DEREK DIGS DEEP A Derek the Dinosaur Tail

DEREK DIGS DEEP A ‘Derek the Dinosaur’ Tail……

Derek the dinosaur works in a brush factory. “How very strange, ” I hear you think aloud. A dinosaur? Called Derek? In a brush factory, of all places? Well, this is quite the unusual situation that Derek finds himself in. Unusual for us, but a very happy state of affairs for Derek. You see, Derek is peculiar in many ways. Not least because he doesn’t eat meat. Or his greens. No. Derek eats……hardware.

As a tiny little dino egg, Derek was found many years ago by Nigel Norris, young and enthusiastic heir to the Sweep Brush Factory empire; and fiancé to the very beautiful Norma Nubbs. How he got onto the factory grounds is another story entirely. (One for another day. ) Luckily for Derek, Nigel and Norma were the ones who came across him. They were young, curious and wholly intrigued by their discovery. They unwittingly poked and prodded at Derek’s fragile shell with a near by brush shaft, determined to discover what lay inside. And so it was that a very hungry baby dinosaur’s teeth first clamped down on a delicious hunk of quality pine wood. And his eyes fell unquestioningly on his ‘parents’. Derek’s future, and that of Nigel and

So we find ourselves a quarter of a century later. All of our odd little family are living and working happily and prosperously at Sweep Brush Factory. When Nigel finally succeeded to the Sweep throne, business was fair. With him at the helm- it boomed. You see, people will always have standards- of which cleanliness is one. Moreover, Nigel (guided by his clever and business minded wife) saw that there will always be a market for women too proud to clean their homes. And there will always be those women willing to set aside their pride to clean the lazy ladies’ homes, and earn an honest crust. Everyone, it seemed, was a winner. Ladies lounged, women (and some men too) earned and the company thrived.

Life should have been good- but for our hapless hero, Derek. You’d nearly forgotten him, hadn’t you? How could you? He’s in the title! Derek was a problem. Or should I say, Derek had a problem. He had a very healthy dinosaur appetite. But such was his unusual palate, he was eating all of the company profits! How could a hardware company capitalize on a culture of dust free living, when Derek ATE all the merchandise? Sometimes, before it even left the production line! Was he industrious? Why, yes. Conscientious in his duties? Of course! The apple of his parents’ eyes? Most certainly. But nonetheless he did like to snack. It was damaging his waistline. And the company bank account.

It was a sad day indeed when Nigel Norris had to call Derek into his office for a conversation no father ever wants to have. “Derek”, began a nervous Nigel, “you know you are our most precious dinoson. We want nothing but the best for you in every way- health, wealth and happiness. But you are…. fat, son. And the company is growing thin. At this rate we will not be able to pass it on to you. You will have eaten it!” Derek hung his head in shame as his rather impressive belly gurgled in protest. Whether at what was being said or because it was feeling neglected, we can’t be sure.

DIET!! Derek didn’t argue. He didn’t protest, scream, shout, plead innocence or any such type of thing. Greedy though he was in appetite, he was a good and honest dinosaur. He truly wanted to make things right. So Derek gathered some plywood offcuts (grazing helped him think) and went to his room to contemplate what needed to be done. He would not sacrifice all his parents’ hard work and risk losing his family. There was only one sacrifice to be made. Derek took a deep breath and slowly let go of the word he never thought he would have to utter……diet.

Derek did his research. He never did things by halves and if he was going to halve himself, he needed to do this properly. No Pratkins. No 6: 1. No Trimfast. What he decided on was really very wise. Luscious greens, fleshy fruits, positive proteins, and just a smattering of lacquered pine to satisfy his cravings. Oh, and he even worked on a daily exercise routine with the help of a lovely young chap called Joe. Nigel and Norma looked on somewhat sceptically, but growing more proud of Derek by the day. They supported him every step of the way and it started to look like, as a family, things could be turned around.

Was it easy? Indeed not. Derek did dig VERY deep. Not into his pockets, using his tiny little dino hands. Not into the earth, using a spade. (He would only have eaten it. ) Those are easy things to do. Derek dug with all his heart, deep into himself. And there he found the willpower to do just what he had promised he would. When he dug it was tough, but he found success, love and his family at his side. Nigel and Norma were able to secure the future of Sweep and all the jobs that came with it. Derek’s family and all the workforce celebrated a very brave, and rather trim and dashing, dinosaur. Maybe we can all learn a little something from a peculiar dinosaur called Derek. Eat well. Dig deep. Achieve big.

DEREK THE DINOSAUR Derek is a dinosaur with a big appetite……and an even bigger problem. Can Derek dig deep to overcome his problems and save Sweep Brush Factory?