Big Fight in the Farmyard - Children's Story

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Big Fight in the Farmyard – Ian Grice2

Zookie jumped out of bed and looked out the window. He’d heard a loud banging noise outside the house, and anxiously scanned the yard and farm fields to try and see where the noise was coming from and what it might be. He looked at the clock on the side table beside his bed. Midnight! Who would be up at this time of night making such a noise?3

“Are you there Zookie?” It was Leesle calling from the other upstairs bedroom. “I heard a noise. What’s going on out there?”4

“I suppose we’d better go down and take a look,” said Zookie rubbing his tired eyes.5

He pulled on his farm overalls grumbling as he tied his shoes. “Are you coming with me Leesle?”6

Leesle was already downstairs opening the door when Zookie stumbled down the stairs. Leesle was wearing her pink pajamas with bright yellow sunflowers painted on them and Zookie grunted as he looked at her in the lighted room. “Those pajamas would scare away anything making a noise outside,” he said.7

Now that they were outside they could hear a noise coming from the barn, so hurried over to see what was causing it. When they opened the barn door they saw a strange sight. Mr. Ed the tallest of the two farm horses was rolling around on his back and kicking everything near him. Whenever Mr. Ed would roll over on his right side he would kick one of the feed buckets and it made a crashing noise. Both Leesle and Zookie agreed this was the noise that had disturbed them from their sleep.8

Gathered around Mr. Ed were all the other farm animals. The chickens and ducks were making loud noises, pointing at Mr. Ed with their wings and shaking their heads. The pigs had come in to take a look, but were now going back to their pen to sleep. The donkeys were laughing with loud he haws and cows were making angry mooing sounds and holding their calves close to keep them out the way of Mr. Ed’s kicking feet.9

Night lights in the barn were not very bright, so it was only after Leesle and Zookie had been in the barn for a few minutes they noticed Herman the Bull standing in the shadows snorting angrily.10

“What’s up Herman?” said Zookie.11

“Herman butted me hard and I fell over, now you’ll have to punish him!” said Mr. Ed.12

Zookie knew Mr. Ed was a bit of a trouble maker so he spoke to Herman the bull again.13

“What happened to Mr. Ed Herman, did you push him over?”14

“Look, this is a problem Mr. Ed and I should settle between ourselves. I don’t like to tell tales,” said Herman.15

This made Zookie angry. “All of you farm animals are my responsibility and I don’t want you fighting with each other. If you have problems I expect you to come to Leesle or I and we’ll sort them out. Now you’ve both disturbed everyone’s sleep and should be punished!16

Matilda the cow stepped forward. “We don’t like to tell tales on each other and that’s why we hadn’t complained to you about Mr. Ed before.17

“I was sleeping peacefully and Herman the bull started pushing me around,” whinnied Mr. Ed.18

“That’s not the way it happened,” said Matilda the cow pushing her calf forward. “Do you see my baby?” Zookie inspected Matilda’s baby calf closely.19

“The calf looks a bit skinny Zookie,” said Leesle.20

Matilda continued, “We keep a bucket of food close to our bed each night. When the calf wakes crying and wanting food we’ve something to give her. All last week the bucket’s been empty when our baby woke up during the night. Herman the bull said I’d forgotten to put feed in the bucket before we went to bed, but I knew that wasn’t true. This evening I pretended to sleep and Mr. Ed sneaked over and ate the night snack while I was watching. I woke Herman as Mr. Ed was stealing the food and Herman bellowed so loudly Mr. Ed fell over with fright. Now he’s pretending Herman pushed him over and throwing a tantrum.”21

“I should’ve pushed him,” Herman bellowed.22

Zookie patted Herman’s mane. “I’m sorry I accused you without learning what the truth was first. You and Matilda really should’ve told me this before and I could’ve dealt with Mr. Ed; then we wouldn’t have had to disturb everyone’s sleep.23

