"Tell me about the sheep wearing the tie," asked the small boy. "What does he do? He looks like my teacher at school."

"Well, he was a teacher, once. And then he helped some photographers in Detroit who took pictures of cars," answered the storyteller.

"Is that it? That's a very short story."

"Actually it's just beginning," said the storyteller staring at the drawing. "After photographers, he started helping people who drew wonderful pictures at a place called the Rainbow Grinder."

The boys eyes widened. "Did they really grind rainbows?"

"No, they just borrowed the colors for their paintings and drawings. Although he did his job very well, he was unhappy. He was tired of the big city with its noisy cars and crowded streets.

So, he moved to the country and lived in a house with so many rooms that he worked night and day painting and fixing things. He sold old furniture and glass from a small shop in the front of the house- a sign outside read, ANTIQUES."

"Did he ever fix all the rooms?"

"No, there were too many. When one was finished he would always find another to start. So, he moved to a smaller house with an even larger yard where he grew fresh vegetables. He built a fence and raised sheep and a few pigs. In the morning he would go to the barn and gather eggs from the chickens for breakfast."

"Is that when he started looking like a sheep," laughed the boy.

"Maybe he stayed only long enough to look like a sheep, but not long enough to turn into one," suggested the storyteller. "After several years he returned to his home in the city and began working again with artists."

"There are still plenty of colors in the rainbow for him."

"Yes, there certainly are."