It had been many years since anyone lived in the old cottage; the garden was over grown every year with weeds. To be honest it was well back from any road, you could only get to it by walking down a track.

It was no wonder it had never been sold; I don’t think anyone even knew it was there. Nobody ever came that way, at least not since the old lady who lived there passed on.

But the place wasn’t abandoned altogether for life still went on, in and around the garden, it was just the perfect place and I suppose that’s why fairies had moved in at the bottom of the garden.

The garden had been well kept at one time, but now it was overgrown, apples were no longer collected from the old apple tree next to the well, at least the well had a lid on and had been locked to stop any birds or small creatures from falling in.

Then all of a sudden there was excitement in the garden, for the youngest member of the fairy family had gone missing.

No amount of looking made any difference he just couldn’t be found, so now they had to start and call his name out.

“Tumbleweed, Tumbleweed, where are you.�?The whole family called out, suddenly a voice was heard way off, at least it sounded as though it was far off at first, but it had a funny kind of echo about it.

It was young sparrow that chirped out first, he could see him through a crack in the lid that covered the well.

Tumbleweed could be seen; he was sitting in a hole in the wall of the well where a brick was missing half way down.

Soon every bird in the garden came to have a look, but there was no way they could get through, even hedgehog wasn’t strong enough to move the lid.

“We could send for Wise owl.�?Black bird chirped out. “He’ll know what to do.�?/P>

It started to rain now and it didn’t help matters for they knew that Wise owl didn’t like getting wet, but he eventually came to the garden and came to rest in the old apple tree.

“Too wet to woo, too wet to woo.�?He called out as he surveyed the situation below him.

Things were now getting serious for the rain had again as it always did, it made the water level in the well rise.

It was getting closer and closer to Tumbleweed who was becoming frightened now, for he couldn’t swim at all and his wings weren’t developed properly for flying.

Then Wise owl chirped in. “If we could get Frog into the well Tumbleweed could sit on his back until things got better.�?But there was no way in, at least not from the top.

They asked Tumbleweed how he got there.

“I followed a root of the old apple tree, but the soil has all fallen in behind me there is no way back now.�?/P>

Then everyone said it together. “Mole, we have to get mole.�?/P>

But no one knew where Mole was, not even Wise owl and he knew just about everything.

Just then the ground started to move, pieces of soil were being thrown everywhere and who should pop his head out of the ground? It was mole.

“Who called my name, what’s all the commotion about, I can’t hear a thing down there for all the noise. Don’t you know it’s almost lunchtime; I was off on a hunting trip.�?/P>

“Mole we need you.�?Wise owl hooted.

“Oh it’s you Wise owl, I didn’t see you up there, okay what’s the problem?�?/P>

Then everyone started together trying to tell mole what the problem was.

“Please, please you are too loud for my poor sensitive ears.�?Cried mole. “You know moles have very acute hearing.�?/P>

Then Owl proceeded to tell him the problem.

“Oh.�?Replied mole. “Then there’s no time to lose.�?/P>

For the water was lapping at poor tumbleweed’s feet almost and he was even more frightened.

Without another word mole was gone, soil shot up into the air as he disappeared out of site.

There was nothing but silence as everyone there held their breath listening for every little sound.

Sparrow was still keeping a lookout through the crack in the lid on the well, he was now becoming agitated as the water was rising even more, poor Tumbleweed was ankle deep in water now.

They all wondered if mole would make it in time, he seemed to be taking ages and the water was rising all the time.

Poor sparrow couldn’t watch any longer as the water finally covered the hole where Tumbleweed had been, poor Tumbleweed was gone there were no signs of him at all.

It was the saddest day in the garden since the old lady passed away, for she was always kind to all the animals and birds that came to visit her garden, for she had always left food out for them.

Then there was soil being thrown up in the air again as mole came to the surface again and there hanging to the back of mole was Tumbleweed, very wet and very dirty, but none the less very safe and very glad to be back in the garden. Everyone gave a big cheer.

�?You will need a good wash now young Tumbleweed.�?Wise owl said. “But please, don’t get the water from out of the well.�?/P>

Everyone laughed as they all went their own ways and the garden was left in quietness as it was before.

No one would even know of the excitement that had gone on in the garden that day.

~

~

 Copyright © 2006<o:p></o:p>