Billy Beaver's Independence Day
GoldenView
Billy Beaver was just six months old, but he felt like an 18 year old. A BORED 18 year old! "How can anyone spend his entire life doing
nothing but work, work, work! I want MORE out of life! I want to be free & independent! I want adventure!"
His parents had talked to him! "You will understand when you grow up!" they said!
Even his sister said, " Trust them! I know they want what's best for us!"
.....But Billy did not know!
One winter day, after a big argument, Billy STOMPED off ! He ran into the forest, saying, as loud as he could..."Good-BYE! I'm outta here, & I'm NEVER coming back!"
Mom & Sis were dismayed, but Father Beaver said, "We have to get back to WORK! Let's just hope he comes back before it get's dark out!"
Father Beaver realized the work was urgent! An icy winter storm was coming & he knew that his family's industrious nature was about to pay off!
You see, Billy Beaver's Dad & Mom have the knowledge that all adult beavers have. They know how to build a dam across a river that is so cleverly designed, that we humans, could not duplicate it!
Out of sticks, mud, & timber a beaver knows how to create a dam that does more than just form a pond in a river. It also gives them a place to live! Inside, the dam has bed-rooms, living-rooms and storage-rooms.
Outside it has only one entrance, which, in winter, becomes a secret under-water entrance. This provides a safe haven from all the hungry predators who do not have food stored up for the winter.�
Even more important, a beaver family can live quite comfortably during the winter because their home is so well insulated. During the fiercest storms, they can snuggle up, warm and dry!
This is what Billy's father knew, and Billy's mother knew.
....But Billy did not KNOW!
And, as luck would have it, the first winter-storm of this year...the year that Billy declared his independence....was going to be a bad one!
Billy did NOT return home before dark, as his Father had hoped he would.! He did not return the next day...or the next, and now the storm was almost upon them.
...But Bill did not KNOW!
During the first two days, Billy had said to himself, "This isn't so hard!"� He was having a wonderful time! He fished! He made some great new friends! Yes! Billy experienced a few precious days of fun, freedom, and independence, but NOW what!
Billy was cold. He was getting hungry. And what was really bothering him the MOST, was the fact that all his new friends were suddenly GONE! He was alone, and it was not only getting dark and windy, but
but it was starting to snow!
"Whoa!" thought Billy. "They must have found shelter! THEY must have gone HOME! Everyone else seems to know where to go!"
....But Billy did not KNOW!
Then Billy smiled! "Wait a minute! he said. "I can go home too! NOW!"
He started to walk home.....then he was running....and as the wind picked up and the snow began to fall harder and harder, Billy was
really frightened. He was making a mad dash for the dam.
"Mom & Dad will be so glad to see me! That's for sure!"
Of course, his Mom and Dad and Sister were now inside the dam. They had finished it just in time. They sealed the outer door, slipped in through the secret, under-water door, and then looked forlornly at each other with a terrible realization: "What about Billy?!! WE know about the
secret door.....
....But Billy did not know!
It was completely dark out now, & Billy was running as fast as his little beaver-legs could carry him. For a moment he thought he might be lost! The forest looked so different to him.
"Ah! There's the river! And THERE'S the dam! What a relief!" he sighed ...But then relief turned to panic! "He ran around the perimeter of the dam.....back-&-forth.... over this way....over that way.... "Where is the door? I thought it was right here! Am I THAT confused!? What am I going to DO?"
"Where is my M O T H E R!???� Where is my F A T H E R!???"
...But Billy did not know!
He shivered in a snow drift!
"What have I done! How could I have felt so dam-independent! I didn't know what it felt like to be so c-c-c-cold! And so s-s-scared!"�
He was about to cry when he heard familiar footsteps.
"Mom! Dad! Sis! Where WERE you?"
That night, the Beaver Family snuggled up together!
"Independence is for the Birds!" said Billy, and they all laughed!
"Billy", said his mom, "Don't you know that the birds have all left here, and gone to Florida, and California." His parents laughed! "Everyone knows THAT!"
Billy did not know, but one thing is for sure...
Billy is learning!