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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Kids
- Theme: Action & Adventure
- Subject: Childhood / Youth
- Published: 04/04/2015
This story is for readers of all ages.
The
Country Spider
by
P.M. Louis
Not so long ago, a tiny creek flowed through a small wild countryside that lay just a little way from the big city. Next to that tiny creek grew a great big old oak. In that great big old oak tree lived a spider named Clyde.
Now, Clyde was not a great big scary spider. Clyde was a small young jumping spider. During the long summer days, he would spend his time jumping and leaping in the tall grass of the wild meadows. Sometimes Clyde would spin parachutes made of web so he and his friends could float on the warm summer breeze. Clyde liked making many friends.
At night Clyde would climb high into the great big old oak tree, spin him self a web and fall fast asleep under the bright summer moon.
Early one morning, Clyde woke to a howling wind that made the great big old oak tree sway back and forth. Clyde also noticed that there was a chill in the air. Something was different about today. Things all around seemed to be changing in one way or another. Later that very same morning Clyde noticed that the leaves in the great big old oak tree were starting to change colors, and some were starting to fall to the ground. Still later that day when Clyde went to find his friends they were all very, very busy. All his friends at the ant pile were rushing this way and that way looking for food. Not one of them said one word to him. On his way back home Clyde stopped to see his friends, The Ground Squirrel, and the Rabbit who lived at the bottom of the great big old oak tree. They too were busy gathering grubs, berries, roots, and grasses. No one had time to play with Clyde. This was turning out to be a very strange day indeed…Boring too.
Finally giving up on finding anyone to play with, Clyde started the long climb back to the top of the great big oak tree. Taking a short break half way to the top, Clyde could see a flock of birds flying overhead. One of them seemed to be coming in for a landing. Maybe Clyde's day was finally looking up. Clyde liked making new friends. When the bird landed Clyde climbed up to meet him. He seemed very tired and out of breath.
"Hello" said Clyde.
''Who's that!" wondered the bird just a bit surprised.
''Its me, down here!'' Clyde piped up.
''Oh! Well, how do you do''? Said the bird.
''Fine thanks! My names Clyde and this is where I live. You're welcome to stay and rest for a while." Clyde declared.
"Well thank you so much Clyde but I've got a long way to go and don't want to get too far behind." said the bird.
"Where are you and all the other birds going?" asked Clyde.
"We're going south to the big cities for the winter." replied the bird.
"What's winter and where are all the big cities?" Clyde inquired.
"Well," Said the bird who was now just barely catching his breath. "I see that this may take a while. By the way, my friends call me Jake."
"Nice to meet you Jake." Replied Clyde, eager for an answer to his question."
"Lets see, where do I start." mumbled Jake, whiping his brow. "Winter is the coldest season of the year. Ya' see, during that time it becomes very cold and food becomes scarce and hard to come by. So we and many other creatures migrate to a more comfortable area where it is warm, and food and shelter are more abundant."
"Oh, I see." said Clyde, still a little puzzled. "Will it get cold and icy here where I live?" asked Clyde.
"I'm afraid so." said Jake.
"Where will I migrate to?"
"Some creatures don't migrate at all. Some hibernate and sleep through the entire season. Some creatures eat and store up enough food to just tough it out."
Still just a bit confused by all this Clyde wondered just exactly what he should do.
"Well, gotta get goin' Clyde. Thank you for your hospitality." Jake said as he flew away.
"Wait!" Shouted Clyde. "I still don't know what I should do."
It was too late. Jake was already catching up with another flock of birds flying south. Suddenly, Clyde felt all alone for the very first time. It was still early in the day but Clyde began to feel very tired. Indeed, it had turned out to be a very strange day.
That night Clyde thought about what he should do very carefully. I guess hibernating would be the safest thing to do. Clyde thought. And I wouldn't even have to gather and store any food. I will just eat as much as I can until winter comes. With his mind made up Clyde was soon fast asleep.
The next morning Clyde woke still a little uncertain about all this "winter" stuff. Just as soon he set out to catch his breakfast, all the creatures in the meadow became very quiet and alert.
Something was coming.
Something big and loud.
Clyde and all the other creatures ran for cover. Whatever it was, it was heading straight for the great big old oak tree. It looked like a wagon without any horses to pull it. It was hissing and growling like nothing Clyde had ever heard before. Finally, when it got under the shadow of the great big old tree, it came to a sputtering halt.
What is this crazy beast? Clyde thought. Then to Clyde's amazement, the sides opened up and two, two legged creatures got out. It was a wagon after all!
It was the wackiest wagon Clyde had ever seen. A wagon with no horses to pull it.
