The Rainbow Maker

Air Loopie could always be found Air Gliding close to the top of Mount Peakmore near to where the Great Loopie lived. That’s how he got his name, as you could always count on finding him high up in the air! One day the Great Loopie had to go on a short trip for a few days and he entrusted Air with a special task.

“I’m counting on you to hang rainbows in the sky each time it rains.” said the Great Loopie, picking up his rucksack and heading for the door.
“I will be gone for a few days and I need someone to do it while I’m away.” He explained.

The Great Loopie was the wisest and oldest of all the Loopies. They didn’t know much about Him except that he loved them very much and that it was His job to look after the seasons, making sure they came on time and to put rainbows in the sky after it had rained.

“You can count on me Mr. Great Loopie sir.” Air put his hand to his head and gave the Great Loopie a salute.
“Very well then, I must be off and remember you can’t forget, it’s very important that a rainbow gets up into the sky after each rain storm. With your wind glider I’m sure it won’t be a problem. You’ll find the recipe in my Big Book.”
“I promise!” smiled Air.

The following day there was a huge storm. The rain clouds got big and puffy, lightning flashed and thunder crashed and rain came pouring down and Air Loopie got to work making his very first rainbow!
He found the Great Loopie’s Big Book and set to work following the rainbow Recipe inside. After some mixing he stuck his finger in the bowl and licked it clean. The mixture was sweet and melted away in his mouth, like Candy Floss, just not as sticky.

“Hey that looks like Air!” called Leechie from below, watching him hang the rainbow in the sky.
“You’re right!” Rufus agreed, ‘I wonder where the Great Loopie is? Usually He hangs a rainbow in the sky after the rain.”
So the two friends headed up the steep mountain path to where the Great Loopie lived to find out why the Great Loopie had left such a big job to Air. They found Air dusting off his Wind Glider.

“Looks mighty fine don’t-cha think?” asked Air as he nodded in the direction of his freshly hung rainbow.
“Must have been hard work doing it all by yourself.” said Leechie.
“Why are you doing it anyway?” asked Rufus.
“The Great Loopie is away and He said it’s very important, I can’t forget! He asked me to do it because I’m an Air Glider.” smiled Air.

The friends smiled as they starred at the rainbow for a while, until it began to melt and then headed down the mountain as the sun began to set.

The next day it rained again. It rained again the following day and the next!
Air mixed rainbows until he knew the recipe by heart.
“Whew!” he rubbed his forehead, this was hard work. By nightfall he had managed to hang the last rainbow.
“At last!” he sighed. “Maybe it won’t rain tomorrow and there will be time for me to have some fun on my Wind Glider!” he smiled as he hopped into bed, imagining the wonderful time he would have in the sky the following day.
“Surely it can’t rain again …” he mumbled as he fell fast asleep.

But sure enough, rain it did! The raindrops splattered on the window panes and drummed at the paving. Air felt exasperated! And then he felt plain angry.
“I’m not the Great Loopie,” he shouted, “and it’s not my job to hang rainbows in the sky!” he shook his fist at the rain and decided that today he just was not going to hang a single rainbow, no matter what the consequence!

So he ate his cereal, took his umbrella and went for a walk in the rain, making sure to splash in every puddle he passed! He drank hot chocolate and ate mounds of pancakes at Crumpet’s bakery. Eventually the rain stopped and the sun came bursting through the clouds.
“Looks like it’s time for you to head up into the sky with one of your rainbows!” smiled Crumpet as she cleared the dirty dishes from Air’s table.
“I will be heading into the sky today, but not with any rainbows this time, thank you very much!” he smiled as he paid for his meal.
“It’s time for me to have some fun for a change!”
Crumpet looked confused.
“But the Great Loopie said…”
“I know what he said, but what’s the worst that could happen?” and with that he headed for the mountain with his Wind Glider under his arm forgetting about the promise he had made to the Great Loopie.

So that day, true to his word Air didn’t hang a single rainbow! By nightfall nothing serious had happened.
“Just as I had expected.” He chuckled to himself, “I wonder what the Great Loopie was so worried about?” but Air fell asleep smiling before he could ponder an answer to his question, his rainbow hanging days were over and all that mattered now was having fun!

The following day Air left his house and was heading for his favourite Air Gliding launching spot on Mount Peakmore but found the Loopies to be in an uproar!
Crumpet was angry with Pancake because she had broken her promise and had eaten all the food in Crumpet’s Bakery again!

Wusky was angry because the pirates, who had promised to come in to the Beach Cabana Cafe early that day to learn how to fold cloth napkins had decided to go off looting and plundering instead. Something they had promised that they’d never do again!

Tubblie was up to his old tricks as usual and had forgotten about his promise to Leechie and Chelsea about being a better Loopie! It was a disaster, the whole town seemed to be falling apart.
Air began to slink away as he had some idea this was partly his fault for not hanging the rainbow yesterday after the rain!
“Air!” boomed a loud voice from among the Loopies.

Air gulped and turned around, it was the Great Loopie, He had returned from his trip.
“Why didn’t you hang a rainbow in the sky yesterday after the rain like you promised?” He asked, looking very disappointed.
“I just didn’t feel like it. I was tired and angry with you for giving me such a big responsibility. And I wanted to have some fun!”
Air replied, looking down at the ground.

The Great Loopie smiled, took Air in His arms, kissed him and forgave him.
“Rainbows symbolize promises.” He explained. “I put the first rainbow in the sky as a promise to Noah and his family and ever since then I’ve been putting rainbows in the sky.”
“Is that why everyone in Acersville forgot about keeping their promises?” asked Air.
The Great Loopie nodded.
“Do you think we can fix it?” Air asked, finding it difficult to look the Great Loopie in the eye.
“Maybe if we had an Air Glider around here somewhere we could, otherwise I’m not so sure it can be done.” replied the Great Loopie.
“Aye Aye Mr. Great Loopie Sir!” saluted Air as he ran off to make his biggest rainbow yet.

And from that day on all the promises in Acersville were saved, as the Great Loopie went back to putting His rainbows in the sky! And as for Air? You will still find him Air Gliding close to the top of Mount Peakmore, back flipping and swirling around rainbows after the rain.