Do You Want To Go Hunting With Me?

Once upon a time, just the other day, there lived a family of five just down the street. Some days Momma stayed home, and some days Daddy stayed home. Every day Ava Anne, Savannah Lynn, and Hunter Thomas stayed home. Nothing extravagant ever seemed to happen. In fact, every day seemed almost the same as the day before. When Ava Anne, Savannah Lynn and Hunter Thomas awoke, they would tiptoe out of their bedrooms, down the hall, and to the kitchen. Momma or Daddy would be there or on the nearby couch, reading or eating or doing something uninteresting like sorting mail.

On this particular day, Daddy was the very first person out of bed. He awakened so early it was still very dark outside. He tiptoed around his bedroom so as not to wake Momma. He pulled his clothes on and brushed his teeth very quietly. Then he tiptoed down the hall and into Ava Anne and Savannah Lynn’s room.

Both Ava Anne and Savannah Lynn were sleeping soundly. Daddy tiptoed to where Ava Anne was sleeping. He kissed her forehead and brushed her long hair out of her face.

“Do you want to go hunting with me?” Daddy whispered.

Ava Anne pulled herself out of a dream and blinked at Daddy. It was too early to smile, but she nodded and sat up.

“Ok, get dressed and come on out to the kitchen,” Daddy whispered again.

As Daddy tiptoed out of the dark room and into the dimly lit hallway, Ava Anne slowly crawled out of her warm bed. She loved hunting with Daddy, but she was not so fond of waking up in the middle of the night.

At last, Daddy and Ava Anne were ready. They had their camouflage clothes on, flashlights in their pockets, and snacks in their backpacks. Ava Anne climbed up into Daddy’s big truck and buckled her seat belt. She knew she had a while to sleep before they would get to the woods.

Daddy turned on some old country music and pulled out of the driveway. There were no others cars out on the country roads this time of night.

When Daddy pulled into the field an hour later, Ava Anne awoke. The truck bumped up and down, side to side as Daddy carefully drove to the back of a long field. He finally pulled to a stop near a small bridge that crossed a creek.

“Ok,” Daddy said, “let’s go.”

Ava Anne dug in her pocket to find her small flashlight. She climbed down from the truck and very quietly closed the door. If they slammed their doors, they might scare all the deer away.

Ava Anne waited for Daddy to hand her backpack to her. Daddy swung his own backpack over his shoulders, fit his folding stool over his right shoulder, and carried his bow in his left hand. With his one free hand, he turned on his small headlamp and started walking.

Ava Anne walked right behind and sometimes next to Daddy. It was a long walk over the creek, through another field, into a meadow, and into the dark woods. The woods always scared Ava Anne just a little, but she knew Daddy was right there with her.

Daddy walked carefully, trying not to crack any sticks or shuffle his feet. Seemingly little noises could easily alert the deer that danger was nearby. Ava Anne tried to walk quietly like Daddy. She slowly lifted and set down each foot, holding her breath at times.

Suddenly Daddy stopped. Ava Anne had been so focused on walking quietly that she had not noticed they were at the base of the old wooden tree stand. Daddy carefully tied his bow to a string that hung down from the tree stand.

“Ok, go ahead,” Daddy mouthed.

Ava Anne adjusted her backpack, put her flashlight in her pocket, and began climbing the old wooden ladder. Daddy was right behind her. When she reached the top, Daddy helped push her up onto the platform.

When they were both safely on the platform, Daddy set up his folding stool. Then, he picked up the string that was attached to the platform and began pulling up his bow. When it reached the top, he carefully lifted it over the edge and sat it down very quietly while he untied it. Ava Anne was amazed how quiet Daddy could be.

Daddy sat down on his folding stool with is back against the tree. He looked down at Ava Anne. She was already curled up next to the stool with her small camouflage blanket wrapped around her.

“Do you want any hot chocolate?” Daddy asked, barely in a whisper.

Ava Anne grinned as she looked up at Daddy. She nodded.

Daddy pulled a silver thermos out his backpack. He poured a steaming cup of hot chocolate and handed it to Ava Anne. Daddy always brought a thermos of hot chocolate, along with other snacks that were just for hunting.

Ava Anne sipped her hot chocolate and leaned against Daddy’s knee. This was going to be a great day in the woods. She just knew it.

