Room for One More

Written by Leona Nielsen
Published on February 2013

The wind and snow played so long together that they created drifts that resembled a surfer’s wave. It didn’t stop there. Just before the wind had to say goodbye, it pushed the snow through a crack in the barn door coming to rest in Joseph’s ear as he passed.
“What are you doing Joseph?†asked Annie as Joseph shook his head from side to side.
“Some snow has landed in my ear.â€
“That’s impossible, you are not outside Joseph.â€
“It came in through the crack in the door.â€
Annie, being Annie, ran over putting her nose close to the door.
“See Joseph nothing is happening. I think you were dreaming.â€
“Wait five minutes and you will see.â€
“Okay, Joseph.†Annie answered as she kept staring at the door.
Just moments later the last of the snow came through the crack.
“Ouch!!!!!!!!!!! That’s sooooooooooooooo cold!!!!!†yelled Annie as she tried to get it off her face.
Joseph started laughing.
“I didn’t think I looked as funny as you did shaking those BIG EARS!!!!!!!†Annie yelled back.
“HELLO-O-O!!!!!!!! And you don’t have BIG EARS!!!â€
“I do but ………….â€
“Annie, you know you were not very nice to say that to Joseph.†Baby added.
“I know I shouldn’t have said that but it just fell out.â€
“Fell out of your mouth?! Nothing just falls out.†Baby replied as he stretched and stretched.
“Oh yes it can, wait until it happens to you. I am not trying to change the subject Baby, but why do you stretch every morning after you get up?â€
“It is my way, Annie, of saying good bye to the night and hello to the morning.â€
“Okay.â€
Just then Murphy, the cat, poked his head through a small hole in the window.
“Murphy, this is a nice surprise seeing you. Haven’t seen much of you lately.†Baby said.
“Yep, it has been a while. Well, ever since winter started. Today I needed a change of scenery.â€
“Everyone needs that once in a while, but why do you Murphy?†TC added as she came for a visit with the Little Ones.
“Sometimes our owners forget to feed me my breakfast when they are rushing to go to work. I have to be front and center so they don’t forget. There are times when they only remember half my food and there I am all day with nothing to munch on.â€
“I don’t think they do it on purpose.†said TC.
“No, I realize that but I just wish their memories would wake up the same time that their bodies do. Life would be so much easier for me.â€
“I think we will all be happy when winter is over.â€
Murphy’s eyes opened wide.
“What , they forget to feed you too TC!!!!â€
“No Murphy what I meant is the snow has been so deep and we haven’t been able to get out.â€
“I think I am going up in the loft for a few hours and have a nice nap.†Murphy said as he jumped up on the beam and disappeared.
“Don’t forget to say good bye before you leave.†Baby yelled
“I will.†Murphy shouted back.
The rest of the day was spent playing as much as they could in the limited space of the barn. They had supper and settled down for the night.
When morning came everyone seemed to have had a good night’s sleep. Well, that was everyone except Joseph……
“What is the matter Joseph? V You look like you haven’t slept at all?â€
“I haven’t.†Joseph growled back.
“How come?â€
“I was attacked last night.â€
“Attacked!!!!!!†Baby said with a strange look on his face.
“How could you be attacked Joseph,? We didn’t hear or see anything.â€
“That was because you were asleep.â€
“Did I hear something about an attack?†TC added as she joined in.
“Yes TC, something was after Joseph last night when we were sleeping and it may still be here in the barn!!!!†Annie shouted.
“Calm down Annie and let’s see if we can get to the bottom of this.â€
“What actually happened Joseph?â€
“TC, I really don’t know. All I do know is that I was sleeping and suddenly I was woken by something hitting me on the head.â€
Annie looked at Joseph.
“You got hit on the head!!!! Let me see…did it hit…let me see if it hurt your head.â€
“Slow down Annie†Baby added.
“I am worried.â€
“Joseph will be all right Annie.†TC replied.
“Were you able to get a look at what hit you Joseph?â€
“I can do better than that. Come with me.†Joseph muttered as he led them to his bed.
“WOW!!!!! You didn’t just get attacked, you got bombarded†Baby yelled.
Annie couldn’t believe her eyes as she looked around.
“Who would want to do something like that in the first place? That is what I want to know.†Annie said.
“Can you see what I mean about being attacked?â€
“We sure do.†Baby replied as they stood looking at all the peanuts and nuts that were in Joseph’s bed.
Just as Annie was about to say something, Baby happened to look up and sure enough they were coming again ………
“RUN FOR COVER! WE ARE UNDERSEIGE AGAIN!!!!!!! Baby shouted as he got out of the way when suddenly there was a head peeking through the boards of the ceiling.
Annie instantly ran and hid behind TC.
“Hello there.†TC said in a soft voice.
Annie tapped TC with her nose and said, “Why are you saying that when it tried to hurt us?â€
