PATIENCE FROM A CARROT PATCH

Bobby Bunny worked very hard helping his grandfather plant carrot seeds. Bobby loved carrots. He was very excited about their carrot crop.

Each morning Bobby hurried out to the garden, eager to see what the carrots were doing.

Then one morning when Bobby reached the garden his eyes widened in surprise; row after row of tiny green plants were growing out of the ground.

"Our carrots are here! "Our carrots are here," shouted Bobby, running to find his grandfather.

"When may we eat them, Grandfather?", asked Bobby, hopping about the garden.

"Oh, not for a while yet," answered Grandfather Rabbit. "The carrots must grow large and juicy before they will be good to eat."

"But I want to eat them NOW!, Bobby exclaimed.

"I know, but it takes lots and lots of patience to grow a fine carrot crop." his grandfather explained.

Hmmph! Patience! I'll go find some patience, then we'll have the best carrot crop ever, said Bobby Bunny to himself.

Bobby decided to ask his friends for some help. He spied Mister Blue Jay, staring at a hole in the ground.

"Hey, Mister Blue Jay," shouted Bobby.

"Shhh!", said Mister Blue Jay, "I'm waiting for a nice juicy worm for my dinner."

"How long must you wait?" asked Bobby

"As long as it takes," replied Mister Blue Jay.

"Well, I wanted you to help me look for something", said Bobby, "but I see you are too busy. I will find someone else to help.

"I can help you tomorrow," said Mister Blue Jay.

"No, I must find it it right away," said Bobby.

Bobby walked over to Buster Squirrell, who sat beneath an oak tree.

"Hi, Buster," he said. "Can you help me? I am looking for something and I thought perhaps you would help me find it."

"Sure," said Buster, "but first I must wait for a nice round acorn to fall. See? It's the one at the very top of the tree. I've been waiting for days now."

"Oh, in that case, I'll just keep looking by myself. I'm sort of in a hurry, you see."

"Sorry I couldn't help you," said Buster.

By this time Bobby was becoming discouraged. Where was he supposed to find patience? It seemed as though all his friends were busy waiting for something. He sat down beneath a tree and tried to decide what to do. Soon Tammy Turtle came creeping by.

"Hello, Bobby", Tammy greeted him. "You sure are looking glum today."

Bobby sighed. "I'm looking for something, but I don't know where to find it, and everyone is too busy to help me."

"Perhaps I could help you," Tammy offered.

"Well, I am in a bit of a hurry, and you are kind of slow...I'm not sure if you could help me very much." said Bobby, "But thanks for the offer Tammy. You're a great friend."

"Suppose you ask Mrs Owl," Tammy exclaimed. "she is very wise. Perhaps she can tell you where to look."

"Gee, thanks Tammy," said Bobby. "I'll go ask her right away."

Bobby rushed up to the tree where Mrs Owl sat, dozing on a limb.

"Mrs Owl, Mrs. Owl," he shouted.

"Wha..who's there?" asked Mrs Owl, peering at Bobby through one sleepy eye.

"It's Bobby Bunny, Mrs Owl." Bobby explained. "I am looking for something and I hoped that perhaps you could tell me where to find it."

"Well, what are you looknig for, Bobby" she asked.

"Patience" said Bobby.

"Patience, you say? Hmmmph." Mrs owl yawned and opened her other eye. "Bobby, do you know what patience is?"

Bobby thought for a moment, scratched his ear and signed. "Actually, no," he confessed.

"Bobby Bunny," Mrs Owl explained, "Patience is not something we can see. It is something we learn. Patience is the ability to wait quietly for the things we want."

"You mean, like Tammy Turtle? And like Buster amd Mister Blue jay, waiting for the acorn and the worm?" asked Bobby.

Mrs Owl nodded and promptly fell asleep again.

Bobby hurried on his way. Now that he knew what patience was, he knew just where to find it.

He hurried across the field, and back to his carrot patch. He sat down beneath a tree, leaned back and smiled as he waited for his carrots to grow.