Binky is a very tiny pig. He lives in a basket in my room, with his parents Twinky and Pinky. The three of them are always up to something they shouldn't be and are always getting into trouble.
Upon one particularly bright sun-shiny warm day, Binky and Pinky decided to spend the day in my herb garden. Twinky was going to be busy helping the neighbors put a new grill together. He really had good motives in wanting to help the neighbors out of kindness, but I'm sure that he felt this gesture may increase the chances that he and Pinky and Binky would be invited over when the grill was ready and being used......
Anyway, Binky had dropped Twinky off at the neighbor's home in his car. His car is really a doll stroller that he borrowed from the Little people. For some reason, it just takes off whenever Binky gets in it, so he uses it for a car. After he dropped Twinky off, he was supposed to meet Pinky in the herb garden where she was hanging out laundry. Binky was a little afraid of going to the herb garden because there were larger animals there like birds, chipmunks and a huge cat that was always looking out of a nearby window.
He was pretty sure he remembered how to get there, and he started buzzing along through the grass. He soon whizzed by the big oak tree with a swing hanging from it. He continued on for some time enjoying the warm sun and fragrant breeze. Presently he came upon a rather large puddle blocking his path. He slowed down and came to a stop beside it. He got out to get a better view and came face to face with a friendly ladybug. They began chatting and discussing the puddle, and before he knew it they were sitting side by side on a rock dangling their feet in the warm, muddy puddle. Binky decided that this was as good a time as any to see what kind of a snack his mother had packed in his lunch box. He went over and got his lunch pail out from the little carrying compartment in his car. He brought it back to the rock and opened it. The ladybug was very curious as to the contents also, because Binky had suggested they share his snack. He un-packed the following items:
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich with extra crunchy peanut butter and grape jelly, on wheat bread with the crusts trimmed
A small container of tapioca pudding
A bag of chocolate chip cookies, with diced walnuts on top
A sliced apple with the skin removed and a dish of caramel sauce for dipping
A thermos of chocolate milk
Meanwhile at the herb garden, Pinky was just starting to hang up laundry on a little line that she had tied between the trellis and a plant stake. She was wondering how long it would be before Binky arrived. He had been planning to sketch some nature scenes with his new sketch book and pencil set. After she got the laundry up, she sat down on a small, over-turned pot and took out her crochet hook and a ball of thread. She then began examining some instructions in a small pattern book she had taken from her tapestry sewing bag.
Back at the puddle, Binky and the ladybug had finished their snack. The ladybug was floating on a chunk of wood in the puddle, as Binky guided it around with a stick. Ladybug was encouraging Binky to get on and float also, because she was having such fun. Binky didn't need much encouragement. He had a weakness for puddles, especially muddy ones. He stretched out his arms while balancing on one foot, reaching for the tiny, outstretched arms of the ladybug. Just as he was about to lunge over to the spot beside her, a very unfortunate thing occurred. This very unfortunte thing was in the nature of a fall, caused by the sliding of Binky's left foot on some slippery mud at the edge of the puddle. He plunged head first into the middle of the puddle. This caused some turbulent waves, and poor Ladybug lost her balance and toppled into the water too. Fortunately, Binky was just surfacing and she was rescued by attaching herself to his ear. Binky just sat there stunned for a moment. His bow-tie sagged. He knew his mother would not be too happy as he had just had a bath that morning, and was wearing a fresh bow-tie. After reasurring each other that they were not drowning, Binky said he really must be going because his mother may be worrying about him. Ladybug suggested that she go along with him, to help recount the details of the accident. Binky agreed as he was terribly distraught over the whole thing.
They rolled to a stop near the trellis and Binky slid out of the car. He sheepishly advanced around to where his mother was engrossed in her stitching. She looked up and stifled a scream. She recovered quickly as she realized that the brown form in front of her was not a mud monster. Binky and Ladybug began explaining the whole story, talking at the same time. After Pinky finally got the story straight and was assured that they were both ok, she started laughing. Binky and Ladybug began to laugh too! Binky really was a sight to be seen!
After Binky had been scrubbed as best as possible in the watering can and his bow-tie was hung on the line, he and Ladybug made themselves comfy on a blanket. They began sketching some scenery. Pinky served them some lemonade, and sent a note to Twinky by way of a brown Messenger ant. The message said: "Please have the neighbors bring you home; Binky will not be able to come after you. I'll explain later. Love, Pinky." She decided to wait until that evening to tell him about the unfortunate Binky.
So the afternoon passed, and I decided to wait until later to pull weeds in the garden. I will have to remember to mark on my calendar that Wednesday is Pinky's laundry day!
You may exit by way of the gazebo, and be careful of the mud puddle.....
THE GAZEBO
