by TK Wade
*****
Walnut had never been so frightened in all of his life. He ran as fast as he could to Oak Pass which was the center of Cottontail Pines. It was also the home of a very large oak tree where Mister Hooty lived. Many animals were hear building various things, and they all had to stop when they heard the screaming child running up to them.
Flopsy ran through the crowds of animals to meet the boy. “Walnut!” she called. “Why are you screaming?!”
The squirrel boy ran up to the bunny totally out of breath. The poor thing had both run very fast all while screaming at the top of his lungs. It was amazing that he was able to do it at all, but I suppose children can do anything if they set their minds to it. “Oh, Flopsy,” he said with a gasp and a hiccup. “It was terrible. Blacky wanted to talk to me right there–right as I was just coming this way. He was asking all sorts of questions.”
“Oh, dear,” said the bunny with a frown. “Did you answer any of them?”
“No, I just panicked and started screaming. I ran away and screamed all the way here. Do you think he’ll hate me for it?”
Flopsy rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Well, I suppose you could have handled it better than that, but it can’t be helped now.”
Mister Hooty fluttered down to meet the two. The owl asked, “Was it you who was making such a din, little Walnut?”
The squirrel boy only blushed. Flopsy answered for him, “He ran into Blacky and panicked.”
“Goodness me!” said the owl. “But did he say anything to him?”
“No!” cried the child quickly.
Goober the brown bunny and Gumdrop the mouse walked up to the three. The boy was fully surrounded now. Gumdrop asked, “Did he snitch? He snitched, didn’t he?”
“No, I didn’t!” said Walnut a little annoyed at the suggestion.
Flopsy explained, “We were just talking about this. He didn’t tell Blacky anything.”
Goober raised a finger and said, “Blacky has made this whole thing very difficult. He has been walking up to all of us always at the wrong time.”
Gumdrop nodded. “That’s right. On any other day, he tends to be a recluse. We hadn’t planned for this.”
“Quite so,” nodded the owl. “But now, we have everyone together, and Walnut did well enough.”
The little boy groaned. “He probably thinks I went crazy.”
Flopsy patted the squirrel on his head. “I am sure he’ll understand. Is that what we asked you to bring, Walnut?”
The squirrel boy looked down at the paper roll which he still held in his paws. “Yes,” he said holding it out.
Mister Hooty motioned with his wing. “Well, there is no point in waiting. Open it up. Let’s have a look at it.”
Flopsy took one end of the paper, and Goober rolled out the other end. When it was all stretched out, it formed a large banner with the words:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BLACKY!
THE BEST SKUNK IN COTTONTAIL PINES!
