Chapter 1: Need Any Help?
Three Wiggles were seated on the front step of Wiggle House. Murray and Greg took turns squinting out with one hand shading their eyes. Jeff sat leaning against the siding, arms folded over his chest, snoring gently. After a while, Murray spied whom he'd been looking for. "Ah-ha!" He pointed to a blue-shirted individual coming towards them. "Anthony's back," he announced. He squinted as their mate drew nearer. "Oh, my—it looks like he might be limping?" Greg sat up straighter at this news, his eyes widening. Sure enough, as their drummer got closer, it was clear that he was indeed walking funny. He moved gingerly, wincing as he did so. The Red and Yellow Wiggles got to their feet as the Blue Wiggle came up to them.
"G'day, Anthony," said Greg, looking their mate up and down appraisingly.
"G'day, guys," the Blue Wiggle returned the greeting with a grimace.
"Er, Anthony, you're limping," observed Murray. "And," he went on, gesturing uncertainly at the blue skivvie, "those look like cockleburs stuck to your sleeves…"
"And are thoserose thorns on your pants?" Greg wanted to know. Anthony lifted one shoulder in a shrug, then nodded rather lamely.
"But I thought you were just stopping at the store for some snacks?" wondered Murray. "Didn't you get any?" It appeared as though their friend had returned empty-handed.
"What happened—did you go rolling through a briar patch, instead?" Greg asked. His question was only half sarcastic, and no one laughed.
"Of course, I didn't," the Blue Wiggle retorted, still staring at the grass. He hadn't met their eyes once since returning home. His mates raised their brows, waiting, but Anthony didn't explain further. Instead, he moved past them, muttering, "I need to get these burrs off." For once, Flora Door didn't give him the third degree, but opened to allow him entry. The Blue Wiggle disappeared into Wiggle House. Murray shot Greg an uncertain glance, then called after their blue mate, "Need any help?"
"I'm fine!" Anthony's answer reached their ears from within. The sound of his bedroom door closing was heard. The Red and Yellow Wiggles looked at each other quizzically.
"He didn't look fine," Murray pointed out.
"No, he didn't," Greg agreed.
"And what could've happened to the food he was supposed to buy?" Murray wondered. "It didn't look like he had any with him. Perhaps he ate it all on the way?"
"Could be," mused Greg. They shrugged as one, at a loss as to their mate's strange behavior.
