Tiger was taking a nap near the trunk of the tree but Shrimp wanted to play. She jumped and hopped into the grassy field, chasing everything that moved. A green grasshopper jumped high into the air and landed about two feet away. Shrimp trotted up to it as it jumped again and again. Shrimp continued to follow it until she saw a pretty yellow and black butterfly fly over her.
“Oh, how pretty… I’m going to get you,” Shrimp said and followed the butterfly through the grassy field.
Shrimp jumped and hopped at the butterfly as it fluttered around but didn’t touch it. She watched it as it would occasionally land on one of the purple wildflowers. It would sit on the flower for only a few seconds at a time and then fly up in the air again. Shrimp continued to look up and follow the pretty butterfly where ever it went. She was so focused on it that she didn’t realize how close she was to the pond. As the pretty butterfly flew up higher, Shrimp jumped up at it again, and landed in the water.
Unsure of where she was she meowed and meowed while splashing in the water. Quickly Shrimp realized what she had to do to stay afloat and paddled her front paws. Tiger woke up when he heard his sister meowing and looked toward the pond. He ran as fast as he could, but when he got there, Shrimp stood there shaking and flicking the water off of her.
“Are you alright?” Tiger asked.
Shrimp giggled, “yes, I’m fine. A little wet but fine.”
As she stepped away from the pond she continued to shake the water off, one leg at a time. Shrimp licked her fur and shook her paws. She looked like a dripping orange popsicle.
“Are you sure that you are alright?” Tiger watched her.
Shrimp giggled again in between her licks, “yes, it was actually kind of fun.”
Shrimp walked to an open spot in the grass and fluffed her fur. The heat of the bright sun helped to warm her up along with her licking.
“How did you end up in the water?” Tiger asked.
Shrimp looked around and saw the yellow and black butterfly as it fluttered toward the barn, “see that butterfly over there, well, don’t follow it.”
“Ha ha ha,” Tiger laughed. “You followed it into the water?”
“Well, I didn’t mean to go into the water. It is just so pretty and I like how it floats through the air,” Shrimp went back to licking her fur.
Just then, Billy the blackbird swooped down and landed near Tiger and Shrimp, “what happened to you Shrimp?”
“She fell into the pond,” Tiger laughed.
“How did you manage that little one?” Billy hopped.
“I was following a butterfly. And before you say anything, the water was actually quite nice,” Shrimp said.
“You enjoyed the water?” Billy asked.
“Yes, once I learned how to swim,” Shrimp shook her whole body.
“You can swim? That’s great,” Billy patted Shrimp on the back with his wing.
“Now I just need to get dry,” Shrimp shook her left back leg and then her right back leg.
Shrimp, Tiger, and Billy had a good laugh over what happened. And Shrimp learned a valuable lesson. Always watch where you are going when following other critters.
Please join me again for another adventure with Shrimp.