Chapter 5: Benjamin's Birthday Part 2

We chase a snowflake with Benjamin, then watch the forest flip from magical to tense when a crowned Rabbit King sends his bunnies to attack. We get a thunderous rescue from Dad, follow a compass back to safety, and end the day with a buried birthday surprise under a giant pine tree. 

• racing through snowy woods while Benjamin worries about his birthday present 
• Red Fox spotting danger and the Rabbit King claiming the forest 
• a bunny swarm turning the chase into chaos 
• Benjamin calling for Dad and Dad driving the bunnies off 
• using the compass to return to the spring and find the tall tree 
• Miss Hound sniffing out loose dirt and everyone digging together 
• discovering boots, a warm hat, and a slingshot with a toy sword 
• heading home through deepening snow for treats and bedtime thanks 

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Transcript

Snowflake Chase And Birthday Hurry

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Chapter 5 Benjamin's Borti. Miss Hound howled as they ran through the woods. They could see Mr. Cat a few yards ahead of them. He leapt after the snowflake here and there. Benjamin ran through the bushes and around the trees. He jumped over rocks and scrambled over large fallen trees. Benjamin looked up to see Mr. Cat stopped in a small clearing in the forest. Benjamin slowed down and stood next to Mr Cat. Red Fox and Miss Hound caught up with them and stood next to him. Panting, Mr. Cat said, The snowflake got away. Benjamin smiled. You don't say. The single snowflake was gone, but hundreds of thousands of them were falling from the sky in front of them like a big white wall. Benjamin smiled from ear to ear. If it kept snowing like this, he could build snowmen and snow castles all the next day with his dad. Then he remembered that it was his birthday, and he had to find a present first before any of that. He turned to look back at where they had come from, knowing they needed to find the spring again. Red Fox, do you know how to get back? Benjamin asked. But Red Fox didn't answer. Mr Red Fox? Benjamin asked again. And he turned to look for him. Something had drawn Red Fox's attention in a completely different direction.

Rabbit King Blocks The Path

SPEAKER_01 1:26

Finally, Red Fox answered in a low, tense tone. We have a problem. Benjamin cast his gaze where Red Fox was looking. There, about fifty feet away, on a brown dirt mound, on the edge of a small clump of trees, was a giant rabbit with a brown crown on its head. Other smaller rabbits were standing around him, and more and more were popping up as the seconds passed. Miss Hound growled. Benjamin, we need to go now. The giant rabbit stood upright on its back legs and yelled at Benjamin and the others.

SPEAKER_00 2:04

I am the rabbit king. Who dares invade my realm? Speak now or earn your doom. King Rabbit?

SPEAKER_01 2:13

You're the one who eats my mom's lettuce in the garden. Benjamin yelled back. The giant rabbit king became visibly irritated, ears twitching and head bobbing up and down. He spoke again quite perturbed.

SPEAKER_00 2:26

Ha! Invaders, wander into my realm, ignore my questions, and blurt out horrible, horrible lies. Tisk tisk. Guards, get them.

SPEAKER_01 2:36

Run, Red Fox yelled. They all turned and ran back towards the spring, as dozens of rabbits sprang from the mound and bounded towards them. It only took a few moments for the bunnies to surround them. Benjamin just kept running as a bunny jumped and bounced off his head. Mr Cat had her bunny on his back. Miss Hound had a bunny on each floppy ear. Red Fox was running in circles around a bush with four or five bunnies in hot pursuit. Benjamin did not know what to do, so he just shouted Dad, help. There was a moment of chaos, with bunnies running and jumping all around Benjamin and his friends. Time seemed to stop. The snow froze in midair. Benjamin was about to lie down and yell for his dad again in panic when a sound like rolling thunder washed over the

