Another kids story. I hope my fellow travelers are faring well? It is almost fall, which is the beginning of music season. Alberta summers are too short and precarious to waste. A Fine McDonut Day It is another fine morning for the McDonut household. This has been a mild and pleasant spring and Snoop McDonuts has been very busy with people enjoying long walks on sunny days and stopping at this famous cafe for delicious snacks. The Choonie-Moonies have been working for days, helping customers at the eatery and are finally taking a much deserved off day. The Choonies are ancient creatures of the forest and friends to farmers everywhere. As the old ways die out, they have been forced to move to the city, where they have become cherished members of the Snoop McDonut family. But their love of the forest has not changed and when time is theirs, they love to tromp the hills and woods of Lake McDonut, where they cast their spells that protect the order of this wonderful forest. The Choonies have packed snacks and drinks for the excursion and have gathered Pink Kitten and Yellow Kitten for the day’s fun. The kittens love to travel in their backpacks as the Choonies wind their way through their beloved forest. Puppy and Coyote are napping in the back yard as usual, enjoying the warmth of the morning sun. Such lazy ones! So it’s out the door and on the march. The neighborhood children wave in delight and yell “hooray” as the little procession comes into sight, the Choonies with their purple fur and Pink and Yellow Kitten in their custom designer backpacks. “Meow, meow, meow. Hello children. It is a delightful McDonut day!” Lake McDonut glitters in the bright sunshine. What a sight! The Choonies are expert woodsmen and they soon find a little path on the side of the hill that winds up and down and all around in the woods, to the edge of the water. This is what nature intended. The children walk in silence, appreciating the wonderful greenery and the deep calm of the forest. Listen to the happy birds preening and cleaning their fathers and weaving their way from branch to branch. No one is paying attention to the path ahead and the Choonies are startled as they crest a hill and there on the path directly in front and only meters away is a sight that stops them in their tracks. “Aaaaargh. What devilry is this? A creature that is even more mischievous than coyote. What rotten luck!” They have tumbled and bumbled together in their haste to avoid this rascal and are milling around muttering to each other. Oh no. This scoundrel is walking straight towards them, ambling like she hasn’t a care in the world. “We will smell terrible. Annie will not let us sleep in our comfy beds. We will be banished. How will we work? Go away you little imp! Shoooooooo!” But no. Straight ahead she comes. What is this? She is rubbing against the Choonie’s legs with her bushy black tail in the air. “We are bewitched. Never would we expect this.” But the kittens are purring and meowing with delight. “Please Choonies. Put us down. We must speak with our friend.” “Your friend? Silly rascals! You have had too much sun.” “No, no, no. Meow, meow, meow. Don’t be afraid. She is our friend. We rescued her with our little pale blue custom kitten scooter. Don’t you remember? She will not hurt you.” Frumpbart takes them from the backpacks and puts them gently on the path. “What else can I do with you silly kittens? Mommy will bathe us when we get home. You will not like that at all you rascals. What a stink this will make. Ah well. Fate frowns upon us.” Because, of course, the creature is a plump and furry little black and white skunk. But what madness is this? These three fuzzballs are rolling together in the grass, mewling excitedly. “Goodness” say the kittens. “How you have grown. What a wonderful tail you have! Where is your family, your wonderful brothers and sisters?” “They are out foraging for their breakfast, my sweet kitten friends. I am so glad you rescued me from under the neighbor’s porch. I still remember that delicious tuna and milk and of course, the ride in your beautiful Lada. How are your Mommy and Daddy? I owe you my happiness, my dear little friends.” The kittens are delighted. It is their sacred mission to rescue little animal children and keep their families together. Such special kittens! The old friends catch up on events in their lives, while the Choonies sink to the grass in relief. “What incredible luck! What a story this will make. Choonies and skunks in harmony? Impossible to imagine. We hate baths! Thank you kittens. I think that perhaps we are the silly ones.” The old friends lay in a circle in the sunshine on the soft grass and murmur away as they catch up on their affairs. What a nice reunion. But eventually the kittens see that their friend is a bit restless. “What is it dear?” “I am sorry kittens. I have not found my breakfast and my Mommy will be worried that I have been gone so long. I must find my snack and return to our little home.” “Of course old friend. Now we know where you live and we will visit again. Please Choonies?” “Yes, yes, yes,” say the Choonies. Just don’t upset this scallywag. We are not out of the woods yet.” The friends say a fond goodbye. Frumpbart puts Pink Kitten and Yellow Kitten into their backpacks and they settle in with delighted purrs. “What fun to see our old friend. Thank you so much Choonies.” “Yes, yes kittens. Harumph. Let us take no chances. Her brothers and sisters could be lurking in the grass. We will walk down to Lake McDonut and take our lunch before we face more disaster.” At Lake McDonut, they pay their homage to the Goddess of the Forest and settle in for a delicious snack. Such a tight little family. With full tummies and warm fur, they are soon asleep in the sunshine. Good food and good company. It is the sweet rhythm of life and these gentle little McDonuts are carefree and peaceful, just as it should be. What a nap! Little snores and sniggles of content from each of these rascals. Coyote and Puppy would be delighted. But of course, Coyote is such a mischief maker that surely she would have gotten them sprayed. Whew, phew! One by one, they finally wake up, staring happily at the still water of Lake McDonut. “Well kittens. We must be off. It is a long way back to our little house. What a story we have for Annie and Misha. Thank you kittens for saving us from a terrible fate.” “Meow, meow, meow. Such fun! We love you, Choonie-Moonies.” The End.