WENDY’S GARDEN

Wendy was a very unhappy little girl. She had no brothers or sisters. Worse still, she did not live with her Mummy or Daddy: They had been badly hurt in a nasty car accident. They were so badly hurt that God thought it best to take them both to Heaven.

Wendy had to go and live in a home with other children that had no parents. She didn’t like it one bit. She was very unhappy, until one day, a lady came to the home. She had no children of her own, so wanted to take one of the children from that home, and have the child live with her.

All the children there were very excited, wondering if the lady would choose them. Wendy was especially excited. It would be lovely, she thought, to have a new Mummy. She still loved her other Mummy, and talked to her every night, when she said her prayers. Even so, with her real Mummy staying in Heaven, Wendy was sure it would be all right if she got another one for a while.

The lady’s eyes lit up when she saw Wendy. Wendy was just the girl she was looking for. In the following days and weeks, they grew to know each other well. One Wednesday, the lady came to take Wendy to her house to live for a while, and see if Wendy would like to stay there, instead of at the Children’s Home.

Everyone was so excited. The lady arrived in a taxi, and the driver put Wendy’s big brown case in the car trunk. With a wave to everyone, Wendy was on her way. In what seemed no time at all, the taxi was stopping outside a small cottage, by the side of a wood.

Wendy soon settled in her new home. The lady’s name was Nora, and she asked Wendy to call her Auntie Nora. Wendy was very happy. Now she had a Mummy and Daddy in Heaven, and a new Auntie Nora.

The time passed very quickly, as it does when you are happy, and one day Auntie Nora told Wendy she had a surprise for her. She told her that next day would be Wendy’s birthday, and she would be five years old.

“Will I get a birthday present?” Asked Wendy.

“You most certainly will. Not only that, but you will soon be able to go to school with the other village children.” said Auntie Nora. This news really thrilled Wendy, and she could hardly wait for the next morning to arrive.

Wendy was up bright and early, but Aunty was up before her. As Wendy came into the room, Aunty Nora opened her arms for a kiss and said,

“Happy birthday Wendy. Just open that parcel I hid behind your chair.”

Wendy looked, and sure enough, there behind her chair was a large parcel, all tied with pretty ribbon. Auntie Nora told her to open it and see what was inside. Wendy pulled the ribbon off, and all the pretty paper. Under the paper was a large cardboard box. Wendy lifted the lid and peeped inside. Can you guess what was in there?

Inside the box was a whole pile of lovely new clothes for Wendy to wear for school. Aunty Nora told Wendy she could try them on later. Wendy was very pleased with the clothes, but did wonder if she had got anything she could play with. She thought carefully, then asked Aunty,

“Aunty Nora? I think the clothes are very lovely, but… well, I wondered if I might have got a present to play with?” Aunty Nora looked quite surprised saying,

“But you are a big girl now Wendy. Surely big girls don’t play?” Wendy didn’t know what to say. She looked down shyly and then sneaked a peak at Aunty and saw she was starting to laugh as she said,

“I was just teasing Wendy. I know you like helping me in the garden, so last night when you were asleep, I prepared a patch of garden just for you. If you pop outside, you can see it for yourself.” Wendy brightened up again, gave Aunty another kiss, and ran into the garden. She got a really BIG surprise.

There at the bottom of Auntie’s garden was a newly dug piece of especially fenced off garden. On the fencepost was a large card that said, ‘WENDY, S GARDEN’ and on the path stood a row of brand new garden tools. There was a little rake, fork, spade, hoe, and trowel. Next to those, stood a bright green watering can, and a small green wheelbarrow.

Aunty Nora had followed Wendy out. She encouraged Wendy to try the things out. Soon Wendy was dashing about trying everything. Even running up and down the path with the wheelbarrow. Aunty Nora watched for a while, before holding out her hand and saying,

“Look Wendy, I got these for you also.” Wendy dropped the rake and rushed to see what Aunty was holding. Can you guess…? It was a packet of mixed flower seeds, and a packet of carrot seeds. She told Wendy that as soon as she had breakfast, she could plant the seeds just like she had seen Aunty do.

By lunchtime, Wendy had raked her strip of garden, and smoothed it all out. She then planted two little rows, one of flower seeds, and one of carrot seeds. She stuck the seed packets on little sticks – just like Aunty did – so she knew what each row contained. Then got her watering can and sprinkled the rows with water. Next, just like Aunty did, she cleaned all her tools and put them in the corner of the garden shed.

As the days passed, Wendy checked her garden each day. Early each morning before breakfast she would dash down stairs to have a look. And on the ninth morning, sure enough, the row of flowers had started to peep through the soil.

She was so excited, she rushed upstairs calling,
“Aunty, come quick and look.” Aunty Nora was only half dressed. She grabbed her dressing gown and slippers, and hurried to join Wendy, who took her arm and hurried downstairs, along the passage and into the garden. Wendy showed her the flowers and Aunty was really pleased.

Two days later, when Wendy checked, she saw the carrots had started to grow. She was so excited, she rushed upstairs calling,
“Aunty, come quick and look.” Aunty Nora was only half dressed. She grabbed her dressing gown and slippers, and hurried to join Wendy, who took her arm and hurried downstairs, along the passage and into the garden. Wendy showed her the carrots and Aunty was really pleased.

