A Sheepy and Bunny Are Friends Story
The wind blew little eddies in the air that spun leaves around the meadow. Each day now the wind took on more of a chill. The sheep were bulking up on their winter wool keeping them warn in the shortening autumn days. The trees, in contrast, were shedding their summer foliage, with their leaves losing their vibrant green for more sullen oranges and reds, which soon would be falling to the ground. The little sheep flock continued to graze on the still green grass. That grass soon would become brown and they would have to eat hay from the barn.
Sheepy munched on some late-season grass with his special friend Bunny nibbling on some nearby clover.
“Fall grass is not as yummy as spring grass,” said Sheepy. “Spring grass tastes like sunshine; fall grass tastes like …” Sheepy broke off. “Bunny, what does fall grass taste like to you?”
Bunny stopped nibbling for a moment and raised his ears thinking.
“Maybe it tastes more like the moon or thunderstorm clouds?” said Bunny. “I know. It tastes like being sleepy and nap time.”
“Really?” said Sheepy. “I guess it kind of does.” Sheepy let out a happy bleat. “My friend Bunny is so smart.”
Sheepy yawned and lay down in the cool grass. “Sheepy might take a little nap,” he said.
“Bunny will too,” said Bunny. He hopped over to Sheepy and snuggled into the wool under Sheepy’s chin.
They lay there a while watching the quiet meadow. They saw Chippy and Chilly scampering around in the grass, collecting nuts scattered on the ground. They stuffed their little cheeks until they were bulging then hid their hoard in little burrows hidden underground to build up their supply for the long winter.
Sheepy lifted his head and saw Sheepdog wondering into the meadow. “I wonder what he’s doing,” Sheepy said to Bunny. “Sheepdog doesn’t come into the meadow much anymore.”
Sheepy called out to him. “Sheepdog, Sheepdog! What are you doing in the meadow?”
Sheepdog trotted over to where Sheepy and Bunny were lying with his hangdog look on his face.
Bessie heard Sheepy call out and saw Sheepdog heading over. She stopped her grazing and moved her big bulk toward where Sheepy and Bunny were lounging in the grass to see if there was any good gossip from the farmhouse to hear.
Sheepdog came over and sat down on his butt. “Oh,” he said, “I came out here to get away from Bad Farmer.”
“Why is that?” said Bessie as she ambled over.
“Bad Farmer always acts odd this time of year,” said Sheepdog. “For the last few days, he’s been totting around with his shotgun everywhere he goes.”
“Is something wrong?” said Sheepy getting to his feet and looking around. Bunny hopped up on his back and surveyed the meadow as well.
“He sits out on the back stoop with his shotgun at night,” said Sheepdog. “He does this every year.”
“He must be looking out for human woolybuglars,” said Sheepy with a giggle.
“I don’t like those human woolybuglars either,” said Bessie. “Sometimes they creep into the meadow at night and try to tip me over!”
Sheep let out a bleat of surprise.
“That right,” said Bessie. “But I look them in the eyes and say ‘oh, no you don’t’ and ring my cowbell. If they still try to push me over, I chase after them with my horns.”
“I’ve never seen that,” said Sheepy.
“The sheep are usually back in the barn by then,” said Bessie. “They mostly come at night. That’s why I sleep in the barn this time of year.”
“Didn’t we hide Bad Farmer’s gun?” asked Bunny.
“That was his rifle. He has out his shotgun now,” said Sheepdog.
“Who’s he trying to shoot?” said Sheepy.
“I don’t know,” said Sheepdog. “I came out here to get away from him, and find a nice spot to lie down and rest my old bones.”
“That sounds nice,” said Sheepy. “Me and Bunny were napping in the grass.”
“Sheep always were lazy animals,” said Bessie.
Sheepdog laughed. “Those sheep sure did keep me running around when I was younger.”
Sheepy laughed and blushed into his pink ears. “Yeah, we like to play a lot,” said Sheepy.
“I was thinking about lying in the leaves under the Sycamore trees,” said Sheepdog. “From up there I can keep an eye on things and watch that Bad Farmer doesn’t go shooting anyone.”
