CLARA Chapter 2 Clara In The Barnyard

The very next day Clara decided to leave her piggy pen and take a walk. She wiggled and squeezed her way under the fence of her little piggy pen and began to wander around, looking here and looking there, just to see what there was to see. Clara wandered all around the barnyard and talked with all the other animals that live there.

She stopped to talk with Rosalie Red Hen and her five baby chicks. Clara thought the baby chicks were very cute indeed. Rosalie even shared corn on the cob for breakfast with Clara. Clara thought that was very nice of Rosalie and she enjoyed wandering around the barnyard with the red hen and her five little chicks. She thought it comical to watch the little chicks flap their baby wings and try to fly. They almost could and Clara wondered if a little pig could somehow learn to fly, that is if she could find some wings.

Rosalie Red Hen said she didn’t think so and she didn’t have an extra pair of wings she could loan or give to Clara.

“Well,” Clara said, “maybe not but I’m going to have an adventure anyhow. I’ll just have to walk. I am going to be the first adventure seeking pig in the whole wide world.” She said good bye to Rosalie and her chicks and started on her way.

Clara was going to visit with Pumpkin the big orange cat but Pumpkin told Clara to go away. She was busy watching for mice and did not want to be disturbed. She didn't have time to visit with Clara.
 
"Go away," the big orange cat meowed, "get out of here. How do you expect me to catch any mice with you hanging around? You are too noisy and you scare the mice away. Go away little pig and don't bother me. I’m busy doing what cats do best."

So Clara went away. She wandered around the barn to the woodshed where Henry the hound was sleeping in the shade of the lilac bush. Henry knew everything there was to know about everything on and around the farm and his life was filled with adventure. Clara thought being a dog must be absolutely wonderful.  If she could only be a dog, her life would be filled with adventure too. 

Henry got to go swimming in the pond.  Henry got to go romping through the woods. Henry chased raccoons out of the hen house and the corn fields and the woodchuck out of the garden. Henry even got to go inside the big farmhouse where the people live and Henry got to play tug-o-war and ball with the boy and the girl who live on the farm and came outside to play with Henry every day.  Henry was always having fun and having marvelous adventures. Henry led a very exciting life. Clara wished she could be just like Henry. 

“It would be so nice”, thought Clara, “to have a life like Henry’s.” Clara decided to talk with Henry. Maybe Henry would let her go with him on some of his adventures around the farm.

"Hello Henry", said Clara as she came around the side of the shed near the lilac bush. "It's a lovely day for a walk, don't you think? I'm taking a long walk.  I'm looking for adventure.  Wouldn't you like to come with me? Henry, you could show me all about adventure. We could go to the garden and chase the woodchuck. I’ve never chased a woodchuck before. You could teach me how. I think it might be fun."

"No, no", Henry growled.  "I’ve already chased that pesky woodchuck away twice this morning. He won’t come back until the sun starts to go down. Anyhow, I’m tired. It is very tiring chasing woodchucks.

Clara, pigs don’t chase woodchucks. That is a job for a dog." Henry sat up, scratched his ear and lay back down again.

“Go back to your pig pen where you belong. Pigs don't have adventures. You are just going to get in trouble, Clara. Pigs don't know anything about chasing woodchucks. A dog’s life is no life for a little pig like you. Go home and let me take my nap.”

And so Clara went away but she didn't go back home to her little piggy pen. If Henry wouldn't come with her, she would find adventure all by herself. Clara wandered through the garden but she didn't see a woodchuck anywhere. She did see some nice young cabbages though so she stopped long enough to have one for a snack. It was very good. Clara left the cabbage patch and wandered off toward the meadow in search of adventure. After all, she was the first adventure seeking pig in the world.