Stories From "The Barn" - June

Written by Leona Nielsen
Published on February 2013

“Why did she have to pick the same place again this year? Another sleepless spring for me.” Joseph said.

“I think Joseph didn’t have a good night’s sleep”, thought Baby as he watched him checking out his new neighbours.

“It’s fun having them here.” replied Baby.

“They’re not over your head yelling for food all the time.”

Joseph answered in a grumpy voice.

As Baby and Joseph were talking, Scout had been busy outside.

“Scout! You’re all dirty with mud. How come?” asked Baby.

“Let’s say that I am preparing myself so I won’t have to work.

You should do the same after what I have seen.” answered Scout.

“If I have to get dirty I think I’ll pass.” said Baby.

“What did you see, Scout?”

Joseph forgot about the bird’s nest when he heard what Scout was saying. He decided to peek around the corner to see for himself.

Joseph immediately fell to the ground, rolling and rolling.

“Oh great! Now the two of you are dirty. Joseph, you just did what you should do if you are on fire….Stop, Drop and Roll. But there is no fire on you Joseph so why did you do that?” asked Baby.

“I know I am not on fire and if I was I would be doing that too but I am not.” replied Joseph. “It will make better sense when you see for yourself.”

Baby was getting curious. Too much was going on this morning so he decided to take a look for himself.

“THE CARTS ARE OUT!!!!” yelled Baby as he made his way back inside.

“I told you.” said Scout

“But….but….” was all Baby could say.

“I guess you better drop and roll too.” said Joseph. “Maybe if we get ourselves dirty they will change their minds.” Joseph added.

“I don’t do carts.” said Scout. “I rolled to be safe.”

“You better take another look, Scout. You missed something.” said Baby.

“I didn’t miss anything.” replied Scout. “I know I am getting old but my eyes are still good.”

“Okay then,” said Baby “but you might be surprised.”

“Just for you Baby, I’ll take another look and you will see I’m right.” said Scout.

Baby and Joseph both looked at each other as they waited for Scout.

“There’s a saddle with the carts!!!!!!” Scout huffed and puffed.

“I guess I missed it, and no comments either. I’m allowed a mistake. Vacation is over for sure.” Scout muttered as he rubbed his eyes.

Both Baby and Joseph thought it was better not to answer Scout.

The voices were coming towards the barn. “Do we have everything ready?” they heard the owners say.

Scout looked at Baby and Joseph and with not a moment to spare, they took off to the farthest part of the field. One after the other they rolled in the dirt.

“Grind it in,” said Scout “we need to be really dirty.”

They jumped, feeling proud of the job they had done as they looked towards the owners.

“They will change their minds when they see us.” said Scout.

“I know I would.” answered Joseph.

“Then why are they still coming towards us with their hands behind their backs?” asked Baby.

“They have the halters.” said Scout. “They think if we see them that we will know what is going to happen.”

“That doesn’t make sense.” said Joseph “We know anyway.”

“Listen, when they get a bit closer we’re going to run to the other side of the field. That will surely make them give up.” Scout added.

Arriving at the other end of the field Joseph couldn’t help but think how much work this had been.

“You know I exercise only when I feel like it and I’m thinking today is not the day for this.” said Joseph.

“We shouldn’t be doing this anyway.” said Baby “They are our owners and they do feed us.”

“Yeah, you’re right Baby. I can make lots of noise too when I am hungry.” replied Joseph.

“You certainly do, Joseph.” said Scout.

“Then how come you can’t make enough noise to keep the birds from building their nest above your head, Joseph?” Baby asked.

“Let’s not go there.” Joseph said as he rolled his eyes at Baby.

“We can wait here and rest before we have to work.” said Joseph. “What the earth!!!!!!”

“What does that mean?” Joseph asked the others.

“I say that when I don’t know what is happening or what something is.” replied Joseph.

“Nothing is happening, Joseph.” Baby replied.

“Can’t you see?” said Joseph.

“See what?” asked the others.

“They brought treats with the halters.” said Joseph.

“Treats!!!!” Baby said as he started running towards the owners with Joseph following.

As Scout was slowly walking behind the others he muttered to himself….”Treats will get them every time.”

They were starting to wonder who was going to be first.

“Hope it’s not me.” said Baby.

“Right now it won’t matter.” said Joseph

“That’s good, Joseph, because they just picked up your harness.” said Baby

“Go figure with my luck today.” Joseph replied.

Baby and Scout watched from behind the fence as Joseph was placed in front of the cart. He could feel the harness being placed on his back.

“I know I am not going to like this,” Joseph thought for a minute and he stuck out his chest…..”I can do something.” Joseph whispered to Baby.

“What?” asked Baby.

“Just watch and see.”

The owner bent down to pull the strap around Joseph’s belly. Joseph took a big breath and blew his belly out as far as it would go. The owner couldn’t get the strap to reach. Joseph smiled to himself. One owner commented how Joseph had gotten bigger over the winter. “No,” the other said, “it is his way of saying that he doesn’t want to get hitched up. Give him a few minutes and he will let his belly go back to normal.”

Joseph started letting his belly go down when Baby yelled, “Here it comes again, Joseph!!!!!!”

Joseph wasn’t as fast this time because the strap was fastened before he knew it.

“I had forgotten how it feels.” said Joseph.

“What does it feel like Joseph?” asked Baby. “It’s not like you ate too much hay that’s for sure.”

Baby was next. He tried to make his belly big like Joseph, but he couldn’t.

“I guess I need more practice.” said Baby, as the strap fastened on the first try.

“Maybe you don’t need to try everything that Joseph does, Baby.” said Scout.

“You’re right, Scout.”

Before long everyone was ready to go. Scout headed to the paddock because he had a little one to take for a ride on his back.

“See you later.” shouted Scout.

Moments later Baby and Joseph started towards the road.

“Want to race Joseph?” asked Baby.

“I said I only exercise when I feel like it and after today I have done enough to last me six months.” replied Joseph as he slowly pulled the cart down the road.

Hi again, everyone! Hope the story was one you had fun reading. The lesson we learned was simple…..no matter how hard we tried not to get hitched, we did. When you have chores to do and maybe you don’t feel like doing them, who knows?? If you do a good job you may get a treat as well. Next month will be about family. See you then….remember to play safe.

We have a big surprise for all our young readers! Baby and Joseph will be joining you at the Mount Uniacke Firemen’s Fair!! We look forward to meeting all our new friends.

Come out and meet us!!!! Baby, Joseph and Scout