“He, he,” giggled Sheepy. “We all need looking after,” he told Sheepdog. “Even Bunny.” Sheepy gave Bunny a kiss on his head and giggled again.
Sheepdog left Sheepy and Bunny to go back to their nap. Bessie went back to her grazing. He climbed the hill to where the sycamore tree grew and found a nice spot in the leaves to lie down. Out here he could avoid the hassle at the farmhouse and the boot of an irritated Bad Farmer.
He tried lying his muzzle on his front paws, but Sheepdog felt his bones ache from old age. So, he rolled onto his side with his legs stretched out to find a more comfortable position. His paws and snout had grown gray with age and his eyes weren’t so good anymore. Blessedly, the housewife continued to feed him even though he didn’t chase the sheep anymore. He wondered what was for dinner, and hoped she might throw him a nice meaty bone. He would gnaw on it slowly today, and enjoy the taste, instead of scarping it down like he did when he was a young working sheepdog.
Every autumn, around this time of year, the housewife picked a large pumpkin from her garden. She emptied out the insides to make pies and then carved a smiling face on its side and set it on the stoop. Sheepdog didn’t like the look of it; that grinning face unnerved him. It was nicer lying in the leaves under the Sycamore tree.
Sheepdog watched the sheep grazing in the autumn meadow. Bad Farmer started putting hay for them, another duty that irritated his nerves and potentially sent a kick into Sheepdog’s side. Orange and yellow leaves floated down from the tree and lightly swirled around in the wind.
From this vantage point, Sheepdog could see the sheep flock gazing. Among the white fluffy fleece of the sheep wool, Sheepy’s rainbow locks on his forehead particularly stood out. Despite Sheepdog’s weak eyesight; he could also easily make out the pink heart-shaped tail of Bunny riding on his back. In his younger days, he would give any flamboyant sheep a hard time; run them around more than was necessary nipping at their heels, but now he reminisced and had a soft feeling for the flock. They had Bunny now to look after them, and he wouldn’t harass Bunny, even with a pink tail.
“Sheepdog.”
Sheepdog heard someone call his name. He interrupted his meditation and lifted his head from his paws.
He looked around and asked, “Who’s calling me.”
“It’s me Sheepdog.”
He heard a lovely soft feminine voice that he hadn’t heard in some time. He got his legs under him and stood up.
“Mandy? Is that you?” Sheepdog said.
He turned and looked behind him and saw her sitting in the leaves smiling.
“It’s me Sheepdog,” she said.
She was still just as pretty as he remembered her. Mandy’s black coat shimmered in the sunlight. She still had the white spot in the middle of her chest where the different directions of her coat met in a point of fur. Sheepdog noticed that like himself her muzzle and paws had grayed, and her nipples sagged a bit. Yet her deep brown eyes still glowed and a little smile played at the corner of her black lips.
Sheepdog jumped up, a little faster than his bones would have preferred.
“I haven’t seen you in such a long time,” said Sheepdog. “You are still so pretty.”
Mandy smiled and her eyes twinkled for a moment.
They approached each other and sniffed each other noses. Sheepdog sniffed around to her back end. She raised her tail and he recognized her scent. She gave her tail a couple of wags and sat down to face him.
He sat too, admiring her black floppy ears. He raised his pointed ears and smiled.
“Thank you,” said Mandy “You were always so sweet to me.”
Sheepdog lowered his nose and blushed.
“Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed,” said Mandy. “Loving and defending others is nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Yes, Mandy, you were always so wise.”
“I know deep down you love the sheep in the meadow; you love that little kitten who is growing up so fast. You even love Bad Farmer and his Housewife, even though they mistreat you sometimes.”
Sheepdog turned and looked at the sheep flock in the meadow and smiled.
“They have been an important part of my life,” Sheepdog said.
“Sheep are one of the most blessed of animals,” said Mandy.
“Why do you say that?’ said Sheepdog. “Sheep are among the silliest animals on the farm.”
“They are naturally loving and gentle, unlike us dogs sometimes,” said Mandy. “They are blessed to have you looking after them.”
