The Bold Beasties Clubhouse

Connor spread his picnic blanket beneath the willow tree.

He put down eight cups, eight plates and a very large watermelon.

Then a little bird landed on his head.

“Are you having a picnic?”

“Yes,” said Connor.

“May I come?”

“Of course.”

Connor found another plate.

The bird tilted her head.

“And my brother?”

“Of course.”

Another plate.

“And his friend?”

Connor smiled.

“There's room for one more.”

By the time his friends arrived, there were eleven plates, eight cups and a bird on the watermelon.

“That's not a cushion,” Connor told her gently.

She moved onto his head again.

Richie brought berry buns. Madge brought napkins. Pandora brought a game with little picture cards.

Siegfried brought nothing at first.

Then he remembered the basket on his arm.

“Ah,” he said. “Strawberries.”

Everyone sat down.

Almost.

Three rabbits appeared beside the willow.

“Is this the picnic?”

“Yes,” said Connor.

“Our neighbour said everyone could come.”

Connor looked at the blanket.

He moved his plate a little closer to his knees.

“There's room for one more.”

“There are three of us.”

“Three more,” said Connor.

He went to find plates.

When he came back, a tortoise was arriving with a small basket.

“I've brought pears.”

“Lovely,” said Connor.

“Where shall I sit?”

Connor looked at the blanket again.

Richie's tail lay across two corners. The rabbits sat in a row. Pandora had balanced her cup on a patch of grass that wasn't quite level.

“Here,” said Connor.

He stood up and gave the tortoise his place.

The tortoise settled down.

Connor went to find another cup.

When he came back, everyone was playing Pandora's game.

“You missed my excellent carrot impression,” said Richie.

“Wasn't that your kite impression?” asked Madge.

“It was an adaptable performance.”

Connor laughed.

He would have liked a turn.

But the bird wanted water, one rabbit needed a napkin and the tortoise couldn't reach the pears.

“I'll get them,” said Connor.

He went to find the jug.

When he came back, his plate had become the place where everyone put their empty strawberry stalks.

Connor looked at it.

He looked at the picture cards.

Then he looked at the watermelon, still waiting to be shared.

“Are you having a nice picnic?” asked Kendrick.

“Everyone seems to be.”

“I meant you.”

Connor didn't answer immediately.

His throat felt lumpy. He looked away before Kendrick could see his wet eyes.

“It's silly,” he said. “It's only a game.”

“You wanted a turn.”

Connor nodded.

“But everyone needs something. They'll think I'm selfish.”

Kendrick put the jug down for him.

“I felt like that when everyone started drawing before I got there. I said I didn't mind. I did.”

A bird shuffled on Connor's head.

“I haven't really joined in yet,” he said.

Just then, two hedgehogs arrived at the edge of the shade.

Connor opened his mouth.

He knew exactly what usually came out.

There's room for one more.

This time he said, “Welcome. Give us a moment to make some room.”

He left the jug where it was.

“I need a little help.”

Everyone looked up.

“I want to play the game too,” he said. “And I don't think this blanket can get any bigger.”

Richie lifted his tail.

“That helps a bit.”

Madge opened her basket.

“I've got a spare blanket.”

Of course she had.

Ford helped her spread it beside the first one. The rabbits brought the cups over. Pandora asked who would like to help pass things round, and several paws and wings went up.

Siegfried moved the strawberries between the two blankets.

“Some here. Some there.”

The tortoise opened his basket.

“Pears for both.”

Soon there was a little path between the blankets, with space for feet, tails and one very slowly turning tortoise.

Kendrick set a cushion just behind the willow.

“And a quieter spot, if anyone wants one.”

One hedgehog tried it.

“Lovely.”

Connor cleared the stalks from his plate.

Then he sat down.

His friends left a proper space for him this time.

“Your turn,” said Pandora, offering the cards.

Kendrick sat beside him. Connor's throat still felt a little lumpy, but he could speak again.

Connor chose a picture.

He stretched his arms very wide.

He puffed out his cheeks.

He wobbled from side to side.

“A tree?” asked the bird.

“A cloud?” asked Richie.

“A very full picnic?” asked Madge.

Connor shook his head.

He rolled very slowly onto his side.

“A WATERMELON!” shouted the rabbits.

Everyone laughed.

Connor laughed so much that the bird had to step off his head.

After the game, Richie's aunt helped cut and serve the real watermelon. Connor passed the slices to the next guest, and that guest passed them on.

Round one blanket.

Round the other.

And back to Connor.

He took a big, cool bite.

“Now,” he said, “this is a lovely picnic.”

When the afternoon was nearly over, the little bird settled beside him.

“May we have another picnic sometime?”

Connor nodded.

“Let's plan it together.”

“I'll bring my brother.”

“And I'll bring enough cups.”

The bird thought about this.

“I'll ask him to bring some too.”

Connor smiled.

There was room for one more.

And, at last, there was room for him.