A Dog Named Tippy

            There was a farmer had a dog,

            And Tippy was his name-o.

            T-I-P-P-Y, T-I-P-P-Y, T-I-P-P-Y

            And Tippy was his name-o.

            Samuel sang this song about his dog in the morning and at noon and at night time too. He named his dog Tippy because he had a white tip at the end of his big brown tail.

Tippy’s tail told Samuel if he was happy or sad. Swoosh, swoosh, it swept the floor. Sometimes it pounded on the door or the furniture.

Tippy did not like thunder. He tucked his tail underneath himself and hid under Samuel’s legs. He wouldn’t come out until the storm passed.

Samuel fed Tippy every morning before he went to school and played with him in the afternoon when he got home. Tippy loved fetching balls and sticks and Frisbees. He loved doing tricks Samuel taught him. He rolled over or played dead when Samuel gave the command. He even shook hands with Samuel’s friends. Tippy loved to please Samuel.

One day Tippy wasn’t at the door after school. Samuel looked in his room but Tippy wasn’t there. He looked in the garage, but Tippy wasn’t there. Samuel looked in the back yard but Tippy wasn’t there either. Samuel saw a big pile of dirt by the fence. His heart pounded. Tippy must have dug a hole under the fence and ran away. But why?

Samuel thought and thought. Maybe Tippy chased a cat. Samuel saw him chase cats over the flowers and under the bushes. But he was always home. Tippy came to Samuel when he called him.

“I wish I was home today,” Samuel told his Dad.

“I wish you were too,” Dad said. “Let’s look for him.”

Dad and Samuel looked up and down the street until after dark. They called, “Tippy! Tippy!” but Tippy didn’t come.

Several days passed but Tippy didn’t come home. “It’s like Tippy died,” Samuel told his Dad.

“I know,” Dad said. “I’ll look at the shelters again tomorrow.” Dad went from one animal shelter to another. He walked up and down the aisles looking in every pen, but he didn’t find Tippy.

When Samuel got home from school he ran into Dad’s office, but Dad just shook his head. A tear trickled down Samuel’s cheek. “I guess Tippy is not coming home.”

“I’m sorry, Samuel.”

“Dad, do you think we’ll see Tippy in Heaven?”

“I think that's a great possibility,” Dad said. “God made animals before He made man. They were part of His original plan and He kept them through the flood of Noah’s time.”

Samuel smiled.

“There was a farmer had a dog and

Tippy was his name-o.

T-I-P-P-Y, T-I-P-P-Y, T-I-P-P-Y, and

Tippy was his name-o.

           

           

Emily Goes Camping

            Emily’s mom went on a long business trip, but before she left she signed Emily up for camp, her very fist campout. It seemed like it would be okay until she got there.

            “A-a-a-h!” she screamed, jumping around flicking off the biggest, ugliest grasshopper she ever saw.

            “What’s the matter?” Morgan laughed. “Haven’t you ever been camping before?”

            “I wish my mom never signed me up for this. I’d rather be home.”

            “Yeah I bet. Home by the pool, right?”

            Morgan, Emily’s tomboy friend, was right. She loved her princess lifestyle.

            “Hey, Emily! What’s that in your hair?” squealed Morgan. “Looks like a spider!”

            “A-a-a-h! I hate spiders and grasshoppers!” cried Emily.

            “I wish David could see you."

            “Morgan, stop it!”

            “Okay, okay. Let’s keep hiking up this trail.”

            The bushes got thicker and the trail got thinner.

            “What’s that sound?” asked Emily.

            “What sound?”

            “That buzzy-chirpy sound. Is it a cricket or a June bug?”

            “For heaven’s sake, Emily. It’s just a little cricket.”

            “I can’t stand the thought of those six icky, sticky feet on me. I can’t stand that annoying, screeching sound. I hate grasshoppers, spiders and crickets!”

            “Emily, would you lighten up? Let’s go down by the creek. Maybe you’ll like it better down there.”

            “I don’t think so. I wish I were home.”

            “Yeah, by pool?

            Emily rolled her eyes at Morgan. “Yeah, by the nice, clean pool.”

            The two walked down by the cool, clear, rushing water.

            “Emily, look!”

            “At what?”

            “This cute little frog!”

            “A-a-a-h!” Emily screamed. “Get those slimy, slippery feet off of me! I hate grasshoppers, spiders, crickets and frogs!”

            Emily wondered why Morgan enjoyed being mean and making fun of her.

            “Can we go back to camp now?” she pleaded. “I don’t mean to spoil all your fun.”

            “Okay, Okay.”

On the way back to camp it seemed like the path was narrower and closed in by bushes and trees. It seemed like there were more twists and turns. Suddenly Emily lost sight of Morgan.

“Morgan! Morgan! Wait for me.”

“I’m down here,” cried Morgan.

Emily looked to the right and to the left but she did not see Morgan.

“Over here!” Morgan whimpered.

Emily looked down to the right side of the path but she still couldn’t see Morgan.

“Here I am!”

“What are you doing in the bushes?”

“I fell and I can’t get up,” Morgan sobbed.

“Why?”

“My ankle hurts really bad. I must have sprained it.”
"I hope you didn't break it." Emily called the camp leader Miss Adams for help on her walky-talky she checked out before leaving group.

“Help is on the way, Morgan.”

Then Emily did something amazing. She got down on the ground, slid under the bushes and lay down next to Morgan. Putting her arms around Morgan she said, “Don’t cry.”

“Emily, what are you doing? I thought you were afraid of grasshoppers, spiders, crickets and frogs.”

“I am, but I would be more scared if I were alone and hurting.”

“You know, you’re not such a bad camper after all,” and then she whispered, "Thank you, Emily."