August 11th, 2012

Troy led Beenie through the dark woods, his tail flying out behind him. He led her right to the bottom of a giant tree, and went through a door in the roots.

"Troy, did you bring your friend with you?" a gray mother-squirrel asked.

"Yes, yes. Here she is," Troy said.

"Hello," Beenie said, smiling. "Thank you for inviting me."

"It's no problem, dear," the mother squirrel said. "Troy forgets to take his friends home a lot."

"Mo-om," Troy said, his whiskers quivering.

Beenie giggled.

"Now eat up, you two, before it gets cold."

"Yes ma'am," Beenie said. She sat down at a table made of tree bark, and picked up her acorn-hat bowl. She took a big swallow. "This is yummy," she said, taking another gulp.

Troy's mother set a platter of warm bread on the table, and gave Beenie and Troy each a slice. Beenie dipped it in her stew, and took a bite.

"Are you going home tomorrow, Beenie?" Troy's mother asked. "I was going to go to the market, if you'd like to come with us first. Then we can take you home."

"The market?" Beenie asked.

"They sell lots of stuff there," Troy said. "Like acorn-hat cups, mushroom slices, moss mattresses and berries." He licked his lips. "The berries are really, really good," he said.

"That sounds like fun!" Beenie said.

"It's settled then," Troy's mother said with a smile. "Maybe we can even stop at Henrietta's sweetshop on the way."

"Hurray!" Troy yelled.