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SONG CHALLENGE WINNER!
He May Be Small, But He Ain't No Two-Bit Hamster! -- (Northampton, England, Thursday 22nd August 2002) A schoolboy who took his hamster on a bus journey to visit his grandmother was charged a 10p fare for the pet. Jordan Underwood, 10, from King's Heath, Northampton, was stunned when after paying his own 55p fare, the bus driver demanded an extra 10p to allow Nibbles on board. Bus company First Northampton has reportedly launched an investigation into the incident. The animal was a gift from his 83-year-old grandmother to keep him company during the school holidays. Jordan said: "I got on the bus and the man was saying what a lovely hamster it was. He said (the fare) was 55p and then looked at Nibbles and told me it was another 10p for him. I don't think it was fair because you don't have to pay for dog or babies and their 10 times bigger. He didn't even use a seat because I put him on the floor and he was in a cage so he wasn't going to chew anything." Jordan added Nibbles was "shocked" by the ordeal and they would both continue to use the buses but hoped that they didn't meet the same driver again. His father, Todd, said: "There is a serious side to this, because he is only a little boy, and he might not have had enough money to get the bus back."
That Hamster's Out The Door! by DonD
To travel on the motorcoach
From King's Heath to Granny's house
Costs a hamster a hefty 10 p fare
No charge for dog or cat or mouse!
He barely weighs six ounces
His cage not many more,
No seating space he'd occupy,
But stay cozy on the floor!
CHORUS:
Oh, the driver's heart was marble
His foot firm on the floor;
"No ten pence fare, by gum, I swear,
That hamster's out the door!"
Little Jordan's heart was breaking,
"But Gramma gave it me;
I'm off there for a visit
So Nibbles she can see."
The driver would not relent,
Stubborn, he held his ground,
Jordan and Nibbles would not ride
'Til that last ten p was found.
CHORUS
First Northampton heard the story
From Jordan's irate Dad
No fools they, they quick gave way,
Knew the PR could be bad.
From this day forth, they did proclaim,
All hamsters ride on the house!
But what about that driver --
The dirty heartless louse?
CHORUS
The moral of this story
By all let this be heard,
If you're ever in Northampton
Beware that heartless turd!
Put your hamster in your pocket
If he isn't just too big,
And don't even think of travelling
With your darling guinea pig!
CHORUS