Sheepdog nodded his head. He gazed out on the flock and focused his attention on Sheepy’s rainbow locks and Bunny riding on his back with his pink tail.
“Are you thinking about Sheepy and his friend Bunny?” asked Mandy.
“He, he,” Sheepdog giggled. “Sheepy and Bunny look so funny,” he said.
“Animals on the surrounding farms have been making fun of Sheepy and Bunny,” said Mandy. “They have been teasing Sheepy and Bunny over the rainbow wool and pink tail.”
“That not fair,” said Sheepdog. “They don’t deserve to be made fun of,” said Sheepdog. “The other animals are just jealous.”
Mandy laughed.
“Why are you laughing?” said Sheepdog.
“You got really defensive over them being called names,” said Mandy. “You are always a Sheepdog protecting your flock.”
Sheepdog giggled too. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“What are they saying?” asked Sheepdog.
“Oh, silly stupid things like, ‘Bunny is a poof butt’ or ‘Sheepy is a dingle head’,” said Mandy.
“They better not say it around me,” said Sheepdog. “I might be old but I can still run them off my farm, this is still my domain.”
“Don’t pay any attention to what the other animals say. It’s just fine,” said Mandy.
“How do you know that?” asked Sheepdog.
“Uni said it was fine. He even approves,” said Mandy. “Uni is flattered and pleased that Sheepy is wearing his sign. The rainbow is his sign you know.”
“Really, I didn’t know,” said Sheepdog.
“Were you there when it happened?” asked Mandy.
“Yeah, I was. It was really sweet. I even cried a little. But don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t,” said Mandy.
Sheepdog told Mandy all about the surprise party for Sheepy and the Silly Pig’s magic show, and how Sheepy’s locks turned into a rainbow, and Bunny’ tail turned pink.
“Yes,” said Mandy. “I heard about that.” She smiled at Sheepdog.
“Really? Who told you about it?” asked Sheepdog.
“Uni did,” said Mandy. “It was Uni who sent me to come visit you.”
“Really”, you saw Uni?” said Sheepdog.
“Yes, of course,” said Mandy.
“I’m glad to hear that,” said Sheepdog. He smiled and nodded. “I know you won’t lie about something like that,” said Sheepdog.
Mandy tilted her head and gave Sheepdog a look. “Why would you say that?” She asked.
“Sometimes I doubt the existence of Uni,” said Sheepdog, “but I know the sheep love and adore him.”
“That’s because you hang out with the humans too much. You hear all their stories about Jesus, but don’t get to hear much about Uni,” said Mandy.
“So, Uni is real,” said Sheepdog.
“Of course Uni is real,” said Mandy.
Sheepdog nodded his head and was quiet for a while.
“Sheepdog,” said Mandy. “I’m going away and won’t be back.”
“Is your human family leaving and moving away?” asked Sheepdog.
“No, they are staying. I’m going alone,” said Mandy.
“It’s scary to leave alone. Who will feed you, how will you survive?” said Sheepdog becoming alarmed. “You can come here and stay with me. I will get food for both of us and keep you hidden from Bad Farmer!”
“No Sheepdog. I can’t stay here; I have to go alone” said Mandy. “Where I’m going is a really lovely place, and I won’t have to worry about food, or having a place to stay. Everything will be taken care of.” She smiled. “I hear there is a really lovely bridge with a gently flowing stream underneath it and a rainbow in the sky.”
“Where is this place?” said Sheepdog. “I will go with you.”
“Someday you will come too,” said Mandy, “but not yet.”
Sheepdog began to object, but Mandy shushed him by putting one of her paws on his.
“Sheepdog,” she said. “Before I go, I want to tell you something. Something that I hope will make you happy.”
“Like a surprise,” said Sheepdog.
“More like a birth announcement,” said Mandy.
“Are you the angel Gabriel?” said Sheepdog with a giggle.
“No, I’m the angel Mandy,” she said with a smile.
“So, who is having a baby?” asked Sheepdog.
“We did Sheepdog. Three boys and two girls,” announced Mandy.
