Poppy's Lil. Friends

By Larry M. Thompson

You are about to open the pages of a book containing some of the make believe friends of Larry M. Thompson called Poppys Lil Friends Friends that reach out to you and ask to be heard and to be believed in. To make them really stand out and get your attention I have given them the ability to talk. Im allowing them to use improper words to make it sound like little animals talking. We know animals cant talk like us. Well, in poppys
World they can talk. Read it and see for yourself.
Larry M. Thompson

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493169238

Larry M. Thompson

I’ve been writing all my life and never published until now. I grew up on a little farm with my mom and dad and one brother and two sisters. I would bribe and promise them something if they would watch me act my stories out and the characters of stories I would make up. Even today when I write a story it’s just to me like watching a movie. A country boy I was who loved farm animals and the woods As I write animal stories I try to bring them into real life and allow them to talk Yes I love to write stories and try to write every day The way of a writer is to write and write more and to keep on writing. That’s me, I’m a writer.

Book preview

‘I SMELL SMOKE’

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It was a quite hot day in the forest where Shelby cat rolled over and stretched when he realized he had overslept. The sun was beginning to beam into the entrance of his cave. Shelby had just became an important cat for he had made his first kill. His Mom was proud of him and the cunning way he had done the job. She saw right away that he was going to be a huge and powerful mountain lion. He was growing up way too fast. Shelby had a flaw that Mom knew Shelby had to outgrow and that was he was just too curious. Mom knew this could get him into trouble.

Here lately he had been listening to the adults talk about forest fires and the damage they do. When they talked about the smell of smoke that really got his attention. He was already wishing he knew what it smelled like. He would always want to know this kind of smell. He knew right away that if an animal caught the scent of smoke quick enough they could save everyone from the horrible fire. They said the fires were powerful and deadly. That it took many creatures’ lives even humans. This so called fire and smoke was indeed a bad thing. Most of the time started by campers and hunters with their matches and cigarettes. Sometimes lightning started it. He heard them say that the fire and smoke was more deadly than the hunter with his bow and knife. Mom had warned Shelby many times to stay away from humans hunting, especially of those that killed just for the fun of it. She would always say, Be careful and watch close for them.

Shelby didn’t seem to be afraid of anything. Not even something bigger than he. The thing about it, everyone knew how curious a cat Shelby was. By now they knew he was anxious to get the smell of smoke in his nostrils. He wasn’t thinking the smell of smoke meant the forest might be on fire.

Mom watched her son every day grow longer and stronger. Watched how careful he sneaked up on his kill. He was cool never getting in a hurry. She was amazed how good a hunter he had quickly become. Most of all never killing unnecessarily. He killed only for food for he and his Mom to survive on. Yes, she noticed all this and how carefully he carried himself about even when he drank water at the stream. How he would carefully lap the water and look around and listen for any type of danger. Yes, her son was a very careful mountain lion, one that any mother would be proud of.

One day he came into the camp crying, I smelled it. I smelled smoke.

Whats a wrong with you, boy? Ezekiel goat bleated out.

I smelt smoke a back younder.

Now, Shelby, Mom called out. let’s not be playing silly games. You’re too growed up for that.

I’m not playing. I’m telling you the truth I smelt smoke.

Boy, they an’t no smell of smoke anywhere. You an’t never smelt it so you don’t know what it smells like. I have and if smoke was out there I’d be the furst one to know it. Jimmy crow laughed loudly causing the others to start laughing.

I smell smoke. I smell smoke. He says he smells smoke, Joey mocking bird sang out. That’s when they really laughed.

Why you all making fun of me? Shelby snapped at them.

Mom eased over to him to try and calm hin down. She saw that he was beginning to get mad, Come on, Son, lets go home.

No. I wanna know why they’re laughing at me and making fun of me.

Boy, we an’t really, Mike possum called out. We just don’t think you should play such a silly game when it comes to smoke.

See we know how bad you been a wanting to smell smoke so we know you’re a making all this up, Syra Robin sang out.

Not true. I’m not making nothing up. Shouldn’t everybody be worried and trying to do something about the smoke? Don’t that mean it might be a forest fire?

Freddie who owl called out in a fast voice, Anyone smell smoke? How bout it, how about it, does anybody smell smoke? He turned his head in different directions sniffing the air. Then he said, I don’t smell anything at all like smoke. Maybe the boy mountain lion smelled his self. This time laughter really rang out in the camp.

Suddenly a loud ferocious roar came from Shelbys throat from way down deep in his belly, rarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr and he leaped onto the limb where Freddie owl was sitting. Freddie cried, Hoot! Hoot! and flew away fast as he could go. Shelby looked down at all with big wild eyes. Everyone was trembling and began to back away.

Easy, boy, Baldie eagle spoke softly, You don’t wana go and do something you would be sorry of.

I don’t like bein laughed at. You all heah me! Shelby growled.

Don’t do it no more

He jumped from the limb and started walking slowly to the deeper part of the forest then turned, Can’t say I didn’t warn you all. Don’t go a blaming me if your forest burns down. I tried to warn you an all I get is a bunch of laughs from everyone. Why don’t you go over to the river and smell the smoke for yourself. He disappeared into the underbrush.

