|
Snuffles for
Truffles
by Linda Paul
This is the tale of Snuffles the pig. Snuffles is a
French pig.
Oo la la. She lives with Farmer Jacques deep in the
dark forest of the Perigord and is the keeper of an
incredible secret. You see, the French love
truffles! Truffles are a dark, mysterious, spongy
mushroom that is worth more than gold. Only
Snuffles knows where to find them, so she is much
loved by Farmer Jacques. But it was not always this
way. At first, Snuffles did not think she was good
at anything. The other pigs were thinner and pinker
than she was and besides, she had spots on her
behind. They called her spotty bacon butt. So one
gloomy day she was out with Farmer Jacques by the
old oak tree, snuffling around for something to
eat. All she could find was a spongy black fungus.
So she flicked it up with her snout to show her
displeasure. “Mon dieu!” said Farmer Jacques, “It’s
the mother load! It’s the fungus of all fungi! It’s
the queen of the forest! It’s beautiful.” For
Snuffles had unearthed the world’s largest truffle.
It was the size of a croissant. “You can’t tell a
soul.” whispered Farmer Jacques. “This is our
secret. Only we know where the world’s biggest
truffles grow and we’re not telling anyone.” Farmer
Jacques could not wait to take his incredible prize
truffle to the village market that morning. So off
they went, the farmer and Snuffles and the world’s
biggest truffle. There was much excitement at the
market that day. Rumor had spread that a humungous
truffle was on its way. A crowd had gathered and
were craning their necks to see who was coming.
“Oh, its just old Farmer Jacques and Snuffles. But
wait! Farmer Jacques is carrying something. Could he
be the finder of the mysterious giant truffle?” The
villagers crowded around Farmer Jacques and Snuffles
and exclaimed, “Oo la la! it’s the world’s biggest
truffle! Wherever did you find it?” “Only za piggy
know”, said Farmer Jacques, “and she not tell
vous!” Snuffles loved being popular and getting attention. She was used to
being just le grand porc with the spotted bum. “I
know where it is”, said Snuffles, “and I am not
telling any of you!” Snuffles walked home with her
head high. Farmer Jacques let her sleep in a new
straw bed as a reward for being such a good pig. “It
was a good day”, Snuffles thought, “The best day
ever!”
Chapter Two
”Snuffles Get Pignapped!”
As Snuffles blissfully nodded off into porcine
dreams of food and fame, she heard a strange noise.
Suddenly, it was pitch dark and she could not
breathe! Someone had thrown a sack over her head.
Then she was being dragged by large, grubby hands.
“Help! Help!” squealed Snuffles. But no one heard
her. “Get za piggy in zee van,” came a voice from
the dark. She knew there must be at least two of
them. Snuffles was hauled across the farmyard and
heaved into a darkened van. “Careful wiz za piggy!
She is our secret weapon to find za truffles.
Suddenly it dawned on her; I am being pignapped for
knowing how to find the truffles. The van rambled
off down the road with its precious cargo. After
what seemed like a long time, the van finally
stopped. Snuffles was very scared. The door opened
and she could hear shuffling and muffled voices.
“All right, grab za piggy.” There was nothing she
could do. They dragged her across the dirt by her
back feet. She still had the sack over her head so
she could not see anything. She felt herself being
picked up and tossed into a pen. With a whoosh, the
sack was yanked off her head. She blinked and tried
to see what was going on. All she could see was two
hulking shapes in the dark. But, she could smell
some delicious sausage and cheese. It was coming
from the pignappers. “Ok piggy, its time to talk,
to fess up, and to tell us where the truffles are.”
“Never!” cried Snuffles, “I will never tell you! I
promised Farmer Jacques.” The pignappers face
leered close to Snuffles’ snout. Now she could
really smell sausage and cheese and boy did it
smell good! Farmer Jacques only gave her some new
bed straw for finding the world’s largest truffle.
Surely it should be worth a good snack. All of a
sudden there was a ruckus in the farmyard. The
nappers ran to the
back of the yard to see what it was and who should jump into
the pen but Farmer Jacques. “Snuffles! I have come
to save you!” Snuffles backed away a step and said,
“But they were going to give me sausage and cheese
for finding truffles and you only gave me straw.”
“Snuffles,” said Farmer Jacques, “Zey weren’t going
to give you sausage and cheese, Zey only
smelled like sausage and cheese. Deese are old
French farmers you know. Besides, I love you very
much and not just because you are the best truffle
hunting pig in the world. When you were pignapped I
was so scared to think what life would be like
without you. You are mon ami, my friend. Let’s get
outta here.” “How are we going to do that?” said
Snuffles. “Don’t worry, “said farmer Jacques, “I let
the air out of all their tires.” Snuffles and Farmer
Jacques quietly snuck off down the road where the
farmer had parked his truck. They got in and the two
friends drove happily home to a dinner together of
sausage and cheese. Snuffles went to sleep in her
new straw bed feeling loved and knowing that she was
very special in her own way.
Copyright by Linda Paul
I need a publisher for this children's book!
Snuffles for Truffles & Three Geese paintings by Linda Paul
|
|
Children's book Illustrations
Need an illustrator?
call Linda toll free 1-800-936-9958
Book cover illustrations by award winning egg tempera artist
cookbooks, mysteries & non-fiction books, child picture books.
|
The Poodle People
The Case of the Peculiar Pickle
|
In the land of Pod
the people are odd
and life is but a game
for poodles do rule
and mysteries are cool
and pickles have great fame...
|
Santa's Laundry
|
Snuffles for Truffles
go to original painting of Snuffles for
Truffles
|
Questions, comments, email Linda or call toll free 1-800-936-9958 or 303-604-9958
Lafayette, Colorado (near Denver)
read what my customers have to say Customer Comments
|