“What? We had puppies? When did you have them?” said Sheepdog.
“About a year ago, I’ve not been able to come and tell you until now,” said Mandy.
Sheepdog wagged his tail and smiled. “What are they like?” he asked.
“The three boys take after their dad. They have his markings,” she said. “They are also training for Sheepdog service.”
“Really, that makes me happy to hear,” said Sheepdog.
“I thought you would be,” said Mandy.
“And the girls are as pretty as their mother,” said Sheepdog.
“Yes, of course,” said Mandy with a smile.
“You were a great mother,” said Sheepdog.
“I love all of our pups very much, even if I can’t always be with them,” said Mandy. “You will be very proud of them. Maybe they will come visit you someday.”
“I’m proud just knowing about them,” said Sheepdog.
“It’s time for me to go now. Remember to watch out for the Sheep,” she said, “and I will see you at the bridge. We will sit in the shade on the bank and watch the water flow.”
“I will like that,” said Sheepdog.
Mandy stood up and began to walk away. She looked over her shoulder with a smile. At that moment a gust of wind blew through swirling the leaves around her. Then she was gone.
After Mandy vanished, Sheepdog had this silly impulse to go hug Sheepy and maybe get kisses from the sheep flock too. Sheepdog blushed at his own comical wish. Luckily there was no one there to see the inside of his ears turn pink. He put his paw on his nose and shook his head. Nevertheless, he headed back down the hill where the sycamore tree grows and headed over to where the sheep flock was grazing together.
Bessie was off arguing with Mr. Squirrel about the best method for nut collection. Chippy and Chilly were hopping in the grass giggling and bonking each other on the nose. Sheepy and Bunny were lying in the sunshine.
Sheepdog walked over to Sheepy and sat down in the grass grinning at him.
“Hi, Sheepdog,” said Sheepy. “Why do you have a funny look on your face?”
“My girlfriend Mandy came to visit me up on the hill,” said Sheepdog.
“Oh, really,” said Sheepy. “We didn’t see her.”
“See told me we had puppies, and some of the puppies are going into Sheepdog service,” said Sheepdog. “That makes me happy.”
“Yeah,” bleated out Sheepy to all the sheep. “Sheepdog and his girl-friend had puppies. Give Sheepdog a big hug!”
“And a kiss too?” said Sheepdog with a big smile.
“Ok, and a kiss too?” Sheepy got up and put his hooves around Sheepdog’s neck. He snuggled his wooly cheek into Sheepdog’s face and kissed him on the forehead, right in front of the ears.
The other sheep also came over and gave Sheepdog a hug and a kiss. This made Sheepdog even happier. Even Bunny gave him a hug and a kiss on his snout. All the hugging caught Bessie’s attention and she came sauntering over.
“I don’t care what the animals on other farms say,” blurted out Sheepdog. “If Sheepy wants to have rainbow wool on his forehead or if Bunny wears a pink tail, it’s Ok with me!”
He told the sheep what Mandy had said, about Sheepy and Bunny being called names. The neighboring farm animals don’t like Sheepy wearing rainbow locks and Bunny having a pink tail.
“Such foolishness. Why should anyone worry about that,” said Bessie rolling her eyes. The chipmunks caught her attention. “Oh, those silly critters, you have to supervise them or they won’t do it right.” Bessie wandered off to resume her argument with Mr. Squirrel.
“We love Sheepy, Bunny is our friend too, those mean animals can say whatever they want, we don’t care,” cried out one of the ewes.
It’s ok if Sheepy’s wool is rainbow-colored. It shows how much he loves Uni. We all love Uni,” said one of the elder rams.
“Mandy said that too,” said Sheepdog. “It is Ok with Uni because he loves animals and the rainbow is his sign.
“It’s okay for male animals to wear pink a tail too. There is nothing wrong with that,” said another ewe. “Pink is such a pretty color.”
The other ewes bleated in agreement.
“Does Sheepy think that Bunny’s pink tail will become white and puffy again?” asked one of the younger sheep.
“If the ink doesn’t fade,” said another of the young sheep, “Sheepy might have to give him a butt bath.”
