Thistle the Funny Snoodle Dog

And Candy the Calico Cat The Hollow Log, Murphy Beagle, Ripple Raccoon Friends Forever Thistle woke up with a bright ray of sunshine in one eye and Candy cat licking on the other eye. Candy waited as long as she could for the pup to get up and go play. She was always gentle with her awakening licks. Even so they were wet and cool as the breeze blew across the dampness. The licks always brought Thistle to life from his deepest sleep. This morning was no exception. Up he came, blinking and shaking his head to clear his eyes and brain. Candy arched and calmly waved her tail as if she hadnt been a part to the excited awakening. She gave Thistle a come on look and went through the garage door. Adventure was on her mind. It didnt take any coaxing to get the rested and energetic pup to follow. Minutes later they were out past the horse lots and into the neighbors field. They went through the field and into the woods. The woods had several big old oak trees that Grandpa called Den Trees because they were hollow and had big holes in them that squirrels, raccoons, opossums and even owls and hawks made nests in. Some trees were over one hundred years old. Grandpa talked about climbing those very trees when he was a child. Some of the older trees were falling apart. Storms had killed some and insects others. When a trees roots die it begins to decay and fall apart. Big limbs, as big as a man, fall off sometimes. Those big limbs can be hollow and animals love to hide and even play in the hollow limbs. You should never stick your hand in a hollow limb or log before looking and perhaps shinning a flashlight in first. You never know what might be snuggled up asleep or taking refuge inside the dark cavity. This nice day had the two friends investigating everything, hollow logs and limbs, piles of leaves and even big brush piles left by the farmer after the storms blew off hundreds of tree limbs. Thistle followed Candy up to big logs and looked inside right along with her. One log was turned sideways and the adventuresome pair had to suck in air to get through the tight space to give the black cavity a peek. BOOOOOOOOWWWWW..BOOOOOOOWWWWW BOOOOOOOWWWW..BOOOOWWWWW Murphy beagle wasnt a

stranger to either of the pals but his loud baying nearly scared the wits out of them since they were in such a tight place. The little beagle dog ran right by them and never looked up from the trail he was sniffing on and following. Murphy was a rabbit hunter. He never caught a bunny in his eight years of life. But he and the bunnies spent hours running through the woods and fields playing hide and seek. Beagles have a great nose for smelling rabbits trails and following every tricky step the bunnies take to dodge a dog. But rabbits have speed on their side. Beagles are short and about half as fast as rabbits. Rabbit hunters love to watch how rabbits lead the beagles around in a big circle, always returning to the spot where the dog first jumped them up. Six or seven beagles hot on the trail of a smart bunny on a big farm will make hunters laugh and never take their eyes off of the zigging, zagging, looking back and even resting the rabbit will do while being pursued. A beagles loud and fun loving baying, drawled out barking or howling, can be heard for miles on a cool, snowy day. When the rabbit gets tired of playing he will duck in under a big brush pile or hay stack that the dogs cant get into or back under. The beagle pack will bay and circle around for awhile before going to search for another rabbit to trail and chase. Murphys nose was one inch from the ground and he never even new Thistle and Candy were anywhere around. For that matter he never knew anything or anyone was about. As Murphy ran by a short hollow log he frightened Ripple, a young raccoon. The short hollow log was just long enough for Ripple to get into the night before, when he ate his last crawfish from the spring on Grandpas farm. Murphy went flying by Ripples log throwing leaves and small sticks in every direction. Ripple was awakened by leaves sailing into his tight but comfy hiding place. THRRRRRRBBBBBLLLL.THRRRRBBBLLLL Up the raccoon came in a panic and burst of energy. He was going to get as far away from whatever was slinging leaves and twigs all over the forest. And run he did. His nearly round body, while asleep, stretched out like a long distance runners. He was putting distance between him and the log in a hurry ...until. Thistle and Candy were spooked by Murphy too. They were in the process of backing and jumping back out of the tight place they were in when Ripple reached their location...at a dead run.

BAAAAAARRRRRR..GRRRRRRROOOOWWWW..T HRRRRRRRNNNLLLLLL Everyone involved in the crash was making some sort of noise, some from fear and some from a little pain. None of the three animals ever expected to be in a dog pile with each other not in a lifetime. Candy was older than the youngsters Thistle and Ripple. She in her years of roaming the fields and forests had never had a happening like this. Cats are high jumpers and so are raccoons. So those two went straight up into the air to get away from the three caruh ...animal pile up. Trouble was they jumped up so quickly that their directions were off. Instead of jumping away from each other they jumped into each other and crashed againin mid air. MMMEEEEEOOOOOO..CCHHEEEEETTEEEERRR There were loud animal voices as the two tangled up and headed for the ground. Thistle was rolled over on his back during the ground crash and was trying to get to his feet when the air born animals came down. He saw what was happening but the young and still clumsy puppy just couldnt get out of the way. SLLLLLLLAAAAAAMMMMMM.TTHHHUUUUMMMMPP The pile of animals hit with a THUD. Ripple, a wild animal taught by his mamma not to ever even be seen by man or tame animalsand for sure not to touch one was scrambling for all his worth to get on his feet and run. Candy was a tame animal taught to never get entangled with a WILD animal. She was scrambling to get to her feet too. Their hair was tangling and slowing progress to get free. Another thing was not letting them get a good footing on the ground very fastone poor little puppyThistle. Thistle would have gladly given the two tangled up and excited animals the ground they needed for footing. Fact was he was being trampled like a rug and the more he tried to get up the more they clawed and stomped on him. Thistle finally crawled under them just enough to get out of the flying feet and bodies attacking him. It wasnt actually an attack but it just as well had been. He was bruised and battered from head to toe. Ripple headed off in a freeing direction this time. Thistles head was turned just right to see the raccoon go out of sight over a big log. Candy ran for a few yards in the opposite direction and then stopped and looked back toward her canine friend. She walked over to Thistle, sat down and began to lick dirt off her fur. She found a few sore places that got a little extra attention.

Thistle was a bit dumbfounded for a few minutes. Moments before, he had been exploring and having a great time running with his friend. In just seconds he and Candy were frightened into running backwards from a hollow log. Then something ran them over, tangled up with Candy and both his friend and the stranger attempted to make hamburger of him. He didnt know if he should go to his friend and give her a big we are still friends lick or go over to her and begin to jump up and down on her like she did him. He didnt do either. The smell Ripple left on him was overwhelming and he too began to lick dirt, wounds, and raccoon scent off his fur. Thistle put a note in his brain. Ring tailed animals, Raccoons, were to be left alone. He and Candy walked back toward Grandpas farm, stopping every now and then to lick a itchy place or two. Both had been on a scary adventure. Candy stopped once to lick off a spot on Thistles back that he couldnt reach. She spit out the glob of raccoon fur quickly and Thistle saw her shake her head from the bad taste. The puppy remembered his momma doing that same distasteful thing to help him recover and clean up from one of his adventures. He knew right then and there Candy and him were stilland always would be friends. Candy gave the sore, tired and frizzled hair puppy a nudge to move on toward home and off they went.

Can you match the words with their meanings? Exception____ Breeze___ Coaxing___ Energetic____ Cavity____ Pack___ (A) An unfilled space (B) Odd, different, not the rule (C) A group, band, bundle (D) A light wind (E) Active (F) To urge someone