Mary's Garden (standard:other, 2183 words)
Author: pheonix	Added: Nov 23 2008	Views/Reads: 2955/2197	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Mary is orphaned when her parents die and go to heaven. A nice lady adopts her and gives her a garden plot, tools and seeds for her birthday. It is what follows that surprises her.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


There at the bottom of Auntie's garden was a newly dug piece of
especially fenced off garden. On the fencepost was a large card that 
said, ‘WENDY, S GARDEN' and on the path stood a row of brand new garden 
tools. There was a little rake, fork, spade, hoe, and trowel. Next to 
those, stood a bright green watering can, and a small green 
wheelbarrow. 

Aunty Nora had followed Wendy out. She encouraged Wendy to try the
things out. Soon Wendy was dashing about trying everything. Even 
running up and down the path with the wheelbarrow. Aunty Nora watched 
for a while, before holding out her hand and saying, 

“Look Wendy, I got these for you also.” Wendy dropped the rake and
rushed to see what Aunty was holding. Can  you guess...?  It was a 
packet of mixed flower seeds, and a packet of carrot seeds. She told 
Wendy that as soon as she had breakfast, she could plant the seeds just 
like she had seen Aunty do. 

By lunchtime, Wendy had raked her strip of garden, and smoothed it all
out. She then planted two little rows, one of flower seeds, and one of 
carrot seeds. She stuck the seed packets on little sticks – just like 
Aunty did – so she knew what each row contained. Then got her watering 
can and sprinkled the rows with water. Next, just like Aunty did, she 
cleaned all her tools and put them in the corner of the garden shed. 

As the days passed, Wendy checked her garden each day. Early each
morning before breakfast she would dash down stairs to have a look. And 
on the ninth morning, sure enough, the row of flowers had started to 
peep through the soil. 

She was so excited, she rushed upstairs calling, 

“Aunty, come quick and look.” Aunty Nora was only half dressed. She
grabbed her dressing gown and slippers, and hurried to join Wendy, who 
took her arm and hurried downstairs, along the passage and into the 
garden. Wendy showed her the flowers and Aunty was really pleased. 

Two days later, when Wendy checked, she saw the carrots had started to
grow. She was so excited, she rushed upstairs calling, 

“Aunty, come quick and look.” Aunty Nora was only half dressed. She
grabbed her dressing gown and slippers, and hurried to join Wendy, who 
took her arm and hurried downstairs, along the passage and into the 
garden. Wendy showed her the carrots and Aunty was really pleased. 

The days passed. Wendy carefully hoed the weeds away, and watered the
flowers and carrots. By the time Wendy had been going to school for a 
few weeks, the flowers had grown quite big, and some of them were in 
flower. There was quite an assortment. Wendy's favourites were the 
pansies, but she liked the others too. 

Her carrots had grown quite big too.  She had counted these and she had
a row of ten. They had green feathery tops, and she could see the 
orange of the carrots just peeping out from the soil that had sunk a 
bit as she watered them. 

Wendy was able to pick some of her flowers, to put in a vase for Aunty.
She also took a small bunch to show her teacher. Each night when she 
said her prayers she told her Mummy how things were progressing. One 
day Aunty told Wendy the carrots were almost ready to eat Wendy could 
hardly wait, but that night something happened. 

Whilst Wendy and Aunty were sleeping, a furry rabbit came rustle,
rustle, through the wood. Hoppity-plop, hoppity-plop, across the field, 
scrabble, scrabble, under the fence, and in two bounds was in front of 
Wendy's carrots. With a tug, tug, it pulled one out, and with a nibble, 
nibble, it ate it all up. In two bounds it was back at the fence, and 
disappeared back into the wood. 

Wendy was up early as usual, to check her garden. She counted her
carrots and one was missing. She counted again to make sure, then 
rushed upstairs calling, 

“Aunty, come quick and look.” Aunty Nora was only half dressed. She
grabbed her dressing gown and slippers, and hurried to join Wendy, who 
took her arm and hurried downstairs, along the passage and into the 
garden. Wendy showed her the carrots and Aunty counted them, then said, 


“My, that IS strange, one of them has disappeared.” Wendy was not happy.