Yoder is NOT stupid

Once upon a time, just the other day, there lived a family of five just down the street. Some days Momma stayed home, and some days Daddy stayed home. Every day Ava Anne, Savannah Lynn, and Hunter Thomas stayed home. Nothing extravagant ever seemed to happen. In fact, every day seemed almost the same as the day before. When Ava Anne, Savannah Lynn and Hunter Thomas awoke, they would tip-toe out of their bedrooms, down the hall, and to the kitchen. Momma or Daddy would be there or on the nearby couch, reading or eating or doing something uninteresting like sorting mail.

On this particular day, Savannah Lynn woke up first. She opened her eyes suddenly as she remembered that today was a special day. Today she was going to Aunt Lori and Uncle Micah’s house. Ava Anne was going to spend the day with her friend Emily, and Hunter Thomas was going to be with Momma and Daddy for a special day.

Savannah Lynn hopped out of bed, opened her bedroom door, and ran down the hall toward the kitchen. Momma was in the kitchen eating breakfast with Hunter Thomas.

“Good morning, Savannah Lynn,” Momma said. “How did you sleep?”

“Good,” Savannah Lynn said as she took a deep breath. “When do I get to go to Uncle Micah and Aunt Lori’s house?”

“We need to leave in about an hour,” Momma said. “So let’s get you something to eat and then you can get your clothes on.”

Savannah Lynn gobbled up toast with strawberry jam and then ran back to her bedroom to put her clothes on. Within a few minutes, she raced back out to the kitchen and announced that she was ready to go. Momma said she would take her to Aunt Lori and Uncle Micah’s “very soon.”

Finally, Savannah Lynn made it to Aunt Lori and Uncle Micah’s. The morning had seemed longer than any other morning she could remember. She and Momma were now walking up the steps to their house. They could hear Aunt Lori and Uncle Micah’s dog, Yoder, barking.

Momma knocked and Aunt Lori answered the door, opening it just a crack as she also held Yoder’s collar.

“Come in,” Aunt Lori smiled. “Sorry, Yoder thinks he needs to run out the door every time it opens.”

“Hi, Yoder!” Savannah Lynn squealed.

She loved dogs, especially Yoder. Yoder was big and fluffy and very gentle. He knew how to play with kids and not hurt them.

While Aunt Lori and Momma talked, Savannah Lynn played with Yoder. She was excited to have him all to herself today.

“Ok,” Momma said, “I’ll see you after dinner. I love you.”

Savannah Lynn ran to Momma, gave her a big hug, and ran back to play with Yoder. They were going to have a great day.

That evening, after many hours of playing games with Uncle Micah, taking Yoder on a walk, and making clay animals with Aunt Lori, Savannah Lynn sat on the couch next to Uncle Micah. Aunt Lori was sitting on the chair nearby, and Yoder was sleeping on the rug by their feet.

Just then, the doorbell rang and Yoder ran to the door. Savannah Lynn ran right behind him to open the door for Momma. Before Uncle Micah or Aunt Lori thought to warn Savannah Lynn that Yoder would try to escape, she opened the door, and Yoder dashed out.

“Oh, no!” Savannah Lynn exclaimed. Uncle Micah walked to the door with a scowl on his face. He stared out at the empty yard. Yoder was already out of sight.

“Yoder, you stupid, stupid dog. Stupid,” Uncle Micah said.

Savannah Lynn gasped. “Uncle Micah, you do not say stupid.”

Uncle Micah looked down at his little niece.

She continued, “Yoder is not stupid. You are hurting my feelings when you call him stupid. OK?”

Uncle Micah began to chuckle as he said, “You’re right, Savannah Lynn. I should not have call Yoder stupid. I should have said, ‘Yoder, that was very un-smart of you. That was not smart.””

“You really hurt my feelings when you call Yoder stupid. He is not stupid,” Savannah Lynn said again. “Ok, I gotta go! Bye!”

Savannah Lynn darted out the door and into Momma’s car.

Uncle Micah and Aunt Lori chuckled as they watched Savannah Lynn and Momma drive away.

“She is something else,” Uncle Micah said. “She sure knows what she thinks.”

“Yes,” Aunt Lori replied, “and she thinks ‘Yoder is not stupid.’”

