A Hot Summer Day

By Rod Mortenson

In the heat of the summer, when Blueberries are at their finest, you should wander down the path that crosses the Big Meadow. If you are careful and quiet, you will see the strangest party you can imagine.

Animals of all types now gather at the far end, near the creek bank. They bring food of all kinds. But everyone agrees that their favorite snack is the Blueberries!

For a day or two they forget the cares and troubles of the world. They enjoy each other’s company and get to know each other. And I think that with each passing year, the Big Meadow becomes a better place to live.

The Big Meadow: Home of Heroes and Friends!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796079487

Rod Mortenson

Rodney Mortenson, also known as Grampa Rod, was born and raised in northern Minnesota. He grew up among the trees, lakes, rivers, farms, and wildlife found in the north woods. The stories found in the Big Meadow book series are based on things, places, and situations he experienced in the northland. They were told and written for his grandchildren and are now being shared with you. He hopes you will enjoy these few minutes we spend together visiting the many characters we find in the Big Meadow!

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 by Rod Mortenson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

www.bigmeadowbooks.com

Rev. date: 08/24/2020

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1 Into the Big Forest

Chapter 2 Tree Trunk Trouble

Chapter 3 Sudden Danger!

Chapter 4 To Camelot!

Chapter 5 Monster Berries!

Chapter 6 Blueberry Barge!

Chapter 7 Wiggins Creek!

Chapter 8 BRUNO!

Chapter 9 Heroes and Friends!

About the Author

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The Big Meadow

INTRODUCTION

O UT IN THE country, where the farmland ends and the forest begins, there is a very special place known as The Big Me adow.

The Big Meadow is nestled between Farmer Smith’s pasture and the edge of the forest. Among its many residents, there is a large family of field mice.

The Big Meadow Book Series tells the adventures of three of the most interesting young mice in the entire meadow as they live and interact with the fascinating world around them.

Spike is the oldest and bravest of the three. If a leader were chosen out of the group, it would probably be him. His real name is Steve, but his friends call him Spike because of his unruly crop of hair.

Curly is slightly younger than Spike, but is actually a little bigger. His real name is Chester, but his friends call him Curly. He seems to be the brains of the bunch.

Squeeky, whose real name is Mike, is the youngest and smallest of the group. He gets his nickname from the sound of his non-stop voice.

Come with me as we join the trio on an adventure that took place one hot summer afternoon. They found themselves face to face with danger and opportunity. With courage and cunning they not only made their way through the challenges of the day, but also found themselves among Heroes and Friends!

Together we can visit their little corner of the world. It’s a lovely place that I return to again and again. I hope you will, too. Perhaps someday we will meet down near Wiggin’s Creek, in the corner of The Big Meadow.

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Under the Fern Leaves

Chapter One

INTO THE BIG FOREST

S PIKE LAY IN the shade of a big fern leaf with his two buddies. They were hot, and they were bored. They had no idea what kind of an adventure they were about to experience.

What do you think, Spike? Want to chase a beetle? Huh, Spikey? Squeeky seemed to chatter non-stop, and it was beginning to get on Spike’s nerves.

No, I do not want to chase a beetle! It’s too hot to go running around! Spike didn’t even open his eyes as he spoke.

And don’t call me Spikey. My Gramma calls me that and I don’t like it.

Well, I kind of like your Gramma, Spike, said Curly, who was lying on his back with his hands behind his head. He had been almost asleep and heard only a part of what Spike said. She makes the best hazelnut brownies in the whole world.

"I didn’t say I don’t like my Gramma! I said I don’t like it when she calls