STORIES FROM THE BARN - WHO HAS BEEN SLEEPING.........

Written by Leona Nielsen
Published on February 2013

As the birds woke up from their night’s sleep, their feathers were still fluffy. The sun wasn’t strong enough to warm them up this morning. The cooler weather, without a doubt, had arrived.
Baby woke up to the same feeling as the birds. He could feel the chill in the air.
“Baby! Joseph! Check me out. I think I got my winter coat overnight.†Annie shouted as she twisted and turned.
“It has been growing for a while now, Annie.â€
“Well, how come I haven’t noticed it until now Joseph?â€
“The weather is getting colder, that’s why.â€
“Can I check you out Joseph and see if your coat is as long as mine?â€
“And how do you intend to do that?â€
“By snuggling my nose into your fur and seeing how far it disappears.â€
“Oh, really, Annie, do you think you can really tell that way? Well, go ahead and give it a try.â€
Annie didn’t miss a beat. She jumped around and buried her nose as far as she could into Joseph’s fur.
“Well, is my coat as long as yours Annie?â€
“I don’t know but I do know that my nose is really warm.†Annie shouted with a big grin on her face.
“Good one Annie/†answered Baby as he too was laughing.
“I am so smart when I get up.â€
“Oh, you think so do you Annie? Well, there is such a thing as payback.â€
“What is a payback Baby?â€
“Well, Annie, it is when you do something to someone and they play a trick on you.â€
“But what if I don’t like what they do?â€
“If you are going to play a trick on someone, then you have to be grown up enough to accept the payback.†Baby told Annie.
“Oh, I understand now. Would you say that it is the same as saying – if you can’t play with the big horses then don’t come out of the barn?â€
“That’s it.†replied Baby.
“Oh, does that mean you have my back too when I get the payback?â€
“Not so fast there Annie. I am not getting in the idle of this. That is between you and Joseph.â€
“Doesn’t hurt to try.†Annie shouted as she ran off for breakfast.
“I have to admit she got me with that one.†Joseph said to Baby.
“I heard that Joseph. Girls rock!â€
Both Joseph and Baby could only shake their heads as Annie’s comment trailed off into the air.
After everyone had finished breakfast, Havier came over from the other side of the barn.
“Little Ones, can you come here for a minute?â€
“Okay, Havier. What’s up?â€
“TC wants to know if you were playing in the back of the barn lately.â€
“No, Havier, we were on this side. Why do you ask?†asked Baby.
“Let’s go and find TC. She will tell you why she is wondering.â€
As they made their way to the other side of the barn the owners were there picking up brushes, bottles and combs off the floor.
“TC, do you think we did this?†asked Baby.
“Well, it has been rather strange these last couple of mornings. Everything has been on the floor. It is starting to make our owners a bit upset having to clean it up each morning.
“No, TC. We swear it wasn’t us.†replied Annie
“Are you sure? You know it is better to tell the truth in the beginning than to find out you won’t in the end.â€
“Yes, TC, you have taught us not to lie about anything and no, we didn’t make this mess.†Joseph answered.
“Then in that case, who did?â€
“Maybe the wind blew them off, TC†Havier added.
“It could have been possible if there had been a wind blowing these past few days.â€
“Maybe the owners knocked it off the shelf and didn’t notice it when they were putting out the hay?â€
“Well, I don’t think that is it. They would have felt the hay hitting something.â€
“Then what could it be?†asked Baby.
“There is only one thing that we can do to find out.†TC added.
“What can that be?â€
“Annie, we will become detectives and stand watch.â€
“Can I be first, please, TC?â€
“Now that sounds like a great idea and there is enough of us to make teams.â€
“How are you figuring that TC when we are five strong?†asked Joseph.
“Oh, that is right Joseph. I guess one of us will have to be a spare.â€
“Say no more. I know who that spare will be without anyone saying a word.†Annie replied.
“Now, Annie, that is not true either because you will be going with me on the first watch.â€
“I get to go first and have some fun!†shouted Annie.
