One bright shiny day, a short but spry gentle Gnome came walking up to the Hoop House. You might remember that Princess Water Lily and Chief Thumper live there. They are still waiting for the special Dream Catcher to appear.
You might also remember that Chauncey Pig occasionally visits Water Lily and Thumper there.
I will write more about their adventures another time.
For now, I must tell you about my new Gnome-Friend.
He has white curly hair that falls all around his face so all you can see is his round nose peeking out that looks like a rosy peach.
He wears a red cap on the top of his head that even covers his eyes.
I can tell you that he is a very kind and gentle Gnome.
That day, I watched as the Gnome approached the front porch. I wondered what he would do next. Then, I saw that in one hand he held a wooden tub and the other hand was held by a Friendly Frog.
Yes, the little Gnome had a Frog-friend in hand.
They climbed the stairs finally reaching the top.
Hi, said the Gnome, my name is Peter Whistle, and this is my best friend, Frog. Would it be all right for us to live on your front porch for a while?
What a nice surprise, I said. Of course, you are very welcome to stay.
Peter Whistle and Frog placed the wooden tub in a corner of the porch. Another smaller wooden bucket was inside the tub.
The bright, shiny day began to dim as I looked up into the sky that had been blue just minutes before Peter Whistle and Frog’s arrival.
Then wonder of all wonders, the large, dark umbrella-like cloud above began to shower raindrops…lots and lots of raindrops…so many raindrops that the little wooden tub filled to the brim.
Peter Whistle motioned for Frog to jump into the wooden tub. He then took hold of the smaller wooden bucket and began pouring the fresh clean rain water over Frog.
You have to know how much Frogs love water, Peter Whistle said.
Yes, yes I said. I do know.
What happened next was so surprising. I immediately knew our two new friends were here to stay. They would live on our front porch and share many more adventures with everyone who lives here.
As Peter Whistle, the little Gnome, kept pouring the rain water over Frog’s head, a miracle happened. I looked directly behind them.
Stretched way across and above in the sky was a beautiful, perfect double rainbow. The most perfect I had ever seen.
Peter Whistle and Frog didn’t see the miracle because it was behind them. They were busy with Frog’s rainwater shower. I would have to tell them soon about the beautiful rainbow that appeared.
I knew that Peter Whistle and Frog belonged here.
I knew that they were to stay.
I knew because the rainbow had said “nothing” and “everything” that special day.
You know, it is said, there is always an elf that appears at the end of a rainbow bringing a “pot of gold”.
Here at the Hoop House, I feel it is a Gnome named Peter Whistle that brought the rainbow our way.
Not with an actual “pot of gold” here at our porch but with a “wooden bucket filled with lots and lots of rainwater”…rainwater was the gold Peter Whistle and Frog brought for us.
The rainwater that showered everything that day from above…
The rainwater that made everyone cool and happy and loved…Princess Water Lily, Chief Thumper, Chauncey Pig, the trees, the flowers, the grass and especially our two new friends…Peter Whistle and Frog.
From now on, I know, there will be many more blessed showers that Peter Whistle and Frog will bring here to our Hoop House and our porch…it has to be so for the rainbow told me everything that special day.
I say…Welcome home…Peter Whistle and Frog.
