THE HARVEST
Written by Leona NielsenPublished on February 2013
As dawn broke, the wind carried with it a sweet smell. Baby woke up when his nose started to twitch. He smelled something different. “Maybe breakfast is going to be a surprise this morning,” he thought as his nose continued searching the air. Baby decided to poke Joseph through the boards to see if he was awake. Joseph had only one eye opened as he looked at Baby.
“Why do you wake up so early Baby?” asked Joseph.
“But Joseph.”
“I need more sleep” replied Joseph.
“Oh, is that the same as needing beauty sleep?” answered Baby.
“BABY!!! Only girls need that stuff.” grumbled Joseph as he
snuggled his head in the corner.
“Okay, I’ll give you five minutes and I’ll be back.”
Joseph knew that Baby wouldn’t forget. A few minutes later he decided to open his eyes.
“Joseph, now you have both eyes open. Wake up your nose so you can tell me what that smell is.” said Baby.
“What smell?”
“OH! Joseph. You can’t smell that?”
“Nope”
Scout had been listening. He knew what the smell was.
“Joseph, I don’t believe it! You see everything!!!” Baby answered.
“I can’t see this Baby, it is a smell.”
“Joseph, I think we are going to be getting something new for breakfast. That’s what I think.” Baby said as he looked around to see if the owners were in the barn.
“Oh no!!!! Not me. I am not going to try anything. Grain and hay is just fine.” replied Joseph.
By this time Baby was getting a little anxious not knowing what it was.
“Does anyone know what that smell is?” yelled Baby to the rest of the barn.
“Yes, Baby it is the smell of Fall and Harvest.” answered Missy.
“What do they look like?” Baby asked. “Are they like me or Joseph?”
Missy, trying not to laugh, answered Baby by explaining that Fall was a season and it came after Summer. Harvest was when the farmers picked the fruit and vegetables that had grown throughout the summer.
“Oh, I thought company was coming.” Baby answered sadly.
“Sorry to disappoint you Baby. That smell does tell us that people will be bringing apples and carrots for us to have a treat.” replied Missy.
“Oh, that will be good!” Baby answered.
Later on the doors opened and everyone ran out for the day in the fields.
“Do you think they are up to something, Missy?” asked Scout.
“I can tell you this, Scout, it’s not good whatever it is.” Missy answered as she watched Baby and Joseph whispering together.
“I hope they remember what you told them about the outer field.” added TC.
“I hope so,” said Missy as she went for a drink.
Baby edged closer to Joseph asking if anyone was looking.
“Don’t think so” whispered Joseph.
“Okay, should we start running?” Baby asked.
“It looks alright Baby”.
“Then let’s do it,” said Baby.
Off they went running as fast as they could to the furthest corner of the outer field.
“We made it Joseph.” Baby laughed as he came to a stop.
“WOW!!!” shouted Joseph. “I think I have gone to donkey heaven.”
“Me too whatever that is.” said Baby as they both looked up at the huge apple tree in front of them.
“How did we miss this last year?” asked Baby.
“Did you forget? Missy stopped us, remember?” replied Joseph.
“Oh, yeah, I forgot for a minute. Looking at all these apples could make anyone forget.”
“We made it past Missy this time, didn’t we Joseph?”
“It looks that way so far.”
“Do you think anyone can see us, Joseph?” asked Baby. “Joseph, pull your big ears down and have a look.”
“My ears won’t stay down. They are too busy listening for noises.” answered Joseph.
With that, Baby lifts his head and much to his surprise there was no one looking.
“Joseph, don’t eat the grass. That’s our cover so no one sees us.” said Baby.
“Then I think we should try the apples. They look good and the branches are low enough that we don’t have to stretch too far. Let’s each pick an apple to eat.” said Joseph.
Each managed to get an apple of their choice from the tree but after the second bite, Joseph’s mouth purckered up from the taste.
“Not bad,” said Baby.
“Well, I don’t know about that. I am not sure about the taste.” said Joseph.
“You had trouble with the smell this morning and now your taste buds aren’t working right.”
“Smell is one thing, taste is something else.” replied Joseph.
“Maybe you need to see the Vet to find out what’s wrong?” Baby replied.
“What are you trying to be – funny – Baby?” Joseph then decided to try another apple. The taste was a little better but he decided not to eat too many.
“Baby, you better slow down. What is that, apple #12?”
“Beats me. I wasn’t counting but I am getting full.”
Joseph was about to say something to Baby when they heard a noise in the bushes.
“Did you do that Joseph?” asked Baby.
“No, I thought you moved your hoof.” replied Joseph.
“No, it wasn’t me. There it goes again. Oh, something is in there!” Baby whispered.
