Chapter 2: I Really Do!

It was another gorgeous day in Wiggle World. Anthony had volunteered to go fetch roses for Dorothy the Dinosaur. They were special ones that didn't grow in her garden near Wiggle House. When she had expressed her longing to have some of them and explained where they grew, it was Anthony who surged to his feet first and offered, "I'll go get those for you, Dorothy!"

"Really? You will?" their dinosaur friend asked, clapping her white-gloved paws. She giggled her high-pitched laugh that they'd learned to love. "Thank you, Anthony!"

That was over an hour ago, and the Blue Wiggle still hadn't returned. His friends were starting to wonder what had become of him. They awaited his arrival on the front lawn, shifting their weight and drumming their fingers impatiently. Just then, high-pitched hooting was heard. The voice was unmistakably Anthony's. The three other band members stood up and watched the horizon as the fourth Wiggle came closer. Dorothy was with them, too. This time, Anthony was hopping almost as though he was Irish jigging. His friends smiled as he bunny-hopped up to them. "Oh, hello, Anthony!" Dorothy cooed, beaming at him. "What a lively dance that is!" She joined him, sticking one paw in the air and tapping her feet expertly in a jig, one of her favorite steps.

"No," Anthony corrected her. Now he was hopping rapidly from one foot to the other, his face drawn. "It's not—"

"Ah," Greg interrupted him with a grin. He thought he knew the dance their mate was up to. "You want to go on a Dancing Ride!"

"No, that's not it—" the Blue Wiggle tried again to explain. But he cut himself off by yelping and squeaking, hopping from one foot to the other. The others recognized the dance at once.

"You're dancing like you've got ants in your pants!" Greg pointed out. He laughed.

Jeff chuckled, too. "Yeah, you're really good at that!" he complimented their drummer.

"No, you don't understand!" Anthony's voice sounded urgent, as though pleading with them to catch his meaning. "I really do!" His friends stared back at him, not comprehending. Anthony glanced sideways at Dorothy. It was apparent that he didn't want to say his piece while she was there. The others took the hint.

"Ah, Dorothy, why don't you go water your rose garden?" Murray suggested. He put an arm around the dinosaur's shoulders and nudged her in the opposite direction of Wiggle House. Dorothy nodded amenably and skipped away. The foursome watched her go, Anthony still engaged in his odd dance. "All right, now, what is it, Anthony?" Murray wanted to know. "Why are you Wiggle-dancing?"

"Yeah—do you have to go to the bathroom, or something?" Jeff added. He let out a partially-suppressed snort.

"No, that's not it—I'm not dancing!" Anthony tried telling them yet again.

"But that's the ants-in-your-pants move from 'Dancing Ride,'" Greg reminded him. "I'd recognize it anywhere."

"That's because I do!" Anthony yelped. He lowered his voice so Dorothy wouldn't hear and bent close to them. "I mean, I really do have ants in my pants!" he hissed through gritted teeth. The other Wiggles were astounded, and could only behold the reader in astonishment, saying cluelessly one after the other, "Huh?"

"What do I do?" Anthony begged them for advice.

"Well…" Greg began, clearing his throat awkwardly. His voice trailed off, and he looked to Jeff.

"I mean, you really should…" the Purple Wiggle started to say. He looked unsure how to finish, and looked back at Greg. The two of them started to giggle at the irony of it all. Soon they were leaning against one another, howling with laughter. Poor Anthony was still hopping and squeaking in distress. Fortunately for him, their lead guitarist took pity on his plight. Humorous though the situation was, the Red Wiggle's face remained serious as he took Anthony by the arm and drew him over to the front door.

"Anthony, you've got to change your clothes," he explained in a low tone. "Now, do it in the bathroom—in the shower. Let the water run over you as you're getting your clothes off. That should wash away everything." He opened Flora Door and pushed the Blue Wiggle inside. "Go on, hurry!" Anthony didn't need telling twice. Murray listened with his hand behind his ear. The sound of feet pounding up the stairs was heard, still punctuated by Anthony's anxious hoots. Then a door slammed, and finally running water was heard in the shower. Murray nodded, satisfied. He returned to the other two Wiggles, who had stopped laughing at long last. "I think he'll be all right," he let them know.

"Good onya, Murray," Greg congratulated him.

"Yeah," agreed Jeff. His expression changed to one of confusion, as he put his pointer finger to his lips. "I wonder where the roses went, though? Anthony was supposed to get some."

"Yeah," Greg agreed, his dark brows furrowed.

"Something fishy's going on with Anthony, that's for sure," Murray sighed.

"But what could it be?" Jeff wondered aloud.