It was a warm summer morning and the sun was just coming up over the hill at the end of the meadows.  The grass was wet with dew and sparkled as the light softly fell upon the little white farmhouse and the big red barn.  Inside Mr. and Mrs. Hoggs were just waking up. Work starts very early in the morning when you live on a farm.  Mr. Hoggs was getting dressed while Mrs. Hoggs started cooking breakfast.  The smell of eggs and waffles filled the house and Mr. Hoggs called upstairs to Bobby and Billy, their two sons, that breakfast was ready.

Bobby and Billy ran down the stairs and took their place at the table.  They would usually gobble down their food, and run outside to get their chores done, so they could have the rest of the day to play, but today they just sat there picking at their food.  Mr. and Mrs. Hoggs both noticed that something was wrong, and Mrs. Hoggs asked the boys if they were sick.

“No mom,” Billy replied, “we’re OK.”

“Then what’s wrong?” their father asked, “You boys are never this quiet at the breakfast table.”

“Well dad,” Bobby responded, “Billy and I have been talking. We are getting older and we think it’s time we moved out on our own.  You know dad, having our own place not just sharing a room.”

“I understand,” said Mr. Hoggs. “I was about your age when I started planning my future.”

Mrs. Hoggs turned to her husband, “they’re just children, and too young to leave the farm.” 

“Now, Now,” Mr. Hoggs replied, “let’s see what the boys have to say and what their plans are.” 

Billy and Bobby’s faces lit up. “Well dad Bobby and I have a good plan.  You know the hollow by the stream just on the other side of the meadow?”

“Yes,” Mr. Hoggs nodded.

“We found a good spot by the stream to build a small cabin.” 

“It’s a great place,” Bobby added. “There’s good water and plenty of fish in the stream, and mom it’s just on the other side of the meadow by the edge of the Woodland, so we’ll be here every morning to help with the chores.”

“I don’t know,” Mrs. Hoggs said, shaking her head, “do you think they’re responsible enough to take care of themselves.” 

Mr. Hoggs smiled, looking at the boys, “I think they’re old enough to try.”

“Oh boy,” Billy shouted.

“Thanks dad,” Bobby added as they gave their mother and father a big hug. 

“Now that’s settled,” Mrs. Hoggs said. “Eat your breakfast and do your chores, you have some packing to do.”

Mr. and Mrs. Hoggs smiled at each other as the boys quickly cleaned their plates, and ran out of the house letting the screen door slam behind them. Mrs. Hoggs turned to her husband, “are you sure we’re doing the right thing?”

“Relax,” he replied, “they’re really not leaving home, they will still be on the farm.” 

“What do you mean they’ll still be on the farm?”

Mr. Hoggs laughed, “You must have forgotten. Remember years ago when I bought the Woodland next to the farm? Well that’s all our land up to the top of the mountain and the boys will be safe.”

“What about the Woodland animals,” Mrs. Hoggs asked.

“We raised good boys, and they’ll make friends and do just fine,” Mr. Hoggs told her.

The boys finished their chores quickly and ran to their room to pack.  They had a large wagon and they loaded it with everything they thought they might need.  Their father laughed when he saw the wagon piled high with just about everything the boys had. Laughing he told the boys, “now don’t take the kitchen sink, your mother’s going to need it to do the dishes.” 

The boys stopped for a second, looked at their dad and then laughed too, “do you think we’re taking too much stuff dad?”

“Well Billy,” he replied, “your just moving across the meadow, not the country, you’ll be back to do your chores tomorrow and you can bring more stuff then.” 

“Good idea dad,” Billy replied, as he ran into the house to get more stuff.

Mr. Hoggs shook his head and laughed as he walked up the steps to the porch, were Mrs. Hoggs met him at the door.  “Those boys are going to sleep good tonight. I’ve never seen them work so hard,” she said, as Mr. Hoggs walked into the house.

By the time they were packed it was late afternoon, and the sun was heading down toward the mountain.  The boys hugged and kissed their mother and father goodbye, Mrs. Hoggs asked them if they were sure they didn’t want to wait until the next morning.

