The Windy Day

Chapter Five

It was windy day. However, Chips and Charley were not going to let that stop them from going to Roly-Poly Hill to practice hopping. As they were following the path to the hill, they came upon Grumpy Gopher. He was hurrying back to his house and complaining.

"What are you kids doing out on such a nasty, windy day? Nobody should be out in such horrid weather. I am going back to my home and not coming out until the wind stops," he snarled.

"We are going to the top of Roly-Poly Hill," said Chips.

"You are crazy. You will blown away for sure." Grumpy warned.

Chips and Charley just laughed and continued on their way.

On the tope of the hill, the wind was blowing very hard. Chips and Charley tried hopping over a big tree stump, and boy, did they ever fly!

"Say, this wind really helps us go far," exclaimed Charley.

Charley jumped up again and flew over a small tree.

Chips laughed, "I wish it would be windy like this everyday."

"I'm going to try jumping over those tiger lilies. Watch me!" shouted Charley.

He jumped up, and as he was in the air, a gust of wind caught him and carried him far into the sky.

"Help!" yelled Charley.

The wind blew him over the trees. He sailed high above the familiar area of his beloved Blackbery Forest.

"When is the wind ever going to put me down?" he wondered. "I never should have jumped so hard. Oh dear. How will I ever get back home? I will never see Chips again."

"The wind blew poor Charley for miles. Finally, after what seemed to be ages, it set him down on a haystack in a large farm yard.

"Where am I?" he cried.

"You are at Baker Farm, " said a cow who was standing near the haystack.

"Where is the Blackberry Forest? Charley asked.

"Never heard of it. I really don't have time to talk to a silly grasshopper," said the cow as she walked to a patch of green grass.

"Oh, my. I'll never get back to Chips. I enjoyed being his friend. We should have never gone out to hop on such a windy day."

Charley saw a black crow sitting on a wooden fence nearby.

"Do you know where the Blackberry Forest is?

The crow pointed north with her wing. She said, "It's many miles from here."

"Do you think I could hop there is a few days?"

The crow laughed, "No. Maybe in a few months. Did you come from there?"

"Yes, the wind caught me up and blew me all the way over here. I need to get back home. I am going to have to try."

"Unless the wind turns away and decides to blow you back, you are better off staying here and living on the farms. There's lots to eat. The forest is much too far for a grasshopper to make it on his own."

"But I want to be with my friend. His name is Chips. He's a rabbit, but he likes to play with me. We go hopping together. I will never find another friend like him."

"Have it your way," said the crow and then she flew away.

Charley began hopping in the direction the crow showed him. He hopped and hopped. He hopped until it became very dark. He was so tired that he fell asleep under a big toadstool.

When he woke up the next morning, he noticed a robin sitting in a bush near him.

Charley said, "Hello. Do you know how far it is to the Blackberry Forest?"

"It's many miles from here here," said the robin.

"I am so tired from hopping yesterday. I don't think I will ever make it."

"Why are you trying to the get to the forest?"

"I live in the forest. I was hopping yesterday, and the wind caught me up and blew me all the way out here. I am trying to get back home to my friend, Chips."

"Chips?" asked the robin. "Is he a rabbit?"

"Yes, he is."

"I know him. I was a baby in the Blackberry Forest. Before I could fly, Chips used to bring me flowers and pretty stones."

"He is best friend."

"Really? He wanted to be my friend, but he couldn't fly like I can. I can go to far away places and see many things."

"Could you fly to the Blackberry Forest?" asked Charley.

"Sure, it would take me less than an hour to get there."

"If you would fly there and carry me on your back, I would not have to hop the whole way. Oh, please, would you take me there?"

"Yes, I will. I like Chips, so I will do that for you. Climb aboard!"

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!"

Charley climbed onto the robin's back, and the robin began to fly in the direction of the forest.

"Oh, it is so wonderful to fly, " thought Charley and he clung to the robins back. "Of course, it was not fun to fly when I didn't know where I was going, but not it is great."

Now Charley enjoyed looking at the fields, streams, and trees below him. The world was beautiful and it was a joy to see it from the heights. It seem like in no time, they reached the Blackberry Forest.

While Charley and the robin with in the air flying, Chips was sitting in front of his house. He was miserable.

He thought to himself, "I lost my best friend. If only we listened to Grumpy Gopher and did not jump in the wind, he would not be gone. I should have warned Charley that he was too light to stay on the ground. Now what am I to do? I could go looking for him, but I have no idea where to look. He could be anywhere."

As he was pouting, the robin landed on the ground in front of him.

"Oh hello. What are you doing here?" Chips asked.

"I have come to return your friend," said the robin.

"What?" asked Chips. Oh look! Charley!"

Charley hopped of the robins back.

"I am back! The robin gave me a ride on her back. Otherwise, I may never have seen you again."

"Hurrah!" shouted Chips.

The both thanked the robin and began to hop around with joy. The robin thought they were both pretty silly, so she flew away.

"I have my best friend back," yelled Chips.

Charley told Chips all about his adventure and they both decided to spend the day sitting in the sun. They just did not feel like hopping for awhile.