Free Bumpy Ride Ahead! by Wanda E. Brunstetter

completely solid to survive the winter. During this period, the frog’s breathing, blood flow, and heartbeat actually stop. And unlike most other frogs, the wood frog spends almost its entire life on the ground. In the winter, it hibernates by burrowing under the ground.
    “I’ve just gotta catch that frog,” Mark said as he watched it hop away. He thought it would be great to put the frog in his toad house. Maybe the critter would burrow under the toad house and hibernate this winter in “Mattie’s Corner.” He couldn’t wait to tell Mattie that a frog might be spending the winter in her flower bed, but first he’d have to catch that old bandit-looking frog.

    That evening after dark when everyone was sitting in the living room, the Miller family enjoyed talking about the fun day they’d had together.
    Calvin, Russell, and Mark compared their fingers to see whose had gotten the most walnut stained. Mattie, rolling her eyes at her brothers, was glad that her fingers were still nice and clean.
    “How’d the walnut picking go today?” Ike asked when he returned from Catherine’s that evening.
    “Real well,” Dad answered. “We got a lot of nuts we can use during the winter months.”
    “And how was your day, Ike?” Mom asked.
    “It was great! As you know, Catherine is the youngest of the four
kinner
in her family. And since she’s the only girl, her three older brothers were keeping an eye on me. Not that they had to, though.” Ike chuckled. “Anyways, it was interesting to help Catherine’s family make apple butter.”
    Mom smiled. “I enjoy making apple butter, too, and let’s not forget the apple cider.”
    “Say, Mark,” Dad said. “Did you put the walnuts in the barn like I asked you to when we got home this afternoon?”
    “Uh-oh!” Mark slapped his forehead. “I went out to do that, but I found this neat-looking wood frog. It took me awhile to catch the critter ’cause it kept hoppin’ away from me. Then when I did finally catch it, I put it in the toad house in Mattie’s garden.”
    Mark proceeded to tell his family all about wood frogs until Dad interrupted him and said, “Well, son, that’s interesting, but I want you to make sure you get those walnuts moved into the barn first thing tomorrow morning.”
    “Sorry I forgot, Dad. I promise I’ll take care of it as soon as I’m up and dressed.”

C HAPTER 8
Copycat
    Before eating breakfast on Monday morning, Mark suddenly remembered that he hadn’t moved the wheelbarrow into the barn the day before. Since that had been their off-Sunday from church and they’d gone to visit Grandpa and Grandma Miller, he’d completely forgotten about the wheelbarrow full of nuts. Knowing he’d better take care of that right now, he dashed out the back door so he could get the walnuts into the barn before heading off to school.
    As Mark went around the corner of the house, he noticed a squirrel running across the yard and onto the fence railing along their field. It looked like the animal had something in its mouth, but Mark didn’t think anything of it—until he got to the wheelbarrow.
    “Oh no!” Mark put his hands on his head and stared at the few walnuts that were left. “Where are all the walnuts we picked Saturday?” Then slowly, he lifted his gaze to the bushy-tailed varmint making its getaway into the highest oak tree on the other side of the fence.
    After putting the few walnuts that were left in the barn, Mark went into the house, not sure how to tell his parents about the newly discovered backyard thief. If only he’d put those walnuts in the barn yesterday.
    “Did you get the walnuts moved?” Dad asked when Mark and the others sat down to breakfast.
    “Uh … no … Well, a few,” Mark stammered. “See, I—uh—forgot to move the wheelbarrow into the barn yesterday morning, so a few minutes ago I went out to do what you’d asked me to do, and I saw this squirrel.” Mark swallowed hard. “Dad, that varmint stole almost