The Small Stone
Is any ripple of water greater than another? Even a small stone makes a swell in the water It is not I that should ponder its rings and route But thank God that the stone has been cast out. - CKSharpe
The Owl Who Lost His Hoot
Something magical was about to happen. Nine-year-old Nathan Brown just didn’t know it.
Nathan jumped into his bed, nestling in his soft red blanket. The sounds of who-o-o, who-o, who-o-o outside his window made him sleepy. Soon he was dreaming of playing baseball.
As Nathan dreamed, Mother Owl was busy teaching her young fledgling to fly.
“All owls must learn to fly, Owliver, so they can hunt for food.”
“I don’t want to learn to fly. Who-o-o, who-o, who-o-o.”
“Practicing makes me hungry.”
“Okay, that’s enough for now. I can hear your stomach rumbling.” Mother Owl hugged him with her large feathered wing.
Soon, Father Owl returned with a yummy supper of pesky rodents.
“Owliver, you are a mouse-eating machine,” laughed Father Owl.
“You will be hunting soon.”
“No, I won’t,” thought Owliver.
The sun was coming up as the owl family tucked their heads under their wings and went to sleep.
The Monkey, The Tiger and Little Miss
Cocoa’s stomach jiggled like a bowl full of jelly. His monkey laughter echoed about the forest. He wrapped his brown arms around his chubby middle to hold back his laughter. It was no use. The monkey’s joy reached the river water where his tiger friend, Zakari, sat splashing.
“What’s so funny?” said Zakari.
“You are!” said Cocoa. “No matter how long you splash, ya can’t wash the blue off.”
“And you can’t wash the marshmallow-colored hair from your monkey chin!”
The friends looked at each other and laughed. They liked teasing each other. It was a good way to pass a hot summer afternoon in the rain forest.
Cocoa jumped onto a hanging vine. He swung out over the water and let go.
Splat! Water splashed around Cocoa as his plump body plunged into the river. Sputtering, he resurfaced.
“You won’t be in the water much longer,” said Cocoa.
“Why’s that?” asked Zakari.
“Adventure Tours is setting up a campsite downriver. I suppose another group is eager to get a picture of the blue you. They will be looking for you soon.”
“I can’t take a chance of campers taking pictures of me,” said Zakari. “I’ll end up in a zoo. You lucky monkey. You escaped from a zoo years ago. Nobody’s looking for you.”
“You poor, blue tiger,” said Cocoa. “Where are you going to hide this time, my friend?”
“I’ll go to the cave on top of Big Cat Mountain,” said Zakari.
Zakari used his mighty strength to jump to the top of the river bank. He vanished into the rain forest.
