Little Joe Otter's Slippery Slide

Little Joe Otter and Billy Mink had been playing together around the Smiling Pool all morning long. They caught fat trout and brought home dinner for old Grandfather Mink and blind old Granny Otter. They played tag with the Merry Little Breezes. They got into all kinds of mischief.

And now they had nothing left to do.

They sat side by side on the Big Rock, trying to push each other off into the water. Round, warm Mr. Sun made the Green Meadows glow. Over in the tall grass, Reddy Fox listened to all that splashing and shouting. He wished — just a little — that he liked the water and could swim too.

"I've thought of something!" cried Little Joe Otter.

"What is it?" asked Billy Mink.

Little Joe Otter just looked clever and said nothing.

"Something to eat?" asked Billy Mink.

"No," said Little Joe Otter.

"I don't believe you've thought of anything at all," said Billy Mink.

"I have too! It's something to do."

"WHAT?"

Just then Little Joe Otter spotted Jerry Muskrat. "Hi, Jerry Muskrat! Come over here!"

Jerry Muskrat swam across to the Big Rock and climbed up beside them.

"What are you fellows doing?" asked Jerry Muskrat.

"Little Joe Otter says he's thought of something," said Billy Mink. "But he won't tell me what it is."

Little Joe Otter grinned a big grin.

"Let's make a SLIDE!"

"You show us how," said Billy Mink.

So Little Joe Otter found a nice smooth place on the bank. Billy Mink and Jerry Muskrat brought mud, and they all patted it down — smooth, smooth, smoother than smooth. They made the most wonderful slippery slide in the world.

Then Little Joe Otter climbed up the bank to the very top. He lay down flat on his tummy. Billy Mink gave him a push and —

WHOOOOSH!

Down, down, down the slippery slide —

SPLASH!

Right into the Smiling Pool!

Then Jerry Muskrat tried it. Then Billy Mink. Then they all did it again. And again. And AGAIN. Sometimes they went down on their backs. Sometimes flat on their tummies. Sometimes headfirst. Sometimes feet first. Even old Grandfather Frog came over and tried the slippery slide.

Johnny Chuck, way over in the Green Meadows, heard the noise and crept down the Lone Little Path to see. Jimmy Skunk was up on the hill looking for beetles, but he heard the noise and forgot all about breakfast. Reddy Fox woke up from his nap and hurried over to watch. And last of all — here came Peter Rabbit.

Little Joe Otter saw him coming. "Hello, Peter Rabbit! Come try the slippery slide!"

Now. Peter Rabbit couldn't swim. But he wasn't going to say that.

"I left my bathing suit at home," said Peter Rabbit.

"Never mind," said Billy Mink. "Mr. Sun will dry you off."

"And we'll help!" called all the Merry Little Breezes.

But Peter Rabbit shook his head. "No."

Faster and faster went Billy Mink and Little Joe Otter and Jerry Muskrat and old Grandfather Frog — WHOOSH, SPLASH! WHOOSH, SPLASH! — down the slippery slide into the Smiling Pool.

Peter Rabbit kept creeping closer. And closer. And closer.

He came so close that he was standing right at the very tip-top of the slippery slide.

Billy Mink crept up behind him.

Very, very quietly.

And gave him a PUSH.

Peter Rabbit's long legs flew out from under him. Down he sat — THUMP — right on the slippery slide.

"Oh!" cried Peter Rabbit.

He grabbed at the mud. He kicked his feet. But he couldn't stop.

WHOOOOOOSH —

SPLASH!

Right into the Smiling Pool!

"HA HA HA!" laughed Billy Mink.

"HO HO HO!" shouted Little Joe Otter.

"HE HE HE!" laughed Jerry Muskrat and old Grandfather Frog and Sammy Jay and Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox and Blacky the Crow and Mr. Kingfisher — because Peter Rabbit was always playing jokes on THEM.

But then it got quiet.

Poor Peter Rabbit. Water got in his eyes. Water got up his nose. Water got in his mouth and made him choke and splutter. He paddled and kicked, but he couldn't get back to the bank.

Peter Rabbit couldn't swim.

Little Joe Otter saw the terrible time Peter Rabbit was having. He jumped into the Smiling Pool and grabbed one of Peter Rabbit's long ears. Billy Mink swam out and grabbed the other long ear. Jerry Muskrat dove right under Peter Rabbit and lifted him up on his back. Old Grandfather Frog swam ahead and led the way.

Together — all together — they carried Peter Rabbit across the Smiling Pool and pulled him out onto the grassy bank, where it was warm and soft.

The Merry Little Breezes came over and blew gently on his fur. Mr. Sun shone down warm and bright until Peter Rabbit was dry again.

Then they all sat down together and watched Little Joe Otter turn a somersault down the slippery slide.