Abby & Annie

Today I got to hang out with my five-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter, Abby. She's incredibly special, and super creative. We decided to write a blog post together. Below is our story, improvisational style. Abby's words are in bold, Annie's are not. We hope you enjoy!

Title: Never Feed Wild Animals

One day Abby and Sam were going out to play. When they got outside what they saw in the bushes was a fox…and a parrot…and a wolf. And in the tree was a big black bear…and a monkey. Abby and Sam ran back into the house.

They told their mom about all the animals they had just seen in their yard, but their mom didn’t believe them. She laughed, and winked at them and said with a smile, “Oh did the animals talk to you?”

“Yes,” said Abby and Sam. “We really saw them.”

“Well then, were they hungry? Maybe we should prepare a snack for you to bring to them,” their mom said.

“Yes they looked hungry. They were asking us to bring food to them.”

“Okay then,” said their mom, still smiling. “Let’s get started. What should we prepare for them to eat?”

“For the black bear, we should bring meat. For the monkey, we should give him some berries, because this monkey likes to eat berries,” Abby said. Sam added loudly, “And I think the parrot would like some fruit, and the wolf and fox really want some chocolate cake!”

Abby said, “Wolves and foxes can’t have chocolate cake!” But mom quickly said, “Well, if Sam would like to bring these wild animals some chocolate cake, then I’m happy to put some in two bowls for you kids, I mean, for the animals. I hope the cake doesn’t spoil the animals’ dinner.” And Mom began to dish up some cake and put a little summer sausage, berries, and fruit in a picnic basket.

“Wait Mom,” said Abby. “Animals just can’t have chocolate cake. They will get sick if they have chocolate cake.”

Mom looked at Abby, because she was surprised at what she was hearing. She had never known her daughter to turn down chocolate cake. Abby was really into pretending today... Well, since Mom wants Abby to eat healthier anyway, she decided to be pleased, and suggested only sending out one bowl of cake.

“For us?” asked Abby, “Or for the roses - the big, red, roses?”

“Roses?!” Mom asked. “What do you mean roses? I thought we were talking about feeding wild animals in our yard?”

“Yeah, but animals would get sick if you gave it to them.”

Mom said, “Roses can’t eat, Abby, but I could use the roses petals to make blankets…little blankets for your stuffed animal Reepicheap."

Right then, Sam came back into the room and said, “Let’s hurry! The animals are going to be gone if we don’t hurry up and go back outside.” So Mom gave Sam his basket of cake, berries, fruit and some sausage, and told him to “go feed the animals,” as she smiled and winked at him.

Then she asked Abby if she wanted to help her make the rose petal blankets. But right then, they hear a loud roar and a scream from Sam who was already outside with his basket of food.

The bear was angry at him. The bear was starving, and he just wanted ALL the food.

When Mom heard the roar and the scream, she dropped the roses and yelled in a scared voice, “Oh no, what’s happening?!” as she ran out the door toward Sam’s voice.

The big black bear was bringing Sam up the tree to a bunch of big black bears. Mom was so startled to see the big bear with her dear son Sam in his arms that she screamed super loud and long. So loud and long that she startled the bear and he loosened his grip on Sam.

And then the big black bear came down the tree with Sam and gave him back to Mom. Mom grabbed Sam from the bear, while Abby watched all this from the window. Mom couldn’t believe this was actually happening. "It feels like a dream," she said, "a horrible, scary dream." Right then, she heard Abby yell, “Mom, is it time to get up yet?”

Abby had heard her mom scream and added, “Mom, it was just a scary nightmare! If it’s time to get up, just please answer me!” said Abby. Mom said, “Sleep until 7:30…” And then Mom walked into their room and gave them each big bear hugs.

~ The End ~