Wow! Clyde thought. A wagon like that could only come from one place. The big city!
But what were these two-legged creatures doing, pulling all sorts of things from their crazy wagon?
A blanket. An umbrella. A basket.
Pretty soon, Clyde realized that these two-leggers were only here to have a picnic.
Quickly, Clyde began hatching his plan.
Clyde liked to be adventurous and outgoing. "What better place to make new friends than in the big city?" Said Clyde as he climbed into the picnic basket. "Besides, who wants to spend the whole winter sleeping?"
Jake said it was nice and warm in the big city. Clyde could stay in the city until winter was good and gone and then find his way back home.
It was a long and bumpy ride to the city inside the dark picnic basket but after a while the ride got a little smoother. Then at last the noisy wagon stopped. This was Clyde's chance! Quickly, Clyde leapt from the picnic basket!
It was a long way down and the landing was hard, but Clyde was a nimble little spider and quick on his feet. It was not until after he landed that he realized that maybe he had leapt too soon. Clyde found himself in the middle of a wide roadway filled with a bunch of the loud crazy wagons speeding by in both directions.
Clyde was in danger!
Frightened and close to panic Clyde looked both ways and made a mad dash for safety.
"That was a close one!" said Clyde as he climbed the curb. When he got to the middle of the sidewalk Clyde marveled at all the tall buildings. "Wow! So this is the big city!" Clyde said to himself as he set off in search for a good place to call home for the winter. When he reached the end of the block Clyde suddenly found himself in the middle of a stampede. A whole herd of the strange two-legged creatures were crossing the intersection and filling the sidewalk. Terrified, Clyde had to scramble left, then right, and then left again to avoid being trampled by the mob of two-leggers. Another close call for Clyde.
"Why are these "two-leggers" in such a hurry?" Clyde wondered. Maybe they're migrating to their winter homes. Thought Clyde, amazed at the fast pace of the city.
"I'd stay out of their way if I were you." Came a raspy voice from above. Clyde looked up to see where the voice had come from, but whoever had given the advice could not be seen. Clyde could see an open window, so he decided to climb up and investigate. Climbing the drainpipe Clyde heard another voice. This one was coming from the bottom of the drainpipe. "Where do you think you're going?" said the voice. "This is our building!"
Clyde hopped over to the open windowsill to find out who, or what, was talking to him. Sitting on the windowsill was a big fat cockroach.
"Hello." Said Clyde, Happy to make his first acquaintance in the city.
"Hello yourself!" said the cockroach very rudely.
"I just wanted to thank you for the advice, I just got here and don't really know my way around." Clyde exclaimed.
"Go back the way you came up!" came the voice from below, which was another cockroach climbing up to the windowsill.
"Yeah!" said the first cockroach. "We've already got enough mouths to feed around here!"
"I just wanted to make some new friends and find a place to stay for the winter." explained Clyde.
"Well you can't stay here!" griped the second cockroach as he finally reached the open window. "Our nest is full for the season, and you're not even a roach."
"Yeah, you silly spider!" added the fat one.
Not feeling very welcome, Clyde climbed back down to the sidewalk and began looking for a tree to make a winter home in. After searching for hours, Clyde could find not one good tree or even a decent patch of grass. Everything in the city was hard and cold, and everyone that Clyde came upon was in a big hurry or treated him very rudely.
Suddenly, Clyde felt very, very alone and just a little bit afraid. Now for the first time Clyde started to think that he had made a very big mistake. As the sun began to set, Clyde felt the familiar chill in the air. Soon it would be dark and the only place Clyde could find to spin a web was a rusty old light post on a dark and lonely street. Clyde was alone and feeling very sad. Sleep came very easy.
The next morning Clyde woke to the sound of someone sobbing. It was coming from the top of the light post. Clyde climbed up to find out what the trouble was. At the top of the light post, there was a mother bird with two small eggs in her nest.
"Why are you crying?" asked Clyde.
"Who's there!" called the mother bird protecting her eggs.
"It's only me down here." Said Clyde as he jumped up to the edge of the nest.
"Oh," said the mother bird. "it's only a spider."
"I didn't mean to scare you, but why are you crying?" asked Clyde.
"Winter is coming and my eggs haven't hatched. If they don't hatch soon I'll have to abandon them to fly south for the season
"I'm very sorry to hear that." Replied Clyde not really knowing what else to say that might comfort the frightened mother bird. Not feeling like very much help, Clyde turned to go back down the light post when the mother bird called out in a gentle voice.
"Wait. Are you alright? You look a little scared your self." Clyde was glad to hear some concern in the mother birds voice, but he knew that there was probably not much that they could do to help one another.
