When faced with an emergency we shouldn’t panic and should also realize that we may need help.

This story imparts that lesson.

In the forest on the other side of the stream, Enchino, a thorn bearer of the cactus family was speaking with Poison Ivy. “I think I can sneak across the stream and stick some of those silly flowers from the Thumburbs with my thorns”.

Poison Ivy looked at him and sneered, “and just how are you going to do that, cactus don’t even like water” she said in her shrill raspy voice.

“In that” he answered sneering back at her and pointing to the Styrofoam cup the Peony’s had abandoned.

So using a little tree branch as an oar, Enchino paddled quietly across to the Thumburb side of the stream. He jumped out and pulled the cup into the bushes, and from the bushes, out of sight of anyone, he took a real good look around. He had to be careful because he was no match for a bunch of roses, or if he ran into a couple of vines they could tie him up tight until help came. In the distance he saw a herd of elephant ear grazing contentedly, which didn’t interest him at all. What did interest him was the playground just beyond, where Mrs. Belladonna’s youngest daughter Hyacinth was playing with some of her kindergarten friends. That was who he wanted. Slowly he turned and started to move toward them. He crept very slowly so as not to get their attention until he was so close it would be to late. He was so focused on the little ones that he didn’t notice the two older flower kids sitting on the hilltop off to his right.

“Edel, I saw something moving down by the river”. Edel Weiss turned in the direction that Rhoda Dendron had indicated. “I see it too, I better go down and check it out”.

“Edel, I don’t like this, I think we should get some help”. But Edel liked Rhoda and wanted to impress her and with a little smile of “don’t worry, I can handle this” he started down the hill toward whatever it was they had seen. Rhoda wasn’t happy with the situation at all, and showing better common sense went off to find help.

They both spotted each other at the same time and Edel gasped when he realized who he was facing. A thorn bearer was nothing to fool with. They had very sharp spikey thorns that could give you a nasty scratch or even make a hole right through your petal.

Turning and seeing the kids in the playground, it only took Edel a few seconds to figure out what the thorn bearers dastardly plan was. He slowly sidestepped until he was directly between the thornbearer and the playground. He wanted to yell, to tell them to run, but they were to far away to hear. He knew he didn’t stand a chance against such a formidable foe, but he would do what he could. Maybe the little ones would see the skirmish and run for safety. Edel back peddled quickly, but tripped as Enchino sprang forward, prickly spears exposed and ready for the attack. Even though Edel was quick, he wasn’t quick enough, and one of the spines scratched his tender petal. It hurt a lot, but he didn’t cry. He had to save the children no matter what! He got to his feet and turned to prepare for the all out attack that was now to come, hoping that the ruckus would alert the little ones.

But there was no attack, instead Enchino was in hasty retreat making his way back to the river and his makeshift Styrofoam boat. Edel turned and saw why. Rhoda, running at full speed was leading a whole group of Roses, Dr. Delphinium, and a whole bunch of others to the scene. By the time they got there Enchino was already back on his side of the stream. “I’ll be back he yelled” as he disappeared into the woods.

“Are you okay”, asked Dr. Delphinium. Edel lifted his wounded petal where Mrs. Belladonna, now cradeling Hyacinth in her leaves, declared it would be okay and would heal without a scar. “You know Edel, you did a brave thing, but sometimes we have to be brave and smart too. You could have been seriously hurt. When you see an emergency, any emergency, maybe next time it will be a fire, yell loudly and alert everyone of the danger, and always get immediate help. Do you remember what Ty and Abby told us? I mean about how they use a telephone in an emergency? “Yes”, answered Edel a bit sheepishly, “ they dial 911 and the first thing they say is the address where they are, then what the emergency is, and then they follow the operators instructions”.

“Now you’re talking!” Dr. Delphinium said.

“Even though you didn’t do the best thing, I think you were very brave”, said Rhoda, looking at Edel with admiration. Everyone clapped and gave them the thumbs-up.