The days passed. Wendy carefully hoed the weeds away, and watered the flowers and carrots. By the time Wendy had been going to school for a few weeks, the flowers had grown quite big, and some of them were in flower. There was quite an assortment. Wendy’s favourites were the pansies, but she liked the others too.

Her carrots had grown quite big too. She had counted these and she had a row of ten. They had green feathery tops, and she could see the orange of the carrots just peeping out from the soil that had sunk a bit as she watered them.

Wendy was able to pick some of her flowers, to put in a vase for Aunty. She also took a small bunch to show her teacher. Each night when she said her prayers she told her Mummy how things were progressing. One day Aunty told Wendy the carrots were almost ready to eat Wendy could hardly wait, but that night something happened.

Whilst Wendy and Aunty were sleeping, a furry rabbit came rustle, rustle, through the wood. Hoppity-plop, hoppity-plop, across the field, scrabble, scrabble, under the fence, and in two bounds was in front of Wendy’s carrots. With a tug, tug, it pulled one out, and with a nibble, nibble, it ate it all up. In two bounds it was back at the fence, and disappeared back into the wood.

Wendy was up early as usual, to check her garden. She counted her carrots and one was missing. She counted again to make sure, then rushed upstairs calling,
“Aunty, come quick and look.” Aunty Nora was only half dressed. She grabbed her dressing gown and slippers, and hurried to join Wendy, who took her arm and hurried downstairs, along the passage and into the garden. Wendy showed her the carrots and Aunty counted them, then said,
“My, that IS strange, one of them has disappeared.” Wendy was not happy.

That night, whilst Wendy and Aunty were sleeping, the furry rabbit came rustle, rustle, through the wood. Hoppity-plop, hoppity-plop, across the field, scrabble, scrabble, under the fence, and in two bounds was in front of Wendy’s carrots. With a tug, tug, it pulled one out, and with a nibble, nibble, it ate it all up. In two bounds it was back at the fence, and disappeared back into the wood.

Wendy was up early as usual, to check her garden. She counted her carrots and another one was missing. She counted again to make sure, then rushed upstairs calling,
“Aunty, come quick and look.” Aunty Nora was only half dressed. She grabbed her dressing gown and slippers, and hurried to join Wendy, who took her arm and hurried downstairs, along the passage and into the garden. Wendy showed her the carrots and Aunty counted them, then said,
“My, that IS strange, ANOTHER one of them has disappeared.” Wendy was not happy.

That night, whilst Wendy and Aunty were sleeping, the furry rabbit came rustle, rustle, through the wood. Hoppity-plop, hoppity-plop, across the field, scrabble, scrabble, under the fence, and in two bounds was in front of Wendy’s carrots. With a tug, tug, it pulled one out, and with a nibble, nibble, it ate it all up. In two bounds it was back at the fence, and disappeared back into the wood.

Wendy was up early as usual, to check her garden. She counted her carrots and another one was missing. She counted again to make sure, then rushed upstairs calling,
“Aunty, come quick and look.” Aunty Nora was only half dressed. She grabbed her dressing gown and slippers, and hurried to join Wendy, who took her arm and hurried downstairs, along the passage and into the garden. Wendy showed her the carrots and Aunty counted them, then said,
“My, that IS strange, ANOTHER one of them has disappeared.” Wendy was not happy.

Well, children, this happened EVERY night, until all ten carrots had been eaten. Wendy was very upset. Aunty Nora was completely mystified. Neither had any ideas where the carrots had gone – But WE know, don’t we children?

Wendy had not mentioned to Mummy or Daddy about the carrots going missing one by one: She did not want to worry Them. But that night she could keep her secret no longer, after her prayers she told her Mummy what had happened saying,
“I know you would have been able to help me Mummy, but I don’t blame Aunty for not helping. Aunties aren’t as clever as REAL mothers.”

Up in Heaven, Wendy’s Mummy was listening and had a wonderful idea. She whispered to one of the Angels. The Angel hopped on a passing cloud and rode to the Garden of Paradise. This was where all the very best vegetables grew. The Angel picked ten of the very juiciest carrots and placed them in a bag.

It was a long, long way to Wendy’s cottage, and the carrots were very heavy. Fortunately, there was a full moon that night. The Angel folded her wings tightly, and holding the bag firmly, she slid all the way down to the cottage on a moonbeam.

Working hard, The Angel replaced all Wendy’s missing carrots, and then taking a small bag from her waist, she flew right round the garden, sprinkling invisible Star Dust. That would keep the garden safe from ANY animals – hungry rabbits included. Having finished, she flew quickly upwards, back to Heaven.

Wendy was up early as usual, to check her garden. She saw the carrots and could hardly believe her eyes. She closed them and then looked again to make sure, then rushed upstairs calling,
“Aunty, come quick and look.” Aunty Nora was only half dressed. She grabbed her dressing gown and slippers, and hurried to join Wendy, who took her arm and hurried downstairs, along the passage and into the garden. Wendy showed her the carrots and Aunty counted them, then said,
“My, that IS strange, now where did THEY come from?”

Wendy and Aunty Nora were both very happy, but could not guess WHERE the carrots had come from – But WE know, don’t we children.

That night Wendy told her Mummy, and said how happy she was again. And I bet you can guess that her Mummy and Daddy were very happy too. When you say your prayers tonight, children, remember – someone is always listening.

Copyright FANON 2004