I hope you enjoy this story. This file is provided for your 
convenience to be used only in your home or in your individual 
classroom.  This story, all or in part, may not be published, 
printed, or distributed in any form or on any web site without 
written permission.  Please keep this notice with this file.
Thanks and keep smiling!

Bob Tucker (oldcoach77@aol.com)
Grandpa Tucker's Rhymes and Tales (http://www.grandpatucker.com)

SAMMY, THE ASTROSNAKE

Sammy Snake had always thought
That he could be an astronaut. 
He dreamed of flying to the stars
And cobra cuties found on Mars.

He would practice how to land
By jumping coiled onto the sand.
And he would hiss a lunar tune
Like he was falling to the moon.

He knew with every breath he'd take
The space program could use a snake.
Someday they'd realize the need
And seek him out, oh, yes, indeed!

But as his little snake heart yearned,
His applications were returned.
He'd hiss a sigh, then force a grin,
And write to volunteer again.

He went to Florida with friends,
Way out there where the swamp land ends.
Astronaut snakes can train, you see,
Hanging out in a Cypress tree.

You grab a limb right by your tail
And dangle there, then swoop and sail.
A body learns the twists and bends
From hanging in the strong sea winds.

Sam's mom was there, right by his side,
She got some cloth and sewed with pride.
When done she thought he looked quite cute
In his sleek silver snake space suit

Soon came a scary situation:
While docking at a huge space station,
A spaceship found the door was stuck,
They tried and tried with little luck.

The door was tilted to one side
And the opening was three inches wide.
The size was causing great alarm--
Too small to allow a human arm.

They had to get inside that space
To slide the docking door in place.
One NASA guy said, "Goodness sake,
We have ten letters from that snake.!"

They sent this message, "Holy cow,
We need you, Sammy , and right now!
We've sent a jet that you can take
To the launch site, our Astrosnake!

His mom freeze-dried frog bologna 
And a fresh new batch of Miceroni.
With his fang brush and underwear,
Sam packed his bag and was out of there!

The NASA folks were all around
When Sammy's jet sailed to the ground.
Sammy Snake was proud and glad
To be there on the launching pad.

Butterflies flew through his heart
When he heard the countdown start.
Ignition time! And then the blast!
He was heading into space at last.

The booster rocket fired and then
He felt the extra thrust begin.
And soon before he could absorb it
Our Astrosnake went into orbit.

He reached the space station at last
And fixing it went really fast.
Sam slipped inside with space to spare
And spliced a broken wire with care.

He sent the signal, "AOK."
And then , as he went on his way,
Quite suddenly he had a scare-
A UFO was hovering there.

With a closer look, for goodness sakes,
He saw the ship was filled with snakes.
And from their smiles he had a hunch
That this was not a hostile bunch.

They sent a message loud and clear,
"Sammy Snake, you're welcome here.
The United States is finally cool,
Cause here is space, it's snakes that rule.

"Our life up here's spectacular
As we fly about from star to star.
On your next trip you must not miss
A visit to our Planet Hiss.

"Since NASA has an Astrosnake
We'll share with you the routes to take.
Tell folks on earth you will unravel
The mysteries of all space travel."

So Sammy's special dream came true.
He's Captain of our Space Snake Crew.
On the planet Earth and the planet Hiss
He is welcomed with a hug and kiss.

Now members of the human race
Can travel safely into space.
And they all know, make no mistake,
About persistent Sammy Snake.

		--Grandpa Tucker
		Copyright ©2000 by Bob Tucker
		oldcoach77@aol.com
		
Grandpa Tucker's Rhymes and Tales (http://www.grandpatucker.com)