Springtime

Chapter Nine

Spring had finally arrived in the Blackberry Forest. All the snow had melted, and crocuses and snowdrops were poking through the ground. Grumpy started to prepare the ground for his garden, and the other animals began to clean out their homes. Certain that winter was finally over, Rocky and Rhonda decided it was time for them to begin their journey to Silver Lake.

Of course, Chips and Charley tried to convince them to stay a little longer, but Rocky and Rhonda were determined to go. They had remained in the same place too long, and they were anxious to see new things. They promised to come back in the summer to visit and to tell them about Silver Lake.

They began their journey on a bright, sunny morning. Chips and Charley hopped along with them down to the path as far as Lily Pond. At that point, they all said good-bye.

Chips and Charley hopped back. They both felt very sad. They would miss their new friends. It seemed to be so strange to be just the two of them again.

"What shall we do today?" asked Chips.

Charley sighed. It was no use looking for the Gubazah Monster now that they knew he wanted to be left alone. The snow was gone, so they couldn't make snowbunnies of go sliding. They could make mudpies, but somehow it did not seem like much fun with just the two of them.

"I don't know," Charley said. "We alway has so much fun before when it was just the two of us. What were some of the fun things we did then?"

"Mainly we just hopped around, I guess," said Chips.

"Yeah. Remember the windy day when I hopped so high that I got caught in the wind and was carried away?"

Chips laughed, "We did have some fun times together. I think the best time was when we followed Spirit to the beautiful section of the forest and met the deer."

"Yes," agree Charley. "Why don't we go there now?"

"Yeah, I am sure my mom will let us go. She was proud to hear that the deer has invited us to visit them."

"I am sure it is lovely this time of the year. I bet there are many flowers, blossoms, and butterflies."

"Maybe we will even find Spirit!"

They were both excited, and they began hopping to Chip's house as quickly as they could.

Chips' mom was in the front of the house were they arrived. She was cleaning some of the winter debris that had gather near house.

"Mom, may we please go to visit the deer family?"

Chips' mom knew how sad Chips and Charley must be feeling to see Rocky and Rhonda go, so she was happy to see them excited about their new plans."

"Yes, you may. Why don't you bring them one of the strawberry pies I made from our preserves."

"That would be a very nice gift," commented Charley.

Chips' mom made them some sandwiches to bring along for lunch and Chips picked out a delicious pie. The two friends were happy to have made such fun plans, and soon they were heading out towards the beautiful section of the forest.

"Be back before dark!" Chips' mom shouted after them.

"We will!" they called back.

The beautiful part of the forest truly lived up to its description. Up above, the branches held soft white and pink blossonms. Down below, spring flowers of all varieties of colors were spread upon the forest floor. Happy with the freedom of springtime, many animals and birds were dancing in the sunshine. Butterflies and bees, never getting enough of the sweetness, flew from the flowers to the blossoms and back again.

"Springtime seems to have come even earlier here than it has to our sections," commented Chips.

"I have never seen so much color and so much life! Oh Chips, when we are older, we must live in this section," Charley exclaimed.

"Yes," agreed Chips. "I cannot think of a better place to be. I just wish Rocky, Rhonda, and William could see this too!"

"Look at all the butterflies. Could Spirit be here with them?" Charley wondered.

"Who knows?" said Chips. "We better stay on the path or we won't be able to find the deer's house. It's easy to get lost in here."

Charley was tempted to get off the path and join in the springtime dance, but he knew he had better listen to Chips. It was important not to come all the way and not even visit the deer family.

Chips had been to the deer's house before, so he knew the way to go. He pointed down a path that went under some pine trees.

"This is the way. We will be there soon," he said.

He was right. The reached a small field in a clearing. The deer were resting in the long grass.

Chips and Charley were breathless form their long walk and their excitment. The mother deer asked them to rest in the shade while she brought them something to drink.

The young deer were very shy. They smiled at Chips and Charely but did not say a word.

They are rested for a few minutes. It was very peaceful and quiet.

"Now, Elizabeth," said the father deer to his daughter. "Why don't you show Chips and Charley your garden?"

Elizabeth gently pointed to a small garden. It had lovely red and yellow tulips."

"It's beautiful," exclaimed Charley.

Elizabeth smiled and shyly offered Chips and Charley a seat on a nearby log.

The other young deer, Brian, showed them the lilacs above their heads. The lilaces were just starting to come out.

"They will be wonderful when they are in full blossom," Chips commented.

The mother deer came back with some drinks and sandwiches.

"Let's have a picnic she suggested.

The father deer brought out a blanket and a basket full of fruit.

"Take as much as you would like," he offered.

As they ate, Chips and Charley told the deer about William going off the school and Rocky and Rhonda going to Silver Lake. They also told them about the Gubazah Monster. The deer felt very sad to hear about how sad and lonely the monster was.

After eating the sandwiches, they ate the pie Chips' mom sent. Everything thing tasted extra delicious.

Charley stated, "I think that things even tasted better in this section of the forest."

In the afternoon, Chips and Charley spent their time with Elizabeth and Brian. They played hide and seek in the lilac bushes. Neither of the deer children said very much, but they seemed to enjoy playing with Chips and Charley.

Late in the afternoon, as much as he wanted to stay, Chips reminded Charley that they better head back before it became dark.

As they said good-bye to the deer, the father deer told them they could come back again whenever they liked. Chips and Charley promised that they would come again soon.

Elizabeth and Brian softly said good-bye. Chips and Charley smiled at their quiet friends, then they hopped away.

On their way back, up in a fluffy white branch of a tree, they saw a familiar butterfly.

"Spirit!" they both called.

Spirit flew down to Chips and Charley. She laughed and said, "Hello, aren't you happy that it's springtime?"

"Yes, and we are happy to see you again," said Chips.

Spirit flew back into the blossoms.

"I just cannot stay away from these flowers," she called.

Chips and Charley laughed.

"We have to keep going," Chips reminded Charley. "We cannot get ourselves lost."

"Why not?" asked Spirit. "Sometimes getting lost is the best thing you can do."

She then flew higher into the trees out of Chips and Charley's sight.

"That Spirit is strange," said Chips.

"Either that or very wise," Charley suggested.

The sunset could be see on the horizon. The sky was red, and the sun was a big orange ball. Chips and Charley hopped quickly towards the sunset. They were feeling happy to be just the two of them again, sharing the secret of the beautiful section of the forest.