie had surprised everyone. He’d won over the sheep, dazzled the new lambs with his talents and tricks and, when the coyotes attacked, he’d bravely protected the whole flock.
But that was old news now. The present cause of excitement was the forthcoming County Fair. Every year, farmers throughout the entire state took their best animals to compete for the top prizes. Farmer Palmer’s llamas had always done well and he was hopeful that this year they’d do even better.
All the animals were talking about it, especially Lewie’s eldest brother, Leo. He had won various prizes in the past, including Strongest Llama. This year Leo had his eye on the top prize. The judges’ choice … their pick of the winners … the crown of crowns …
“Best Llama in Show,” Leo boasted. “That cup has my name on it. Who’s the greatest?” he chanted, and then answered his own question. “Leo’s the greatest. Oh – yes – I – am!”
“You wish!” his brother Lamar snorted right into Leo’s face. “Bigger you may be, but best …? Never! Not while Lamar’s around.” Lamar shook his stylish topknot out of his eyes, then turned to wink at an admiring group of female llamas. The girls often followed him about. He was their favourite all right. Lamar would have scooped all the prizes if the voting were left to them.
Latisha chewed on a long piece of grass as she watched her brothers argue. “Tchhh!” she said as she spat it out. “The only prize you two are likely to win is Most Boring Llama in the World.”
Liberty, one of their other sisters, honked with laughter, but Leo and Lamar nudged her backwards. “No one asked your opinion,” they brayed.
“Don’t stand any nonsense from those two,” Latisha told her. “They’re all hot air and bad breath.”
Lamar gasped, releasing a stream of air that had Leo reeling and groaning as if he’d been poisoned. Lamar, embarrassed, looked around for some clover to chew, hoping it might sweeten his breath a little.
Unlike the others, Liberty had never been to the County Fair before. “What’s it like?” she asked.
“A-ma-zing!” Leo told her. “Only the very best animals get picked to go.”
“The crowds are huge,” Lamar added, “and everyone is looking at yours truly!”
“All you need to know,” Latisha snapped, “is that you’d better not get up to your usual disappearing tricks or Farmer Palmer will go ba-llistic.”
Like her twin brother, Lewie, Liberty had her own special talent. She was an escape artist extraordinaire. In fact, there had never been a fence yet that could keep Liberty in.
When Mama Llama heard Latisha’s words, she sighed, shaking her head sadly. “If Farmer Palmer can’t keep Liberty safely enclosed here on the farm, how will he manage it at the County Fair?” she asked her husband anxiously. “And if he doesn’t, we may never see her again.”
“Don’t worry, my dear,” replied Papa Llama. “Lewie will keep his eye on her.”
At the very thought of Lewie, Mama Llama relaxed. It was such a welcome change not to have to worry about Lewie any more. Far from it, both Mama and Papa Llama were now pinning their hopes on him being awarded the other top prize: Best Guard Llama. This was an achievement not even The Terminator had managed. This and Best Llama in Show were the two prizes the farmer had never won. So he was very keen to snatch both from under the nose of his arch-rival, Farmer Hardman. This year, with Lewie, Farmer Palmer had begun to believe that he might at least manage to win Best Guard Llama.
Leo, Lamar and Latisha would have brayed with laughter at the very thought. But it wasn’t so far-fetched. The prize involved obedience and agility tests that would demonstrate how well the Guard Llama could manage his flock. Surely, after all the performing that the sheep and lambs had done under Lewie’s supervision, they were fit enough, and skilled