Book the Second
Little Miss Red Riding Wolffe Visits Friends In Seattle
by Grandpa
Not far from the little village by the green, lush meadow, by the tiny stream that runs right into the large river where mom, dad, and fry salmon live, there is a very old settlement. The ancient people called it "Seattle," for a great man who was very kind to his people and really careful to make sure every child obeyed the rules, and he knew all the people's treasured knowledge.
This knowledge he kept was first about the good Creator, and all the messengers and protectors He had. They came to the wild woods where Seattle is, making the large green meadows, and grassy pastures that went right to the edge of the sea waters.
In some places they built natural earth slides that blocked streams, making beautiful lakes. Huge redwood, fir, and cedar trees grew up to make dense woods. Around the edges of the woods, beautiful dogwood, tall alder, and wispy yew trees flourished. Lady slipper, bleeding heart, ragweed, and many kinds of sedum grew in the rocks and meadows.
The meadows were home to deer, moose, elk, and occasional goats. Many black and brown bear families also lived in the lush meadows, and close-by wooded hills, where the streams run into the lakes.
Little Riding Wolffe loved to go outside their little village, into the meadows, to chase swallow tail and monarch butterflies, and chase all the chipmunks and squirrels she could up nearby trees. That's what really got her into trouble with Mrs. Brown Bear! And Mrs. Brown Bear has a verrrryyy long memory!
When the snow had melted after that wild night at Grandma's, with Mr. Neigh! chasing Mrs. Brown Bear into the hornets' nest in the berry patch, they headed back home to their meadow home, Miss Riding Wolffe on Mr. Neigh!'s back. They passed the spot where the tree broke the road OK, and later found the Green Hornet right where it was still stuck in the huge bush. Mr. Neigh shook his head when he saw it. "That's a-wonder we weren't hurt!" he said. "That sure was some scare!"
Aren't you going to get the Green Hornet out?," Miss Riding Wolffe asked.
"Well," he sorta sighed and shook his head and whinnied all at the same time, "it's just too much for me, now. I'll get the young sterling chauffer who is working for the Judge Owl Family. He is much stronger than I am. Maybe we can come for it tomorrow."
[Picture of The Family Circus cartoon; "Can you read me about Little Red and her Riding Hood?"]
"Oh!" exclaimed Miss Wolffe, "can I come too?"
"That's "May I come," my little friend. Ask me, "May I come, too!""
"I'm sorry . . . "May I come, too?!", she asked. "Well, since you make such a good companion, and you put it 'that' way, I guess you may!" Mr. Neigh! had a big horse grin on his face! "But, you'd better know, there won't be any butterfly chasing while I'm in charge! One problem with Mrs. Brown bear is more than enough for me!" He looked around at his little rider.
"I promise," said the little wolf. "See? I have my two paws crossed over my heart!" And she nearly fell off Mr. Neigh!'s back!
Grandma had sent a nice picnic lunch, so when they reached the meadow by the mighty stream, they stopped at a picnic table (Really, it was a large flat rock), and ate berries, apple pie, and a delicious porridge made from Grandma's secret recipe for salal berries and orange-colored huckle berries, Miss Red Riding Wolffe's favorite. With lots of the sweetest honey, too!
Mr. Sails, at the ferry boat landing, was taking a nap when they arrived. His wife had made a big lunch for him, of his favorite camas bulbs, and a bowl of fresh black berries and honey comb! He was sleepy when he finished. But, he quickly got the engine going, then took them back across the fast, deep stream. On the way over, Mr. Neigh!, with Miss Riding Wolffe helping him at every important point, told Mr. Sails the story of their trip to Grandma's after leaving him at the edge of the stream.
"And she really screamed loud when those hornets started stinging her!," said Miss Riding Wolffe, in her most excited voice. "You'd have laughed till you cried too!"
"Well," Mr. Neigh! said, "I hope it all taught her to mind her manners more! We don't need another incident like the last two I've had with her. But, somehow, I don't think it's finished yet!" He didn't know how 'right' he was! Mrs. Brown Bear was 'not' about to be humbled by any old horse! Especially Mr. Neigh! !!