The Very Large Turtle

Once upon a time, just the other day, there lived a family of five just down the street. Some days Momma stayed home, and some days Daddy stayed home. Every day Ava Anne, Savannah Lynn, and Hunter Thomas stayed home. Nothing extravagant ever seemed to happen. In fact, every day seemed almost the same as the day before. When Ava Anne, Savannah Lynn and Hunter Thomas awoke, they would tip-toe out of their bedrooms, down the hall, and to the kitchen. Momma or Daddy would be there or on the nearby couch, reading or eating or doing something uninteresting like sorting mail.

On this particular day, Savannah Lynn and Ava Anne had been awake for hours. They were playing outside in the warm, sunny day. They were swinging and running and playing all kinds of games in the yard.

As they were playing Tag Ava Anne tagged Savannah Lynn.

“You’re it!” She said with a gasp for air.

Ava Anne ran fast away from Savannah Lynn. She sprinted across the yard toward a large tree. Suddenly, mid chase, Ava Anne stopped. Savannah Lynn ran straight into her.

“You’re it!” She screamed.

“Look!” Ava Anne said, “It’s a turtle!”

Just a few feet away from where they were running there was a very large turtle. In fact, it was the largest turtle Ava Anne and Savannah Lynn had seen, except the old one at the zoo.

“Let’s keep him in the little pool!” Savannah Lynn suggested.

Ava Anne thought about it for a moment. She thought he might get out of the little pool. His shell was about as tall as the top of the pool.

“Well, we could put the pool in the garage and keep him in there,” Ava Anne finally said. “Let’s get it out of the barn and put some water in it.”

In no time at all Ava Anne and Savannah Lynn had found the kiddy pool, dragged it to the garage, and filled it with an inch or two of water.

“Now, how do we get the turtle in the pool?” Ava Anne asked. “I don’t think I can carry him.”

“Maybe we both can carry him,” Savannah Lynn said.

“Ok, let’s try it. You take that side of the shell and I’ll take this side.”

The girls were a little scared the turtle might be a snapping turtle, but they really wanted to keep him. Ava Anne knocked on his shell, and the turtle pulled his head inside. So, one on each side, they lifted him and slowly, slowly walked to the garage with the very large turtle between them.

“Put him down very gently,” Ava Anne instructed.

They had finally made it to the garage. They placed him very gently in the kiddy pool and watched. He did not do much. He moved his feet around a little and popped his head back out of his shell.

“Well, I guess we can just leave him here and check on him once in a while,” Ava Anne finally said.

“Yeah. I wish he could play with us,” said Savannah Lynn.

The girls continued playing outside, checking on the turtle every now and then. After dinner, Momma said they needed to say “good night” to the turtle and take a bath. They each patted him on the shell and said “good night.”

“See you in the morning,” Savannah Lynn said as she closed the garage door.

Next morning, Ava Anne awoke first. She rubbed her eyes and rolled over. Suddenly she remembered the turtle in the garage.

“Savannah Lynn!” Ava Anne exclaimed as she sat up. “The turtle!”

Savannah Lynn opened her eyes slowly. Then she remembered what Ava Anne was talking about. She sat up with a smile.

“Let’s go see him,” Savannah Lynn said.

The girls hopped out of their big bed, ran down the hall and toward the kitchen. Momma was on the nearby couch. She watched as they ran right past her and to the garage door. They flung open the door and ran over to the kiddy pool.

Savannah Lynn gasped. ”Oh, no!”

“He’s gone!” Ava Anne said.

Sure enough, their pet turtle had escaped. They were not sure how or where he had gone, but that very large turtle was nowhere to be found.

Momma came out of the house, walked over to the pool and looked puzzled.

“Maybe he just wanted to go home,” she suggested.

“But we were his new home,” Ava Anne said in a sad voice.

“Well,” said Momma, “Maybe he was hungry or he missed his family.”

Ava Anne and Savannah Lynn both sighed. They walked back into the house with their heads down.

“I guess we’ll have to find another pet today, Vannah,” Ava Anne said.

“Yeah,” replied Savannah Lynn. “Maybe today we can find an alligator! That would be way better than a turtle.”

“Yeah,” Ava Anne said, “an alligator.”

