Spelling List Story

-I took a 4th grade spelling list with 25 words, and made a story using them. It was a fun challenge. Here's what came out. Enjoy!

Spelling List Story

It was a sunny late spring morning. All the trees had begun to bloom, and Mrs. Kindlebit was taking her morning stroll by the brook behind her home. It happened to be a Saturday, so she had the luxury of being lost in thought, and was deciding what to do with her day. There were essays to proofread, shopping to be done, and a small patch on the roof that needed fixing. She’d have to check the tool shed to see if she had what she needed for the repair. Yes, she thought, these are fine things to do with my Saturday.
    Mrs. Kindlebit stopped and picked up a skipping rock. Just as she was poised to throw it, she heard a strange noise in the bush beside her. She looked down, and a little mud covered raccoon limped out and stopped at her feet, staring up at her. “My goodness little one. Where is the rest of your group?” Mrs. Kindlebit looked around, but all was still and quiet– except for the shivering scared little raccoon at her feet. She then remembered the bulletin in the morning paper that there had been a cougar sighting in the area the day before. “You poor thing. Well, I guess I will take you home and get you cleaned up. I may be foolish, but I do have a soft spot for the little ones.”
    Mrs. Kindlebit took off her wool sweater and wrapped it around the baby animal like a cocoon. “We’ll get you washed up and fed. I hope you weren’t marooned. Did you get lost, little one?” The raccoon just looked at her wide eyed as they walked back to the house. “Yes, we’ll get you all cleaned up, and bring you out here tonight to see of you family comes looking for you.”
    When they got back to the house Mrs. Kindlebit ran a small bath in the kitchen sink. She put just a little shampoo in her hand and lathered it up. I think I shall call you Mr. Booth. Big name for a little guy, but I think you’ll grow into it just fine.” As she rinsed him with warm water she noticed what was causing the limp in his left hind foot. She put him on a tall stool and dried him with a towel. Mr. Booth didn’t protest to the bath, or the drying off, but when Mrs. Kindlebit went to remove the thorny hook in his back paw, he let out a hiss. “Oh, now you have something to prove, do you?” She saw that it was stuck in some tree sap, and she put some olive oil on it to loosen it up. It came off easily. “See? No problem. And no blood. You’re a lucky one Mr. Booth. Now let’s get you set up for a nap.”
    Mrs. Kindlebit found an old crooked handled basket and place a fresh towel inside for a cushion. She picked up Mr. Booth and put him gently inside. He snuggled right in and laid down. “You get some rest now. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”
    Mrs. Kindlebit grabbed her favorite cookbook from the shelf and found her favorite bread recipe. She added warm water and yeast to a bowl, and then the sugar, and set it aside so it could ‘proof’ as they say. While it sat, she added potatoes, onions, carrots and celery to her crockpot. She hadn’t planned on soup for dinner, but her original plans for the day had changed since Mr. Booth crawled out from the bush this morning. Soup and bread will do just fine, and while it is cooking, and he is resting she can still proofread those essays. The roof and the shopping can wait until tomorrow.
    She was on her last essay when she say Mr. Booth wake up. “You had quite a long nap.” He just blinked twice at her. It was almost dark outside. He stood up and stretched, and started to groom himself. “Well, that’s a good sign. I bet you are hungry too.” She made him a small plate of carrots and crust of bread, with a small dish of water. Mr. Booth gobbled them up and sipped some water. He stared at her. “You must be feeling better. Shall we go down to the brook and see of you family is there?” He just blinked at her, and wiped the crumbs from his mouth.
Mrs. Kindlebit put her shoes on and grabbed the crooked handled basket with Mr. Booth still inside. She walked sown to the brook and found the bush where they had met earlier that day. She set the basket down, and was very still. There was a rustling sound in the trees, and Mr. Booth let out a little call. Above her was a wild response. She stepped back about six paces, and a big raccoon came down from the tree and swept up Mr. Booth. They both scurried up the tree, and she could hear the raccoons chattering amongst themselves. She grabbed the basket and headed back to the house. Yes, it had been a fine Saturday indeed.
~A