The Baby Armadillo

 by Ezra Wieland (ages 6-9)

One beautiful summer day Andi decided to go out with Taffy. She wasn't supposed to go alone but she snuck out, Packing a bag with snacks for her and Taffy. They ran to a field and had a picnic.     

While they were eating they heard a strange noise in the bushes. Andi carefully searched the bushes and found a baby armadillo all alone and hurt. She put the baby armadillo into her empty bag.
            They ran back home, Andi put Taffy in the stable and brought the baby armadillo into the house. She showed her mom the hurt baby armadillo.

Her mom said "Where did you get that baby armadillo from? And where have you been? Your sister and I have been looking all over for you!"

Andi answered, "Taffy and I had a picnic and found it, sorry I ran away without telling you."

Her mom said "  I will deal with your naughtiness later. The baby armadillo looks hurt and thirsty." Andi's mom bandaged the hurt armadillo and Andi got it some water.
            Andi asked "Mom can we please keep the baby armadillo as a pet?"

Andi's mom thought for a moment before she said "Yes, but you are responsible for feeding and caring for it. You also are helping with the wash for a week as a punishment chore for running off."

Andi thought this was not such a bad deal and thanked her mom.
            Andi was so excited. She got busy right away making a spot for the baby armadillo in the barn. After she made a safe and cozy spot for the armadillo, she went and gathered wild strawberries to feed it. She also dug up some grubs near the garden and the baby armadillo loved them.
            Andi did all her chores and the extra washing happily that day. She was eager to tell Riley about her new pet, she hoped he would have a good name for it.

She saw Riley at dinner, but waited till after to tell him the news. They ran together to the barn. When he saw the cute baby armadillo he said "Wow!" He was very excited too. They decided together to name it Rollie Pollie.
            The next few weeks seemed to go very fast, even with the extra chores. Rollie Pollie was all better and very healthy. Andi and Riley took very good care of her. Rollie Pollie's shell hardened. Andi's mom told Andi it was time to let Rollie Pollie back out into the wild. Andi and Riley were very sad, but they knew she was right.
            Andi and Riley went together back to the field where Andi found Rollie Pollie a couple months earlier. They were sad to say goodbye to their little friend and sad that school would start soon. It was a long walk home.
            School started and everything was different than the summer. Andi and Riley didn't have as much time at home as before. When they did have time at home they liked to go have picnics in the field with Taffy.    

One Saturday they were in the field and a Armadillo with little babies came out of the bushes and walked right up to them asking for food. They knew it was Rollie Pollie! It made them happy to see her grown up and happy with babies.