The gopher mother gathered her children around her. She spoke quickly because a gopher pup’s attention span is very short, especially when excited. “Now I know you want to dig and play all day today, but you must obey my rules. The first and most important rule is that you must all stay within sight of this weed flower. If you tunnel up and cannot see this flower, then you have gone too far. You’ll have to turn around and come right back.”
Her pups nodded and twitched their whiskers, impatient to begin the fun. They jostled each other, eager to get started. Why did their mother always have to have rules?
“And no nibbling on this weed’s roots. I want it to stay here to be our safety marker just in case. I want to know where you all are in case a hawk comes by, or a snake wanders near. Now don’t worry, as long as you all stay in this area, you will be perfectly safe. Do you hear me children?”
The youngest, a girl who was always sweet with her mother, squeaked up, “Yes Mama, we’ll be good.”
With that, the gopher pups were off kicking up dust and disappearing into the hillside.
“Come back before dark!” she called after them. The mother could still hear them even though they were underground giggling and furiously digging. She smiled to herself, remembering the excitement of her first tunneling days. Oh what fun! She relaxed a bit and grew content, thinking she would see her pups again in a few hours. They were too young to stay away for too long. Until then, peace and quiet!
Thank you Weed Flower, for being the marker that helped keep the gopher family safe.
Please come back tomorrow for a new “Weed Image of the Day” and let me know which ones you like.
We and our weeds are so much more than what we first appear to be.
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