Unexpected Help

'Wait for me!' shouted Timmy Mouse, grabbing his sack
As Tommy went past with his slung on his back.
The whole village was out, it was just after dawn
They had to go early to gather the corn.
There were nuts to pick, apples, and carrots to pull
And they couldn't come back till their sacks were all full.

Cyril the Squirrel was waiting outside
With Reggie the Rat, who was busting with pride,
This was the first time he'd been asked to come,
And Timmy and Tommy had said it was fun!
From out of her house came Vicky the Vole,
Rushing next door to get Millie the Mole.

Then Daddy Mouse came around with his van,
And called out, 'Get in as fast as you can!
We've got to get going, we cannot be late,'
And nodded when Timmy Mouse crashed through their gate!
Then they were off, it was not far away,
Getting there early, they'd have a good day.

When they arrived, they saw work had begun,
With so much to do, they would need everyone.'
'I'm going to collect all the nuts from the tree,'
Said Cyril the Squirrel, 'Who'll come and help me?
I'll climb on the branches and shake the nuts down,
And then we just pick them all up off the ground.'

The friends all decided that they would all come,
And working together the job would get done.
There were so many trees, so they had to be quick,
And then there were so many apples to pick!
Off they all ran, each one carrying their sack,
Some over their arms and some over their backs.

It was about lunchtime when the friends heard a scream,
And frightened they wondered, what could it mean?
'What could it be?' whispered Reggie the Rat,
'It sounded so scary, I'm quite sure of that!'
Nobody spoke; no one knew what to say,
'We should go and look,' Tommy said, 'Right away!'

The woods seemed quite dark; you could hear shadows sigh,
And the friends, holding hands, tried hard not to cry.
They carried on walking till they came to the end
And could see the corn field, but not one single friend!
'Where is everyone?' whispered Reggie the Rat,
'Where have they all gone...Oh no! Look at that!'

At the edge of the corn field, as large as could be,
They saw a big cat, standing under a tree!
Then suddenly out of the corn there appeared...
'It's Mitsie the kitten!' Tommy Mouse cheered.
Then Mitsie was there with a smile on her face,
'We've been looking for you all over the place!'

'Is that your mum, over there by the tree?'
Whispered Cyril the Squirrel, trying to be
As brave as he could, when he saw her turn round,
While their friends up the tree climbed down to the ground.
'Yes,' replied Mitsie, 'she wanted to say,
Thank you for helping me when I'd lost my way.'

Mitsie's mum strolled over to where they all stood,
'So you are the ones who were there in the wood
When Mitsie was lost, and very upset.
She told me you helped her, and I won't forget.'
Timmy and Tommy were blushing so red
'We were happy to help her,' was all that they said.

By now everyone had come over to see,
This very strange happening, how could it be?
A cat and her kitten, at ease with them all,
This never had happened that they could recall.
Timmy Mouse told them the story about
How Mitsie was lost, and how loud she could shout!

Mitsie's Mum laughed, 'You should hear her at home,
She's the noisiest kitten that I've ever known!'
Then mummy Mouse said, 'You should try having boys.'
And Mrs Rat added, 'We know all about noise!'
The mothers all laughed as they chatted away,
Their difference forgotten, this harvesting day.

Then Mrs Cat said, 'Now that we are both here,
Could we be of help with your harvest this year?'
Everyone murmured and nodded their heads,
'That would be kind of you,' Daddy Mouse said.
They all worked together to get it all done,
Picking and packing, they made it such fun.

When they had finished, Mummy Mouse turned and said,
'Well done, everyone, now who'd like to be fed?'
The chorus was deafening, all shouting 'I do!'
Then she said, 'Mrs Cat, we'd like you to come too.'
Mitsie the kitten just squealed with delight,
'Does that mean I'm staying up later tonight?'

The dads lined the tables along Hedgerow Lane,
While the mums sent the children, again and again
With food for the tables and plates to spread round,
Till no longer was there any space to be found.
They'd made fish cakes with sweet corn, and cheese straws piled high,
Apple juice to drink with a crunchy nut pie.

They all gathered round to feast on the food,
Everyone enjoying this nice festive mood.
Mitsie made friends with Millie the Mole,
And with Millie's best friend Vicky the Vole.
The day had been good, with new friends all around
And all because Mitsie was lost and then found.