Page 53 - Fall2013

focus better and could play team softball for the old. The boys took their pet mice to the edge of meanwhile,
first time. His teammates were surprised that he the forest where the picnic had been held almost
could now run all four bases without gasping for a year ago. The mice showed some hesitation on his grades got
breath. leaving their cages, but eventually they ventured better. His
Meanwhile, his grades got better. His teach- forth together, sniffed the fresh spring air with teachers were
ers were amazed when his mother, the school upturned noses, flipped their long tails, and
nutritionist, explained why. They were so im- finally scampered off together under the forest amazed when
pressed that they convened a PTA meeting at his leaves, never to be seen again. Gary and Jason his mother,
elementary school where all the parents voted were sad to see them go, but happy that they the school
to improve the cafeteria menu with beef stews, would at last be free to live and play wherever
whole grain breads, yogurt, fresh fruits (without they wished. nutritionist,
syrup), and both raw and steamed vegetables. explained
They also started a big school garden where Ja- “Gee, Uncle, do you think we could catch us why.
son proudly showed the other kids what he had some field mice, too?” one nephew asked, as he
learned at home. studied the vast leaf blanket on the forest floor
Even his mouse Junky grew until he was for signs of field mice. Only squirrels scurried
almost the same size as Goody. He no longer about.
gnawed at plastic cups or nipped Jason’s fingers “What happened to them after they ran into
hoping to find the missing nutrients in his diet. the forest?” asked my other nephew.
He especially liked hard-boiled eggs and stood “We may never see those very same mice
on his hind legs to beg He looked cute when Ja- again, but we can be sure in the wild, they ate
son played with him. Better nutrition made the very well, and were happy. But all this happened
mouse’s fur look thick, shiny, and beautiful. It a long time ago. Maybe, if you are good boys
was so playful and fun to watch that all the kids during the rest of the year, Santa Claus will bring
in the neighborhood came round to see Jason and each of you a pet mouse. Would you like that?”
his pet. Soon they had pet mice of their own. “Yes, yes,” they chorused with delight, as
Gary and Jason had decided to free their pet we started back to the James Madison mansion.
mice, because after a year their mice had grown

Oasis at Bird-in-Hand, an amisH Organic FOOd cO-Op HOsts internatiOnal cHeFs

a choice of raw milk or pasteurized
drinkable yogurt from Oasis at Bird-in-
amish grandmothers serve grass-fed Hand for chef isto tahvanainen, chef israeli chef shalom Kadosh
beef pot roast and vegetables. to president sauli niinisto of Finland. photographs the peach pie.
Wise Traditions FALL 2013 FALL 2013 Wise Traditions 51

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