“No mom,” Bobby replied, “we’re all set and ready to go.” 

With the sun starting to set Mr. and Mrs. Hoggs held hands and watched as the boys, dragging the wagon behind them, started off across the meadow.  Mrs. Hoggs with tears in her eyes waved goodbye.  Mr. Hoggs hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. “They’ll be just fine,” he said, “in fact after one night in the Woodland; they’ll probably be home first thing in the morning wanting their beds back.” 

Mrs. Hoggs smiled at her husband, “Do you really think so?” 

“Well if they don’t,” Mr. Hoggs replied, “it means they’re more grown up then we think they are.

By the time Bobby and Billy reached the hollow the sun was down and it was getting dark fast.  “We better make camp fast,” Billy said. “Soon it will be too dark to see.”

“Should we start a campfire?” Bobby asked.

“I don’t think so,” said Billy. “We have to make sure we make it in a safe place where we won’t set the Woodland on fire. We’ll wait until tomorrow when we can see better, but for tonight we’ll use flashlights.”

“OK,” Bobby replied.

The boys set up their camp as well as they could.  They spread out pine needles to put their sleeping bags on and laid down to go to sleep.  There was no longer a ceiling in their bedroom instead the whole evening sky was their ceiling.  They laid there looking at the sky. “Did you ever see so many stars before?” Billy asked.

“No,” Bobby replied, “It looks like it goes on forever.”

“They do,” said Billy, “they go to the end of the universe.” 

They laid there listening to the crickets and counting shooting stars.

Suddenly Billy turned to bobby, “do you hear that?”

“Hear what?” asked Bobby. 

“That low growling, it’s over there by you.”

“I think I hear it Billy,” Bobby replied, “but it sounds like its coming from your direction.” 

Getting scared the two brothers moved closer together. “Now it sounds like its right here with us,” Billy said.

“It is,” Bobby said laughing. “It’s our stomachs they’re empty. We were so busy today we didn’t have any lunch or dinner.” 

The two of them laughed and then realized how hungry they were.  “We didn’t bring any food Billy, so I guess we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to eat,” Bobby said, as he pulled the blanket up to his chin.

They laid there in the dark for a few minutes, when Billy turned to Bobby. Bobby do you hear that?”

Bobby laughed, “Hear what our stomachs again.” 

“No Bobby,” Billy sounded scared, “I hear something walking in the tall grass in the meadow.” 

Bobby sprang to his feet. “I hear it too, it’s over there,” pointing in the direction of their farmhouse. 

“What is it Billy stammered. “It sounds real big.”

“I don’t know Billy,” he answered back. “I’ve never been in the Woodland in the dark before and I don’t know what’s out here with us, but get the flashlight and we’ll find out.” 

“Find out?” Billy asked, sounding real nervous. “What if we find something real big and scary?”

“Well,” Bobby said, “we’ll run home and tell dad.” 

From the dark came a voice, “Tell dad what?”

Billy aimed the flashlight in the direction of the voice.  Billy looked at Bobby. “Bobby, its dad.”

“I can see that,” he replied.

“Dad, what are you doing here?” they both asked at the same time. 

Their father held out a large paper bag. “Your mother thought you might like some dinner and hot apple pie for dessert.” 

“Oh boy, do we,” Billy shouted. “Thanks dad, and tell mom thanks and tell her that we love her.”

“She knows that boys,” he replied as he said good night and started to walk across the meadow. He stopped after a few steps and turned around.  “Boys what did you want to tell me?” he asked.

“Oh…Oh.” Billy stammered at a loss for words.  “Bobby and I just wanted to tell you that we’re OK.”

“Oh,” said Mr. Hoggs, “is that all. Well good night again boys, sleep tight.” 

The boys finished dinner and dessert and went down to the stream and washed their faces, and brushed their teeth. All ready for bed they crawled into their sleeping bags and drifted off to sleep.