The Critters of Walnut Creek

Fred made his usual trip to Walnut Creed. He saw Oda at the general store which her parents owned. Fred asked Oda if she had any idea what Vester really wanted for his birthday. He explained that he and the critters just couldn’t decide what to get him.

Oda said, “OH! I know exactly what Vester wants! The last time he was in town, he said that he loved that big ball of red yarn in the window.” Fred said, “Oh, Oda! It’s perfect, but I’ll have to check with the other critters first. After all, the gift is from all of us.”

Fred hurried back to Rock Grove on his scooter and called all of the critters together. He told them about the beautiful ball of yarn and how much Oda said that Vester had admired it. They all thought it was a wonderful idea and were very excited about it.

It was late afternoon and Fred had his evening critter chores to tend to, so Bailey said she would go back to Walnut Creek and get the ball of yarn for Vester. Penelope said, “Bailey, that’s a great idea, but hurry back to help me prepare for the party.” Bailey said, “No problem.” So she left for Walnut Creek right away.

Bailey reached the General Store just as Oda’s parents were locking up for the night. She explained to them that she was a friend of Vester’s who was a friend of Oda’s. Oda’s parents gladly let her come in and buy Vester’s present-the ball of colorful yarn. Bailey was so happy. She just knew that Vester was going to love his gift.

Since it was getting late, Bailey decided to take a short-cut which led through Thunderwood Trail. Since she was a special firefly with two lights instead of one, she felt sure that she could light the trail well enough to see her way through. In her haste, she forgot how dangerous the trail was. Bailey had not been on the trail for long when the end of Vester’s ball of yarn got caught on a piece of thunder wood.

As she hurried through the trail, the ball of yarn began to unravel. Bailey was in such a hurry, she did not realize what was happening. She was very concerned about getting home before dark, but she suddenly noticed that the beautiful ball of yarn had come completely unraveled. Just as Bailey began to slow down, a net was thrown over her and she was pulled to the ground! It happened so suddenly that she could not escape being caught in the net.

A young boy named Joe had caught her. Joe was very interested in insects. He did not want to hurt them, but he loved to study them. Poor Joe had no idea what he had done. He had never seen a firefly with two lights before, not to mention one carrying a ball of yarn the size of the one Bailey was carrying. It took some time for Bailey to realize what had happened to her. She tried to talk to the little boy and explain who she was and where she was going, but she realized that Joe was not like Fred. He couldn’t understand what Bailey was so desperately trying to say.