Summer
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In summer, when the days are long,
Perhaps you'll understand the song
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Ugh, summer. It's the time of the year when you must suffer from piles-upon piles- of boredom. There's no school and your parents are at work. So, one must entertain themselves. Yet, what can you do? You're already too sticky from sweating. And you practically feel like you're about to faint from the heat. So, what IS the game plan? That's when you come up with an amazing notion. In fact, you wonder why you didn't think that about it early. It's a perfect occasion to swim.
And for a certain fair haired bunny, it was exactly one of THOSE days.
You see, my dear readers, Rabbit happened to have very thick fur. So when the heat became too much to bear, he would have to take a break. Although he would rather spend the time taking care of his crops, he did not want a heat stroke.
The hare began to pack a little bag. For, you see, he had decided to cool off in the river. There he could laze about, and relax. After finishing neatly folding a towel, and putting it in the bag, he was off. With the sack and an umbrella under his arms, he walked towards his destination.
You can imagine how surprised he was to find EVERY resident of the wood there.
"Oh! Looksy, Ol' Long Ears decided to show up! Woo-hoo-hoo!" For reasons beyond Rabbit's understanding, Tigger was very excited by this. "Ra-Ra, I'mma guessin' yer gonna play today?"
"Well, er, yes. Though not really 'play'. It's more like swim about, for awhile."
Winnie the Pooh, or Pooh for short, thought the answer over. "I'm sorry, Rabbit, but that seems an awful a lot like playing."
The hare merely rolled his eyes, and went to search for a place to set up his belongings.
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A few hours had passed since the yellow bunny decided to have a break. Even though it was evening now, and much cooler than it was earlier, Rabbit didn't have the heart to leave just yet. Though it may be hard to believe, the hare actually enjoyed the day. He ended up, indeed, playing with his friends. The fair animal enjoyed such games like "Marco Polo", which consisted of shouting a dead man's name, and races. (Rabbit was quite pleased with himself, for he had beaten even the tiger in that game.) Now, after all of the merriment, the gang was lounging about a small fire.
Then Piglet had the idea that they should tell stories, though nothing terribly frightful. And the others agreed. So around they went, each of them created their own tale. Piglet went first, since it was his notion, and told a story about a magical land where pigs could fly. (Some type of strange name: "Cincinnati".) Then it was Owl's turn. He told his on his great great great grandfather, who was a consort to a king. By the end of it, everyone practically wanted to hit their heads on a two by four. Pooh, Eeyore, Gopher, Kanga, Roo, and Tigger-they all went, weaving their own tales. Finally, it was Rabbit's turn.
"I, er, what should I talk about? I hadn't really thought about my story."
The orange animal smiled. "Aw, it's easy Long Ears! Just-a thinks somethin' from the botti-o-mist part of yer heart. "
"Oh, all right." The hare smiled softly, as he began to think. Looking back at the tiger, that's when it hit him. "Okay, I got it. This is what I call: 'The Tale of the Gardener and the Jester'."
So on he went, telling the story. It was about a gardener to a very wise king. He was one of the best of the best in all of the land. Although he was known for growing the best crops, it was his flowers that everyone enjoyed. His roses, to be exact. The gardener was more of a scolding creature, though, as he yelled at anyone who got too near to his roses.
And then HE came. The King had sent for the best jester he could find. For, you see, he had wanted to cheer up one of his steeds. (The donkey was such a gloomy fellow.) The gardener would've been fine with this…If that blasted fool hadn't started destroying his gardens! He hadn't done it with malice, of course, but he kept tackling the planter (with a hug) every time he saw him. And most of the time the creature was in his garden. Are you making the connection now?
So months had gone by, and the grounds keeper seemed to always be angry. He just couldn't take it anymore! So finally, he confronted the clown.
"Look here, Jester, I want to know what your problem is. Why do you keep bothering me? Why do you think it is necessary to give me affection every day?"
The Jester smiled, "That's easy Gar-Gar, yer da one who needs it ta mostests!"
"I…I don't understand."
The fool pointed to one of the rose bushes. "Yer like one of dem flowers. Yer really nice to look at, on the surface. But whenever you try ta get close ta it, or touch it, yous get its pricklies. But if ya know just how ta do it right…" He walked over and gently broke of one of the roses and sniffed it. "Then all yer gots left is da beauty."
The gardener was speechless…No one had ever said such beautiful words about him. And he blushed when the Jester put the flower behind the planter's ear.
"I…I…You're a helpless romantic."
"What can I say, it's what jesters do the bestests!"
