THE SNOWSTORM
Written by Leona NielsenPublished on January 2018
The sun was trying desperately to part the clouds so it could shine, however, the clouds were too heavy for the sun to succeed. Joseph was grumpy this morning. He didn't sleep well. Scout was busy watching the sky to see if it was showing the same thing that he felt was coming. Baby and Annie hadn't noticed anything as they were playing tag in the field Baby touched Annie with his tail.
“You’re it!” Baby shouted as he tried to get away before Annie tagged him.
“Oh, Baby I am going to get you this time” Annie yelled.
“I don’t think so” Baby said laughing.
“Watch me!” Annie shouted as she chased Baby.
They ran to the end of the field and back. Just before Annie got to the fence she stopped suddenly. Baby didn’t see it coming and ran into Annie.
“You’re it now, Baby.”
“That’s not fair!” Baby answered.
“Why? There is nothing in the rules that says I can’t stop suddenly” Annie said.
“Where did you learn that trick?” Baby asked.
“We always played tag with our mother. She
was the best tag dodger in the barn.”
“She
must have been because you out-smarted me.” answered Baby.
“Told
you.” Annie yelled as she ran off, feeling proud that she tagged Baby.
On
the way Annie decided to stop and see Scout before rejoining Baby in the field.
“Hey
Scout, what’s wrong? You look sad.”
“I
have a pain in my hip, Annie.”
“What
does that mean, Scout?”
“Well,
it usually means that the weather is not going to be very nice.”
“Is
that why Joseph is grumpy too?”
“I
don’t know Annie. You will have to ask
him.” Scout replied as she ran off.
“JOSEPH!!! JOSEPH!!!
Are you grumpy because you have a pain in your hip like Scout?” shouted
Annie.
“No
Annie, my hip is just fine.” Joseph said
in a not-so-happy voice.
“Then
why are you grumpy” Annie said in a tone that demanded an answer.
“I
didn’t have a good sleep last night, that’s all.” Joseph replied very softly.
“I
had a good sleep.”
“I
know Annie. You snored all night.”
Joseph answered.
“I
just need some vitamin D from the sun.”
“I
can go for you Joseph if it will make you feel better.”
“How
are you going to do that, Annie?”
“I’ll
get Baby to take me.” Annie answered.
“I
want to see that” Joseph thought to himself as Annie ran back to the field.
Baby
decided to visit Scout for a minute as he waited for another game of tag.
“Scout,
do you think something is going to happen with the clouds? Is that why you are still looking at them?”
asked Baby.
“I
think we may be in for a storm tonight, Baby.” Scout answered.
“In
that case Scout I better find Joseph and Annie.”
“Good
thinking Baby. I’ll wait here.”
“I’ll
be back in a minute Scout.”
He
didn’t get far before Annie caught up with him.
“Baby,
you have to take me to the sun so I can get some vitamin D to make Joseph feel
better.”
“You
want me to do WHAT????” Baby asked as he looked at Annie.
“You
can take me, right?”
“Oh
Annie, have you got a lot of growing up to do!”
“What
do you mean Baby?”
“Come
with me. I need Scout for this one. It’s way over my head.” replied Baby.
“Scout, you have to hear this.” Baby said as he
proceeded to tell Scout what Annie had asked.
“Well,
it’s like this Annie. The sun is up in
the sky for one thing and there is no way to get there. What Joseph meant was that he would like for
the sun to shine and warm his body with its rays that carries the vitamin D.”
“Why
didn’t he say that in the first place?” Annie said.
“Oh
Annie, that’s just Joseph.” Baby added.
“What’s
that?” asked Annie.
“What
Annie?”
“That
white stuff falling on the ground. Look,
there is goes again.”
Baby
started to laugh. “Scout, I think you
should tell Annie about snow.” Baby said.
“SNOW!!!!
What’s snow?” Annie yelled.
“That
white stuff that is falling to the ground.”
“Annie,
snow is what we have in the winter when it is cold.” replied Scout.
“OUCH!!!! It’s sticking on me, Scout, making me look
funny!!!!”
“Just
like a girl worrying about what she looks like.” Baby said as he laughed.
