Pasha Tries to Study

Pasha the elephant was working on his PhD. It was a fine sunny day, so he took his books out onto the balcony. He also took some pencils and paper, his sunnies, a large box of biscuits and a tall glass of lemonade. It's always best to be prepared when tackling your books.

He squeezed himself into a chair and wriggled a bit to get comfortable - as much as as it's possible for an elephant to wriggle anyway. He opened his book.

He took a sip of lemonade.

He tossed three biscuits into his mouth all at once - cottage cream, ginger and chocolate. Rather a nice combination, he thought.

Soon he was busy reading a chapter of some very complicated Russian philosophy.

Driiiiiiiiiiit....driiiiiiiiiiit....driiiiiiiiitt....click.

Pasha looked up at the oddly irritating noise. It seemed to be coming from the bushes below.

Drit...drrrit....driiiiiiit.

"Who's there?" asked Pasha crossly, for he hated to be disturbed when in the middle of complicated Russian philosophy.

A little black insect that looked a bit like a grasshopper hopped onto the balcony and rubbed its legs together CRRRRRRIIIICCK.

"It's just us, the Australian Cricket Association."

"Whatever is that dreadful noise?" asked Pasha. His ears were really large, and the tiniest sounds sounded, well, dreadfully loud.

"That's the cricket bush telegraph," explained the insect. "We're sending out messages in Morse code." And he went CCCCCCRRRRRRRRIIIIIIICK....DRRIT just to show Pasha what he meant.

Pasha flapped his ears in annoyance. "Well, can't you do it somewhere else?"

"Sorry, mate," said the cricket. "We've got to let the country know that summer's coming. Won't be long now..."

Saying that the cricket hopped down back into the bushes.

"Well, really!" said Pasha to no one in particular. Such interruptions called for a biscuit. Now which would it be...?