Charlie visited Great Gran after school every Thursday. In the cold winter, Great Gran always asked Charlie to chop wood for the fire. He didn’t like chopping wood, so Great Gran taught him a tongue twister.

 How much wood would a wood chopper chop, if a wood chopper would chop wood?

Charlie laughed and said it over and over. When he went too fast the words came out jumbled. How much chop would a chop wooder chip, if a chip wooder would chip chops?

Charlie put a piece of wood on the chopping block. He chopped and chopped with Great Gran’s little axe. “More wood, Charlie,” Great Gran called. “Chop more wood for the fire.”

Charlie carried the chopped wood inside. But it was never enough. Great Gran always asked for more.

One Thursday it was very cold. Charlie ran all the way to Great Gran’s house. When he saw smoke coming out of the chimney, he thought, oh, no! Not more wood for the fire.

“Hullo Great Gran,” he called. Charlie stood near the fire.

“I’m glad you’re here today. Can you please chop some more wood for the fire?” Great Gran asked.

Charlie took the little axe outside. He started chopping. As he chopped he said the tongue twister over and over. How much wood would a wood chopper chop, if a wood chopper would chop wood?

Charlie chopped faster and faster. He said the tongue twister faster and faster. How much chop would a chop wooder chip, if a chip wooder would chip chops? He was chopping so fast he forgot to stop.

 “More wood, Charlie. Chop more wood for the fire,” Great Gran called from the verandah. Charlie chopped and chopped. Faster, faster. He was the best wood chopper in the world. The little axe chopped and chopped. Faster, faster. Chop more wood for the fire.

“Why are you chopping the chopping block?” Mandy asked. Charlie stopped. He hadn’t seen Mandy watching him. “Why aren’t you chopping wood for Great Gran?”

Charlie looked down at the chopping block. He looked at Mandy. They both laughed. “I thought I was the best wood chopper in the world,” Charlie said. “I was chopping so fast I forgot to put wood on the chopping block.”

Mandy gave him a piece of wood. “How much wood would a wood chopper chop if a wood chopper would chop wood,” she laughed.

Mandy talked to Charlie while he chopped the rest of the wood. She put each piece on top of the pile. “Where are you, Charlie?” Great Gran called. “The fire needs more wood.”

 “Coming, Great Gran,” Charlie called back. “You can’t rush the best wood chopper in the world.” Mandy helped Charlie carry the wood inside.

They put the wood by the fire. “How much wood would a wood chopper chop, if a wood chopper would chop wood?” they said together.

 “Not very much, by the look of it,” Great Gran laughed.