Charlotte's Web Page #4

And at such an ungodly hour!

You know, Wilbur's not the only one

who could end up being Christmas

dinner with an apple in his mouth.

Good point. Yes. Carry on, then.

Ike, this involves every one of us.

I just have trouble looking at you.

That's all.

This isn't about me. It's about Wilbur.

And, for the record, my view of you

is not exactly a treat, either.

As we have all seen,

humans have very short attention spans,

and there's just too much time

between now and Christmas.

Certainly enough time for

Zuckerman to find his affection for a pig

losing out to his hunger for ham.

- That spider can talk!

- Yeah.

What did she say, exactly?

She said the farmer might possibly

still slaughter the pig.

Sorry, old chap,

but it is a common fate for your ilk.

I could just

bust through the fence again.

No. Once was enough for that.

I just have to get the right word written.

Something that makes Wilbur

so special

that Zuckerman will never

think about killing him again.

You need something snappy,

like "pig supreme."

That sounds like a dessert.

So, what's the point, anyway?

It won't work.

Could you please, just once,

say something-omething positive?

Okay. I'm positive it won't work.

How about

"harmoniously proportioned"?

- Harmoniously proportioned, yes!

- Stop that! You're following again.

Please, all of you!

What's the perfect word for Wilbur?

How about "delicious"?

Or "nutritious"? Or "extra crispy"?

How about...

- Did you get him?

- Yep. Bull's-eye.

How about "terrific, terrific, terrific"?

Good. Much too long, though.

I've only got so much web.

But one "terrific" might work.

It simply isn't true.

The pig is not terrific.

Look at him! He's absolutely average.

If you wish to be truthful,

then that is the word you should write.

"Average."

Wilbur, this only works

if the word I write is true.

And only you can tell us

which word that is.

So look around.

We've all gathered around to help you.

Now tell everyone how you feel.

Look, there's a red one! And a blue one!

Avery! You'll never catch me!

I'm going to get you!

Look at the fireworks, Mom!

Avery, come on

if you ever want to catch me!

This web thing is really paying off.

Mr. Zuckerman!

There it is, side to side,

right in the same place. "Terrific."

It was the most amazing thing!

Last time we had hundreds of people.

This time it's going to be thousands!

It says "terrific" just as clear as day.

T-E-double-R-l-F-l-C.

I mean, can you imagine a spider

being able to spell that word?

I don't think I could spell that word

till the 10th grade.

- Fifty cents.

- Do you like that one, sir?

That's going to be $1.

- Wow!

- Gather 'round, folks!

Remember, you saw it right here

at Zuckerman's.

And, before you leave, don't forget to

take some of our berries home with you!

- So, you think this might work?

- Nope.

Dare I say it? He looks "terrific."

Look at them all!

Yeah. Smile pretty.

I wish geese had teeth.

Been down here since dawn...

What are you suggesting? That Fern

has something to do with all this?

How else could those words

have gotten into that web?

I know everyone is saying

it's some kind of miracle, but...

But what? You don't think it is?

Do you?

The web itself is a miracle.

Wouldn't you agree?

Well, can you spin one?

- I can crochet a doily.

- Because someone taught you how.

Nobody teaches a spider.

They just know how to spin a web.

Don't you think that's a miracle?

As summer ended,

so did the excitement about the web.

Charlotte needed to

think of something special.

Special enough to change the way

people saw the world,

or at least one pig in the world, anyway.

The truth is, Charlotte feared she would

never find a word that could do all that.

And she had to hurry.

Time was running out for her.

But once a promise is made,

it needs to be kept.

- Still no web, huh?

- Nope.

I haven't seen one in, I'd say,

at least a month.

Funny how you get used to

all those people being around the place.

Kind of quiet without them, isn't it?

I noticed the hinge pin's busted

on the damper in the smokehouse.

Want me to order a new one?

Suppose you better.

That's a special order.

Better get a jump on that if we're going

to smoke any ham before the holidays.

We may need another

cord of wood, too.

I'm just going to throw this out here

one more time. "Pig supreme."

Oh, Golly!

Now you're just beating a dead horse.

- Hey!

- Sorry.

Look, I don't come across

many words in the field,

other than "Hyah!" or "Giddyup!"

But that rat's always dragging in trash

with writing on it.

I agree.

It's about time Templeton started

pulling his weight around here

instead of just eating it.

I bet he could bring us

some choice words.

I've got a choice word for you.

A little word called, "Uh-uh."

Well, that's two words.

And here's a few more.

Negative. No way. Nothing doing.

I ain't breaking my back

to try and save "some pig,"

no matter how "terrific"

you think the little lunch meat is.

You'll sing a different tune

when he's gone

and nobody brings around those

scrumptious buckets of slop.

And three, two...

Cue the rat!

Let's get one thing straight.

I don't care about the pig.

- What I care about is the slop.

- Of course.

And since I'll be at the dump anyway,

and it won't take any extra effort,

maybe, maybe I'll pick something up.

You're very kind.

Don't go spreading it around.

What? What do you want?

You'll need your strength.

Thanks.

But, Dad, I heard them.

I heard them talking

about the smokehouse!

He's not your pig anymore.

Well, I wouldn't have sold him

in the first place

if I knew this is what

they were gonna do to him.

That's what happens

to a pig on a farm, Fern.

You know that.

I'll see about that.

I've got maybe two, three years

before she can out-argue me.

Then I'm doomed.

And members of our own 4-H Club

will have the opportunity to enter

livestock and poultry in the competition.

So, in addition to the rides and games,

make sure you show them your support,

as well.

Any questions? Rita.

Miss Lewis, can I bring my chickens?

Your chickens, I'm sure.

Pigs, chickens, horses and cows.

You certainly can,

and I hope you win first prize.

How can he be in every cornfield?

It can't be the same guy. It can't be!

He's wearing the same hat.

I'm telling you, he is following us!

I hate that guy.

I have got to get some corn, Elwyn!

All right! All right! All right!

This is crazy.

- There's two of us, right?

- Yeah.

Trust me, there's two of us,

and there's only one of him.

I don't know, man. He scares me.

He really does.

- Just think about that corn. Corn.

- Yeah.

- The corn.

- Corn.

- All right, let's do it!

- Let's do it! Let's do it!

- Abort! Abort! Abort!

- Abort! Abort! Abort!

Man, he is good!

I bet he's laughing at us.

Don't look at him!

Don't even give him the satisfaction.

Just think about something else.

- Think about something else.

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