The Ogglebogs Short Story & Audiobook Series: Episode 27 - The Tickling Tree

The Tickling Tree

One morning, Rocco, Blobbo, Coco, Oddo, Beepo and Twinko were eating their favourite Ogglecake breakfast at the Oggle Café.

No-one was saying much. The Ogglebog friends all looked a bit fed up.

Twinko looked out of the window and said, “It’s still raining!”

You might remember that it didn’t rain much on Planet Ogg. When it did rain, tiny pink drops came down from the sky. They always landed with little pops and puffs of pink smoke. But that day it had rained a lot.

“Bzzz, bzzzz, bzz,” said Beepo.

“I’m fed up too, Beepo,” said Rocco.

“When it rains, we can’t go on the berry-go-round,” said Coco.

“Or the ground-about,” said Oddo.

“Can’t even play on the hee-haw!” said Blobbo. “I suppose we could sit here all day and eat Ogglecakes?”

“I’m having a brilliant idea,” said Rocco with a thinking face.

“Is it about Ogglecakes?” asked Blobbo.

“We should have an adventure and do something fun,” said Rocco.

“Something we’ve never done before!” said Twinko.

“Like what?” asked Oddo.

“Yes, like what?” asked Coco.

“I’d quite like to sit here and eat Ogglecakes,” said Blobbo.

“Bzzz, bzzzz, bzz,” said Beepo.

“You’re right, Beepo! Look, everyone, it's stopped raining!” said Rocco with a happy smile.

“Well, we won’t need Oggbrellas, will we?” said Twinko.

You see, Oggbrellas are shaped a bit like a mushroom and are made of old Mushmallows. They have been left out in the sun until they are all very dry and strong. Ogglebogs sometimes use them to keep sweets in. But when it rains, they turn them upside down. That keeps the Ogglebog dry underneath.

Now it was a lovely sunny day.

“What shall we do?” asked Coco.

“Where shall we go?” asked Oddo.

“We’ll go for a walk!” said Rocco.

“Is that your brilliant idea?” asked Blobbo, “A walk? My Ogglecake idea was better!”

“Bzzz, bzzzz, bzz,” said Beepo.

“A what, Beepo?” asked Oddo.

“Did you just say what I think you said?” asked Coco.

“Bzzz, bzzzz, bzz,” said Beepo.

“Beepo, did you just say you know about a Tickling Tree?” asked Twinko, “I’ve never heard of such a thing!”

“Bzzz, bzzzz, bzz,” said Beepo.

“A Tickling Tree?” asked Oddo.

“A tree that tickles?” asked Coco.

“Bzzz, bzzzz, bzz,” said Beepo.

“Beepo says follow me,” said Rocco, “So, let’s follow Beepo!”

They all left the Oggle Café and went down Bubble Mountain. Before long they were at the Mushmallow Forest. Then they came to the Treetaps. Beepo stopped.

“Bzzz, bzzzz, bzz,” said Beepo.

“Beepo says we’ve all got to climb up so we can see where to go for this Tickling Tree. It’s near the plim trees.”

“That’s how I found the brilliant plim tree,” said Rocco. “You can see so much from the top of the tallest Treetap.”

So, they all climbed up to the top of the Treetap.

"Bzzz, bzzzz, bzz," said Beepo.

"Thanks, Beepo! Yes, I can see lots of plim trees way over there!" said Rocco. “But they look a bit funny.”

“We know where to go now,” said Blobbo.

They all climbed down the Treetap tree and set off.

“Do you think there is such a thing as a Tickling Tree, Coco?” asked Oddo.

“Hope there is one,” said Coco, “I’d quite like to be tickled!”

They all followed Beepo who was buzzing along in the air.

Soon they all saw the very funny looking plim trees. They had cream coloured trunks and orange leaves. And they were upside down.

Have you ever seen upside-down trees? You see, sometimes the trees on Planet Ogg get a bit warm. So, they grow upside-down to keep cool. That means they can waggle their roots about in the air.

Rocco said, "Let’s pick some of these delicious plims.”

"I’m a bit tired,” said Blobbo, "And I think I’m going to…”

"Oh no, don’t yawn, Blobbo!” yelled Oddo.

"Oh no, you know what happens when you yawn!” cried Coco.

But it was no good. Blobbo did a great big yawn and yawned up every single plim.

“Blazing bananas, Blobbo," said Rocco. “Don’t yawn up any more plims or there will be none left for us to munch.”

Thank goodness there were plenty of other plim trees.

The Ogglebog friends were now quite tired. After they had munched up some plims they all fell asleep.

After a little while Rocco opened his eyes. “Can any of you Ogglebogs hear a funny noise? It sounds like laughing!”

One by one the other Ogglebogs woke up.

“Yes, I can hear laughing,” yawned Coco.

“And giggles,” yawned Oddo.

"Bzzz, bzzzz, bzz," said Beepo.

"You say it must be the Tickling Tree, Beepo?" asked Oddo.

“I hope so, it does sound like fun,” said Coco.

The Ogglebogs were very excited. Beepo flew on and they followed a little winding path. They went past beautiful flowers that they had never seen before. Some of the trees had whispering leaves.

Then they suddenly saw an enormous bright red tree. It was covered in sparkling leaves that seemed to giggle in the gentle breeze.

"It's the Tickling Tree!" Twinko yelled.

As they got closer, the tree's branches stretched out like wiggly arms. Rocco reached out and touched the Tickling Tree.

Then Rocco started to giggle and giggle. Then the others reached out and touched the tree. Soon they were all giggling and laughing. The tree's leaves seemed to dance as they tickled them. The Ogglebogs’ giggles and laughter could be heard all through the forest.

The more the Ogglebog friends laughed, the more the Tickling Tree moved its branches. It swayed backwards and forwards and its leaves tickled their noses.

The Ogglebogs played and laughed with the Tickling Tree until their tummies hurt from all the giggling. But then it was time to go home.

When they got to the Oggle Café they told Pasto all about their day. They all laughed as they remembered what fun they had.

The Ogglebog friends told everyone they knew about the Tickling Tree. Any Ogglebog who was feeling sad could go into the forest to be tickled and cheered up.

Blobbo said, “I think the Tickling Tree is the best thing ever! After Ogglecakes, of course.”

“All that tickling and giggling has made me hungry,” said Rocco.

Just then Pasto brought out a tray of delicious Ogglecakes.

“This has been one of the best days ever!” said Twinko.

Every now and then an Ogglebog might go to the top of the tallest Treetap Tree. While they look out over the forest, they can just about hear faint sounds of laughter and giggling floating on the breeze.

The End