It was dark when they finally got back. Night falls early in the land of Seattle, at Christmas time. Of course, Blue Jay had left Grandma's to fly the message of their getting stuck in the blizzard to Miss Wolffe's mom and dad, so they did not worry when they did not return as expected. He also made a trip each day, just to make sure everyone knew what was going on. What he didn't know, though, was that someone was eve's dropping on his messages to her folks! Someone who wanted to make trouble! Someone besides Mrs. Brown Bear!
You know, I forgot to mention another resident in the meadow village. Really, this is a large family of uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, parents, grandparents, and many children. I'm talking about the large clan of cotton-tail rabbits!
Now, there's just something you 'know' about a rabbit, when you try to look one in both eyes! For one, that's impossible, since their eyes are each on an opposite side of their face! But, aside from that little problem, have you ever seen a rabbit that looked 'honest'? I mean, these creatures are so mischievous that maybe even Creator can't guess what move one of them will make next!
It wasn't really her next-door, rabbit family's little Jonny's fault, for what happened next, well, at least he hadn't 'planned' for it!, but, it WAS his mischief that got the series of events going! It all started last year . . .
Red Riding Wolffe had just returned from an extended visit with her grandma, for Christmas, again, and Blue Jay had faithfully flown back and forth with daily news of the Little Wolf girl for her parents. It had been very, very cold last year, so she had loved to curl up in Grandma's warm, soft, furry tail, to sleep all night.
It was shortly after her return home from last year's Christmas visit when the following incident took place. It explains why Mr. Neigh was about to have yet another major accident, on his 'helpful' journey to take Miss Riding Wolffe to Grandma's for Christmas, and back home, for Christmas this year. The Green Hornet is soon to be forgotten, as this story moves on . . .!
"Hey Mom!" it was Little Miss Red Riding Wolffe calling her mother. She had just learned how to bake her grandmother's favorite lemon-flavored cookies, and she had made a fresh batch. She wanted to take some over next door, to Jonny Rabbit, her best play-friend. "Mom! I'm going over to Jonny's house. I'm taking him some cookies!
"OK!." her mother had said.
You may think it strange that wolf pups played with young rabbits, but long ago they really liked each other. But, events, and a long time to have many events, and to remember them, cause some creatures to have relationship problems. Wolves and rabbits, too. This incident was one of many that eventually led to wolves' animosity toward rabbits - but that's a lonnnggg, loooonnnggg time after Little Red Riding Wolffe's time. For now, Jonny Rabbit was just a little bunny, full of fun and tricks, and a neighbor girl to play them on!
Jonny and Miss Riding Wolffe used a 'secret' pathway, through a hollow log, through a hole in the briar patch, and around a special tree, to go to each other's house. Too small for their folks to follow. Now that they were growing up, it was almost too small for them!
This afternoon, Riding Wolffe chose to just go direct to Jonny's house. Her father had read a chapter from her "Bible Stories for Little Wolves" book that morning, and Miss Riding Wolffe was very happy. So happy that she wasn't really watching out for unexpected surprises. She was singing and whistling her favorite songs, when from behind the tree on the path stepped the meanest-looking mother weasel Red Riding Wolffe had ever seen!
"Alright!," screeched the angry weasel, "Where have you taken my kitten's special fur-ball doll!" Those were made by her grandma last Christmas. I know that you have them, because Blue Jay keeps telling your mom about your running off to your grandma's and that you were keeping warm with a fur ball that you had there! Now, young lady, I know you have my daughter's fur-ball doll - why don't you just give it to me, right now?!!"
Totally surprised, and bewildered, Little Miss Red Riding Wolffe just stood blinking at the angry Mrs. Weasel. "I, I, I, . . . but I, "she tried to think what to say, but Mrs. Weasel butted in.
"You naughty little wolf! What will your mother say when she finds out! Now, little lady, . . . 'The Doll'!!," she yelled at the little girl-wolf.
But, bu . . I, I," stumbled Miss Riding Wolffe's voice . . ."I DON'T HAVE YOUR FUR BALL DOLL!," she finally yelled back. "and, I'm going to tell my MOM!," she said real loud, "about what you just said!"
