Squeaks and Sandwiches
Daisy stood in the sunlit kitchen, holding a thick pink marker. She carefully drew a big, looping path on her hand-drawn paper map. Today was the day for the grandest backyard picnic ever planned.
Spunky the goldfish swam in happy circles inside his clear glass bowl. Daisy lifted the bowl with both hands, balancing it against her chest. Golden Panda sat nearby, ready for the adventure.
"We need the perfect spot, Spunky," Daisy whispered, stepping carefully out the back door. The warm morning air greeted them. Golden Panda rode snugly under her arm, his soft face looking forward.
The grassy backyard was wide and wonderful. Daisy looked down at her map, then up at the green lawn. She walked slowly, making sure Spunky's water stayed perfectly still and didn't spill.
Suddenly, a loud chatter came from above. Daisy stopped. High up on a low branch of the massive oak tree sat The Chatty Squirrel, flicking his incredibly bushy tail back and forth.
"Squeak-squeak, chatter-chatter!" the squirrel scolded, leaning forward. Daisy blinked. She looked at Golden Panda, then back at the squirrel. It sounded exactly like he was asking a very important question.
"Oh!" Daisy said, her eyes lighting up. "Are you asking where the picnic is?" The squirrel flicked his tail again and let out a sharp, rhythmic double-squeak that sounded like a definite yes.
Daisy carefully set Spunky's bowl on the soft grass. She cleared her throat and tried to squeak back. "Squeaky-squeak!" she chirped, pointing toward the deep, cool shade of the giant tree.
The Chatty Squirrel sat up straight, looking completely baffled. He tilted his head so far to the side that his ear almost touched his shoulder. Spunky blew three tiny, silent bubbles of agreement.
"I think he wants to know what we are having," Daisy whispered to Golden Panda. She turned to the squirrel. "Squeak-chatter-crunch!" she announced, pretending to nibble on an imaginary, giant sandwich.
The squirrel leaped from the branch, landing on the soft moss below. He scampered closer, his little nose twitching rapidly. Daisy held her breath, thrilled to have made a brand-new, furry friend.
Daisy spread out the pink checkered picnic blanket in the cool shade. She placed Spunky's bowl right in the center, where the light sparkled through the leaves like tiny, dancing green stars.
With a dramatic flourish, Daisy sat down and placed Golden Panda next to Spunky. The squirrel hopped onto the edge of the blanket. He let out one final, loud squeak and pointed his paw.
Daisy followed his gaze. The squirrel wasn't looking at the sandwiches at all. He was staring directly at a bright, shiny acorn that had been resting right under Golden Panda's fuzzy bottom the entire time!
Daisy burst into giggles, her cheeks turning as pink as her marker. "Oh!" she laughed, rolling onto her back. "You didn't want an invitation! You just wanted your lunch back!" The squirrel snatched the acorn happily.
