Just then, a screech came that was as loud as a bell.
The mice were frightened and huddled together.
The screech came again; Mr. Mouse knew the vulture’s voice well.
The mouse scurried through the trees using his great sense of smell.
He came to the vulture who was trapped in mud hole cause by the weather.
The vulture was sinking fast; a raspberry branch was in his beak.
The rain came down hard; Mr. Mouse carefully stepped onto the mire.
He did not sink! He was light enough and had big enough feet.
The mouse scurried to the vulture and gave out a squeak.
The vulture looked up with panic. Time was about to expire.
The mouse grabbed the raspberry branch and counted to three.
He tugged but the vulture was too much to pull out.
Then the mouse scurried off and climbed up a tree.
The mouse chewed through a branch until it was free.
It landed by the bird who pulled itself loose and staggered about.
The mouse ran down to the bird which now lied in the downpour.
The mouse used the rain to clean off the mud.
The young mice arrived; Mr. Mouse smiled at the four.
They all helped the vulture to the loft and laid him on the floor.
And all six huddled and slept; they were warm and safe from the flood.
Three days later, the skies were still bleak.
The water rock was still shared; the barn was still a water display.
The pond was still useless. It was more like a creek.
The young duck liked to swim there and fish with her beak.
The four little mice wandered to the water to play.
They splashed on the edge and laughed with delight.
The young duck saw them and came to join in the fun.
They played until evening turned to night.
They didn’t notice cloud funnels come into sight.
Then, the wind picked up and a cyclone touched down.
The twister was only a mile away.
The five little ones screamed with fear.
A shriek came from the sky; the vulture came down from the gray.
The four mice climbed on his back, and clenched him, and prayed.
Then the vulture looked at the duck as it quickly waddled near.
Using his beak, the vulture picked up the duck with care.
Then he flew back to the barn loft with the mice in his mane.
Mr. Mouse had been resting; he was now awake and aware.
All the animals in the loft ran to a corner and huddled there.
The tornado came closer and roared like a train.
Underneath their nearby tree, the animals were very afraid.
Mr. and Mrs. Duck called for their child.
Then the cow came over; he had been in the glade
He’d seen the vulture take the duck to the loft where he stayed.
All the animals rushed to the barn; the wind grew more and more wild.