Mese angolul: The red umbrella

 

 „I think I will have a picnic by the river,” said Ricky Rabbit.

 

He looked out of the window: the sun was shining but there were som ebig clouds int he sky.

 

„Perhaps I had better take my umbrella,” he said,” it might rain and I don’t like getting wet.”

 

He put on his scarf, packed a flask of tea and a bag of biscuits, then he picked a big lettuce at the baker’s shop and bought some currant buns and jam tarts.

 

„My little Dan and Daisy went down to the river this morning,” said Mr Harvest Mouse, the baker,” and they haven’t come home yet. Look out for them, will you?”

 

„I will”, answered Ricky.” Now, tell me, do you think it will rain?”

 

„Oh, no!” laughed Mr Harvest Mouse, „ it’s a lovely day!”

 

„Rather a pity I brought my umbrella,” thought Ricky.

 

The first person he meta s he walked through the woods to the river was Hopscotch, the frog.

 

Hopscotch was feeling very cross.

 

„I want to take home some blackberries,” he grumbled, „ but they are all growing so high up that I can’t reach them, fine hopper though I am.”

 

Ricky hooked his umbrella over a branch and pulled it down.

 

„Oh, thank you!” cried Hopscotch, as he filled his cans, „ that’s splendid. I shall have enough to make bramble jelly and I will give you a pot to put in your store cupboard.”

 

„That’s very kind of you,” said Ricky, „ I’m fond of bramble jelly.”

 

Ricky hummed a little tune as he walked on through the woods but he had rather a fright when he saw old Foxy taking a short cut to his den over the hill. Ricky and Foxy were not good friends and Foxy had a very hungry look in his eyes today.

 

„ I mustn’t let him se eme,” said Ricky and he looked around for a good hiding place.

 

Som ebig red toadstools were growing nearby, so Ricky put up his umbrella and popped underneath it.

 

Old Foxy thought that th ered umbrella was another toadstool and went on his way without noticing the little rabbit.

 

„That was lucky,” whispered Ricky.

 

He skipped along by the river looking for a comfortable place to have his tea and talking to some of the birds and animals he met.

 

Then he heard a little cry – „Help! Help!”

 

„Who is that?” called Ricky looking across the water.

 

There, ont he grassy island int he middle of the river, Ricky saw Dan and Daisy, the two little harvest mice.

 

„We rowed our boat up the river and landed on this island,” cried Dan.

 

„But the boat drifted away,” sobbed Daisy,” and we can’t get back.”

 

„This-looks like another job for my umbrella,” decided Ricky.

 

He opened th ebig umbrella and floated it ont he water, then he stepped inside and paddled out to the island.

 

„Oh, Ricky, you are clever,” cried Dan, as he and Daisy scrambled in and Ricky paddled the umbrella back to the bank.

 

„Your umbrella makes a lovely boat,” said Daisy.

 

„You must be hungry,” said Ricky, when they were all safely ashore,” there’s plenty in my basket for you both to share.”

 

Everyone enjoyed the picnic: the lettuce and biscuits were fresh and crisp and the buns and tarts were delicious.

 

„ Although it didn’t rain,” said Ricky, „ it’s very lucky that I took my umbrella.”