“Hey,” said Skunk, “watch what I can do.”<\/p>\n
“Okay,” said Rabbit and Deer, and turned to watch.<\/p>\n
Skunk pointed at a dandelion, ripe and ready to blow in the wind, and raised his black and white eyebrow.\u00a0 “Eh?”<\/p>\n
Skunk turned his rear end towards the dandelion and let fly his best predator-befuddling blast.\u00a0 The dandelion seeds flew up into the air and over the grass.<\/p>\n
“That’s quite a trick,” said Rabbit, holding her nose.\u00a0 “I think I see some really nice clover go over there<\/em>. My stomach is ready for breakfast.” She hopped away.<\/p>\n “Grrt idear, frrnd rrbbit,” snuffled Deer, trying not to breathe. She wobbled after her friend.<\/p>\n “Yeah,” mused Skunk. “That was a good one.”<\/p>\n The seeds wafted across hillock and glen. Wherever they went, animals avoided them. Mice refused to eat them, or in fact anything they touched. Beetles, as soon as they caught a whiff of the scent they carried, scuttled in the opposite direction. In fact, none of them was eaten–save one, by a stink bug.<\/p>\n Teresa: Ew gross<\/em>, a stink bug.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Yes, they all landed safely, because no animal would go near them. They were the worst-smelling dandelion seeds ever<\/em>.<\/p>\n “We’re lonely,” one seed said.<\/p>\n “Why doesn’t anyone like us?” moaned another.<\/p>\n But you know what?\u00a0 Because they weren’t eaten, most of them sprouted, and nearly half of them grew into dandelions. Which was very unusual — normally, they’d be lucky if even one made it. They were protected by the skunk’s scent.<\/p>\n And that’s the end of the story.<\/p>\n Maya: Dad, can we have an ending?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Rabbit and Deer munched in a clearing. Their noses twitched every once in a while.<\/p>\n “Mmm, this is delicious clover,” said Deer.<\/p>\n “Oh, yes, it is absolutely delicious,” Rabbit agreed. “A fine breakfast.”<\/p>\n “Yes, I’m so glad we are eating it together,” Deer said.<\/p>\n “I think I’ll go get some salad dressing to go with it,” Rabbit offered, and scampered off.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “Hey,” said Skunk, “watch what I can do.”<\/p>\n “Okay,” said Rabbit and Deer, and turned to watch. Continue reading