"I'm alright." answered Clyde. "I'm just a little home sick that's all."
"Where is your home?" asked the mother bird.
"Just over those hills in a great big old oak tree." Clyde said pointing to the hills south of the city.
"You sure are a long way from home." said the mother bird. "What's your name little spider?"
"My name is Clyde." He said, happy to make a new friend.
"My name is Karen." said the mother bird. And there they sat in silence just for a short moment enjoying each other's company. Neither of them felt so alone anymore but instead felt the warmth of a new found friend.
"Well, I should be going." Clyde said, not very eager to leave after their moment of comforting silence. Then, without another word, Clyde started down the light post.
On his way down he thought of a dream he had had through the night. Clyde had dreamt about being back in the great big old oak tree playing with his friends from the ant pile. He smiled at the thought of all their happy faces floating through the summer breeze on the parachutes he had made. It was then that Clyde suddenly had a wonderful idea.
Clyde scurried back up to the nest. "Karen! I've got a great plan!" shouted Clyde. "We're getting outta here!"
Totally suprised by the little spiders outburst, karen the mother bird asked what Clyde had in mind.
"I'm gonna weave you a basket!" said Clyde already going to work at the bottom of the nest. "A good strong basket, for you to carry your eggs in."
"Are you sure it will hold them?" asked the mother bird nervously.
"I'm absolutely positive it will work."
Clyde worked weaving the basket all day and all through the night. Finally by the next morning the basket was complete. The mother bird was very pleased.
"It sure is a very good basket." proclaimed Clyde, proud of his work.
"It certainly does look strong and true." said the mother bird." Are you ready for take off Clyde?"
"Ready whenever you are." said Clyde as he eagerly climbed up into the basket.
Up and away they went, flying south over the city to the hills beyond. Looking down from the basket Clyde could see everything below. On the horizon, Clyde noticed a small creek winding through a wide-open meadow.
And then, there it was in the distance. The great big old oak tree!
"There it is!' shouted Clyde. "I'm home!"
As they got closer Clyde could see all his friends still busy preparing for winter. He was not too late.
Before saying goodbye to the mother bird, he invited her back to the Great Big Old Oak Tree for the summer. After their adventure together, Clyde and the mother birds friendship lasted for many happy seasons to come.
THE END.
the country spider(p.m. louis)
This story is for readers of all ages.
The
Country Spider
by
P.M. Louis
Not so long ago, a tiny creek flowed through a small wild countryside that lay just a little way from the big city. Next to that tiny creek grew a great big old oak. In that great big old oak tree lived a spider named Clyde.
Now, Clyde was not a great big scary spider. Clyde was a small young jumping spider. During the long summer days, he would spend his time jumping and leaping in the tall grass of the wild meadows. Sometimes Clyde would spin parachutes made of web so he and his friends could float on the warm summer breeze. Clyde liked making many friends.
At night Clyde would climb high into the great big old oak tree, spin him self a web and fall fast asleep under the bright summer moon.
Early one morning, Clyde woke to a howling wind that made the great big old oak tree sway back and forth. Clyde also noticed that there was a chill in the air. Something was different about today. Things all around seemed to be changing in one way or another. Later that very same morning Clyde noticed that the leaves in the great big old oak tree were starting to change colors, and some were starting to fall to the ground. Still later that day when Clyde went to find his friends they were all very, very busy. All his friends at the ant pile were rushing this way and that way looking for food. Not one of them said one word to him. On his way back home Clyde stopped to see his friends, The Ground Squirrel, and the Rabbit who lived at the bottom of the great big old oak tree. They too were busy gathering grubs, berries, roots, and grasses. No one had time to play with Clyde. This was turning out to be a very strange day indeed…Boring too.
Finally giving up on finding anyone to play with, Clyde started the long climb back to the top of the great big oak tree. Taking a short break half way to the top, Clyde could see a flock of birds flying overhead. One of them seemed to be coming in for a landing. Maybe Clyde's day was finally looking up. Clyde liked making new friends. When the bird landed Clyde climbed up to meet him. He seemed very tired and out of breath.
"Hello" said Clyde.
''Who's that!" wondered the bird just a bit surprised.
''Its me, down here!'' Clyde piped up.
''Oh! Well, how do you do''? Said the bird.
''Fine thanks! My names Clyde and this is where I live. You're welcome to stay and rest for a while." Clyde declared.
"Well thank you so much Clyde but I've got a long way to go and don't want to get too far behind." said the bird.
"Where are you and all the other birds going?" asked Clyde.
