The storm lasted all night, and even with the thunder crashing and the wind blowing the pigs slept through it all. It was almost nine o’clock when the wolf shook the pigs to wake them up.

“Come on boys,” he said, “it’s time to get up.”

“What time is it?” Billy asked. 

“Almost nine o’clock,” the wolf replied. 

“Bobby, wake up,” Billy said as he shook Bobby real hard.

“What’s the matter?” Bobby asked as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, “is the house on fire?”

“No! Bobby” Billy answered, “It rained very hard last night, we should see if our cabin is all right.”

“You boys get dressed while I make breakfast,” the wolf said.

“Thanks Professor”, Bobby said, “but we’re too excited to eat right now, we want to check on our cabin.”

 “All right boys,” the wolf smiled, “we will go check the cabin, then we’ll eat breakfast. You know it’s important not to miss meals your going to need lots of energy, we still have to finish the cabin.”

“What do you mean finish the cabin?” Billy asked, “Didn’t we finish it last night?”

“Oh the cabin is finished,” the wolf replied, ” but you still have to put in furniture, rugs and things like that to make it a home. Right now it’s just a big empty box.”

“Well we better get started,” Bobby said, “we promised to have a barbecue for everyone this afternoon, and we don’t even have anything for them to sit on.”

The pigs and the wolf finished dressing and started walking up the path to their cabin.  Billy was running ahead of Bobby and the wolf and when he got to the top of the hill he stopped.  He turned to Bobby and the wolf and waved his arms over his head. “Hurry”, he called out, “the cabin is on fire.”

Bobby and the wolf ran to the top of the hill as fast as they could. When they got to the top of the hill the wolf started laughing. “What are you laughing at?” Billy asked. “The cabin is on fire.”

”No it’s not” replied the wolf, “it’s just smoke coming out of the chimney.”

“Who is in our cabin?” Bobby asked.  “Well we won’t find out standing here,” the wolf replied.

“Let’s go see,” Billy said as he ran to the cabin.

As they got closer to the cabin they could see Digger planting a garden on the side of the cabin, while Randy and Raymond were working on a fence around it. Alex was high in a tree, tying the ropes to a swing he and Mr. Hare had just finished putting up.

“What’s going on?” the wolf asked.

“We’re just finishing up some odds and ends,” Randy replied.

“Where are Brownie and Amanda?” Bobby asked. 

“They are in the cabin,” Raymond answered. 

The pigs and the wolf went up on the porch and into the cabin. They laughed at what they saw. There was Brownie in a blue apron putting up curtains in the living room.

“What are you laughing at?” Brownie asked, “Don’t you like the curtains?”

“Oh no,” the wolf replied, “the curtains look just fine, but how can you use such small pins with those big fingers of yours?” 

Brownie smiled, “I have a helper,” he said, as he pointed to the top pocket of his flannel shirt.

The pigs were surprised as a small head popped out of his pocket, “Who is that?” Billy asked.

The wolf smiled, “why that’s Chester the chipmunk,” he answered.

Chester waved to the pigs, his little hand full of safety pins. “Hello everybody, “he said in a very small voice. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner to help but I was on the other side of the Woodland visiting my parents.”

“Oh that’s all right “, Billy replied “we’re just very glad to meet you, and thank you for helping.”

Chester smiled.  “Brownie, where is Amanda?” The Professor asked.

“She’s in the kitchen,” Brownie replied,” and if my nose is working I think she just about has breakfast ready.”

Everyone went to the kitchen and found Amanda putting breakfast on the table. “Wow!” Billy said,” We have a table and chairs.”

Brownie smiled “I had them in the back of my cave; I thought you could use them.”

“Thank you, ” Bobby replied, ” that was very nice if you to give us the table and chairs.”

“Well we couldn’t eat on the floor,” Brownie laughed. “Now let’s eat.”

Billy went and told Digger, Alex, Mr. Hare and Randy and Raymond to come in and have breakfast. Everyone sat down at the table and had breakfast, and as they ate they talked about what still needed to be done, and the big topic was furniture. “We have the table and chairs for the kitchen, but we still need a lot more furniture,” Billy said.  Everyone was trying to come up with ideas for furniture for the rest of the rooms. Everyone but Alex; he just sat there smiling as he ate. 

“Alex, what are you smiling about?” asked Brownie. Just then there was a knock on the door. 

“That’s what I’m smiling about,” Alex replied.  Bobby opened the door, to find his father standing there. 

“What are you doing here dad?” Bobby asked.

“Well, your friend Alex flew out to the farm early this morning, and he told us your cabin was finished, and that you needed some furniture,” Mr. Hoggs replied. 

Mr. Hogg’s pickup truck was piled high with furniture. “Dad, where did you get all that stuff from?” Bobby asked.

“Well, I brought your bedroom furniture, and a couch that I had stored in the barn. I also found some rugs and lamps,” Mr. Hoggs replied.

“Where’s Mom?” Billy asked.