Nap Time

Once upon a time, just the other day, there lived a family of five just down the street. Some days Momma stayed home, and some days Daddy stayed home. Every day Ava Anne, Savannah Lynn, and Hunter Thomas stayed home. Nothing extravagant ever seemed to happen. In fact, every day seemed almost the same as the day before. When Ava Anne, Savannah Lynn and Hunter Thomas awoke, they would tip-toe out of their bedrooms, down the hall, and to the kitchen. Momma or Daddy would be there or on the nearby couch, reading or eating or doing something uninteresting like sorting mail.

On this particular day, Hunter Thomas awoke first. Hunter Thomas scrambled out of his big boy bed, flung open the bedroom door, and ran down the hall toward the kitchen.

His favorite cousin, Joey, was coming over this morning. Joey was three years old just like Hunter Thomas. Hunter Thomas knew they would play outside, play with trucks and trains, and have fun all day.

“Momma! Momma! Is Joey hee-ah yet?” Hunter Thomas yelled as he ran.

Momma chuckled. She was sitting on the couch sorting mail.

“No. Aunt Lori should be here to drop him off in about an hour,” Momma replied.

Hunter Thomas thought that sounded like a terribly long time. He stood still and sighed.

“By the time you get dressed and eat breakfast and we make your bed, it will almost be time. Let’s get some breakfast first,” Momma suggested.

Momma was right. Hunter Thomas had just finished helping Momma make his big boy bed when the doorbell rang. Hunter Thomas gasped and his eyes grew wide. Then he ran for the door. He saw Aunt Lori through the window. Hunter Thomas opened the big front door.

“Good morning, Hunter Thomas,” Aunt Lori said as she gave him a hug.

“Hi! Joey, let’s go play!”

Joey kicked off his shoes and chased down the hall after Hunter Thomas. They played all the way until lunch time when Momma called them to the kitchen for grilled cheese and apple sauce. Joey and Hunter Thomas were both eating quickly so they could play again, and Momma knew what they were up to.

“Don’t eat so quickly,” Momma said. “After lunch you both can take your nap in Hunter Thomas’s big boy bed. And--”

“But we want to pway!” Hunter Thomas interrupted.

“You will have lots of time to play after your nap. But I’m afraid you’ll both be very grumpy if you don’t go to sleep,” Momma finished.

After lunch she tucked them both into Hunter Thomas’s big boy bed. They each had their heads at different ends of the bed.

“The faster you go to sleep, the faster you can get back to playing,” Momma reminded the boys.

The both shut their eyes tight to show her they were trying hard to fall asleep.

“Ok. Sweet dreams,” Momma said.

Momma left the door open just a crack so she could hear any mischief Hunter Thomas and Joey might get into. All was quiet for a few minutes. Then Momma heard talking.

As Momma slowly opened the door she saw Hunter Thomas sitting next to Joey.

“What’s wong?” Hunter Thomas asked.

Joey held both hands over his face and mumbled something.

“Joey, what’s the matter?” Momma asked as she walked over to the big boy bed.

Joey muttered, “Thomas.”

Momma looked confused for a moment. She glanced at Hunter Thomas as if he might know

why Joey was talking about Thomas.

“Thomas!” Hunter Thomas whispered suddenly and jumped out of bed.

He ran to the bin on the shelf that held all his cars and trucks and trains. He dumped them all out on the floor and began searching through them.

“Hunter Thomas,” Momma said, “you need to get back in bed. It is not play time.”

Just then Hunter Thomas grabbed one train and ran back to bed. He climbed into the big boy bed and crawled over to Joey.

“Hee-ah, Joey, I found Thomas,” Hunter said as he offered the train to Joey.

Joey rubbed the tears from his eyes and took the train from his cousin’s hand. Then he rolled over and closed his eyes for sleep.

“Thank you, Hunter Thomas,” Momma said, “That was very sweet.”

“He wikes to sweep with Thomas the twain,” Hunter Thomas replied.

“Yes,” Momma said, “I think you’re right. Sweet dreams, Hunter. Sweet dreams, Joey.”

Valentine's Day

Once upon a time, just the other day, there lived a family of five just down the street. Some days Momma stayed home, and some days Daddy stayed home. Every day Ava Anne, Savannah Lynn, and Hunter Thomas stayed home. Nothing extravagant ever seemed to happen. In fact, every day seemed almost the same as the day before. When Ava Anne, Savannah Lynn and Hunter Thomas awoke, they would tip-toe out of their bedrooms, down the hall, and to the kitchen. Momma or Daddy would be there or on the nearby couch, reading or eating or doing something uninteresting like sorting mail.

