From the town of Curiouser and Curiouser, we peek in on a moment in time with three particularly close friends........... Backwards Barney, Sideways Joe, and Forward Tinker who just so happened to be on a journey. It wasn't a long journey and it wasn't expected to take a lot of time. At the edge of the woods they stood....all three; sack lunch in one hand and axe in the other. They set off together; their destination, the high ridge on the other side of the woods. It was the best place to cut the firewood needed for the townspeople. Backwards Barney and Sideways Joe followed Forward Tinker straight and true as they walked through the woods and up the ridge. Upon arrival, the three friends laid their axes down, opened each of their paper sacks and enjoyed lunch together. It wasn't long before their sacks were empty and their bellies were full. They picked up their axes...each choosing a suitable tree. Chop, crack, crunch could be heard until each of the many carefully selected trees were transformed into the firewood needed by the townspeople. Trucks arrived in the twilight of the evening to collect the firewood. In the last truck to leave slept Backwards Barney, Sideways Joe, and Forward Tinker. It had been a big job and they worked hard together to finish the task. Because they did, throughout the cold winter nights, fireplaces all about the tiny town burned warm keeping the people cozy, warm, and content.
Spring arrived and once again, at the edge of the woods they stood. All three....sack lunch in one hand and a bundle of saplings in the other.
On this sunshiny morning, Backwards Barney took the lead while
Sideways Joe, and Forward Tinker followed.
It wasn't long before "oops" and "bother" could be heard.
After this, he decided he wanted Sideways Joe to take the lead. Only too happy to accommodate his friend, he confidently stepped out in the direction of the high ridge. Through the trees they made good progress. However, out of the corner of his eye, Sideways Joe saw a deer. It was standing perfectly still, as not to be detected. Then, quick as you please, it leaped into action and took off running. Sideways Joe followed the deer and Backwards Barney followed Sideways Joe and Forward Tinker followed Backwards Barney. Deer are swift, indeed, and soon it had vanished.
The three friends, yet again, though a long way from where they should be, corrected their course and headed for the high ridge. Onward until....until.... a flurry of scurrying fur traveled up a tree they were passing. Sideways Joe set down his sack lunch and bundle of saplings. UP, UP, UP the tree Joe went....so did Barney and Tinker, too.
Near the top, they found a family of squirrels looking back at
them with expressions that would suggest they wondered why
these men had come to their home for a visit. After the family briefly chatted among themselves, they were certain no one had issued an invitation. Not wishing to disturb them any further, the three friends prepared to climb back down.
All of them felt silly that they were atop the tree at all. And yet another feeling soon completely replaced it......FEAR!! All at once, the three friends changed their minds....for one hairy, beary reason and it was helping itself to all three sack lunches
So, they waited.....
including the side of pickles!
After a long....long....long....long....long....long....long....long...long....
long....long time, the bear left lumbering along to another part of the woods.
When they reached solid ground once again, the stars twinkled above them and the night air wrapped them in a coat of chilling shivers. It was too dark and too cold to press on, so they decided to stay the night. Backwards Barney stood looking in the direction from where they had come. Sideways Joe heard a rustling off to the left and went to discover what it was.......
Forward Tinker gathered small sticks, dried leaves and medium sized branches, putting them all together in an organized pile; surrounding it all inside a circle of stones. Dropping to his knees, Tinker shrugged off the backpack he carried, retrieving matches from its front pocket. Quickly, he struck a match and before he knew it, the fire roared to life putting off the warmth they all needed so much. Meanwhile, the fire had captured Barney and Joe's attention drawing them to where they now sat warming their hands. Tinker handed each of his buddies a bottle of water and two slices of pizza. To their great relief and thankful heart, they praised their friend.
From the light of the fire, Tinker could see their surprised expressions when they saw the blankets he was offering them. They took them gratefully with shaking hands wrapping themselves snugly. After they stopped shivering, their heads got wobbly and their eyes heavy. With the twinkling stars above, gathered in even closer around the fire and under the blankets, they dreamed sweet and Backwards Barney snored.
By the time the stars themselves went to bed and the sun showed
the way, the trio had enjoyed a breakfast of applesauce muffins, cheese slices and orange rounds provided by the wonderful backpack. Forward Tinker led the way this day.
It couldn't be any other way.
Wasting not a second more, each bundle of saplings were carefully taken apart from one another and out of their protective canvas coverings. With the waiting shovels, each sapling was planted in the rich mountain earth.
One day, the planted trees would fulfill their purpose as firewood to keep a family warm for an entire winter or for a strong and secure home for a family of squirrels OR....it could be a retreat from a bear who prefers salami to wild berries.
With speed, the job was complete. The time had come to return home. A rumbling and creaking flooded into their ears....A truck!
It was not just any truck, it was the keeper of the nursery heading their way, Seeing Sam. As the truck wheels turned 'round and 'round and the road turned, twisting this way and that...DOWN, DOWN, DOWN the road, all was silent....no one said a word until Seeing Sam broke through with his gravelly voice, "Expected you gents back home yesterday. What happened to you?"
For several moments no one spoke; uncertain of where to start and exactly how to explain. Hesitantly, Backwards Barney stuttered and stammered as he searched for words. "Well, you see....what happened was....it all began when....well, the plain truth of it is that it all started because I was looking behind me. I was paying more attention to where we had come from instead of where we were going. I was leading the way and I stepped into the middle of a bog and nearly sunk. Forward Tinker saved me." "Aah, I see." responded Seeing Sam. He smiled to himself, but he did not laugh. Sideways Joe cleared his throat, "That's when I took the lead."
"Ahuh." muttered Seeing Sam. "I followed a family of squirrels up a tree and, and well.....we spent many hours up there because we left our lunches on the ground and....a bear found them." "Seemed to enjoy them a great deal, did he?" Sam asked. "Yes, right down to the last pickle." Sam Smiled....this time he laughed right out loud
and for quite a while.
Forward Tinker spoke up in his smooth reassuring voice, "We camped out near the tree the squirrels call home until this morning."
"Sure was a cold night last night, wasn't it?" "Yes, it was." said Tinker, "But we had a fire." "How did you manage that?"
Backwards Barney said, "Forward tinker brought matches."
"Aah, I see. Must be pretty hungry by now." the older gentleman wondered aloud. Joe piped up with, "No, not at all. Forward Tinker brought everything we didn't know we needed and because he came prepared, we were kept warm and our bellies full."
Backwards Barney said, "Couldn't ask for a better friend...... somehow, he is always thinking ahead. He always knows where he is headed."
"Ah, I see, yes, indeed, I see!" said Seeing Sam.
So, if you remember anything from this simple tale, remember this as you take your journey, wherever you travel, be careful, be watchful, be a leader....Be a Forward Tinker and NOT a Backwards Barney or a Sideways Joe.
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