“Baby,
get Joseph. Annie, you stay here with
me. I think it is time to head to the
barn.” Scout said.
By
the time Baby and Joseph got back Annie wasn’t the least bit impressed with the
snow as they watched Annie jumping around like a fire fly on a warm summer
evening.
“Let’s
go.” Scout said as the flakes started falling faster and heavier.
“Annie,
you stay between Joseph and Baby on the way back.”
“Don’t
worry Scout I don’t like this stuff you call snow.”
“What
did you do last year?” said Baby.
“Baby,
you are not too bright. Think about what
you just said.” Joseph answered.
“What!!!! What did I say, Joseph?”
“How
old is Annie?”
Baby
stopped for a minute…… “Ohhhhhhhh,
that’s right, Annie wasn’t born when the snow was here last year.” Baby whispered feeling a little silly.
“You
got it.” Joseph replied.
Scout
just shook his head.
The
wind had started to play with the snow just as they arrived at the barn.
“Oh
Scout, I think we made it just in time.” Baby said.
“I
think so.” Scout answered as they walked to their stalls.
“What
now?”
“What
do you mean, Annie?” asked Baby.
“Well,
where is the snow going to sleep. It’s
coming in isn’t it?” Annie replied.
“It’s
alright Annie. The snow is going to stay
outside and play with the wind tonight.” Answered Scout.
A
few minutes later the owners came to close the doors and windows as Baby was
watching Joseph eating his supper.
Joseph didn’t seem to be eating much.
“You
are not hungry, Joseph?”
“Just
taking my time.” replied Joseph.
Baby
didn’t believe Joseph for a second but he let it go for the time being. The wind blew so hard during the night that
it made sleeping difficult. The snow was
hitting the sides of the barn.
“Is
anyone awake?” Annie said with a whisper.
“I
am, Annie. Are you alright?” asked Baby.
“I
am afraid of the wind Baby and I think the snow is trying to come in.”
“It’s
okay Annie. The snow is being blown
around by the wind.” Scout said.
“Why
is it doing that Scout?”
“The wind is something that you can’t see but we can see what it does to other
things, like the snow. It will be over
soon. My hip is not hurting as much.”
Baby
thought for a minute and said, “Oh, like the time the wind blew Murphy off the
fence when he was sleeping.”
“That’s
it, I had forgotten about that one. When
Murphy realized that we had seen what happened, he was so embarrassed he stayed
away for days.” Scout replied as he
remembered that day.
“Murphy! What’s that?” asked Annie.
“The
cat that comes to the barn for a visit.” Baby answered.
“Oh
,that is what it is.” Annie remarked as she hadn’t seen a cat before.
“Let’s
curl up as comfortable as we can and wait for morning.” Scout said.
“The
wind has stopped blowing everyone. I
hope we get to go out today” was Baby’s first words of the day.
After
breakfast, the doors were opened allowing the sun to shine through the barn.
“Joseph,
the sun is here to see you.” Annie said.
“I
think the sun will find me Annie.”
Baby
was starting to worry about Joseph because he wasn’t himself. Before he could ask him, Scout said,
“Let’s
go out and play.”
Annie
turned, looking at her door, and there was the snow looking back at her. A small drift had gathered in front of her
door during the storm.
“How
am I going to get out, Scout?”
“Just
run through Annie. It won’t hurt you, it
is soft, fluffy snow.”
“No,
Annie it won’t hurt you. It is just a
little cold.” said Baby.
“COLD!!!!!
You want me to get cold!!!!” yelled Annie.
“It
is not that bad.” answered Baby.
A
minute later Scout was the first one to go out.
He started running around in circles in the snow.
“Baby,
what is Scout doing?”
“Oh,
he’s looking for a place to have a nice roll and a snow bath. I am going to have one in a few minutes too.”
replied Baby.
“I
imagine you want me to have a snow bath…..I don’t think so.” Annie answered.
“I
should have known you are a donkey like Joseph.” Said Baby trying not to laugh.
“What
do you mean by that?” asked Annie.
“Well,
Joseph doesn’t like to have any kind of a bath either.”
