WENDY'S GARDEN
BY Fanon
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 car accident. They were so badly hurt that God thought it best to take them both to live in Heaven.
Wendy had to live in a home with other children that had no parents. 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 to live with her.
All the children were very excited - Wendy was especially excited. It would be lovely to have a new Mummy, She still loved her Mummy, and talked to her every night, when she said her prays. Even so, with her real Mummy staying with Jesus, she 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. She visited regularly, seeing Wendy each time. They soon became good friends. One Wednesday, the lady came to take Wendy to her house to visit, and see if she would like to live there.
The lady arrived in a taxi, the driver put Wendy’s big brown case into the car trunk. With a wave to everyone, Wendy was on her way. In no time at all, the taxi stopped outside a small cottage by the side of a wood.
Wendy liked it so much she decided to stay. The lady’s name was Nora, and she asked Wendy to call her Auntie Nora. Wendy was very happy. Now she had Mummy and Daddy in Heaven, and a new Auntie Nora.
Time passed quickly, and one day Auntie Nora told Wendy she had a surprise for her - next day would be Wendy’s birthday, and she would be five years old.
“Will I get a birthday present?”
“You most certainly will. And you will soon be able to go to school, with the other village children. ” This news thrilled Wendy; she could hardly wait for next morning.
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 hug.
“Happy birthday Wendy. Get the parcel I hid behind your chair. ”
Wendy looked, sure enough; behind her chair was a large parcel, 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, revealing a large cardboard box. Wendy lifted the lid.
Inside was a whole pile of lovely new clothes for her to wear for school. Aunty Nora told Wendy she could try them on later. Wendy was very pleased, but did wonder if she had gotten anything she could play with. She thought carefully, then asked,
“Aunty Nora? I think the clothes are very lovely, but… I wondered if I might have got a present to play with?” Aunty Nora looked quite surprised,
“You are a big girl now Wendy. Surely big girls don’t play?” Wendy didn’t know what to say. She looked down shyly, then sneaked a peak at Aunty, and saw she was starting to laugh,
“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.
At the bottom of Auntie’s garden was a newly dug piece of fenced off garden. On the fence-post was a large card that said, ‘WENDY'S GARDEN’. On the path stood a row of brand new garden tools: 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,
“Look Wendy, I got these for you. ” Wendy rushed to see what Aunty was holding. It was a packet of mixed flower seeds, and a packet of carrot seeds. She told Wendy that after breakfast, she could plant the seeds just like she'd seen Aunty do.
By lunchtime Wendy had raked her strip of garden, and smoothed it all out. She planted two rows – one of flowers and one of carrots. She stuck the seed packets on little sticks, so she knew what each row contained. Then got her watering can and sprinkled the rows with water. Then - just like Auntie did - Wendy cleaned all her tools and put them in the garden shed.
Days passed, Wendy checked her garden each day. Early each morning, she dashed down stairs to have a look. On the ninth morning, 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 flower-plants 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 too. She'd counted these, and she had a row of ten. They had green feathery tops and she could see the orange of the carrots 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 for 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,
“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,
“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,
“My, that IS strange, ANOTHER has disappeared!” Wendy was not happy.
Well, 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.
Wendy had not mentioned to Mummy or Daddy about the carrots going missing. 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,
"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 listened 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 way to Wendy’s cottage, and the carrots were heavy. Fortunately, there was a full moon. The Angel folded her wings, and holding the bag firmly, slid all the way down to the cottage on a silver moonbeam.
Working hard, the Angel replaced all Wendy’s missing carrots, then, taking a small bag from her waist, she flew round the garden, sprinkling invisible Star Dust. That would keep the garden safe from ANY animals. Having finished, she flew quickly 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, 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,
“My, that IS strange, 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?
That night Wendy told her Mummy and said how happy she was. And I bet her Mummy was happy too. When you say your prayers tonight, children, remember – someone is always listening.
Fanon: I'm an 84 year old guy that took up writing a couple of years ago because I got cancer and could do little else. I left school at thirteen (71 years ago), so am not exactly educated, lol. I write stories for my grand and great-grand children, and general and adult stories. Fact and fiction. I attach a couple of samples (chosen because they were early short ones, and most others exceed the 2000 limit.) My name is Frankie Anon and I write as 'FANON'. Contact FANON.