On this particular day, Daddy awakened his two sweet girls with a kiss on each of their foreheads.

“Good morning!” He sang.

Ava Anne peeked out of one eye. She saw Daddy grinning at her.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Ava Anne,” Daddy said.

Ava Anne closed her eye and grinned. She mumbled “Happy Valentines Day” in her sleepiest voice. Daddy chuckled.

“It’s time to get up. I have breakfast made and waiting in the kitchen. I’ll be out there when you’re ready, ok?”

Ava Anne nodded with her eyes still closed. Savannah Lynn still appeared to be soundly sleeping. Ava Anne sat up on her elbows and glanced at Savannah Lynn.

“Vannah,” she whispered.

Savannah Lynn did not move. Ava Anne tickled Savannah Lynn’s neck.

“Savannah Lynn, wake up. It’s Valentine’s Day,” Ava Anne reminded her. She was not sure Savannah Lynn had heard Daddy.

Savannah Lynn barely opened her eyes and grinned.

“C’mon. Let’s go see what Daddy made for breakfast. I bet he made a Valentine’s Day feast!” Ava Anne said.

Savannah Lynn and Ava Anne stumbled out of bed. They each put on their thick, fleece bathrobes to keep them warm in the cool house. They pattered down the hall and toward the kitchen. They smelled sausage and coffee all the way.

When they entered the kitchen, they saw Momma sitting at the table, sipping her steaming coffee. Daddy was sitting there, too, reading the newspaper. Ava Anne and Savannah Lynn scooted out their chairs. On each chair was a small teddy bear holding a little pink flower. Momma and Daddy grinned as Ava Anne and Savannah Lynn sniffed their flowers and hugged their new teddy bears.

“Thank you!” They said in unison.

“Are you ready to eat?” Daddy asked.

Both girls nodded. Daddy got up and pulled a plate out of the oven. It was piled high with heart-shaped pancakes. Savannah Lynn giggled.

“I like ‘em!” she said.

“And str-aaaw-berry syrup,” Daddy said in a very animated voice as he spooned red strawberry syrup on each of their heart-shaped pancakes.

“Mmmm, this is yummy,” Ava Anne mumbled with a bite of pancake in her mouth.

“Glad you like it,” Daddy said.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Momma said.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Ava Anne and Savannah Lynn chimed.

Chicky

Once upon a time, just the other day, there lived a family of five just down the street. Some days Momma stayed home, and some days Daddy stayed home. Every day Ava Anne, Savannah Lynn, and Hunter Thomas stayed home. Nothing extravagant ever seemed to happen. In fact, every day seemed almost the same as the day before. When Ava Anne, Savannah Lynn and Hunter Thomas awoke, they would tip-toe out of their bedrooms, down the hall, and to the kitchen. Momma or Daddy would be there or on the nearby couch, reading or eating or doing something uninteresting like sorting mail.

On this particular day, Ava Anne, Savannah Lynn, and Hunter Thomas had been awake for several hours. Savannah Lynn and Ava Anne had already finished their school work for the day, and Hunter Thomas was just finishing his lunch.

“Let’s go out to the barn, Vannah!” Ava Anne said to Savannah Lynn.

They had already put their lunch plates in the sink and were ready to play outside. They quickly slid on their shoes and ran out the back door.

“I know, let’s look for wild berries,” Savannah Lynn suggested.

They never knew exactly where they might find wild berries, but at this time of year, they were sure to find a bush somewhere. Ava Anne and Savannah Lynn ran around the barn until they reached the old apple tree. Sometimes berries were hiding around the overgrown tree and weeds.

“Nothing,” Ava Anne concluded after a quick search of the weeds. “Let’s go to the other side of the barn.”

As they ran along the back side of the barn through Daddy’s old garden they heard a chicken clucking. They ran faster to see if the chickens had found their berries.

Ava Anne gasped. “Oh, no! She’s stuck!”

“Let’s go get Momma,” Savannah Lynn said.

They ran back to the house as fast as they could.

“Momma!” Ava Anne and Savannah Lynn shouted together.

“There’s a chicken stuck in a live-trap! You need to come get her out,” Ava Anne reported.

“She’s hurt!” added Savannah Lynn.

“Where?” Momma asked.

“By the barn,” Savannah Lynn and Ava Anne said in unison.

