Buddy laid down in the armchair: ‘Now settle down pups and listen to my tale…
Many moons before you were born, I lived a carefree life: playing in the garden every day. One day, I spotted a squirrel in the grass. The squirrel turned, staring at me with unusually large emerald-green eyes. I gave chase. The squirrel climbed over the fence; I slipped through a hole. When I finally caught it, the squirrel started to talk.
“Buddy, you are destined to save the acorns,” it said.
I asked the talking squirrel if I was dreaming, and the only response was a pinch on the tail.’
‘They pinched the story?’
‘No, Bo. Now, let me continue,’ said Buddy, the reflection of the flames flickering in his eyes.
The squirrel then leapt on my nose and said: “You have to save the acorns from those filthy greys.”
“Greys?” I asked curiously.
“They are the intrusive, grey, ungroomed demon squirrels who are driving out my fellow handsome red squirrels,” said the squirrel.
The cocky squirrel then marched towards the forest, and I followed. The squirrel said his name was Drago and explained that the “demons” were stealing acorns and chasing the red squirrels away.
We soon arrived at the forest of massive oaks and Drago—’
‘That’s why he is so bossy: he is named after dragons!’ exclaimed Billy, one of the pups.
‘—shouted: “Those greedy furballs! They stole every one of the acorns! When I get my paws on them!”
“How about I sniff out those acorns,” I said. “After all I am destined to save the acorns according to you.”
“Do it quickly. You basset hounds do have a better sense of smell than the average dog,” stated the squirrel before quickly adding: “That was not a compliment.”
So I sniffed out the acorns and found a stash in the trunk of an ancient oak tree. Drago then found some red squirrels, and they moved the acorns into a hollow in the ground.
Every day since, I have snuck out and guarded the acorns before coming home at dusk…
Now, I wish to pass my job onto you.‘
‘I’ll guard it two days in a row from those demons!’ said Bo.
‘I’ll do three,’ said Billy.
‘I will do four.’
‘I’ll do five.’
‘How about you alternate daily,’ suggested Buddy.