The rain fell softly on the roof of the barn.  The birds didn’t seem to mind the rain as they looked for their breakfast. 

“I hope we are staying in.  I don’t like getting wet.  Who would want to get wet in the first place?” Joseph asked as he turned his head to look at Baby. 

“It is like getting a bath, Joseph.” 

“A BATH….” replied Joseph, “Who wants one of them any way?  You’re only going to go out, roll in the mud and get dirty again.  That’s a waste of time for me.” replied Joseph.

Baby just shook his head while trying to see what Scout was doing.  “I hope the rain stops soon, so we can go out.  I’m going to be bored.” sighed Baby.

Scout thought that it would but he was interested in the hay box that had been filled earlier.  He had an idea. “Maybe we can get some extra hay,” Scout said, “but I can’t reach it.  I think you can Baby.”

“Do you want to give it a try?” asked Scout. 

“Sure,” replied Baby, “I’ll try.”

“Now, remember, try putting your nose in between the boards of your stall,” Scout said, “because I don’t think you are tall enough to reach over the top and push the hay.”

“If that was me,” said Joseph, “I could reach over the top and give it a good push.”

“But you are too far away Joseph,” said Scout.  “Baby is the only one close enough to do it.”

“I’m ready to give it a go,” said Baby.  “Oh!!! I think I can do it.” Baby shouted.

“Now remember, when you start to push, you have to push very hard to move it,” Scout reminded Baby.

“SCOUT!  It’s moving,” Baby shouted.  “It’s coming towards you!”

Suddenly the hay was in a position so Scout could stretch his neck and reach it. 

“What’s going on over there?” asked Missy. 

Baby and Scout looked at each other.  “Nothing”, they replied with a twinkle in their eyes.

“Great job, Baby” whispered Scout.

“Hey guys, what about me?” Joseph asked.

Neither Baby nor Scout answered because they were too busy eating.  Joseph was beginning to feel sad and left out.

“That’s not very nice Baby and Scout” said Joseph.

"What's not very nice?" asked Baby 

“I got so excited that I forgot to share with you, Joseph….Sorry.” said Baby.

“Can I have some more hay, Baby?  If you give me some more I’ll tell you about the surprise that I heard our owners talking about.”  With a long piece of hay hanging from the corner of his mouth Baby stopped eating and looked at Joseph.

“A surprise, what surprise Joseph?” asked Baby.

“Give me some more hay first,” said Joseph. 

Not wasting any time Baby started pushing hay towards Joseph.  “Now tell me, Joseph, what is the surprise?”

“Can’t do that Baby.  Then it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”

“You aren’t being nice at all Joseph,” said Baby. 

“You will see soon enough,” Joseph told Baby as Joseph knew Baby wouldn’t have long to wait.

Seconds later the barn door opened and with it came the smell of treats.  Baby couldn’t understand why they had funny shaped hats too.  The next thing Baby heard was Happy Birthday and that funny hat was being placed on his head. 

“This was the surprise, my birthday party, wasn’t it Joseph?”

“Yes, Baby, it was.”

“Thanks Joseph, for keeping it a surprise for me.”

“You look nice with that hat on.”  “Right,” replied Joseph.

“Did you hear that noise?” asked Seeker, one of the big horses.  “It sounds like it is on the roof.” 

“Who would be silly enough to get up there?” TC asked.

Missy, being the wisest in the barn, asked TC to look out the window and see.  “Sorry, Missy, there is nothing there that I can see,” replied TC. 

“I am so embarrassed.  It is bad enough having this funny hat on my head but now I can’t get down off the roof,” Murphy the cat thought to himself as he looked for a safe way down.  The top part of Scout’s door was open and he thought he could hear someone calling his name.  He decided to have a peek out. 

“Look up, Scout.”         “What?” said Scout.

“I am up here,” replied Murphy.  Scout looked up and saw Murphy looking down at him. 

“What are you doing up there Murphy?” Scout asked.  “Why didn’t you come in through the window like you always do?”

“Oh, Scout, it is a long story.  I was coming to Baby’s birthday when our owners cornered me outside of the barn putting this silly hat on my head.  I had to get away so I ran up here,” answered Murphy.

“Take a good look at me Murphy,” said Scout.

Murphy looked and saw Scout was wearing the same funny hat on his head. 

“No comments on how I look either Murphy, if you want me to help you down,” said Scout.

"Okay, "Murphy answered. "But it is going to be hard keeping my mouth shut,”  Murphy thought to himself.

“What about the others?” Murphy asked Scout.

“Oh yes, they all have one on, even in the big barn.  You will have a look when you get down, Murphy.”

“Can I jump on your neck Scout?  I promise to keep my nails in so I won’t scratch you,” said Murphy. 

“Just this once,” Scout told Murphy as he landed safely on Scout.  By this time everyone knew who caused the noise on the roof as Murphy made his way around the barn.

“Happy Birthday Baby!  See you all later,” Murphy said as he adjusted the hat on his head leaving through the open window.  Everyone had a special treat of cookies, apples and carrots for Baby’s birthday.  “What a nice day at the barn,” thought Baby as he looked out through Scout’s door seeing the rain had stopped.

Hi everyone!  Hope you enjoyed our story once again.  We learned that we can hurt someone if we don’t share.  As well, if it is a surprise no one should tell because as Joseph said, then it wouldn’t be a surprise!  Yes, it was Baby’s birthday….April 12, 2000 was when he was born.  Next time we will tell you about Getting Hitched.