Momma had little difficulty releasing the chicken. But, when she picked her up they all realized she was missing two of her toes. Momma carried her back to the house and handed her to Savannah Lynn.

“Hold her while I get some gauze and ointment to clean her foot with,” Momma instructed.

Savannah Lynn rubbed her cheek gently on the chicken’s head and neck as she held it. Ava Anne looked worried. She was not so sure this chicken was going to be ok.

“Chicky, it’s going to be ok,” Savannah Lynn said. “I’ll take care of you. You can stay in my room.”

“Chicky?” asked Ava Anne.

“Yep, that’s her name now,” Savannah Lynn said.

Just then Momma returned with a bandage and ointment. She gently cleaned Chicky’s toeless foot, rubbed ointment on it, and wrapped it in gauze.

“I think she’ll be ok,” Momma said. “But, we’ll need to watch her extra carefully for a while.”

“Can she stay in my room?” Savannah Lynn asked. “I named her Chicky.”

“No,” Momma said with a smile, “Chicky will be ok in the chicken coop. Let’s give her some food and water before we take her back out there.”

Chicky was very thirsty. She finished all the water Momma gave her, and she took a few bites of food.

“This chicken will be just fine,” Momma said. “She is happy to eat and drink. I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”

“Chicky,” Savannah Lynn reminded Momma.

“That’s right,” Momma said, “Chicky.”

The Mulberry House, continued

“Well,” Ava Anne said impatiently, “what is it, Mary Caroline?”

Mary Caroline’s grin was growing and her eyes seemed to hold a secret. She waited for a dramatic pause, encouraging her cousins to stare at her impatiently.

“The adventure I want to take you on is very dangerous. We will travel through the deep, dark, forest,” Mary Caroline said.

“Why are we going through the deep, dark forest?” Savannah Lynn asked. Her eyebrows were furrowed and she swallowed one loud gulp.

Mary Caroline sighed. “Because we are going on an adventure,” she said. “How else will we find a rare new animal that lives in a deep, dirty cave?”

Hunter Thomas raised his eyebrows and smiled. “A new animal? Like, a snake! O-ah a wizard?”

Mary Caroline looked confused. “A wizard? Wizards are not animals, Hunter.”

“He means a lizard,” Ava Anne corrected her cousin’s error.

“Whatever. Are we going on an adventure or not?” Mary Caroline was growing impatient.

Ava Anne looked out of the corner of her eye at Savannah Lynn.

“Let’s do it!”

Mary Caroline led the way down the ladder, on the rope, and across the yard to the deep, dark forest.

“First, everyone needs a stick,” Mary Caroline instructed.

Hunter Thomas was already carrying one very large stick. He was swinging it and hitting trees and bushes with it.

“Ok, now remember, there are lots of animals and maybe a few monsters in here, so watch out,” Mary Caroline warned as she stepped into the deep, dark forest.”

The four cousins walked cautiously, slowly taking each step. Hunter Thomas was very occupied with searching the ground for a “deep, dirty cave” with a “rare new animal.” Savannah Lynn’s eyes scanned the whole forest again, and again, hoping the “rare new animal” would be small and on the ground.

Suddenly, when everyone was looking different directions, Mary Caroline stopped dead in her tracks. She held her arms out to signal everyone else to stop. Savannah Lynn’s eyes grew with suspense.

“A wizard?!” Hunter Thomas exclaimed in a half whisper.

Mary Caroline motioned with her eyes and her head. In the leaves and weeds near her feet was a snake. It was as still as the cousins were, waiting for them to pass by. Slowly, slowly, Hunter Thomas crept past Mary Caroline and out of the snake’s vision. From behind, he crept ever closer until he was finally within reach of the back of the snake’s neck. Hunter Thomas was a great snake catcher.

“Gotcha!” Hunter Thomas exclaimed as he leaped forward, one hand holding a stick and one hand holding a snake.

“YAY!” The girls cheered.

“We captured the rare new animal!” Savannah Lynn said.

“Let’s take him back to the Mulberry House,” Ava Anne suggested.

The successful troop nearly marched back through the deep, dark forest. They emerged from the trees to the sound of Momma’s voice calling for lunch-time.

“Macaroni and cheese for lunch,” Momma called.

“A rare new animal for a pet!” Mary Caroline called back.

The cousins could hardly wait for their after lunch adventures to come.