Miss Sunflower is crying.
“A thief just stole my pumpkin pie! Now what will I have for dinner?” she sobs.

“Don’t cry, Miss Sunflower. We will find your pumpkin pie,” said Officer Zig.
“We will catch that crook!” said Officer Zag.

“Look! There he goes!” said Officer Zig.
“Catch that crook!” said Officer Zag.

“I’m too fast and you’re too slow. You will never catch the pumpkin pie thief!” cried the crook.

They chased him up the hill…
…but the crook was too quick.
“I’m too fast and you’re too slow. You will never catch the pumpkin pie thief!”

They chased him down the riverbank, but the crook rolled away.
“I’m too fast and you’re too slow. You will never catch the pumpkin pie thief!”

They chased him under the bridge, but the crook swam away.
“I’m too fast and you’re too slow. You will never catch the pumpkin pie thief!”

They chased him over the fires…
…but the crook jumped too high.
“I’m too fast and you’re too slow. You will never catch the pumpkin pie thief!”

They chased him around the tree, but they could not catch the crook.
“I’m too fast and you’re too slow. You will never catch the pumpkin pie thief!”

Officer Zig and Officer Zag did not give up. They ran and ran and ran until…
SPLAT! They chased him right into a wall!

“Hurray! We caught the crook!” said the cops.

Officer Zig and Officer Zag returned the pumpkin pie to Miss Sunflower.
“Thank you very much,” said Miss Sunflower.
Dinner time!


Credits
Originally published by Book Dash under a Creative Commons Licensed BY 4.0. This book can be read for free on https://bookdash.org/books/the-pumpkin-chase and was created by: Smangaliso Simelane (Writer), Carol Kagezi (Editor), Amy-Jane Harkess (Illustrator)