The Family Sloth

Once upon a time in the Amazon Rainforest swampy land lived the happy, not so snappy slow paced sloth family. Big Papa sloth, medium Mama sloth and their brand new baby Wee Atty sloth.

One fine day they all decided to go visit grandpapa and grandmama sloth, to show off their new addition. They lived a mile or so down river. Although it was only two miles, as the harpy eagle flies, this would be an overnight stay for the family.

On their departure day mama and papa were in such a rush that they left the remainder of their breakfast amongst the roots of their tree house and forgot to secure their main entrance.

They had only been gone a short while when a very hungry and tired  jaguar, after a long night of hunting, stumbled upon the sloth den. Finding easy access he spotted the remaining leftover breakfast and gobbled it down and decided he definitely wasn’t going to convert to becoming a vegetarian. A carnivorous lifestyle was a tastier option, despite becoming more difficult to hunt meaty prey these days.

After choking down the leafy stuff, Monsignor Jaguar became very tired and spotted a nice comfy bed to lie down on but it was too small and he hung off the end, so he found a second bed and tried that one but it was still too small, he hung off the sides. Finally he found a third bed and this was just right. Having snuggled down, he soon drifted into a deep sleep for over twenty four hours.

The following morning, the family sloth arrived back at their home. Mama sloth was quite concerned when she realised they hadn’t secured the entrance and even more concerned when she saw the breakfast remains were all gone. “Who has been eating my greens said Papa sloth” “Mine are all gone too” cried Mama sloth “and my wee baby’s are eaten as well.”

All of a sudden they heard this really loud snoring coming from the upper branches. “Leave this to me” said Papa sloth, as he very slowly climbed upwards. He soon spotted the sleeping jaguar and with every ounce of parental strength and determination Papa sloth, the hero, tipped the bed over the edge of the tree, where it landed directly into the swamp below, swallowing up the still sleeping predator, who then woke up completely covered in slimy mud and in deep shock, squelched away into the depths of the rainforest, ensuring the new family’s safety… for a very happy ending.