“Oh she’s home cooking. You are going to need a lot of food for your barbecue, you have a lot of friends,” Mr. Hoggs replied.

“Yes, Billy and I are very lucky” Bobby answered, “We have made some very good friends.”

The rest of the morning everyone worked at putting the cabin in order. They put down the rug, moved in the furniture, and put everything in place.

As they were finishing up Mr. Hoggs told the pigs he was going to leave, and go home and get Mrs. Hoggs and the food she prepared.

“Okay dad,” Bobby replied, “thanks for everything.” The pigs waved as their father’s pickup truck slowly went over the hill. 

“Well we better get things set for the barbecue,” Billy said,” Dad will be back soon, and everyone’s hungry.”

“I’ll start the barbecue,” The Professor said, “You two can help Amanda and Brownie.” 

While the Professor got the barbecue going, Brownie, Amanda and the pigs set the picnic table, and started bringing out the food. “Clean up everyone were almost ready to eat “Bobby called out. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hoggs were just pulling up in front of the cabin. Billy and Amanda came out to help get the food out of the pickup truck. “Hi mom” Billy said, as he gave his mother a big hug and kiss. “Thanks for all you and dad have done; our cabin really feels like a home now.”

“The cabin turned out very nice” Mrs. Hoggs replied,” and you have made some very good friends.”

“Yes we have. I’d like you to meet Amanda,” Billy said.

Mrs. Hoggs smiled, “it’s very nice to meet you Amanda.”

“It’s very nice to meet you Mrs. Hoggs,” Amanda replied,” let me help you bring in the food.”

With the food set out, everyone sat down to eat. They ate and talked and laughed all afternoon. They played ball and tag and even went swimming in Sleepy Creek, the stream that ran by the pig’s cabin. As it got dark Mr. Hoggs and Mrs. Hoggs made a campfire and everyone gathered around and toasted marshmallows and told old stories.

Everyone took a turn telling a story. The last one to tell a story was Digger the ground hog. As the fire started to go out he told the story of how when he was tunneling he found a large underground cavern, with strange rock shapes and scary sounds. Digger finished his story just as the fire went out. 

Brownie said it was getting late, and he had to get up early so he was going to leave.  He thanked the pigs for inviting him to the barbecue and said good night to everyone, and left.  Everyone also agreed it was getting late, and left to go home to bed. The Professor and Mr. Hare said goodnight to Mr. and Mrs. Hoggs and Billy and Bobby. “Come on Amanda it’s time to go home,” called out Mr. Hare.

“I’m coming Daddy,” replied Amanda.

“Goodnight Amanda,” Billy called out, as she ran up the hill to her father.

“Goodnight everyone,” she said, as she walked over the hill with her father and The Professor.

“Well boys,” Mr. Hoggs said “you built a very good cabin and have made some good friends. I think you boys will do just fine here in the Woodland.”

Mrs. Hoggs smiled, “I think my little boys have grown up to be young men.”

“Now, now mother,” Mr. Hoggs said “They’re always going to be your little boy’s.”

Billy and Bobby gave their mother and father a hug and said goodnight.  They stood in their door way waving as their father’s pickup truck disappeared over the top of the hill. Bobby and Billy were really tired.

“We’ll clean up tomorrow” Billy said.

“That’s a good idea” Bobby replied.

The boys had something quick to eat and after washing up they got into bed and turned a lamp down low.

“Goodnight Bobby,” Billy said.

“Goodnight Billy” replied Bobby.

The pigs were asleep for only a few minutes, when there was a loud knock on the door.  Bobby turned up the light and got dressed and went to the door. He looked out the window but it was so dark he couldn’t see anything.  “Who’s there?” Bobby asked.

“It’s me, Brownie,” said the voice outside the door. 

Bobby opened the door, and there stood Brownie looking scared. “What’s the matter?” Bobby asked,” are you all right?”

By this time Billy was up and wanted to know what was going on.  Brownie sat down on the couch.

He looked at the pigs, “there’s a monster in my cave,” he said. 

“A monster in your cave,” Billy laughed. “It sounds like Diggers’ story of the cave, he found scared you.” 

“Did you have a nightmare?” Bobby asked. 

“I didn’t even get to sleep. When I got home, there he was sleeping in my cave,” Brownie replied. 

“What does he look like?” Billy asked.

“He’s real big. He is bigger than me, and he’s gray and green and scary.” 

“Well it’s to late tonight to see what’s going on,” Bobby said. “Let’s get some sleep and we’ll talk to the Professor tomorrow.”

The pigs made up the bed in the spare room and brought Brownie a large glass of milk and a plate of chocolate chip cookies.  “Here Brownie, have a snack,” Billy said, as he handed Brownie the cookies. ”You’ll sleep better with a belly full of cookies.”

Brownie smiled, “Thank you Billy, you know cookies always make me feel better.” Billy and Bobby smiled and went back to bed. In no time all three were sound asleep.