The cold night fell on the old dump and the moon shone on Herbie and Kentucky. The two donkeys tossed and turned on wet garbage bags. Their eyes were wide awake. Discouraged the two donkeys questioned, “What if we never get to sleep?”

A few feet away the two friends stumbled over two wooden barrels. Kentucky suggested, “Let’s pull these down over our heads.”

“This is creepy and dark. Let’s throw the barrel away,” said Herbie in a trembling voice. They walked around and discovered a radio, but the snorting of the pig lullaby kept them awake. Maybe we need a cozy place to sleep. They spotted on old rusty car behind the pile of flat tires. “Herbie, you sleep in the front seat and I will sleep in the backseat,” whispered Kentucky, but springs poked into their hide.

A few steps away Herbie spied a shed with eighty mattresses. From the doorway Kentucky excitedly wondered, “Which bed should we choose?”

Herbie shouted, “That one!” as he pointed to the one at the back left corner. It was queen-sized with three black cats sitting at the foot of the mattress. The two donkeys raced to the corner and belly flopped onto their bed. Both curled into two balls, shut their eyes, and fell sound asleep while the three cats sang a sweet lullaby.

�@

Composed by Tia

Fluttering, cluttering

Ragged, jagged leaves

Floating, gloating

Bumpy, lumpy leaves

Tumbling, stumbling

Musty, dusty leaves

Twisting, misting

Making a warm blanket for the ground.

�@

The sun’s rays were shining on Hoppity Bunny in his cage. His tummy was grumbling, but Mom was too far away. Tiny tears dripped from the corners of his blue eyes.

“Who will feed me tonight?” said Hoppity.

Through the open door of the bunny barn came Dude Dog with a juicy dripping bone in his mouth. Pushing the cage door open with his wet nose, Dude Dog dropped the bone right in front of the bunny.

“Stop, that bone is too big to nibble on!” cried Hoppity Bunny. “Who will feed me tonight?”

“I will feed you tonight,” spoke Meowy Cat. She plunked a dead mouse in front of Hoppity. With his paw, Hoppity touched the dead mouse for only a second. Covering his mouth with his paw, Hoppity commented, “I can’t eat that! Who will feed me tonight?”

In a gruff voice, Gary the Billy Goat answered, “I will feed you tonight.” He messily placed five crispy leaves in the metal bowl.

“I can’t eat these. They are too bitter and will give me a tummy ache. Who will feed me tonight?”

“I’ll feed you tonight,” stated Mother Bunny who was carrying five long blades of grass.

Hoppity ate the delicious grass thanking his mother as he nibbled hungrily. Then he hopped around with joy.

�@

Composed by Tia