“Yea Annie. It means staying awake all night.†said Joseph.
“I know that Joseph. Just wait and see. I can do it!†Annie answered and she walked off to take a look at where they were going to spend the night.
After supper as the sun started to disappear behind the mountain, TC asked Annie if she was ready.
“I am ready! Am I ever ready and excited to spend some girl time with you.â€
“I don’t know if you realize this or not but one of the things you have to do while on a watch like this is to stay quiet without talking." TC answered.
“What!? You mean I can’t talk!!!â€
“That’s right, Annie. We are trying to find out how things get off the shelf? Now, if we make any noise or talk, whoever is doing it will not come if they hear us. Does that make sense, Annie?â€
“I suppose so and I do promise I will keep my mouth shut.â€
“Now, that I have to see. Too bad we are on the same watch.â€
“Now Joseph, be good.†Baby answered even though he was as curious as well to see how Annie was going to keep quiet.
“Sorry, TC but I was just thinking out loud.â€
“Come Annie, it is time for us to start our first watch.â€
“Right behind you TC and I got your back.â€
TC turned and looked back at Annie, thinking what a long couple of hours this might turn out to be seeing where Annie can’t talk. But the time flew by and before they knew it, it
was time to change the watch.
“Havier, you and Joseph are the next to take watch. Baby and I will do the next one if nothing happens.â€
Feeling rather disappointed Havier and Joseph returned.
“What was it like Joseph?â€
“Oh, it was cool even though nothing happened. You should have seen us.â€
“Why?â€
“Well, Baby, we both had our radar ears in action.â€
“That would have been something to see and if I had been there, it would have been even stronger with my girl power!!â€
“TCâ€
“Patience, Little Ones. It’s our turn Baby, to give it a shot.â€
Baby was so excited that he almost tripped over his hoofs as he ran ahead of TC. When he turned the corner he could see the brushes and everything were all over the floor again. Baby turned and, running back to TC, tried to be as quiet as he could.
“Hurry TC. It’s here.â€
“How do you know, Baby?â€
“All the stuff is on the floor again.â€
“It happened when we changed watch. Can I go and get the others TC?â€
“Yes, Baby but be quiet and I will wait here until you return with the othersâ€
“Hurry!!!! Hurry everyone! Come with me. Whatever it is has landed!!!â€
“Landed? Landed on what Baby?â€
“Oh, Annie, Baby means that whatever it is has returned.†Joseph replied.
“Why didn’t he say just that instead of sounding like something from Star Wars?â€
“No time to answer. TC is waiting for us to come back.â€
“Okay, but I would just like to know……….â€
“Annie. You won’t like to have to stay behind would you?†added Joseph.
“I get what you are saying…….stop talking Annie or you will stay behind.â€
“You got it.â€
TC was watching around the corner as the others approached.
“Anything new TC?†asked Baby.
“No. We will just have to wait and see if we can see or hear anything.â€
What seemed to be like hours waiting, turned out only to be a few minutes when something else fell off the shelf.
“TC. Did you hear that?†Baby whispered.
“Whatever it is has to be behind that board.†Joseph whispered.
“Maybe I can take a look TC seeing where I am a lot taller than the rest of you.†suggested Havier.
When Annie heard that, she looked up at Havier to say something when she realized she couldn’t talk. TC just nodded her head in approval to Havier. His ears pointed straight to the heavens as he walked closer to get a better look. He felt something by his side. “It’s me, Joseph.â€
“What are you doing here?â€
“TC thought we could do a better job together as a team. You can look high and I can look low.â€
“Sounds good.â€
Just then, something else fell and the others heard it as well.
“Time to see what we’re dealing with. Baby, remember that trick you used to do when we needed to see something?â€
“Oh, I sure do TC.â€
“Then let’s do it.â€
Baby ran over to the wall and with the tip of his nose he pushed up on the switch and the whole barn lit up.
Annie thought seeing where the lights were on it would be safe to speak.