Well, Mrs. Weasel was surprised now! She was so certain that Miss Red Riding Wolffe had the doll, that she didn't stop to think she'd better make sure first!
[Page 4]
Now, Mrs. Weasel was angrier - and embarrassed at herself! She grabbed Little Riding Wolffe by the paw, and started to pull her toward the front yard of the Rabbit Family's home! But, as you probably know, weasels are much smaller than even wolf children. It sure looked funny - - - angry Mrs. Weasel, so much smaller, but older, trying to make Riding Wolffe go where she didn't want to go!
In fact, it was so funny that they heard someone laughing! Quickly Mrs. Weasel turned loose of Red Riding Wolffe's paw, and turned around to see who was laughing.
There, almost in tears for his laughter, sat Jonny Rabbit, about ready to roll over from his laughing!
"You little trouble maker," shouted Mrs. Weasel, madder than before. "What is so funny that you must sit there laughing?" Seeing her so angry, standing on her hind feet and just barely tall enough even then to reach Riding Wolffe's shoulder, Jonny laughed so hard he did roll over! And over and over!
"What's going on in my back yard?," Mrs. Rabbit's voice right next to Mrs. Weasel, made everyone jump! "You!, Jonny! WHAT have you done now?!! You're in so much mischief, I just don't know what I'm to do with you! Come on now . . . tell your mother!"
Poor Jonny! For once it wasn't something he knew about, because he hadn't heard what Mrs. Weasel said about the fur-ball doll! He only saw the funny scene of Mrs. Weasel trying to move Red Riding Wolffe to the front yard. "But, mom!," he started to explain, but she interrupted; "Now, young Rabbit, YOU TELL ME, RIGHT NOW!!"
Jonny's mother often talked that way to him, and she wouldn't listen to any explaining why it wasn't his fault - even if it REALLY wasn't his fault! So, he learned to tell kinda not-so stories to make her think he was guilty, but not so guilty as she thought, even at times when he truly wasn't guilty - just to get her to stop yelling at him! Not really sure why Mrs. Weasel was angry at Red Riding Wolffe, or why she was in his back yard, and why it was 'wrong' to laugh at the funny sight of a little weasel trying to pull a young wolf, he said, "OK, mom. I was laughing because Miss Riding Wolf was being chased by Mrs. Weasel, because Riding Wolffe has that bag in her mouth, and, well, it's really funny to see a little old momma weasel try to pull a wolf around!" He felt really, really embarrassed when he heard his voice say 'that' about Mrs. Weasel!
That explanation sounded reasonable to little Jonny Rabbit, but not exactly good to either Red Riding Wolffe, or Mrs. Weasel, or his mom! Both Mrs. Weasel and Red Riding Wolffe started to talk at the same time - "Now, that's not what happened. . " Mrs. Weasel glared at Red Riding Wolffe, who stopped, because adults think they know more, and should be allowed to always speak first, even when they REALLY don't know, and let Mrs. Weasel continue her side of the response.
" . . . happened, young man! First, I WAS NOT chasing Miss Riding Wolffe, and she doesn't have something in that bag that I want! But, she DOES have my little Sly Catcher Weasel's fur-ball doll, and she won't tell me where she has it hidden!" (Mrs. Weasel thought that if she pretended to not be embarrassed by the fact that Red Riding Wolffe had plainly proved that she did not have the doll by stating that she would take Mrs. Weasel straight to her mother, to tell her that Mrs. Weasel was demanding she return a doll that she did not have, that it would sound better than if she admitted that she had made a mistake!)
At this, little Jonny Rabbit hung his head, "Mrs. Weasel, I have Sly Catcher's fur-ball doll, but . . ." "
"YOU!!!," shouted Mrs. Weasel. "And, just where did you get it, little rabbit. Did Red Riding Wolffe give it to you? I know that she had it, and played with it at her grandmother's house. I heard Blue Jay say so!"
"YOU DID WHAT?!!!" the voice above them shrieked. It was Blue Jay himself! "Now, Mrs. Weasel, you tell me what you heard me tell you!"
"Uh, um, I, um." Mrs. Weasel was very embarrassed now! "Well, I'm waiting," Blue Jay said.
