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BARNABY T AND THE BEES
BARNABY T. AND THE BEES
by Leeuna Foster
Barnaby T. Hound, better known as Barney..skidded to a stop and peered over his shoulder. All he saw were trees and more trees. The wind rattled the branches overhead and sent a shower of winter-brown leaves swirling about his ears; Barney paid them no mind. His nose pained him something fierce and he feared he was lost.
Rap-Tap- Tap, came a sound from above his head. Barney looked up and saw Mrs. Squirrel hammering the shutters closed over her windows.
"Halloo", shouted Barney. "I fear I am lost; can you please tell me where I am?
"Why, you're in the middle of the forest of course, " said Mrs. squirrel.
"I know that", said Barney, "but could you please tell me how to get home from here?"
"Well, since I don't know where you live, I'm afraid that's quite impossible", said Mrs. squirrel. "Can't you sniff your way home?"
"I'm afraid not", Barney explained. "You see, it happened this way.
I stuck my nose to a hole in the ground and the bees came out and they chased me around and they stung my poor nose till it's swollen and sore and now my sniffer doesn't work anymore and I'm lost and I'm scared..."
"Oh, how sad..how very sad", cried Mrs. squirrel. "I wish I could help you get home, but I cannot. However, I can offer you something to eat. I'm sure you must be hungry."
Barney's spirits lifted a bit at the mention of food. That would be very kind of you," he said. "perhaps a few kibblets or a doggie biscuit? I don't wish to be a burden."
"Kibblets?? Doggie Biscuits?? Mrs. Squirrel looked rather puzzled. "I'm afraid I don't know what that is, but I do have some nice fat acorns.
" Acorns? Yuk! Barney had never eaten an acorn before, but he was sure he wouldn't like it. "Perhaps I had best be moving along," said Barney, looking up at the darkening sky. "It looks like rain. Thanks anyway for your kind offer."
"Well, good luck", called Mrs. Squirrel as Barney trotted around a tree and disappeared into the forest.
Soon Barney came to Mr. Woodchuck's burrow. He knocked on the door. When no one answered he knocked again...loudly. The door swung open and Mister Woodchuck appeared looking tired and grumpy. He peered out at Barney, around the night cap that dangled over his eyes.
"Whose there, and why are you making such a ruckus outside my door at this ghastly hour?"
It's Barnaby T. Hound", Barney stated in a loud voice. "I stuck my nose into a hole in the ground and some bees came out and they chased me around and they stung my poor nose till it's swollen and sore and now my sniffer doesn't....."
Mister woodchuck yawned loudly, and Barney wondered if he had even bothered to listen to his explanation.
"I'm very sorry about your trouble," Mister Woodchuck interrupted. "But I don't see as I can be of much help to you. You see, I ate everything in my pantry before I settled in for my nap. I have my alarm set to February; could you please come back then?"
I'm sorry to have disturbed your nap", Barney apologized, as Mister Woodchuck yawned once more and closed the door to his burrow.
Barney sighed and wondered what he should do next. An icy rain drop splashed onto his head, followed by another and another. Barney shivered inside his skin. How he longed for his rug by the fire. How he longed for Farmer Jim. Visions of Kibblets and Doggie Biscuits filled his head. Warm tears dripped from his eyes and mingled with the raindrops as Barney slunk away, seeking shelter behind the rocks.
Barney spied an opening in the rocks and crawled through. He found himself inside a small cave. Barney shook himself soundly and water sprayed from his soggy coat.
"wha... whose there?" came a voice from out of the darkness.
"It is I, Barnaby T. Hound," said Barney. "Who are you?"
"I'm Mister Bear, and you are disturbing my sleep?", the gruff voice replied.
I..I'm very sorry," Barney apologized, 'but, you see, I stuck my nose into a hole in the ground and the bees came out and they...."
"Oh, all right," growled Mister bear. "You may spend the night, but NO MORE TALKING. PLEASE!" He then rolled over, pulled his fur about his ears and promptly fell asleep once more.
Barney crept to the back of the cave. His stomach rumbled, but he didn't dare awaken Mister Bear to ask for food.; instead he pretended he was home with farmer Jim, lying on his rug beside the fire. It wasn't long before he too was fast asleep.
When Barney awakened he slowly inched his way to the entrance of the cave, fearful of disturbing the snoring Mister Bear. A watery sun peeped from behind the clouds. The early morning air was cool and refreshing. Barney yawned and stretched, then he lifted his head and sniffed the air. Phew! What was that awful smell! It must be Mister Skunk.
Mister skunk! Smell! "Hurray", shouted Barney, "My sniffer is working again."
Barney put his nose close to the ground and smelled the familiar scent of his own footprints. He continued to follow the footprints, his nose wriggling from side to side. soon he began to recognize other familiar smells; wood smoke from Farmer Jim's chimney, the smell of the dark brown liquid that Farmer Jim drank for breakfast and the smell of Kibblets and doggy biscuits...
Barney began to run. He ran and ran as fast as he could until he reached the edge of the forest. On he ran, down the hill and across the open fields, until at last, he arrived at his own back door.
Farmer Jim was so happy to have Barney home that he gave him a double helping of Kibblets and an extra doggie biscuit.
After Barney had eaten his fill, he stretched out on his very own rug, beside his very own fire. Farmer Jim sat in a chair beside the fire and stroked Barney's ears.
Outside the snowflakes began to fall, drifting and swirling like soft fluffy feathers. Barney thought about Mister Bear and Misses Squirrel and about Mr woodchuck in his nightcap, all snuggled down in their winter homes. He lifted his head and sniffed the familiar smells around him... Smells of happiness..smells of home...and of all the smells in all the world...these were Barney's Favorites.
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