Well, some time went by. The sheep practiced their synchronized swimming and dreamed of synchronized diving. But dream was all they did until one day Baahom was hanging out near Claire’s kitchen. Claire liked to have a small TV on while she cut up vegetables and other weird things the humans did to good food. Usually the TV had a cooking show on, but today was a re-run of "This Old House." Baahom watched through the window, fascinated, because the people were building a tower!! Just what they needed to know! Baahom watched, then hurried back to the other sheep. "Guess what I just saw?" he demanded. The others looked at him curiously, since Baahom was usually a very quiet, introspective sheep. "Claire’s TV had people building a tower like we need! They said ‘More tomorrow" so we need to go back!"

Since the sheep weren’t exactly sure what time the program was on, they took turns drifting by Claire’s kitchen all afternoon. Finally, Baahom saw the beginning of "This Old House." Just then Claire started toward the TV "NO!! She’s going to make it show something else! Quick, do something!" So Baasheepba started to walk in the door. Claire was so startled that she forgot the TV. He and Baachen watched carefully to see what the people did and what they used – "tools" the TV called them. They needed long wood boards and hammers and nails.

That night at the sheep council, Baahom and Baachen reported to the others. Woolight said, "Where will get these things?" Baahumbug said, "How will we put them together if we find them?"

Baasheepba said, "You know, I think we’ve all seen things like I saw on the TV." "Where?"

"Well, I’ve seen wood in Claire’s garden and on Dave’s truck and he has stuff he calls ‘tools’ on his truck too." The sheep all gazed at her respectfully; she was really smart – but so were they for electing her leader. "Tomorrow we all start looking around. We’ll help distract Claire and Dave while Baahom and Baachen look at Dave’s truck."

So they did. Early the next morning Baasheepba and Woolight and Baahom and Baachen wandered near the garage, as Claire and Dave came out the kitchen door. When she was sure they noticed them, Baasheepba ran closer to Claire (and farther from the truck) and fell on her side. Woolight ran toward her as Claire knelt down and Dave came closer. "Quick," Baahom murmured, "Check the other side." Baachen did and saw several hammers. She picked up a big one and dropped it in the bush by the garage door. Baahom saw nails and took a mouthful – being very careful not to swallow. As he jerked his head at Baachen, he noticed wood, "We’ll get that tomorrow," he thought.

By then, Baasheepba had about worn out all the delaying tactics that a fallen sheep could muster. Woolight called a warning and Baachen came to her as Baahom melted back into the meadow. Claire said, "I don’t see anything wrong," and Dave stroked his beard and said, "Well, I’ve got a roof to fix. See you later."

With great glee, the sheep went back to the meadow. The others crowded around "Well –what did you find? "What did you get?" Were you really hurt?" Baasheep took over – "No, I wasn’t hurt. I was just trying to give Baahom and Baachen some time without Claire and Dave watching. Baahom, what did you two find?"

Baachen answered," I found a hammer that we have to go back for tonight and Baahom can’t talk until we find someplace for the nails in his mouth."

Woolight ran to get a bucket that had been left in the meadow. "Whew!" said Baahom, "They taste funny. We have a hammer and nails and know where to get wood. Somebody should watch the house and come get us when all the lights go out. Baachen and I shouldn’t go – we’ve been hanging around too much lately." So, Baasheepba sent Baahumbug, who grumped and groused, but was a good watchsheep.

Much later Baahumbug trotted back to the meadow where the others were napping. "OK – all their lights have been out for a while. I did three synchronized swimming routines in my head, so they must be asleep by now." Baasheepba organized the raid, "Baachen, you get the hammer. Baahom, you take Rick to get the wood you saw in Claire’s garden. Rick, please don’t stop to check on the herbs or peppers. Baahumbug, please come back with us and keep watch. Remember, everyone, hoot like an owl if someone comes. Don’t be a scardeysheep – just keep your ears open. We’ll meet at the big tree."

So the group flitted through the night shadows to the house. As well organized sheep, they went about their assignments. When they met back at the big tree, they had a hammer and some long and short pieces of wood.

The next morning, Claire was surprised that the sheep seemed tired and listless. She started to worry (one of her best talents) and kept and extra close eye on them that day. Baasheepba wandered around telling the others, "Wake up! Run around! Go munch! Claire won’t quit watching ‘til we start acting normally." It was hard, but she was right. So, gradually, the sheep were doing their normal activities – munching grass, swimming, talking to each other. Sighing with relief, Claire headed back to the house to do whatever humans do.

Early that evening at the sheep council, Baasheepba said that they’d begin working on the tower tomorrow, but they needed to sleep tonight. Woolight suggested that they set up the warning system like they did when they were learning to swim. Everyone agreed.

So the next morning, Woolight and Ewelaly hung out by the gate. The rest brought the hammer, the bucket with nails, and the wood. When they reached the lake, Baahumbug said, "So now what do we do with this stuff? How does it fit together? Do any of us know how to use these thing?"

Up to this point the sheep had been pretty full of themselves – "Look what we did!" Ewelaly was new to the crowd, but she spoke up, "But you did learn to do that wonderful swimming! I think you can do anything!" Baahom and Baachen looked at each other. They had been thinking the same thoughts. Baachen said "Well, we know that the pieces of wood get put together with the nails and the hammer bangs them into the wood." Baahom said, "We saw the people on TV build one, so we think we can try.

We’ll probably make some mistakes – just like when we learned to swim. Remember how Woolight kept forgetting to keep her mouth shut under water?" Everybody laughed.

Baasheepba asked, "What was the first thing the people on TV did?"

"They dug holes for the first pieces of wood to stand up."

"OK. Where do we want the tower to be?"

Baach was another new sheep. She didn’t want the others to think she was a pushy sheep, but she had an idea. "I think we need it to be by the deepest part of the lake. Remember last week when I stood on Mozart’s back and jumped in the water? It hurt when I jumped by the house side of the lake, but I thought I’d never come back to breathe when I jumped by the trees. Let’s go there. It’s deep." Baach was a very silly sheep, so everyone looked at her in surprise for thinking such a sensible thing. So they picked up all the stuff and moved to that part of the lake.

When they found just the right place, they started digging. After the first two pieces were in, they stood back and looked. "Looks funny," groused Baahumbug (who really had been working hard. He just had a talent for saying the thing no one wanted to hear.)

Baasheep sighed, "I’m afraid you’re right. What do we need to do?"

Baahom jerked, "Oh! The people had a piece of paper they looked at to see if they were doing it right. The paper had a picture of how the tower was supposed to be. I’m sorry – I forgot that part ‘til just now."

Everyone looked at Baasheepba. Now what?