Benny The Beaver Finds A New Home

Like all good ranchers sometimes we fight with the wildlife

Grandpa marched up the lane to the house. His arms were swinging fast keeping perfect time with his feet. Nana and I were certain from his walk, there was trouble.

“Well, my green-eyed beauties that old beaver is at it again.” Grandpa spouted.

“Oh no,” I said.

“So, what has he done this time?" Nana gazed over her glasses to emphasize her words.

"I’ll tell you he dammed up the hay meadow. That’s what!” He thundered, but his eyes twinkled from the challenge.

“Now dear you know you shouldn’t fight with the wildlife,” Nana smiled and winked my way.

“He started it.” Before we could say another word, Grandpa was off to the tool shed. 

“Brianna my sweet keep an eye on Grandpa while I finish cooking.”

So I grabbed my crutches and headed to the living-room. He yelled for Cowboy, our dog. “Dog, why is that beaver in my hay meadow?” Cowboy just stared sadly with his big brown eyes. He knew that the rancher was upset. That was the only time he called him Dog. 

“Now you go and run that varmint off my meadow,” Grandpa explained with big and bold arm movements and away Cowboy, and his sister Ruby ran.

Now Benny was no stranger to trouble. It seemed folks were always running him off. He could see the two dogs running from the house on the hill straight-down to his little corner. Immediately, he started cutting down a big cedar tree hoping it would hide the entrance to his den. That silly beaver was chewing up and spitting out tree bark as fast as he could.

I quickly hopped to the picture window to see the big to-do happening in my own backyard. As the dogs moved out of sight, I jolted over to the southwest corner window and leaned on my crutches. 

"Nana, the dogs are running after Benny!" The excitement almost stole my breath. Cowboy is a white cow-dog with black patches and two red apple cheeks, while his sister Ruby is white with brown ears and red freckles all over. 

"Now don't you worry my little cotton-top. They will be fine."
 
Now Grandpa was pitching out tools to drag down to the meadow. He paused for a moment to rest, pushed his straw hat back and then wiped his brawl. Then he tossed-out an axe and the 600 GX chainsaw.

“Nana, I’m afraid he means business. He is grumbling to himself,” I giggled as I watched.

Nana seemed too busy frying up supper to care about the hullabaloo outside, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the window. Grandpa had all his tools on the four-wheeler, and the dogs were rounding the corner of the barn. They were halfway there, and that silly old beaver stood up on his back feet and leaned against that old tree with all his might.
Wow, this was exciting.

Cowboy and Ruby were close enough now to see Benny, and they began barking up a storm. I could hear Grandpa yelling at the dogs, “Look! Look!” and the dogs just keep barking louder and louder. At the very same time, both dogs shimmied under the fence. The beaver planted his tail on the ground and gave a mighty push and down came the tree. Grandpa swung open the gate and jumped back on the four-wheeler. That old beaver slapped his tail on the ground four or five times as if he was chuckling at all of them, and then he leaped into the air with a somersault and landed in the water without even a splash.

I was so excited I couldn’t decide who to cheer for. Ruby sprang into the air and landed on the red cedar tree but not Cowboy he dove in after Benny. Benny wiggled and twisted in the water coming up in this underwater den. Snickering just a little thinking, he was very clever. However, before he could take one-step Cowboy, sprang up out of the water, and the fight was on.

Ruby was digging her way into the den while Benny and Cowboy were wrestling from corner to corner. Grandpa joined in the ruckus wielding his axe, so the water could flow into the gully. He could hear Cowboy snarling, as Benny hissed and barked. The two brawlers were thrashing about, their fight alone would surely break the dam apart. Finally, there were enough limbs and branches pulled free that the dam gave way and as the water rushed by so did Cowboy and Benny. The flow of the water sent them straight into the gully.

Grandpa cheered. “What a good boy,” and with those very words, Cowboy lost interest in fighting. He returned to Grandpa waging his tale as Grandpa patted his head. Benny looked around at the gully he landed in and wondered how he had missed such a good spot for a den. Nana yelled that supper was ready, so I rang the dinner bell. Everyone was happy with the day’s outcome; I couldn’t wait to get to school to tell my big tale.

Author's Note

final version now working on chapter two

Reviews

[?]

What a delightful story..I so enjoyed this. And varmits...well I havent heard that one in a while..lol
Great narration and the discriptions and imagery were spot on girl..

I watched this story in my mind as I read. Loved it.
The grandkids will love this...hehehe

[Kent Rawski]

I love your story telling down to the last detail that ol benny wasn't
perturbed one bit as he wondered how hed missed that gully for a den a lot of warmth into your characters you bring it alive. This one to inspire your granddaughter? you sure can write stories oh I read comments further down was made for children to enjoy cool stuff am I a kid at heart?)

[Cherrie Palmer]

One Spring Matt and I fought with a silly beaver. We had extra rain that year, and he kept damming everything up. The story kinda hit all together.
I'm with you, I'm just a big kid who needs trifocals.

[Kent Rawski]

I love word origins am thinking dam that beaver

[Cherrie Palmer]

Lol that's a whole new story

[Storytime for Kids]

Thank you Cherrie, for submitting this story and others for the Storytime for Kids app! We've sent you a message, but in case you've missed it: please submit through www.storytime.info/en so we can add you lovely stories to the app, for kids around the world to enjoy them!

[Dr. Wood ?]

well what a great story. I loved it!!!

[Cherrie Palmer]

thank you, my grandkids love it, this was a real life drama for us and our grandkids love hearing it and Benny is now in our big pond on the back field

[Dr. Wood ?]

lucky Benny

[roarke]

so, who needs school with stories like this to learn from?
I thought when we could hear the dogs thoughts, the story narration would be from their point of view. The little girl is the story teller, give her a bit more presence in the beginning to establish the pov unless this is a continuation of a larger piece, then... never mind.
Enjoyable.