Is This My Home?

One sunny morning in late autumn, as leaves gently fluttered from their trees, a little puppy named Timber was playing hide and seek with his brothers.

Timber had curled himself under the collapsed wooden roof that had blown down many years ago.

“Finally, this time I’m going to win! No one has found me yet,” Timber thought excitedly.

The sounds of his brothers’ playful barks and the crunch of their paws on the red and yellow leaves gradually faded away.

Before long, Timber heard only the distant melody of a bird singing.

He peeked out from his hiding spot, but no one was around.

Timber searched everywhere for his brothers—across the wooden bridge, under the stone bench by the old oak tree, and through the tall grass.

He looked all over until he was exhausted and out of breath.

Timber now realized that he was alone.

See, Timber had always just followed his brothers, because they knew the best places to eat, the fun places to play, and the safest places to rest for the night.

The Wise King turned to a plate of Caviar to see if they could help Timber. And the Caviar all said, in unison, “Talk to the Scholarly Salmon. He lives in the pond beyond the library.”

Timber thanked the King and the Caviar, and hurried off to the pond, eager to find the Scholarly Salmon.

“Where am I supposed to go without my brothers?” he wondered.

Although Timber was afraid, he realized he had to find a new home all by himself.

So, he took a deep breath and bravely began his journey.

As Timber wandered away from familiar fields, he found it hard to stay sad. Along the valley he splashed through streams that cooled his paws. A curious butterfly landed on his nose. And the Astor flowers were bursting in full bloom.

He wished his brothers were there to see all the beauty he was now experiencing.

Timber then climbed up the hillside, where soft clouds floated like cotton.

Above the bluff, a Cooper’s Hawk soared, spun, and disappeared behind the ridge.

But none of these places looked like a good home for Timber.

After a while, he reached the ocean shore where he met a bright red Vacationing Crab who was staring at a rainbow. Gathering his courage, Timber said to the Crab, “Hello Crab, is this my home?”

The Crab said, “No, this is not your home. It’s too wet for you here, and the salt of the sea would ruin your shiny fur.”

Timber’s ears and heart sank.

The Vacationing Crab said, “I’m not from around here, but I see a boat in the port. Talk to the fishermen—perhaps they need some help.”

Timber walked along the sandy beach until he reached the old wooden boat, and climbed up the ramp to the deck.

The fishermen were moving about the ship, rigging the sails and opening their nets.

He asked one of the fishermen, “Is this my home?” But the fisherman was too busy and didn’t notice Timber.

An Adventurous Scallop, who had stowed away on the boat, overheard Timber and said, “No, this is not your home. This boat never stays in one place for very long, and the crew is far too busy to care for you. However, I saw the men bringing treasures to the castle on the hill. Maybe you should go there?”

“Thank you!” replied Timber, as he set off towards the castle, his heart racing with anticipation.

Timber ran across the drawbridge, slipped past the castle guards, and snuck into the throne room where the Wise King was enjoying a grand feast with many guests.

Without hesitation, Timber strode up to the Wise King and asked, “Is this my home?”

The Wise King, who loved puppies very much, said sadly, “No, this is not your home. We can’t have a puppy, because the queen has a little kitten who acts like a ferocious lion. It wouldn’t be safe for you here.”

Timber sighed and replied, “I understand.”