BY
LUWANA JOY RANSIER

Mr. Bunny lived in a small house, with a stream on one side and a big garden on the other side. He and his family had lived there for many years.
Every day they would tend the garden, planting and harvesting various vegetables. Mr. Bunny took extra care tending the carrot patch because these were his favorite vegetables.
Day after day, Mr. Bunny would watch his carrots grow bigger and bigger. Then the day came. It was time to harvest his carrots. But when he went to his garden…his carrots were GONE!
“Oh, my!” he exclaimed, wringing his hands. “Where could they be?”
He looked and looked, but couldn’t find any trace of them. So he ask his family if any of them had taken his carrots.
“NO!” they cried. “Our vegetables are gone, too!”
So they looked and looked, but couldn’t find any of the missing vegetables.
They went across the stream to the barnyard.
“Mrs. Cow, did you take our vegetables?”
“No!” mooed Mrs. Cow. “I only eat grass and hay.”
They went to Mr. Horse.
“Mr. Horse, did you take our vegetables?”
“No!” Mr. Horse whinnied. “I might eat a carrot now and then, but mostly I eat oats, grass and hay. I did not take your vegetables.”
They went to Mrs. Sheep.
“Mrs. Sheep, did you take our vegetables?”
“I only eat grass.” bawled Mrs. Sheep. “I didn’t take your vegetables.”
Then they went to Miss Chicken.
“Did you take our vegetables, Miss Chicken?”
“No!” she clucked. “I only eat grains, like corn. I have not seen your vegetables.”
And so they went back across the little stream.
Once more at home they thought and thought who else could they ask. Then Mrs. Bunny said, “What about Mr. Mouse?”
Mr. Mouse lived next door, on the other side of the garden. Maybe he knew what happened to the vegetables.
“Mr. Mouse,” they asked, “did you take our vegetables?
“Yes, it was I! I took your vegetables to feed my family who had come for a visit. I was going to leave a note, but I forgot.”
“It’s not nice to take things without asking first” said Mr. Bunny. “If you had asked we would have gladly shared!”
“I’m sorry!” said Mr. Mouse. “What can I do to make it up to you?”
“Well,” said Mr. Bunny. “You can help us with our gardening and we will share our vegetables with you, so that next time your family comes to visit, you’ll have plenty of food.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bunny! I’d be glad to help out in your garden.”
Now everyone worked together, planting an even bigger garden, with even more vegetables and especially more CARROTS!

The End