"Well, I was in the hollow log, behind the Wolffe's house, and I heard you tell Riding Wolffe's mother that she was OK, because she could stay warm at her grandma's, curled up with her furry doll on the cold nights. My daughter's fur-ball doll HER grandma made for her is missing. And now, I KNOW where it is!"
"Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha WhooWee, HeHeHe!" Now it was Blue Jay's turn to laugh! Then, Miss Riding Wolf began to laugh, too! "HeeHee, YipYip Yippeee!" Pretty soon, Blue Jay, Red Riding Wolffe, and Little Jonny Rabbit were holding onto each other, trying to not fall down! ('Course, that's even funnier to watch, since a laughing Blue Jay, holding on to a Laughing Wolf, who is holding on to a laughing little rabbit - well, you get the picture!) Then, Mrs, Rabbit joined the fun!
But, Mrs. Weasel just glared more angrily at them than before!
"I'll be," she fumed. "The four of you going on like this! And, it is VERY serious business! Now, where is my daughter's fur-ball doll?!!" At this, the laughter stated over!
Suddenly, Mrs. Rabbit stopped. "I'm very sorry, Mrs. Weasel. Of course you want the fur-ball doll," and she started to giggle again! "Humfp, huhuhaha, er, what I mean is, hahaha, we need to take this seriously, ohohoho hahaha Uh, I mean, let's just ask Blue Jay what it was that he really saw at Red Riding Wolffe's grandma's house, or heard."
"Mr. Blue Jay. What . . ." she started, but he was still laughing so hard tears were falling. "Mr. Jay!" she said firmly and loudly. "Just what did you mean, "curled up with her fur ball"? Did she have Mrs. Weasel's, er, I mean Sly Catcher's fur-ball doll?" She almost started laughing again.
"HeeHee - HahHa! Blue Jay could barely stop laughing. "Wait a moment," he said.
In a few seconds, he said, "Not at all! Miss Little Red Riding Wolffe likes to cuddle up, on cold nights at Grandma's, balled up in her furry, soft tail! She calls her grandma's tail her "Furry Doll"! I'm sure Little Riding Wolffe does NOT have your daughter's fur-ball doll, Mrs. Weasel, And, she never had it!," he added. He was almost still laughing, and very angry, at the same time!
"Well!," exclaimed Mrs. Weasel. Just where IS the fur-ball doll, then?
Jonny Rabbit hung his head, again. "Jonny?." his mother said sternly, What do you know that you haven't told us yet, young Rabbit?"
"I, I, well, you see, Sly Catcher was over, and we were playing in the underground burrow I made, pretending we were a family. We used her fur doll for the baby. I don't know if she took it home. I can go look?"
"Now, young Rabbit, why didn't you say that before?" Demanded Mrs. Weasel. "I'd have been home with it by now, if you had just said the truth!"
"Wait a minute!." Mrs. Rabbit was really angry now! "There's been enough misunderstanding from your wild accusation. YOU! Just keep your mouth shut, else NOBODY will be looking for your doll! I'll send you off my property if you say one more mean thing!"
The surprise on Mrs. Weasel's face looked so funny that Jonny almost started to laugh again!. he stopped just in time.
"Now, son, you go see if that fur-ball doll is still in the burrow," his mother commanded. "Bring it right here, if it is!" Jonny was so happy to escape from his accuser! He ran to the burrow, and brought it back, handing it to Mrs. Weasel.
"You!," Mrs. Weasel said with a nasty sound. You had my little daughter's fur-ball doll all this time and didn't give it back! I should make your life miserable for this!"
"Well," Blue jay spoke, with a firm voice, "You're doing such a good job of doing just that, that I might think you get paid for doing it!"
With that, Mr. Blue Jay flew off. He didn't need to listen to any more of the false accusations.
Well, it had been over a year since Red Riding Wolffe could fit into Jonny Rabbit's secret burrow, so she was not able to warn Mr. Neigh! about where NOT to walk, as she rode on his back home from Grandma's!. What little Red Riding Wolffe did not know about Little Jonny Rabbit's secret burrow, was about to turn her safe trip back home into a living nightmare! Shall we continue!?
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