All the sheep in the flock laughed, even Sheepy.
“Bunny doesn’t need a butt bath. Bunny can wash his own tail,” said Bunny.
“I like Bunny’s pink tail,” said Sheepy. “It reminds me of my mama’s love, and I don’t want Bunny to lose the pink color.”
The animals’ chat with Sheepdog put him in a happy mood. Some of the sheep did little dances on their front hooves; others dropped little balls of poop in the grass. Their playful mood was shattered by Bad Farmer’s shotgun blast.
All the happy loose sheep butts suddenly tightened. Bunny’s ears shot up and he cocked the tips. Chippy and Chilly squeaked and darted into their burrow, and Mr. Squirrel scampered up the Mulberry tree behind the bard.
When Sheepdog heard the blast, he immediately thought of his girlfriend the black Labrador with the floppy ears, and cried out, “Mandy!”
The sheep flock was confused and bleating in fear. “Get to the barn,” shouted Sheepdog. “You will be safe in the barn.” He remembered his sheep herding skills and began to steer them into the barn. In his agitated state, he forgot that his old bones ached.
After he got the sheep in the barn, Bessie came hoofing it in behind them, muttering to herself, “What’s that old fool done now? What’s he done now?”
Sheepdog started toward the farmhouse to check if Bad Farmer had gone after Mandy. He met Kitty running for the barn.
Another shotgun blast went off.
“Don’t go down there! Don’t go! Come to the barn with me,” said Kitty.
Sheepdog turned and followed Kitty back into the barn calling, “What’s happening? What’s going on?”
Inside the barn, Kitty jumped on top of a bale of hay, and while she caught her breath, she tried to explain what happened.
“Bad Farmer is drunk as usual,” said Kitty, “and he has been carrying around his shotgun since his rifle is missing.”
Kitty’s breathing returned to normal, but she was shaking with fear. “He was yelling awful bad things,” she continued. “He said he was being tormented by sheep!”
“What?” bleated out of the elder rams. “None of us have been down to the farmhouse today.”
“He said they were ghost sheep! He’s ranting about ghost sheep!” Kitty’s eyes were really big. “He said they were in his garden, and on his porch, and inside the house!”
“Did you see any of these ghost sheep?” asked one of the ewes.
“I didn’t see anything,” said Kitty. “But he was shooting at them!”
“Did you see a dog,” asked Sheepdog. “She is a black Labrador with floppy ears and a little white patch on her chest.” There was a quiver in his worried voice. “She is the mother of my puppies, some of whom have gone into sheepdog service.”
“I didn’t see any black Labrador with floppy ears around the farmhouse,” said Kitty.
“Her name is Mandy,” said Sheepdog. “I thought Bad Farmer might have shot at her.”
“You mean Mandy, from the neighboring farm? She is a black Labrador with floppy ears,” said Bessie.
“Yes, that is her,” said Sheepdog.
“Housewife was milking me the other day,” said Bessie, “and you know how humans like to get up into each other’s business, snooping around and gossiping.”
“What about Mandy,” Sheepdog interrupted her.
“Well, anyway, Housewife was telling me, you know she likes to talk while milking, that the neighbor’s dog, the black Labrador with the floppy ears, passed away a few days ago.”
“What! Mandy died!” said Sheepdog.
“Apparently so,” said Bessie. “And they buried her out in the garden under a tree. A sycamore tree, actually.”
“Sheepdog,” said Bunny. “Mandy who came to you today was a ghost.”
“How can she be a ghost?” said Sheepdog. “I smelled her butt; I recognized her scent. She was real.”
“If the ghost of Mandy is real,” said Sheepy, “then are the sheep ghost real too?” Bunny was riding on Sheepy’s back and felt him shiver. Bunny put his paws around Sheepy’s neck and hugged him. “Yes, Sheepy, ghosts are real,” Bunny said.
<I feel like this story is not done and needs a part two>
Note: This is the original version of the story.
A revised and illustrated edition will replace it soon.
Meadow Whisper:
Journeys do not wander lost.
The Meadow keeps them,
and hush rests in laughter and care.