"We're going south to the big cities for the winter." replied the bird.
"What's winter and where are all the big cities?" Clyde inquired.
"Well," Said the bird who was now just barely catching his breath. "I see that this may take a while. By the way, my friends call me Jake."
"Nice to meet you Jake." Replied Clyde, eager for an answer to his question."
"Lets see, where do I start." mumbled Jake, whiping his brow. "Winter is the coldest season of the year. Ya' see, during that time it becomes very cold and food becomes scarce and hard to come by. So we and many other creatures migrate to a more comfortable area where it is warm, and food and shelter are more abundant."
"Oh, I see." said Clyde, still a little puzzled. "Will it get cold and icy here where I live?" asked Clyde.
"I'm afraid so." said Jake.
"Where will I migrate to?"
"Some creatures don't migrate at all. Some hibernate and sleep through the entire season. Some creatures eat and store up enough food to just tough it out."
Still just a bit confused by all this Clyde wondered just exactly what he should do.
"Well, gotta get goin' Clyde. Thank you for your hospitality." Jake said as he flew away.
"Wait!" Shouted Clyde. "I still don't know what I should do."
It was too late. Jake was already catching up with another flock of birds flying south. Suddenly, Clyde felt all alone for the very first time. It was still early in the day but Clyde began to feel very tired. Indeed, it had turned out to be a very strange day.
That night Clyde thought about what he should do very carefully. I guess hibernating would be the safest thing to do. Clyde thought. And I wouldn't even have to gather and store any food. I will just eat as much as I can until winter comes. With his mind made up Clyde was soon fast asleep.
The next morning Clyde woke still a little uncertain about all this "winter" stuff. Just as soon he set out to catch his breakfast, all the creatures in the meadow became very quiet and alert.
Something was coming.
Something big and loud.
Clyde and all the other creatures ran for cover. Whatever it was, it was heading straight for the great big old oak tree. It looked like a wagon without any horses to pull it. It was hissing and growling like nothing Clyde had ever heard before. Finally, when it got under the shadow of the great big old tree, it came to a sputtering halt.
What is this crazy beast? Clyde thought. Then to Clyde's amazement, the sides opened up and two, two legged creatures got out. It was a wagon after all!
It was the wackiest wagon Clyde had ever seen. A wagon with no horses to pull it.
Wow! Clyde thought. A wagon like that could only come from one place. The big city!
But what were these two-legged creatures doing, pulling all sorts of things from their crazy wagon?
A blanket. An umbrella. A basket.
Pretty soon, Clyde realized that these two-leggers were only here to have a picnic.
Quickly, Clyde began hatching his plan.
Clyde liked to be adventurous and outgoing. "What better place to make new friends than in the big city?" Said Clyde as he climbed into the picnic basket. "Besides, who wants to spend the whole winter sleeping?"
Jake said it was nice and warm in the big city. Clyde could stay in the city until winter was good and gone and then find his way back home.
It was a long and bumpy ride to the city inside the dark picnic basket but after a while the ride got a little smoother. Then at last the noisy wagon stopped. This was Clyde's chance! Quickly, Clyde leapt from the picnic basket!
It was a long way down and the landing was hard, but Clyde was a nimble little spider and quick on his feet. It was not until after he landed that he realized that maybe he had leapt too soon. Clyde found himself in the middle of a wide roadway filled with a bunch of the loud crazy wagons speeding by in both directions.
Clyde was in danger!
Frightened and close to panic Clyde looked both ways and made a mad dash for safety.
"That was a close one!" said Clyde as he climbed the curb. When he got to the middle of the sidewalk Clyde marveled at all the tall buildings. "Wow! So this is the big city!" Clyde said to himself as he set off in search for a good place to call home for the winter. When he reached the end of the block Clyde suddenly found himself in the middle of a stampede. A whole herd of the strange two-legged creatures were crossing the intersection and filling the sidewalk. Terrified, Clyde had to scramble left, then right, and then left again to avoid being trampled by the mob of two-leggers. Another close call for Clyde.
"Why are these "two-leggers" in such a hurry?" Clyde wondered. Maybe they're migrating to their winter homes. Thought Clyde, amazed at the fast pace of the city.
"I'd stay out of their way if I were you." Came a raspy voice from above. Clyde looked up to see where the voice had come from, but whoever had given the advice could not be seen. Clyde could see an open window, so he decided to climb up and investigate. Climbing the drainpipe Clyde heard another voice. This one was coming from the bottom of the drainpipe. "Where do you think you're going?" said the voice. "This is our building!"
Clyde hopped over to the open windowsill to find out who, or what, was talking to him. Sitting on the windowsill was a big fat cockroach.
