Tundra+Fiction

Eli H., Zac H., Tasneem S. The Cast:
 * __Tundra Fiction__ **

Harry the goose was building his nest in the grass of a tundra bog. The grass didn’t mind, and gave camouflage and protection for Harry’s nest. But Larry, the wicked arctic fox, was watching Harry build the nest. The fox crept very close and pounced on the goose. Larry devoured the goose, and it tasted wonderful. But, unfortunately, the goose contained Mr. Jerry, the parasite. Mr. Jerry did not enjoy his host being eaten, so he launched himself down Larry’s throat. Mr. Jerry went around on a rampage, wrecking Larry’s intestines. Larry the fox became depressed, realizing he is dying, due to Mr. Jerry. Larry made the decision to become anorexic. His body became weak, and Mr. Jerry couldn’t live on him anymore. Mr. Jerry died. Larry tried to eat some more geese, but was too weak to succeed.

X-mas came and Larry was dying on the ground, but Santa always brings joy to the tundra. Of course, his flying reindeer needed a rest stop, so Santa Claus comes down, and the reindeer start eating the lichen. The reindeer benefit from the lichen because it is one of the few plants in the tundra. The lichen consists of two parts, which benefit each other. Algae and fungus help each other; the algae provides nutrients to t he fungus, and the fungus provides food and water to the algae. Together as lichen, they feed the reindeer.

When the reindeer came to share a delicious meal of lichen, the lichen shouts, “Stop!” Dancer then said, “Why?” The lichen explained that they dearly want themselves to become X-mas lichen.

“You see, since there are no trees in the tundra, only X-mas lichen exists,” continued the lichen. So the reindeer returned to Santa and tell him about the lichen. Santa then cast his X-mas magic on the algae and fungi of the lichen, and they all form together to create a gargantuan X-mas lichen. Larry the Arctic fox was so baffled and awed that he gave up his wicked ways forever. Click here for Biomes Home. Click here for Tundra Home. Click here for Tundra Bibliography. Click here for Tundra Conservation. Click here for Tundra Facts. Click here for Tundra Food Web.