Sammy Squirrel

Sammy, the little squirrel lived with his sisters in a lovely little house inside a big willow tree.  Sammy has five little sisters; their names are Susie, Sarah, Sandy, Cindy and Sally.  We already know about Sammy and his sisters from the previous story and we know that Sammy had made some new friends to play with and that he was a very happy little squirrel.

It was a lovely Saturday morning.  The sun was shining brightly.  There were a few white clouds blowing by slowly in the sky.  Sammy woke up rather early that morning, because today, he was going to visit his Daddy’s station!   He was a very excited squirrel!

Sammy’s Daddy was a fire fighter. He worked for the Local Fire Brigade.  Sammy’s Daddy, Mr. Squirrel, had been working there for as long as Sammy could remember, and today his Daddy had promised to take Sammy with him to work!

“Come on Sammy, let’s get a move on! We don’t want to be late on your first day at work!” Exclaimed Mr. Squirrel.  Sammy said goodbye to his Mummy and his five sisters, who were busy eating their breakfast, and set off with his Daddy.

They walked to the Fire Brigade Station. It wasn't far and it was a lovely warm day.  Mr. Squirrel liked to walk.  He always met a lot of his friends on the way. There was Mr. Rabbit, who was digging in his front garden.  Then there was Mr. Toad in the nearby pond, sunbathing on a lily pad.  Then they met Mr. Dog, the sheep dog, who looked after the sheep in the field.  Mr. Squirrel and sammy said good morning to all their friends and neighbours until they reached the Fire Brigade Station.

Sammy was very impressed with the station.  It was a big building painted in red with a blue roof and blue window shutters.  The building had just been painted recently and it looked lovely and bright and clean in the sun.  Mr. Squirrel took Sammy by the hand and led him into the garages.  “You can have a good look at our two brand new fire-engines.” Said Mr. Squirrel.

Sammy could not believe his eyes!  There were two beautiful fire engines standing next to each other.  They were bright red in colour with blue stripes all around the engines.  There were two huge ladders painted blue and a bright blue hose on both sides of the fire engine, but the thing that really caught his attention was the bright gold bell that hung inside the fire engine.

“These are our two beauties,” said Mr. Squirrel with pride.  “We drive in the front part of the engine as you can see over there.  When we drive off we pull on the bell to warn anyone in the way that we are passing through!”  “Wow!” Exclaimed Sammy “that sounds like fun”  Mr. Squirrel laughed.  “At the back of the engine we have the ladders and ropes which we use when we have to put out a fire”.  “Have you been up the ladders Daddy?” Asked Sammy.  “Why, of course! Plenty of times! Usually when we are drilling.” “What’s drilling?” Asked Sammy as he examined the fire engine for the tenth time.

“Drilling is when we are practising, it is like pretending there is a fire, say, in a house or in a field, we put the fire out using these hoses and the ladders, we hose down the flames with water, that is what drilling is all about.”  Mr. Squirrel explained to Sammy that although he enjoyed his work, it was still hard work, and should be taken seriously.

Sammy was having a wonderful time.  He met the other fire fighters who worked with his Daddy.  He was given a bright yellow helmet to wear and was shown all over the building.  Sammy even managed to slide down the emergency pole, which was used if they were in a hurry, instead of using stairs.

Sammy and his Daddy were having lunch out in the sunshine when they saw Mr. Dog.  Mr. Dog came bounding up the path towards the fire brigade building.  He started shouting. “Fire! Fire! There’s a fire at the Old Grange, near the sheep farm.  You must come quickly!  It will spread in my field if you don’t put it out!” The sheep dog was out of breath and was heaving and breathing heavily.  “Calm down now!” exclaimed Mr. Squirrel “Or we will need an ambulance as well as a fire engine!”  Mr. Squirrel ran off to ring the signal bell to warn the others that they were needed.

Mr. Squirrel then took Sammy by the hand and said “If you behave and do as you are told, I’ll let you ride with us in the engine”  Sammy was so thrilled!  He was lifted up in the front seat next to the driver and told to wear his helmet.  His Daddy was at the back of the engine holding on to the ladder with the rest of the crew.  “Now young man” Said the driver very seriously.  “You have a very important job to do.  It is your job to pull the bell whenever you see somebody in the middle of the road!  We can’t stop you know!  We must get to the fire as quickly a possible!”

Sammy was so happy! He was actually doing something useful and important for the fire brigade!  He pulled and pulled on the bell! CLANG! CLANG! Went the bell all over town.  The bell had never been rung so much or so well!  People in the streets kept out of the engine’s way.  Children ran out of their houses to follow the fire engine.  It was ever so exciting!

In no time at all they reached the Old Grange.  The Old Grange was a deserted farm that had been abandoned years ago.  The local villagers had wanted to pull it down but never got round to doing it.  Now it was in flames!  Sammy and the fire brigade arrived in time to put out the fire before it spread to Mr. Dog’s field.  Sammy had to wait in the fire engine for safety but he didn't mind at all, after all he helped by pulling the bell!

The fire brigade put out the fire using the hoses, they did not need the ladders, as the Old Grange wasn't a high building.  Children gathered round in awe, looking on at the men and especially at Sammy who sat proudly with his hat on in the front with his hand resting on the bell rope in case he was asked to ring it!  When the fire was out everyone cheered and clapped and all the children danced around the fire engine.

Sammy and the team drove back to the station, talking all at once, how they had succeeded in putting out the fire in time.  Mr, Squirrel carried Sammy on his shoulders into the station and all the crew patted Sammy on the back for doing a grand job.

Just before Sammy and his Daddy left the station for home, Sammy was approached by one of the team.  “Sammy Squirrel, we are presenting you with this gold badge for doing such a fine job today, we are all proud of you! Keep up the good work son!”

Sammy wore the badge all the way home, showing it off to all his friends and neighbours.  When he got home he proudly showed it to his sisters and his Mummy, relating the exciting day he had had with his Daddy and the Fire Brigade.  His sisters gathered round him to listen to his wonderful story and they made him repeat it over and over again!

It was time to go to bed and for once Sammy went up without complaining.  He was so tired!  “It is very tiring being a fire fighter!  When I grow up, I’m going to be a fire fighter just like my Dad!”  He was soon fast asleep with his badge stuck on his pyjamas, and his yellow helmet on his pillow!

Happy dreams Sammy!

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