That night, whilst Wendy and Aunty were sleeping, the furry rabbit came
rustle, rustle, through the wood. Hoppity-plop, hoppity-plop, across 
the field, scrabble, scrabble, under the fence, and in two bounds was 
in front of Wendy's carrots. With a tug, tug, it pulled one out, and 
with a nibble, nibble, it ate it all up. In two bounds it was back at 
the fence, and disappeared back into the wood. 

Wendy was up early as usual, to check her garden. She counted her
carrots and another one was missing. She counted again to make sure, 
then rushed upstairs calling, 

“Aunty, come quick and look.” Aunty Nora was only half dressed. She
grabbed her dressing gown and slippers, and hurried to join Wendy, who 
took her arm and hurried downstairs, along the passage and into the 
garden. Wendy showed her the carrots and Aunty counted them, then said, 


“My, that IS strange, ANOTHER one of them has disappeared.” Wendy was
not happy. 

That night, whilst Wendy and Aunty were sleeping, the furry rabbit came
rustle, rustle, through the wood. Hoppity-plop, hoppity-plop, across 
the field, scrabble, scrabble, under the fence, and in two bounds was 
in front of Wendy's carrots. With a tug, tug, it pulled one out, and 
with a nibble, nibble, it ate it all up. In two bounds it was back at 
the fence, and disappeared back into the wood. 

Wendy was up early as usual, to check her garden. She counted her
carrots and another one was missing. She counted again to make sure, 
then rushed upstairs calling, 

“Aunty, come quick and look.” Aunty Nora was only half dressed. She
grabbed her dressing gown and slippers, and hurried to join Wendy, who 
took her arm and hurried downstairs, along the passage and into the 
garden. Wendy showed her the carrots and Aunty counted them, then said, 


“My, that IS strange, ANOTHER one of them has disappeared.” Wendy was
not happy. 

Well, children, this happened EVERY night, until all ten carrots had
been eaten. Wendy was very upset. Aunty Nora was completely mystified. 
Neither had any ideas where the carrots had gone – But WE know, don't 
we children? 

Wendy had not mentioned to Mummy or Daddy about the carrots going
missing one by one: She did not want to worry Them. But that night she 
could keep her secret no longer, after her prayers she told her Mummy 
what had happened saying, 

“I know you would have been able to help me Mummy, but I don't blame
Aunty for not helping. Aunties aren't as clever as REAL mothers.” 

Up in Heaven, Wendy's Mummy was listening and had a wonderful idea. She
whispered to one of the Angels. The Angel hopped on a passing cloud and 
rode to the Garden of Paradise. This was where all the very best 
vegetables grew. The Angel picked ten of the very juiciest carrots and 
placed them in a bag. 

It was a long, long way to Wendy's cottage, and the carrots were very
heavy. Fortunately, there was a full moon that night. The Angel folded 
her wings tightly, and holding the bag firmly, she slid all the way 
down to the cottage on a moonbeam. 

Working hard, The Angel replaced all Wendy's missing carrots, and then
taking a small bag from her waist, she flew right round the garden, 
sprinkling invisible Star Dust. That would keep the garden safe from 
ANY animals – hungry rabbits included. Having finished, she flew 
quickly upwards, back to Heaven. 

Wendy was up early as usual, to check her garden. She saw the carrots
and could hardly believe her eyes. She closed them and then looked 
again to make sure, then rushed upstairs calling, 

“Aunty, come quick and look.” Aunty Nora was only half dressed. She
grabbed her dressing gown and slippers, and hurried to join Wendy, who 
took her arm and hurried downstairs, along the passage and into the 
garden. Wendy showed her the carrots and Aunty counted them, then said, 


“My, that IS strange, now where did THEY come from?” Wendy and Aunty
Nora were both very happy, but could not guess WHERE the carrots had 
come from – But WE know, don't we children. 

That night Wendy told her Mummy, and said how happy she was again. And I
bet you can guess that her Mummy and Daddy were very happy too. When 
you say your prayers tonight, children, remember – someone is always 
listening. 


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