Tales From the Glades of Ballymore Read Online Free Page B

Burton said, “I honestly don’t know what we saw.  I think it would be best if we didn’t go back in the water.  Although it’s a fairly short walk home, the storm is already bad and getting worse.  Could we impose and stay with you tonight?”
     
     “I agree with you.  I’m not sure what it was either.  Of course, you are more than welcome to stay.  The children can sleep on the floor by the hearth.  You and Beatrice can have the spare room,” replied Morris.
     
    “Thank you very much.  Better safe than sorry,” said Burton.
     
    Morris nodded in agreement.  After a brief time they returned to the parlor.
     
    “Morris has been kind enough to invite us to stay here tonight.  I think that’s a good idea,” announced Burton.  The wind howled down the chimney as if it were agreeing.
     
    The children had also heard the “Pond Creature” rumors and preferred to believe that they had seen it tonight.  They were happy with their father’s decision.  Beatrice was also worrying about the trip home, so she too was pleased.
     
    “We have a busy day planned for tomorrow.  I think we should retire early if you don’t mind,” suggested Burton.
     
    “Of course.  I’ll get the blankets,” responded Morris.
     
    Morris brought three large, soft blankets from the closet, and Beatrice spread them on the floor.  The children were very happy with this arrangement.  It was different and exciting to sleep next to the hearth in a different cottage, almost like camping out.
     
    After saying goodnight, the adults turned down the oil lamps and retired to their bedrooms.  The children curled up in their blankets.  The flickering light from the fire bathed the room in a warm glow. 
     
    Outside, the storm continued to swirl around the little cottage and all the cottages of Ballymore.

 
     
    Earlier, Branna Bluebird had just finished delivering a message to the chipmunks.  That would be the last delivery of the day because soon it would be too windy to fly.  To return home, she had two choices.  She could fly directly across the pond or follow the shoreline.  She chose the direct route because it was quicker.  As she took off from the chipmunks’ dock, the wind blew a small branch off a nearby tree, and it hit her in midair.  She was knocked back onto the dock and a bit shaken but apparently uninjured.  Her left wing did hurt a little.  She flexed it a few times and then took off again.  Branna was not a bluebird who changed plans because of minor problems.
     
    The flight across the pond usually took only a minute.  However, as soon as she was in the air, the wind buffeted her, and it was difficult to remain stable.  Her left wing immediately began to hurt.  With each flap, the pain became worse, and soon she was losing altitude.  She wasn’t going to make it to the north shore!  For all practical purposes, she couldn’t swim.  She had to land on something.  In order to stay in the air as long as possible, she began a bumpy, circular glide.  Branna searched the choppy water for anything floating as she dropped lower and lower.
     
    Suddenly, she spotted a small board on the water and immediately adjusted her path to land on it.  The wind almost blew her off course in the last second, but she was able to grab an edge and pull herself onto the board.  She dug her tiny claws into it and hung on as it bounced up and down on the water.  The board was well-weathered and appeared to be a piece of someone’s dock.
     
    Branna was not in a good situation.  She couldn’t fly or swim.  She was a small bird on a small bouncing board in the middle of a big pond.  The wind was blowing, and the water was choppy.  She was wet, cold, and tired.  Her wing hurt.  Everything was getting worse. 
     
    As she looked around, she judged that she was about one-quarter mile from the north shore.  The wind was pushing the board in that direction.  Usually, that’s not a long distance, but in this