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."


'Twas Only A Hamster by truer sound

I am a public bus driver
in old North Hampton
I've driven bus for many years
and never bothered none
I'll drive for noisy drunkards,
and bawling babies too
but came a day last August when
I nearly come unglued

Now I am fond of animals
'ave been since I's a Lad
I've got a love for dogs and cats
and even pigs ain't bad
But field mice make my skin crawl
I'll kill a mole to bold,
those rats and other rodents
all make my blood run cold

Twas on a Thursday morning
the route it wasn't bad
until I stopped to pick up
one cheeky little lad
I asked him for his fair
and then in terror I froze
for I'd looked into beady eyes
and a wiggly whiskered nose

A cold sweat broke upon my brow
my heart began to race
and I could see the hamster smile
as blood drained from my face
I couldn't let that vicious pest
back where the others sat
I clenched my teeth and then I snarled
you must pay for the rat

Tis only a little hamster
the boy said with surprise
and i might have re-considered if
I'd seen his pleading eyes
but mine were locked upon the bloody
brown and harry lout
I said pay me the hamsters fee
or I'll throw the rodent out

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