“Can you see anything, Joseph?”
“Nope”.
“Maybe we should take a look.” Baby replied.
“Joseph, I see something. It has a small head and body. Take a look. It’s small enough that we shouldn’t be hurt.” said Baby.
“Let’s hope not,” replied Joseph.
Just then the bushes parted, a little nose was peeking out. Joseph put his head closer to the ground, pinned his ears back, and steadied his hoofs as he walked forward to investigate.
“Be careful Joseph.” Baby said as he stepped aside.
“It’s small. I’ll be alright.”
Neither Baby nor Joseph had seen this type of animal before.
“Hello, little animal” Baby said but instead of answering, the animal stared at Joseph as he walked closer.
Before Joseph could determine what it was, it turned around to leave.
“Joseph, I don’t think it is very friendly. Maybe it doesn’t like us.” said Baby.
And then it happened………………Its tail went up and flying through the air came this liquid heading straight for Joseph. Quickly, Joseph put his head up, but not in time.
“SOMETHING HIT ME” shouted Joseph as he started rubbing his face on the ground.
“HERE IT COMES AGAIN, JOSEPH!! RUN!!!! shouted Baby but before he could move he was hit again.
“MY EYES ARE STINGING. THIS CAN’T BE GOOD, BABY.”
Joseph dropped to the ground rolling and rolling as fast as he could and then something else happened.
“Joseph, you are starting to smell bad. Can you smell it?” Baby yelled.
“Oh, yes, I can smell this with no problem.”
“Don’t roll any more, Joseph. The smell is on the ground.”
“OH, NO Baby, it isn’t. The smell came from that animal’s tail. I have to do something. I don’t like being me right now.” Joseph said as he danced around.
“We better start for the barn. Scout will know what to do.” replied Baby.
As fate would have it the wind was blowing in the direction of the barn. Scout was in the inner field grazing when his nose caught a smell that he knew so well. The smell seemed to be getting stronger and stronger. He looked up in time to see the adventurers running home.
“Scout! Scout! You have to help Joseph. He does not smell good and his eyes are hurting him.” yelled Baby.
“Scout will know what to do.” Baby reassured Joseph.
Just then Baby’s belly started to hurt.
“I ran too fast Joseph. I have pains in my belly.”
“I’ll take those pains any day over this.” answered Joseph as he stopped to rub his eyes.
“Joseph, I have to stop for a minute.”
“Don’t be too long Baby. I don’t want to explain this by myself.”
“Don’t worry, I will be right there with you, Joseph.”
As Scout watched them, he couldn’t help but think what a long night lies ahead.
“I guess you went to the outerfield,” said Scout.
“I just want this smell off me. What can we do Scout?”
Scout wanted to laugh but he didn’t. It was like looking at himself many years ago when he did the same thing.
“Nothing much Joseph. It does go away in time. Maybe the owners will give you a bath.” Scout replied.
“I’ll take anything right now, even a bath! Joseph answered as he looked at Scout through his watery eyes.
Baby wasn’t saying much as he had his own problems. His belly was hurting.
“Scout, my belly doesn’t feel good.” Just then Missy arrived to check them out. She already knew from the wind what had happened. She stood looking at them……..
“Green eggs and ham it is not. More like green apples and a skunk.” said Missy.
“THAT WAS A SKUNK!!!!” they shouted together.
“Sorry Missy, we didn’t listen to you.” Baby said in a soft voice.
“When I say not to go some place or not to do something, it is for your own good because I know what could happen if you do.” Missy said in a motherly voice.
“Green apples are not for eating as they give you pains in your belly. A skunk is that small black animal that has a white stripe down its back. When you see one, you run in the opposite direction before it gets you. I guess this is a lesson you won’t forget.” added Missy as she stepped aside.
The owners arrived for supper. They knew immediately what had happened. Joseph was given a bath which made him smell a bit better. Baby was given some medicine for his belly. Murphy stuck his head through the door. His nose caught the smell.
“Oh no!! I’m out of here.” Murphy went running towards the house.
Baby looked at Joseph before saying good night.
“Joseph, we had quite the day. I think next time we will wait for the harvest to come to us!” Baby said.
“Yup, good night Baby.”
Scout put his head out the window for some air and Missy listened throughout the night to make sure they were alright.
Hi everyone. That is our story for now. We hope you enjoyed it. We learned when someone like your parents tell you not to do something, it’s because they are wiser and don’t want to see you hurt. Will we do that again? We think not! Once was enough! By the way, Joseph doesn’t smell anymore and Baby’s belly is better.
Next time……..What is happening? See you then and stay safe.
Baby, Joseph and Scout