The rooster crowed, hens cackled and the ducks quacked. They’d watched Mr. Ed steal the calf’s food each night and he’d threatened if they told Zookie he’d tell on them when they went hiding during Thanksgiving and Christmas. The turkeys had been particularly scared and begged the chickens and ducks not to tell on Mr. Ed. Now they were all happy he’d been caught and they hadn’t been the ones to reveal his secret.24

Mr. Ed saw all the farm animals were cross with him. He looked around hopefully for the other horse to give him support, but the other horse had hidden in a corner of the barn. He was so ashamed of Mr. Ed’s shocking behavior and didn’t want to be seen near him.25

Zookie looked at all the animals and saw they were hoping he would punish Mr. Ed. He looked back at Mr. Ed rolling on the ground kicking buckets. “Get up!” He commanded.26

Mr. Ed kept rolling around, but he stopped kicking the bucket. He could see the angry look on Zookie’s face and started feeling scared. “I was hungry,” he whinnied softly.27

“I said get up!”28

Mr. Ed stopped rolling and stared at Zookie. Then he slowly got up and stood with his head down and his eyes half closed. He wondered if he should squeeze some tears out hoping the farm animals would feel sorry for him and forgive him. But the rooster crowed, Matilda mooed angrily and Herman snorted. They felt he should be punished for stealing.29

“Come outside with me,” Zookie commanded.30

Mr. Ed slowly brushed past the angry farm animals and followed Zookie outside the barn with his head down. He didn’t want to look any of them in the eye as he knew he’d been bad.31

Zookie thought for a moment before talking with Mr. Ed. “Do you know what you’ve been doing is bad?”32

Mr. Ed nodded his head slowly, but wouldn’t lift his head and look at Zookie.33

“What do you think I should do with you?” said Zookie.34

“Just tell me not to do it again?” said Mr. Ed hopefully.35

“No, that’s not going to satisfy Matilda and the rest of the farm animals,” laughed Zookie. “Mr. Ed I’ve noticed you always selfishly take more than your share when hay is put out in the paddock and you’re quite greedy grabbing as many carrots and sugar cubes you can get when treats are handed out. Can you see why other animals don’t like you?”36

Mr. Ed thought for a long time, and then nodded his head.37

“Now I want you to go and apologize to the other animals before they go to bed. Tell them you won’t steal from them again, and promise you won’t tell tales on them because I’m punishing you. OK?”38

Mr. Ed looked hopeful. “That’s all the punishment?”39

“No, you’ll only get half your rations this next week, and you’ll give the other half to Matilda and Herman for their baby. That will make up for what you’ve been stealing from them. OK?” Zookie looked closely at Mr. Ed in the dark to see if he was nodding his head. He was! 40

“Now come with me to the barn. I want to hear you apologize to the farm animals, particularly Matilda!” 41

Mr. Ed trotted behind Zookie to the barn. “I’m Sorry Matilda, sorry Herman, sorry to the rest of you for disturbing your night.”42

“I think you have something else to say Mr. Ed,” said Zookie.43

“I’m going to give half my rations for the next week to Herman and Matilda to make up for their baby’s food I stole, and I’ll never tell tales on any of the farm animals.”44

The farm animals gasped in surprise. They’d always looked on Mr. Ed as selfish and grumpy, but now he looked genuinely sorry.45

Matilda looked at Herman. “We forgive you Mr. Ed.46

The rest of the farm animals were all nodding their heads in agreement. Leesle smiled at Zookie. “Well done Zookie and good for you Mr. Ed,” she said47

“Are we all friends again?” said Zookie.48

“Yes!” the farm animals chorused together.49

“Then let’s all go back to bed,” said Zookie rubbing his tired eyes once more. He took Leesle’s hand as they walked back to the house.50

“Sorry I grumped about your pajamas, they’re quite cute,” Zookie said smiling at Leesle.51

Leesle giggled, and gave Zookie’s hand a big squeeze.52

“© Ian Grice 2008”53