by BobA. Troutt
*****
Giggle Book Three
It Could Be Worse – It Could Be Raining
It was springtime and everything was quiet on Mr. Brown’s farm except for the birds singing. His farm had a big red barn and a large white house. It was surrounded by rolling hills, fields and pastures. Mr. Brown lived way out in the country on Green Lane.
It was a happy place, until early one morning. That was the morning when Old Blue, the hound, woke up feeling sad. He was moping around the barnyard with droopy-eyes and a long face when he came upon Red, the Rooster.
“What’s wrong, Old Blue?” asked Red as he strutted to the top of the fence post and prepared to crow at the rising sun. “Why such a long face?” asked Red.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” grumbled Old Blue. “It’s nothing at all.”
Red took a couple of long deep breaths, in and out. Then he turned to Old Blue and tried to brighten his day.
“Blue, you have it made. I have to get up early every day to crow at the rising sun. Now, that’s something to be sad about.”
Red leaned back, tilted his head, opened his beak, stretched his neck and flapped his wings.
“Cock-a-doodle-do,” he crowed, “cock-a-doodle-do. Yep, Blue,” Red said. “You have it made and you don’t even realize it. Get rid of that old long face and smile. You have a lot to be thankful for. Things could be worse – it could be raining.”
Old Blue just turned away, with his old long face, and mumbled, “I know.”
Slowly, Old Blue dragged himself across the barnyard where he met Yellow Hen. As he slowly moped up to Hen, the other hens circled around him. Yellow Hen, who had been scratching in the dirt, rose up and flapped her wings.
“Why, it’s Old Blue,” she cackled. “I haven’t seen you in a while. Why the long face?” she questioned. “Your eyes are drooping so much they look like they’re about to fall out of your head,” she stated.
All the other hens cackled and laughed.
“What’s the matter, Old Blue?” Yellow Hen asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” replied Old Blue. “It’s nothing at all.”
“Nothing!” shouted Yellow Hen. “It must be something. Out of all the barnyard animals on this farm, you are the one that has it made. How would you like to watch over these little chicks all day long?” she cried.
“I wouldn’t,” replied Old Blue.
“Then cheer up,” squawked Yellow Hen. “Things could be worse – it could be raining.”
Old Blue just dropped his head and walked away mumbling, “I know, I know.”
As he moped on across the barnyard and around the barn, he wandered down through the pasture where he met Miss Bessie, the cow. Hesitantly, Old Blue looked up at her.
She looked at him and bellowed, “Mooooo.”
Old Blue quickly turned and ran across the field where he ran into Jack, the mule.
“Hi, Jack,” Old Blue grumbled with his long face and droopy eyes.
“Hi, Blue,” replied Jack. “Why are you so down and out?”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” whined Blue.
“Blue, you are man’s best friend,” he said. “You are lucky, hound, compared to most of us. Take me for instance. I have to pull a heavy plow all day long, day after day in the hot sun. You don’t know just how good you have it,” neighed Jack.
Jack threw his head back and pawed the ground with his foot.
“Blue, you need to get a hold of yourself,” he suggested. “Things could be worse….”
“I know, it could be raining,” Old Blue interrupted.
“That’s right,” snorted Jack.
Old Blue took off running across the field. I’ve got to get away, he thought. I need some time alone to think. As he approached the pond, the ducks quacked at him and swam away. The frogs were croaking, ribbetting and jumping into the water.
“I don’t know what to do,” he cried. “Everyone is trying to help me, but they don’t understand.”
Unexpectedly, Old Blue heard a sound coming from behind the barn.
“Psst, psst, over here, Blue,” the voice whispered.
Old Blue slowly shuffled behind the barn and saw Pinky, the pig, rolling in the mud.
“What’s wrong, Blue?” asked Pinky. “Why are you so sad?”
Reluctantly, Old Blue told Pinky what was wrong.
“My doghouse leaks when it rains. I get wet and can’t sleep,” complained Old Blue.
“Cheer up, Blue. Don’t be so sad,” replied Pinky. “You shouldn’t let such a tiny thing get you so down and out. All you have to do is fix it. Think about it this way; it doesn’t rain every day,” stated Pinky.
“Yep, you’re right,” agreed Old Blue. “It doesn’t rain every day. It’s not as bad as I thought,” smiled Old Blue.
Immediately, Old Blue lifted his head and smiled from ear to ear. It’s not raining today, he thought as he took off across the barnyard.
“Hello, Yellow Hen. Good day, Red,” greeted Old Blue as he walked by them. “It’s a fine day,” he declared.
They just smiled at him and went on their way. Late that night it started raining. Old Blue sat once again in his leaking doghouse with a long face and droopy eyes. As the sun rose that morning, Red could be heard cock-a-doodle-doing across the barnyard. Well, I guess it’s going to be another long and sad day, thought Old Blue. Suddenly, the back door of the farmhouse opened and Mr. Brown stepped outside. He looked up toward the sky and thought to himself, it still looks like rain. I will not be able to plow today. I believe I’ll try to catch up on some things I have been putting off.
“Here, Blue!” whistled Mr. Brown.
Blue moped over to him; Mr. Brown reached down and patted him on his head.
“Blue, how would you like to have a new doghouse?”
Instantly, Old Blue’s spirits were lifted. He wagged his tail and barked out loud. My friends are right. I do have a lot to be thankful for, he thought to himself.
