Clara the Crane’s Curious Call
Large text for little eyes.
Clara, the crane was famous in Willow Marsh for two things—her long, skinny legs and her extra-loud call. While other cranes made gentle “whoooop” sounds, Clara’s call was more like:
“HOOONKITY HONK HONK!”
It was so loud that frogs tumbled off lily pads, ducks flapped into the air, and even turtles popped their heads out of the mud just to see what was happening.
Most days, Clara used her honk to say good morning or scare off the occasional nosy crow. But one bright morning, she decided her call had a much bigger purpose.
“I shall call all the animals together,” Clara said proudly. “I have an important message!”
The frogs blinked. The ducks tilted their heads. Even the turtles seemed curious. What could be so important that it needed the loudest honk in the marsh?
Animals from Near and Far
Clara flapped her wings, took a deep breath, and let out the biggest honk of her life:
“HOOONKITY HONK HONK!”
The sound echoed across fields, hills, and meadows. Birds paused mid-flight. Rabbits stopped nibbling clover. Squirrels dropped their acorns.
One by one, animals from far and wide came to see what all the noise was about.
First came Freddy the fox, trotting with his bushy tail high. Then Bella the beaver waddled along with twigs stuck in her fur. A whole family of raccoons arrived, their masks making them look very mysterious. Even Gary the goat came skipping, bleating loudly as though trying to out-honk Clara.
By the time everyone had gathered, the marsh looked like the busiest marketplace in the kingdom.
“Why are we here?” squeaked a mouse. “Yes, what’s the big news?” quacked a duck.
Clara puffed up her feathers. “I have something very important to share!”
Clara’s Big Message
The crowd hushed. You could hear a dragonfly buzz past. Clara stepped forward dramatically.
“My dear animal friends,” she began, “I called you here today to remind you of something very serious… very urgent… very important indeed!”
Everyone leaned closer. Clara raised her beak high and declared:
“Don’t forget… tomorrow is Pie Picnic Day!”
The animals blinked. “Pie Picnic Day?” repeated Freddy the fox.
“Yes!” Clara honked. “Every year we gather for a grand feast. But last year, many of you forgot! The raccoons only brought empty baskets. The ducks brought water soup. And the fox tried to bring pie… but he accidentally ate it on the way.”
Freddy blushed. “It smelled too good,” he admitted.
Clara stamped her long leg. “Not this year! Tomorrow, everyone must bring a pie to share. Apple pie, berry pie, mud pie—well, maybe not mud pie, unless you’re a turtle. We shall have the greatest Pie Picnic ever!”
The animals erupted in cheers. “Pie Picnic!” squeaked the mouse.
“Pie Picnic!” quacked the ducks. “Pie Picnic!” bleated Gary the goat, then he immediately tried to nibble a leaf that looked vaguely like pie crust.
A Honk Heard Forever
The next day, Willow Marsh transformed into Pie Paradise. Tables of logs and stones were piled high with every pie imaginable: blueberry, pumpkin, blackberry, cherry, and even a suspicious-looking “mystery nut pie” made by the squirrels.
Clara strutted proudly among her friends. “See? My honk brought us together!”
Everyone ate, laughed, and played. The frogs performed a jumping contest. The ducks tried juggling berries. Freddy the fox told jokes so silly that even the turtles chuckled.
At the end of the day, the animals gathered once more. “Thank you, Clara,” they said. “Without your call, we would have missed the most delicious day of the year!”
Clara raised her beak to the sky and gave one last proud blast:
“HOOONKITY HONK HONK!”
The sound carried over meadows, hills, and forests, ensuring that no one, animal or human, would ever forget Pie Picnic Day again.
And from then on, Clara the crane became known far and wide as the bird with the honk that could bring the whole world together… one pie at a time.
The End !