“Hello! Hello there behind the board. You are in our home and we need to know who you are. Hello!!!â€
No answer came back.
“Look TC, there is a tail. See.â€
“Oh yes, now I do and now I know what we have.â€
“You do TC? You really do? Is it something that is going to hurt me?†Annie asked with excitement.
“You should know Annie, what it is.â€
“I should, Joseph?â€
“The rings around the tail should tell you.â€
“Hey!! A skunk?!?â€
“no, Annie. A skunk has a long white stripe from its head to the tip of its tail.â€
“I got it! A raccoon.â€
“That’s right. Now, let’s find out more about this raccoon.†answered TC.
Just then a little head peeked out from behind the board.
“It’s a baby!†Annie yelled. “It’s a baby!!â€
“But I can talk.†came a small voice.
“Oh, so you can. What is your name? I am Annie and what are you doing here in our home?â€
“Excuse Annie. She has a lot of questions little fellow.â€
“My mom calls me Little Rascal and I don’t know where she is.â€
“Oh, that is awful.†added Baby.
“Yes and we have got to do something.†Joseph said.
“It is not nice not to have your mom.†Annie replied.
“I was playing in the field and went further than I was supposed to go. I have been coming here every night because I knew I would be safe.
“Yes indeed Little Rascal you certainly are safe here. In the morning we are going to see if we can find your mom or your family so you can go home.†TC said.
“TC, can we sleep here tonight with Little Rascal to keep him company so he won’t be alone anymore?†asked Baby.
“I think that would be a great idea Little One. See you in the morning.â€
As the sun came up, TC was true to her word. After breakfast everyone was ready to help Little Rascal find his mom or family. The day was drawing to a close with no luck when Havier heard a noise coming from the mountain.
“Quiet everyone. See if you can hear anything. I am positive I heard something.â€
You could have heard a pin drop when suddenly………
“That’s my mom! She’s looking for me!â€
No one was ready for what came next. Little Rascal took a deep breath and yelled at the top of his lungs.
“Where did that come from? You are so small.†asked Annie.
“That call is especially for my mom.â€
For several minutes they yelled back and within seconds Little Rascal’s mom came flying through the tall grass. She was so happy to see him but, like a mother, she wanted to tell him how angry she was that he had gone too far away but at the same time, what a wonderful feeling it was to have him back!
Mother raccoon thanked everyone for their kindness and said that she would tell all her friends in the forest how kind they had been to her son and that if they ever need help they could count on her and her friends in the forest. What a wonderful sight to see both mom and baby reunited once again as they disappeared through the grass.
No one felt like staying up after supper except for Annie. She was still wound up from the day.
“Would you come for me if I was lost?†asked Annie in a sleepy voice.
“Yes Annie. You know we would.â€
“Even if I talk a lot Baby?â€
“We are family Annie and we are all different. You just happen to talk a lot.â€
She continued talking until Joseph said, “Annie, just for now, if you want to talk, could you talk in your head?â€
Puzzled, Annie looked at Joseph.
“I can’t talk in my head. I have to talk with my whips.â€
Everyone laughed. Unbeknown to Annie, she was the sleepiest one of all!
“It’s lips Annie, not whips.†Baby whispered.
“Tell me in the morning Baby. I’m tired.â€
“Joseph, remember the time the vet came to look after your tooth and you couldn’t talk properly and you said whips for lips. Remember that?â€
“I do Baby. It must be a donkey thing.â€
“Goodnight everyone.â€
“Good night TC.â€
TC stood looking at everyone thinking what a day it had been but at the end of it, there was a good ending. What more could you ask for than to have a family reunited?

Hi everyone. We hope you enjoyed our story this month. We learned that the best gift you can give is to help someone in need. It doesn’t matter how old , young, big or small you are to help someone, as long as it comes from your heart. When someone tells you not to go too far, it is for a reason, even though you might not understand why at the time. Next time our story is called, “Open Wide.â€

See you then, but in the meantime. Stay safe.