Kaylyn & the Mossy Rock

Kaylyn learned to walk during the winter. Outside of her house, snow covered the ground – so, mostly, Kaylyn practiced walking inside.

She walked in the living room. She walked in the kitchen. She walked down the hallway and visited her big sister, Brooklyn.

Kaylyn walked to the bathroom but most of the time, the door was closed. Sometimes, someone left it open, and then she liked to play with the roll of white toilet paper and the soap by the sink.

When there was time, Mama helped Kaylyn practice walking up and down the stairs. Still, that wasn’t enough walking for Kaylyn.

Finally, spring came to the Northcountry where Kaylyn lived. Snow was melting, melting, melting. There were puddles and mud everywhere. Sometimes she and her sister played in them.

Most days, her Mama said, “Just another day or two – you can play outside pretty soon!”

Then it rained and rained and Mama said, “April showers bring May flowers.” That meant they couldn’t play outside quite yet.

At last, one morning, the sun came out and dried up the puddles. The melted snow soaked into the ground and everywhere little sprouts of grass and leaves started to poke up, green.

“Kaylyn, guess what?” Mama asked. Kaylyn couldn’t guess, so Mama said, “We can go for a walk to the mossy rock today! Brooklyn!” Mama called to her big sister,“Time to get your sneakers on.”

“No boots?” Brooklyn asked.

“No boots,” said Mama.

Mama put Kaylyn’s sneakers on, too. They didn’t have to wear their heavy winter jackets, either. Mama pulled out her light one.

Once out the back door, Brooklyn called, “Kaylyn! Come and see the mossy rock!”

Brooklyn led the way down the dirt path. The trees in the woods still didn’t have many leaves, so she could see far up ahead.

Brooklyn whispered, “Look!” pointing to a bright red bird in the tree. “It’s a cardinal, Kaylyn! Hear him whistling?”

“Whit-whoo, whit-whoo,” the cardinal called. Kaylyn looked at the bird and then at Brooklyn. Kaylyn made the sign for “birdie” with her fingers.

Brooklyn said, “Mama, maybe we can pick some berries today.”

But Mama said, “It’s too early, Brookie, remember? We have to wait for a couple of months until the sun helps them to grow and ripen.”

"Oh,” said Brook, disappointed. “But maybe we’ll see the squirrel at the mossy rock again.”

“Maybe we will!” smiled Mama. “Squirrels are busy in the spring. Do you see any squirrels Kaylyn?” Mama asked as they walked through woods.

Kaylyn stopped and looked. She heard something. “Ah!” she gasped and pointed.

“That’s a chipmunk!” Mama said.

“Pip-munk!” said Kaylyn. Mama and Brooklyn laughed.

“Better hold my hand, Kaylyn,” Brooklyn said. “We’re getting closer to the mossy rock.”

Brooklyn knew that the trail got tricky near the mossy rock. Brooklyn held one of Kaylyn’s hands and Mama took the other. They started to walk down the steep path to the mossy rock.

“Ahh!” Kaylyn stopped and pointed, “Pip-munk!”

“That’s the squirrel, Kaylyn!” laughed Brooklyn.

“Quir-rel” said Kaylyn.

“That’s right,” Mama said.

Mama helped Kaylyn and Brooklyn each down the last steps of the path to the big rock.

Brooklyn said, “See, Kaylyn, this is the mossy rock!”

Brooklyn rubbed her hand gently over the coarse moss. The rock was much taller than Mama. Kaylyn looked up high to see the top, then she patted the moss, too. A tree grew on top of the rock and stretched up high.

“Mossy rock!” Kaylyn smiled.

“Mossy rock!” laughed Mama and Brooklyn.

“Just wait until Papa hears what you did today,” said Mama. Then she helped Kaylyn and Brooklyn up the hill.

“Kaylyn’s first walk to the mossy rock!” shouted Brooklyn.

“That’s right,” said Mama. “It has been a very big day.”
Kaylyn smiled and walked ahead on the path back to the house

“Good job, Kaylyn” Brooklyn smiled. “Tomorrow, maybe you can lead the way!”

Mama, Brooklyn and Kaylyn laughed. The sun shined down on all of them, and the birds sang along behind from the trees. Spring was finally here.