Llama Drama by Rose Impey

armer Palmer’s prize-winning llamas were getting excited. His prize-winning sheep and lambs were feeling pretty bouncy too. In fact, there hadn’t been so much excitement on the farm since the farmer picked a new Guard Llama to protect his flock of sheep and, to everyone’s amazement, chose
Lewie
.
    Lewie was
not
the obvious choice, not by any means. The farmer’s previous Guard Llama, Livingstone, had been so tough he’d been nicknamed
The Terminator.
Even compared to his older brothers, Leo and Lamar, and his tough sister, Latisha, Lewie seemed … giddy, dizzy, a bit of a joke, really.
    It was certainly true that Lewie was no ordinary llama. Other llamas didn’t spend their days singing … and dancing … and acting! Even his parents, Mama and Papa Llama, had to admit that Lewie was a bit of a Drama Llama.

    As a Guard Llama, though, Lewie had surprised
everyone
. He’d won over the sheep, dazzled the new lambs with his talents and tricks and, when the coyotes attacked, he’d bravely protected the whole flock.
    But that was old news now. The present cause of excitement was the forthcoming County Fair. Every year, farmers throughout the entire state took their best animals to compete for the top prizes. Farmer Palmer’s llamas had always done well and he was hopeful that this year they’d do even better.
    All the animals were talking about it, especially Lewie’s eldest brother, Leo. He had won various prizes in the past, including
Strongest Llama
. This year Leo had his eye on the top prize. The judges’ choice … their pick of the winners … the crown of crowns …
    â€œ
Best Llama in Show
,” Leo boasted. “That cup has my name on it. Who’s the greatest?” he chanted, and then answered his own question. “Leo’s the greatest.
Oh – yes – I – am!
”
    â€œYou wish!” his brother Lamar snorted right into Leo’s face. “Bigger you may be, but best …? Never! Not while Lamar’s around.” Lamar shook his stylish topknot out of his eyes, then turned to wink at an admiring group of female llamas. The girls often followed him about. He was their favourite all right. Lamar would have scooped
all
the prizes if the voting were left to them.
    Latisha chewed on a long piece of grass as she watched her brothers argue. “Tchhh!” she said as she spat it out. “The only prize you two are likely to win is
Most Boring Llama in the World
.”
    Liberty, one of their other sisters, honked with laughter, but Leo and Lamar nudged her backwards. “No one asked your opinion,” they brayed.

    â€œDon’t stand any nonsense from those two,” Latisha told her. “They’re all hot air and bad breath.”
    Lamar gasped, releasing a stream of air that had Leo reeling and groaning as if he’d been poisoned. Lamar, embarrassed, looked around for some clover to chew, hoping it might sweeten his breath a little.
    Unlike the others, Liberty had never been to the County Fair before. “What’s it like?” she asked.
    â€œA-ma-zing!” Leo told her. “Only the very best animals get picked to go.”
    â€œThe crowds are huge,” Lamar added, “and everyone is looking at
yours truly
!”
    â€œAll you need to know,” Latisha snapped, “is that you’d better not get up to your usual disappearing tricks or Farmer Palmer will go
ba-llistic
.”
    Like her twin brother, Lewie, Liberty had her own special talent. She was an escape artist
extraordinaire
. In fact, there had never been a fence yet that could keep Liberty in.
    When Mama Llama heard Latisha’s words, she sighed, shaking her head sadly. “If Farmer Palmer can’t keep Liberty safely enclosed here on the farm, how will he manage it at the County Fair?” she asked her husband anxiously. “And if he doesn’t, we may never see her