Bedtime Story (12/8/2015)

Photos that capture genuine giggle-fits are the best.

This week's story is inspired by - and dedicated to - my awesome mum.

Mrs Mudge Won't Mow

Mrs Mudge hated mowing her lawn.  The mower was old and heavy and the grass seemed to grow so quickly, that she had barely finished mowing, before it was time to start all over again.

One day, Mrs Mudge gazed out at her garden, where the grass grew wild and she shook her head.  "No more," she said, aloud.  "I won't mow it.  I've had enough!"

She made herself a cup of tea, picked up her pen and started to do a crossword puzzle.  Outside, the grass continued to grow...

The next day, the grass looked longer, so Mrs Mudge decided on a plan.  She went on the Internet and searched for animals that eat grass.  Later that day, Mrs Mudge went out and bought some grasshoppers from a local pet store.  "There," she said, as she let the insects into her garden.  "I read that they eat grass.  Maybe they'll stop it from growing too long."

But the grasshoppers simply hopped about.  And still, the grass grew.

The next day, the grass looked even longer, so Mrs Mudge went back online.  After searching for a short while, she went out and bought some chickens.  "This will sort the problem out," she declared, as she let the birds into the garden.  "They'll peck at the grass and keep it short."

But the chickens just pecked at the garden fence, whilst the grasshoppers hopped about.  And still, the grass grew.

The next day, the grass was even longer.  Mrs Mudge sighed and headed straight into town, where she bought two goats.  When she got home, Mrs Mudge let the goats into the garden.  "Come on you two," she told them.  "Eat up all that lovely grass!"

But the goats just butted heads, whilst the chickens pecked the garden fence and the grasshoppers hopped about.  And still, the grass grew.

The next day, Mrs Mudge could barely bring herself to look out of the window.  Just as she suspected, the grass was longer than ever!  Mrs Mudge went into town and came home with a cow.  "Everyone knows that cows eat grass," she said, as she let the animal into her rather crowded garden.

But the cow ate all the daisies, whilst the goats just butted heads, the chickens pecked the garden fence and the grasshoppers hopped about.  And still, the grass grew.

At her wits end, the next day Mrs Mudge marched down to the local zoo and came home with an elephant.  By this time, her little garden was running out of room at a rapid rate!  "Munch on that grass," Mrs Mudge told the elephant.  "Or if you won't eat it, stamp it all down!"

But the elephant just trumpeted all day long, whilst the cow ate all the daisies, the goats just butted heads, the chickens pecked the garden fence and the grasshoppers hopped about.  And still, the grass grew.

The next day, Mrs Mudge had finally had enough.  "There's no room for anyone else in this garden!"  She exclaimed.  So, wearily, she trudged back into town and took back the elephant, the cow, the goats, the chickens and the grasshoppers.  Afterwards, Mrs Mudge went back into the kitchen and made herself a well-deserved cup of tea.

It was just as she was drinking her tea, that Mrs Mudge had an idea.  She went back onto the Internet and contacted a local gardener.

"You tried grasshoppers, chickens, goats, a cow and an elephant?!"  The gardener laughed, when she called him on the phone.  "Well, don't worry, Mrs Mudge.  I'll be round first thing tomorrow!"

That night, Mrs Mudge finally went to bed with a smile on her face.  Her garden was no longer crowded and there was no noisy trumpeting to keep her awake.  Soon, the only sound that could be heard was Mrs Mudge's peaceful snoring.

And outside, the grass still grew...

THE END