Gee. I think we made that young fella mad today, Henerita butterfly said and flapped her wings.

Mom mountain lion. I think you need to talk to your son. We don’t like him acting that a way, Pikey cricket chirped.

‘Yeah, Burt fox said, That was just a lil bit too scarry."

I can’t tell him what to do. He’s a cat of his own. He’s all growed up now. I’m not responsible for him no more.

Baldie eagle decided to fly over to the river and see if he could smell anything. He saw Shelby lying on a big boulder beside the river in a rock bed. Then he saw Shelby jerk his head up and look across the river. Baldie looked too because he smelled it. Smoke, there was no doubt; for he had smelt it many times before in his life time. If he knew how Shelby felt he knew Shelby would not go again and try to convince the others it really was smoke he smelled. Knowing, Shelby he would try and handle it himself if the fire came across the river someway. Shelby felt humiliated and hurt.

Shelby was thinking some friends they all turned out to be. Well, I don’t need em. I’ll live my own life the best way I see fit. I don’t need no one laughing at me and making fun of me. Shelby stiffened as he heard the humans coming before they got to the curve in the path. Shelby remained still as three teenage boys came around the curve with cigarettes in their mouth. They stopped to relight the cigarettes.

Cigarettes, Shelby whispered to himself

Hey, you guys smell smoke? They turned to look across the river.

I thought you said you put that campfire out.

I did. I threw water on it.

You must not have threw enough on it.

Looks like a lot of smoke over there the woods must be on fire.

Well, we’re safe over here. We’re across the river.

Well, we don’t want to catch the woods on fire that we’re in that’s for sure.

I knew I smelled smoke, Shelby said. I’ve got to stop them. If I don’t they’ll catch these woods on fire too. There playing around and not being careful. They shouldn’t even be smoking in the woods like this.

Shelby cat let out his biggest and best roar and leaped off the boulder landing right in front of the three boys.

Run to the river, they shouted with the cigarettes droping out of their mouths. Shelby chased them part of the way then returned to the cigarettes. Slowly he placed a paw on one and mashed hard until the burning pain eased. Then the same with the other two. He sniffed each one making sure they were completely out then went to the big boulder and lay down to start licking his burning paw to ease the pain. Baldie watched the big mountain lion in amazement for a bit then decided to fly across the river to see how big a fire was going on over there and see where the boys went. The fire fighters had the fire under control and the Game Wardens were arresting the three teen age boys. When Baldie flew back over Shelby was gone. Baldie had a story to tell all the creatures, one that would be told for a long long time. A story of how Shelby, the great mountain lion saved their home and their lives. Never again would they laugh at Shelby; for he was a important and courageous mountain lion. Another thing, none would probably ever laugh at him again because Shelby didn’t like that and told them not to ever do it again.

Shelby was a happy mountain lion now, no longer sad because now he really did have a bunch of friends. Friends that really did love him. From now on if Shelby said he smelled smoke they believed him and started preparing for the worse.

THE END

‘THE GOAT AND THE MONKEY’

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Way, way in the jungle somewhere lived many different creatures or animals if that’s what you like to call them. One of them was a little goat that we are going to call Buster. Yes, Buster goat. He was a good little goat.

He wasn’t mean like his father once was, going around butting everthing he could find even trees. Buster didn’t want to grow up and be a mean goat. He was determined to be a good goat, one that everyone would like. He wanted to be a goat with lots of friends and to be happy.

Hey, hey you.

Buster looked around hearing the voice but seeing no one.

Whats the big idee making so much noise out here this time of the night?

Who’s talkin to me?

Rosco.

Who is Rosco?

Look up, dummy, an you might just see me. That is if you an’t blind.

Oh hi, lil monkey.

I told you my name is Rosco.

Ok, Rosco, I’m Buster goat.

"What are you doing way over here aren’t you a little mountain goat?’

Yeah, I sort of got lost. I’m trying to get home before it gets bad dark.

I betcha your starting to get skeered an’t you?

Yeah, I’m starting to get a lil uneasy.

Yeah, I thught so. You keep a looking over your back trail too much. Theys several things over here that would like to have you for their supper tonight.

I must be going. The longer I talk the darker it’s gonna get.

Yeah, man, you right about that. Hey could you use some company? Can’t much bother a monkey.

Wal, I don’t know about that.

Ah come on. You know you would like some company.

Ok. I guess it’s alright.

So the goat and the monkey started off together. The goat stopped and looked all around, Gee, it’s getting awful dark fast tonight don’t you think, Roscoe?

Yeah, cloud up younder hiding the moon.

Yeah, sure, That’s exactly what’s a happening.

Hey, Buster goat, monkey called out loudly.

Yeah, Roscoe.

I’m getting awful tired of walking. Can’t we rest for awhile.

Roscoe. I’ve got to get home. I might be in great danger over here in this part of the jungle.

But, I’m so tired. Hey, I got a great idea.

You have. What is it, Roscoe?

If you let me ride awhile I would get all rested up an we would probably get to your home quicker too.

I don’t think so, Roscoe. Carrying you would tire me out and might even slow me down.

"Man, I don’t weigh nothing at all hardly. You wouldn’t be able to tell I’m on