Sometimes, if you look closely, you find the most amazing things in the woods. That's one of the reasons Noggin loves to play in the woods. In fact, it's probably his favorite place of all to play. Especially at this time of year, when there are big piles of leaves to kick through, and squishy mud to splash in. So when Izzy said "Let's go to the woods today," Noggin was out the door before she even finished the sentence.
It was a very cold day, so Noggin was wearing his red and white jumper, and Izzy had her warm coat and hat and scarf and mittens on. As usual, when they got to the woods, Noggin ran ahead to explore a bit, racing around and smelling all the lovely woodsy smells. He hadn't run far when he suddenly stopped because he thought he saw himself coming the other way! Of course, that's not possible, he told himself. Maybe someone left a mirror in the woods.
But it wasn't a mirror, it was another West Highland Terrier, who looked exactly like Noggin, except that he wasn't wearing a red and white jumper, but he didn't stop or even seem to see Noggin, he just ran right past him.
"Wait," called Noggin, "come back and play." But the other Westie just kept running. Then another dog, a brown one, rushed by in the same direction, almost knocking Noggin over. "Sorry," he yelled back over his shoulder as he ran. "Runaway baby! No time to lose!"
Just then, Izzy caught up with Noggin. "Did he say baby?" she asked.
"That's what it sounded like," said Noggin. "Maybe we should follow them." So they ran after the two dogs, and soon found them. But they weren't alone. Sitting between them, in the middle of a squishy mud puddle, was a very little girl, just a baby, really. And she was laughing and splashing the mud all over the two dogs, who were still panting from all the running.
"Hello," said Noggin. "Who do we have here?"
"Hello," said the other Westie. "Sorry about that back there. My name is Bailey, and this is Fenway, and we were supposed to be babysitting little Ryan here. But you know how it is, you get distracted by a good smell, and one minute she was there and the next she was gone. She can't even walk yet, but she can crawl faster than you can imagine!
"We'd be in big trouble if we lost her," said Fenway. "Our parents really like her."
Izzy, who knows that babies are not usually allowed to play in the mud, asked, "Won't you be in big trouble when they find her covered in mud?"
"Oh no, I hadn't thought of that," said Bailey. "Will you help us clean her up?"
So Izzy took off her scarf and used it as a towel to wipe off all the mud. "Her jumper is too dirty," said Izzy. "It'll have to go. But what will she wear?"
"I have an idea," said Noggin.
Later, after Bailey and Fenway had said goodbye and carried Ryan home safe and sound (with only a few bits of mud still in her hair), Ryan's mummy gave them both treats for taking such good care of her. "The only question I have," she said, "is where this red and white jumper came from?"
Bailey and Fenway just smiled.
This is Ryan (wearing Noggin's jumper) with her mummy and daddy, and Bailey and Fenway.
Noggin, Izzy, and Barbara,
Thank you soooo much for my wonderful story. What a Thanksgiving surprise that I will cherish always!
My family has already read and enjoyed the story many times!!
Thank you again. I can't wait to hear more about your adventures!
Ryan
Posted by: Ryan | 23 November 2006 at 03:59 PM