This news was very upsetting indeed. She’d gone to the Pumpkin Ball every year, and this time she even had a beautiful new orange dress to wear, which clearly would be wasted.

Luckily, she had, during an earlier punishment, sneaked a few cookies and pieces of candy into her room. At least she wouldn’t starve.

So she put on her orange dress anyway, and sulked a bit, and found a cookie. She was preparing to bite into it when…

a little bird appeared at the window. “Could I have that cookie, please?” the bird asked. “It’s just that I’m so hungry.”

Reluctantly, she handed over the cookie.

Next, she found a brownie, and was just about to take a bite when…

a squirrel hopped onto her windowsill.

“May I have that brownie?” he asked. “I like brownies more than anything!”

He looked so happy and helpful that she gave him the brownie.

Luckily, she still had a candy bar left. But just as she unwrapped it, a hippo stuck his head through the window.

He didn’t say anything, but he did lick his lips.

And he was very large, and not nearly as cute or friendly looking as picture books had suggested, so she handed over her candy.

Left with no candy or cookies, and still stuck at home, she gazed out of the window and sulked rather loudly.

“If only I could get outside,” she said. “But my mother is blocking my way out.”

“I can help,” a little voice said. At first. she had no idea where it had come from, but then she saw the bird out the window. “I can fly you down, it explained. “As a thank you for the cookie.” And so, the girl held on to the bird, and together they flew down to the ground. The bird was gasping for breath from the girl’s weight by the time they reached the ground, but they made it.

“Thank you bird!” she cried. “But I think I hear my mother coming! How will I get past her?”

“I can help you there.” a little voice said. At first, she couldn’t tell where they voice was coming from, but when she looked down, she saw the squirrel nibbling at her boot.

“I can distract her,” the squirrel offered. “As a thank you for the brownie.” And before she could even reply, the squirrel had raced off into the house. She could hear screams and the sounds of things breaking inside.

“But how will I even get to the Pumpkin Ball?” she wondered. “It’s too far to walk.”

This time, no little voice responded, but the hippo appeared as if out of nowhere, with traces of chocolate on his lips.

She hoped she was right in assuming his offer of help as she climbed on his back. More quickly than she would have thought possible, they raced away into the night.

The End. For Now…

© Beatrix Cottonpants Original