Dad Storms In To Help

SPEAKER_01 3:22

forest. Then Benjamin's father burst through the woods, yelling, Hey there! What is going on here? Benjamin's dad had a net in one hand and a long stick in the other. He scooped up four rabbits in one swing, and with the other hand he knocked several bunnies through the air like golf balls. Another scoop of the net, four more bunnies were captured. Another swing of the stick and more bunnies were flying through the air. There was a great commotion of crashing, smashing, breaking, and barking. The bunnies scattered, at least those not flying through the air or caught in the net. Benjamin watched in wonder as his dad tramped back and forth singing Bunny King, Bunny King, no more lettuce for the king. Bunny there, bunny there, flying up in the air. Bunny stew, bunny stew, mother will make some yummy food. Rabbit flea, rabbit go, leave my son alone. After several rousing performances of the song, the bunnies were all gone. Benjamin's father let all the bunnies in the net go except two. His father looked around and smiled. Benjamin, you seem to have found the rabbit king. Why are you here? This isn't north of the spring. Benjamin was embarrassed, but before he could answer, his dad laughed and said, Don't worry, son. We all get distracted. Benjamin's dad leaned over and brushed the dirt and snow off Benjamin's clothes. Thanks, Dad. The snow, falling thickly now, was lying gently on the forest floor. It's getting colder. Let's find that tall tree before the snow starts piling up. Benjamin's father looked at Red Fox, Miss Hound, and Mr. Cat. Their fur was disheveled, and they were panting. Come on, you three, he said, returning

Compass Check Back At Spring

SPEAKER_01 5:02

to the spring. Back at the spring, the father asked Benjamin, What does the compass say? Benjamin pulled it out. North is that way, Benjamin said, pointing to the cleared path. Okay, let's go. It was a short walk over a low hill with some pine trees, and down to a creek that flowed out of the spring. Benjamin, what do you see? His father asked. Mr Cat gasped. Dad, that's a really big tree. There was a large pine tree towering over all the other smaller pine trees. Its trunk was bigger than two apple barrels combined. It had long branches with deep green needles fanning out like giant hands. The very top branches were already covered in fresh snow. Benjamin and the whole group looked on in wonder. Then, terrifying everyone, Miss Hound let out a howl.

Miss Hound Smells A Clue

SPEAKER_01 5:58

I smell something, she said erratically, and began pacing back and forth. Miss Hound, what is it? Benjamin said. His father said, Go, follow her. Miss Hound ran over to the great tree and ran around the whole tree several times. Her tail wagged wildly. Then she stopped and barked several times. Here, Benjamin,

Digging Up The Birthday Bag

SPEAKER_01 6:18

she said, Paul got some loose dirt. Benjamin ran over to the loose dirt. Let's dig. Together they frantically scooped away the loose dirt. Mr Cat and Red Fox walked over to see what was in the hole. Here, Benjamin yelled out. He reached into the hole and pulled out a bag. He ran over to his father with a bag dragging behind him. Look, it's a bag, Dad. You got me a brand new bag for my birthday. The father laughed. Yes, but what's in the bag? Benjamin hadn't thought of that. He opened the bag and pulled out a new pair of boots. Wow, these look just like your boots, just a little smaller. Your mother picked them out. There's more. Bizmond dropped the boots and dug back into the bag. He pulled out a green hat with some wool lining. He put it on immediately and turned to his dad for a reaction. Your mom picked that out too. But there's some more in there. Look again. Once again he went back into the bag. He reached around and around, and in the very corner of the bag, he grabbed something and pulled it out. Though he did not know what it was, he immediately knew it was something good. Of course, his father knew it was a slingshot and a toy wooden sword tied together. What are these, Dad? His father kneeled down and untied them from one another. This one's a slingshot. This one's a toy sword. I'll show you how to use them one day, but you gotta promise to be very careful with them. Benjamin replied, Dad, I promise. Will you teach me right now? Benjamin was smiling from ear to ear. His father looked around. The snow was falling heavily now, with several inches already on the ground. How about we get back to the porch and show all the soft to your mom, and then we can go from there. Sure don't want to get stuck out here in the snow. Come on, everybody. The

Snowy Walk Home And Thanks

SPEAKER_01 8:07

walk back was brisk. Benjamin's father picked him up so he would not get left behind. The snow had changed the entire appearance of the farm in the cottage. The hay bells already had five inches of snow on them. The fruit trees were covered, and the hen house was covered. Mr Cat and Red Fox had to hop with every step. On the front porch was his mother and baby sister. Well, hello, baby boy. What do you have there? What a nice hat that is. The rest of the day was spent trying on his new hat and boots, eating special birthday treats, and learning to use the slingshot. By dinner time, Benjamin was ready to fall asleep. Mom Dad he said from his bed, thank you so much for a great birthday. He yawned and then fell asleep.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

Thanks for listening.