“Joseph,
is that why you are not going out?” asked Annie.
“Sort
of.”
“Then
I am going to stay here with Joseph.” Annie said.
“Okay, but I am going to join Scout.” Baby
said.
Remembering
what fun it was after the storms last year Baby ran around looking for the
right spot to roll. Finally, there it
was…..the spot. Baby fell in the snow
rolling and rolling with snow going everywhere.
When Baby stood up he looked as if he was turning gray as the snow
settled on his black fur.
“Annie
and Joseph come out, it is so much fun.” yelled Baby.
Annie
decided to see what it was like.
“Oh! That’s cold on my hoof.” Annie said.
“It
only feels that way for a minute Annie.”
said Baby as he ran back into the barn.
“Okay,
I’ll try once more but that’s it!”
Annie
placed her front hooves in the snow. It
was hard for Baby to watch not doing anything and the…..Baby gave Annie a push
into the drift of snow.
“That
was rude Baby.” Annie said as she stood looking at Baby with her face full of
snow.
“See,
it’s not that cold, is it?” Baby said as he laughed.
“I
knew one day Baby you would get your chance.”
“Chance? What chance, Scout?” Annie said as she shook
the snow off her face.
“Well,
I did the same thing to Baby when he experienced his first snowfall.”
“I
did it in fun Annie. You know I wouldn’t
hurt you.” Baby said.
“I
know Baby.” Annie said in a low voice.
“Then
come outside in the snow, have some fun and a snow bath. You are going to have a snow bath, aren’t
you?” asked Baby.
“Nope,
I’ll come out but not for a now bath.
Going out is enough for me.”
“Oh,
that’s right, you may be like Joseph and save your energy.” Baby replied.
“I
guess that is what it is but I’m not sure.” Annie said as she started out.
Baby
stopped just outside the door as he watched Annie trying to keep the snow off
her body.
“Are
you coming, Baby?” Annie yelled.
“In
a minute Annie. I want to see Joseph.”
Baby
went back in the barn where Joseph was standing looking out.
“Joseph,
what is wrong? You have only said a few
words in two days. You haven’t eaten all
your hay this morning. Okay, Joseph,
spill it. I need to know what’s going
on.”
“My
mouth hurts.”
“How?” Baby said as he was trying to see in
Joseph’s mouth.
“There
is something sharp in my mouth and it hurts when I try to eat.”
“I
am not sure what that is…..SCOUT, SCOUT, come here.” yelled Baby.
“I
should have known you would call Scout.”
“Well,
yes, Joseph. I can’t help you all by
myself.” Baby answered.
“Open
your mouth Joseph.” Scout asked.
“Well,
okay if I have to.”
Scout
took a long look, stepped back and said, “Oh, you got Sharps Joseph.”
“What
does that mean, Scout?”
“Well, one thing, the dentist has to come from the Vet Hospital.”
“WHAT?? I GOT TO HAVE A VET??? Joseph yelled and
started dancing around.
“See,
I am alright. I don’t need the dentist
vet.”
“The
owners will know something is wrong, Joseph.”
“No,
they won’t.”
“Oh
yes they will when they see those big ears of yours hanging down instead of
standing up.” Baby remarked.
Murphy
came down from the loft where he had been sleeping.
“Did
I hear the dentist vet?” Murphy asked.
“Yes
Murphy. Joseph’s got Sharps. I don’t understand what Sharps are but I do
know they hurt. Just look at Joseph.”
Baby said.
“That’s
it!! I’m out of here.” Murphy said as he landed in the snow bank as he jumped
out of the window.
“I
guess Murphy didn’t know the snow had come.” Baby said as he watched Murphy
trying to find his way to the house.
“Hang
in there Joseph. I know the owners will
get you some help tomorrow and we will be with you tonight.” Baby said to
Joseph as he was trying to think of what would make Joseph feel a bit better
until tomorrow.
Hi everyone. Hope you liked out story for now but you will
have to come back next month and see what happens when the vet comes for
Joseph. We all know Joseph. It certainly will be interesting. See you then.
Baby,
Joseph, Scout and Little Annie