ROOTER’S RULE
by Shari Lyle-Soffe
At the edge of Cathedral Woods, Rooter
crouched beside the pond. He hoped to snare a plump frog for lunch. Frog
legs were his favorite.
Snatch! He caught one.
“Rooter, share with your little brother,” Mother Raccoon said.
“But, I caught it,” Rooter said.
Father Raccoon yelled down from his perch in a gnarled oak tree. “Don’t be
greedy.”
Rooter stomped his foot and the frog slipped from his grasp. It swam off
through the reeds and was gone.
“Hey you! Come back here!” Rooter stomped his foot again.
“Here,” Father said. He climbed down from the tree. “You boys can share
these acorns.”
“Share, share, share! Why do I always have to share?” Rooter frowned and
handed some of the acorns to Snuffle.
They sat on the bank, watching the fish while they ate. Rooter sulked.
Snuffle picked some blackberries from the overhanging brambles and offered
them to his big brother.
Nearby Fluff Raccoon gathered
wildflowers.
“Hello… Rooter!” She batted her long lashes.
“Hi Fl-Fluff,” Rooter stammered. “What are you doing?”
“I’m making a crown of flowers for my head,” she said.
“Want some of my acorns?” he asked.
“Yummy. Yes.” She accepted a few of the nuts.
Rooter chewed on an acorn and tried to
think of something to say.
“May I have another nut?” Snuffle asked.
“No!” Rooter said, holding tight to the acorns.
Fluff glared at Rooter. “Will you help me gather flowers?” Fluff asked
Snuffle.
Snuffle scooped up an armful of buttercups. “Here!” he said, beaming.
“Thanks, ever so much,” said Fluff. She giggled and batted her long
lashes.
“Go away!” Rooter stomped his foot at Snuffle. “You’re ruining
everything.”
Snuffle’s eyes filled with great big tears. He dropped the buttercups and
ran to the pond where Mother and Father were fishing.
“Snuffle didn’t ruin anything,” Fluff said. “You did, you selfish bully!”
She left her flowers and stomped off into the woods.
Rooter climbed to the top of a tall pine tree to sulk. He didn’t like
making Fluff angry. He gazed across the treetops and grumbled.
“SHARE! SHARE! SHARE! Why do I always have to SHARE everything?” he
shouted.
He startled a Stellar’s Jay perched on the same branch, and she flew off,
scolding him as she flew. “Share, share, share,” she said.
“I don’t see why everyone is mad at me today,” Rooter mumbled.
As the sun set behind Cathedral Woods, Rooter’s tummy growled with hunger.
He scurried down the tree and ran to join his family. He knew Father would
scold him for not sharing with his brother, but he was too hungry to stay
away.
When he reached the pond his father had surprising news.
“Mother and I have decided you are right,” Father said. “You don’t have to
share if you don’t want to. We’ve made it a rule.”
Rooter grinned.
“It’s getting dark,” Mother said. “Let’s hurry to the hollow tree.”
She gathered the food and they all scurried home.
When they reached their den, Mother divided the fish, bird eggs, and
berries. She gave the biggest helping to Father. She gave the next biggest
helping to herself. She gave a smaller helping to each of the brothers.
Father said the blessing.
Rooter took a bite of yummy fish. It almost melted in his mouth.
As he ate he could picture Father catching the fish. He was glad Father
shared it with him. He sampled the juicy berries Snuffle had gathered. He
loved their juicy ripe sweetness. He savored the rich bird eggs Mother had
found hidden in the cattails.
Everyone shared what he or she had found, everyone but Rooter.
Rooter felt ashamed He cleared his throat. “Ahem, I think we should change
the new rule,” he said.
“You do?” Father asked.
“I think we should change the rule to- ‘We should treat others, the way we
would like to be treated.’” said Rooter. “Okay?”
“That is an excellent rule,” Mother said.
“I agree,” Father nodded.
Rooter put his acorns in the middle of the table. “Here,” he said. “I want
to share!”
And he did.
The End
The Misdaventures of Rooter & Snuffle
On
the Go with Rooter & Snuffle
Trouble Finds Rooter & Snuffle
(each book includes 3 stories)
Shari Lyle-Soffe is not only the author of
THE ROOTER & SNUFFLE SERIES, but also NOTHING STOPS NOAH and
A HORSE OF COURSE.