"Hello." Said Clyde, Happy to make his first acquaintance in the city.
"Hello yourself!" said the cockroach very rudely.
"I just wanted to thank you for the advice, I just got here and don't really know my way around." Clyde exclaimed.
"Go back the way you came up!" came the voice from below, which was another cockroach climbing up to the windowsill.
"Yeah!" said the first cockroach. "We've already got enough mouths to feed around here!"
"I just wanted to make some new friends and find a place to stay for the winter." explained Clyde.
"Well you can't stay here!" griped the second cockroach as he finally reached the open window. "Our nest is full for the season, and you're not even a roach."
"Yeah, you silly spider!" added the fat one.
Not feeling very welcome, Clyde climbed back down to the sidewalk and began looking for a tree to make a winter home in. After searching for hours, Clyde could find not one good tree or even a decent patch of grass. Everything in the city was hard and cold, and everyone that Clyde came upon was in a big hurry or treated him very rudely.
Suddenly, Clyde felt very, very alone and just a little bit afraid. Now for the first time Clyde started to think that he had made a very big mistake. As the sun began to set, Clyde felt the familiar chill in the air. Soon it would be dark and the only place Clyde could find to spin a web was a rusty old light post on a dark and lonely street. Clyde was alone and feeling very sad. Sleep came very easy.
The next morning Clyde woke to the sound of someone sobbing. It was coming from the top of the light post. Clyde climbed up to find out what the trouble was. At the top of the light post, there was a mother bird with two small eggs in her nest.
"Why are you crying?" asked Clyde.
"Who's there!" called the mother bird protecting her eggs.
"It's only me down here." Said Clyde as he jumped up to the edge of the nest.
"Oh," said the mother bird. "it's only a spider."
"I didn't mean to scare you, but why are you crying?" asked Clyde.
"Winter is coming and my eggs haven't hatched. If they don't hatch soon I'll have to abandon them to fly south for the season
"I'm very sorry to hear that." Replied Clyde not really knowing what else to say that might comfort the frightened mother bird. Not feeling like very much help, Clyde turned to go back down the light post when the mother bird called out in a gentle voice.
"Wait. Are you alright? You look a little scared your self." Clyde was glad to hear some concern in the mother birds voice, but he knew that there was probably not much that they could do to help one another.
"I'm alright." answered Clyde. "I'm just a little home sick that's all."
"Where is your home?" asked the mother bird.
"Just over those hills in a great big old oak tree." Clyde said pointing to the hills south of the city.
"You sure are a long way from home." said the mother bird. "What's your name little spider?"
"My name is Clyde." He said, happy to make a new friend.
"My name is Karen." said the mother bird. And there they sat in silence just for a short moment enjoying each other's company. Neither of them felt so alone anymore but instead felt the warmth of a new found friend.
"Well, I should be going." Clyde said, not very eager to leave after their moment of comforting silence. Then, without another word, Clyde started down the light post.
On his way down he thought of a dream he had had through the night. Clyde had dreamt about being back in the great big old oak tree playing with his friends from the ant pile. He smiled at the thought of all their happy faces floating through the summer breeze on the parachutes he had made. It was then that Clyde suddenly had a wonderful idea.
Clyde scurried back up to the nest. "Karen! I've got a great plan!" shouted Clyde. "We're getting outta here!"
Totally suprised by the little spiders outburst, karen the mother bird asked what Clyde had in mind.
"I'm gonna weave you a basket!" said Clyde already going to work at the bottom of the nest. "A good strong basket, for you to carry your eggs in."
"Are you sure it will hold them?" asked the mother bird nervously.
"I'm absolutely positive it will work."
Clyde worked weaving the basket all day and all through the night. Finally by the next morning the basket was complete. The mother bird was very pleased.
"It sure is a very good basket." proclaimed Clyde, proud of his work.
"It certainly does look strong and true." said the mother bird." Are you ready for take off Clyde?"
"Ready whenever you are." said Clyde as he eagerly climbed up into the basket.
Up and away they went, flying south over the city to the hills beyond. Looking down from the basket Clyde could see everything below. On the horizon, Clyde noticed a small creek winding through a wide-open meadow.
And then, there it was in the distance. The great big old oak tree!
"There it is!' shouted Clyde. "I'm home!"
As they got closer Clyde could see all his friends still busy preparing for winter. He was not too late.
Before saying goodbye to the mother bird, he invited her back to the Great Big Old Oak Tree for the summer. After their adventure together, Clyde and the mother birds friendship lasted for many happy seasons to come.
THE END.
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