Maebelle's Hat
by Rita Hestand
Illustrated by
Bonnie Everett-Hawkes
Willy and the Spider
Published by Smashwords
ISBN# 978-1-4523-7557-1
copyright© Rita Hestand
Smashwords Edition
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MAEBELLE'S HAT
BY
Rita Hestand
Willy kicked the rock all the way into the barnyard, when he suddenly noticed all the animals heading for the barn. It wasn't feeding time, and Willy couldn't imagine why all the animals were going inside on a spring day.
Mother Hen was waving her chicks in and saw him.
"Come along Willy, there's a tornado coming, we must get to safety," Mother Hen said.
Willy loped along quietly not realizing what the rush was about. He wanted to play outside today.
"What's a Nado, Mother Hen?" Willy asked curiously.
"We'll talk about that later, Willy. Right now, we have to get everyone in the barn." Mother Hen seemed too busy to talk to Willy, so he sped up a little. He watched as all her chicks lined up around her.
Curly the pig was already inside looking disgusted at being taken from his mud hole, ole Mo came dragging in, and planted himself by the door as though watching for something. He whined every now and then and Willy wondered what he was so worried about. Why was everyone in such a big hurry?
Once inside, Mother Hen seemed to be counting everyone. "Someone's missing, but I don't know who."
Willy glanced around. He didn't know why Mother Hen was concerned but he knew if she was that he should be too. So Willy helped her count the animals.
"Someone is missing," Willy declared too. "But who?"
Socks came by, and lazily stretched herself in front of Willy. "It's Maebelle of course, out in the pasture, showing off that new hat of hers. As if anyone cares about that old thing."
"Oh dear, poor Maebelle, " Mother Hen clucked fluttering her wings back and forth in distress.
"I'll go get her," Willy cried, sticking out his chest and strutting toward the barn door.
But no one seemed to notice Willy. He supposed they were all to busy to notice him. So he scampered out the door. He heard Mo whine again and glanced over his shoulder.
Then he headed toward the meadow. Still wondering what a Nado was and knowing it must be something awful to cause such a fuss.
Maebelle was no where to be seen though. Willy wondered if she wandered off further down the pasture. Deciding he had to find her, he ran first one way, then another. He didn't see her, but the wind was picking up, and it was beginning to rain.
"So a Nado is a storm," Willy decided once he scouted the skies and realized it was becoming very dark. He'd never seen such clouds before, dark and angry looking.