“It’s all right Annie. It is just a squirrel.â€
“A squirrel!!!! I don’t think so TC. They don’t look like that and besides where is its tail?â€
Just then a tail appeared through the boards as well and along came………..
“Maybe if you would let someone else talk then maybe you would have found out sooner, that I was a squirrel.â€
Baby and Joseph looked at one another.
“I like this squirrel already.†whispered Joseph with a smile.
“I talk a lot when I’m nervous but now that I am talking - I am Annie, do you have a name? Why don’t you come down and sit on the railing so we can see all of you?â€
“That is a nice idea.†TC added.
“You don’t mind?†asked the squirrel
“Not at all. I am Baby.†he replied.
Within seconds the squirrel was sitting on the rail.
“My name is Gecko.â€
Everyone looked a little puzzled.
“Isn’t a Gecko a lizard, TC?â€
“Yes, Baby that is right. Gecko is his name. It’s not what kind of animal he may be.â€
“Seeing where I was the one who got hit on the head last night, I should be the one to ask Gecko how come he has the name of a lizard. “
“I think you should Joseph.†replied TC.
“Gecko, may I introduce you to your target. I am Joseph.â€
“So sorry about that Joseph, nice to meet you. I guess I didn’t check to see if the floor had holes before I moved in. It is kind of funny how I came about my name. When I was looking for a place to stay for the winter, I came across an open door so I went in. Pretty cozy in there until this fur ball appeared on the scene and I had to run for cover in this machine. After being in there for awhile I had to figure out what my next step was going to be. I was getting hungry. All of a sudden the machine was being moved with me inside. Each time it moved I said something and it would stop. Then nothing happened for a while and I thought things were fine……..NOT!!!! Something started taking the machine apart and we were on the move once again. By this time I was afraid of what was going to happen and then I saw a light through a hole. At this point I had no other choice but to make a run for it. I was running for my life! All I could hear was GET!!!!!!GO!!!!!!! Then I knew I was going to be known as Gecko.â€
The Little Ones were laughing really hard by this time.
“You were in our owner’s house and the fur ball was Murphy the cat and the treadmill was an exercise machine ,I think.†Baby said.
“Is that where I was?â€
“I even tried to live in the basement after that because the window had been left open. I had my peanuts and nuts stored in this nice boot but I got evicted once again.†Gecko added.
“What happened to all your food you had stored?.†asked Annie.
“That is the funny part, your owners fed it back to me. Did they think I wouldn’t know my own stash!?! It was then I decided I would move in here, less problems I thought.
“You have REALLY moved in here? Does this mean I am going to have to sleep with a helmet on my head now!!!!†Joseph yelled.
“There is always room for one more here in the barn Gecko, but we do have rules that we follow. TC looks after us and we listen to her because she is very wise.†Baby added.
“I guess, TC, I should ask you if I can stay?†Gecko asked quietly.
“Welcome to our barn Gecko. I would like you to look around the loft and select another place for you food instead of storing it over our sleeping area.’
“That won’t be a problem, TC.â€
“Well, with that settled, I think we have things to do.†TC answered.
The Little Ones finished their hay, TC had a few things to check out in the barn and Gecko went back in the loft to rearrange his home.
When suddenly ……….
“WE FORGOT TO TELL GECKO ABOUT MURPHY!!!!!!!!!†Baby yelled but it was too late…………
“FUR BALL!!!!!!â€
“RODENT!!!!!!!!â€
It took TC a few minutes to gain control over what was happening as she gathered everyone around her and said,
“Our home is very big and has enough room for all of us. We have to respect each other’s space. We are all different in so many ways but we can all get along. Does everyone understand? Murphy……Gecko?â€
“We worked it out TC. I have the space over Joseph because I only nap up there and Gecko is at the far end of the barn.â€
“That is so nice to hear Murphy.â€
As night started to fall…………………
“I’m out of here and thanks for the interesting day!!!!!“ Murphy yelled as he slipped back through the hole in the window.
TC made sure everyone was settled in for the night. As she stood looking at the Little Ones sleeping, she couldn’t help but wonder what tomorrow will bring.
“Good night.†TC whispered.
“Nice to have a home.†came the voice from the loft.

Hi everyone, this is our story for this month. Having Gecko move into the barn was a big adjustment for all. With guidance from TC it all worked out. Sometimes we may be faced with a situation where we will have to make adjustment in our lives. If everyone at the barn can do it so can we.
Next month our story will be “ Feeling Friskyâ€.
We hope you have some great memories from your February break. Have fun but stay safe.
Baby, Joseph, TC, Little Annie, Murphy & Gecko