ILLUSTRATION BY BETTY J. CARSON

 It was "Country Fun Day" at the Little Red Schoolhouse on Happy Valley Road that warm autumn it all began.  A well-worn straw hat rested on the gray hair of the aging first grade teacher shading the pale blue eyes from the bright sunshine.  Miss Prudence smiled and breathed a gentle sigh as she watched the children play tag among the one hundred and twelve apple trees that formed the small orchard behind the tiny red clapboard school.  Here and there painted tire swings would soon hang from thick hemp rope.  "How marvelous that will be…and what fun for the children to have tire swings," she thought to herself.   Mr. Perry from the gas station in town had donated twenty old tires to the school, and today the children were painting them with waterproof paint in shades of yellow, green and red.  Mr. Tim, the school helper, had placed the twenty tires on clean newspaper neatly on the grass.  Beside each tire rested a clean coffee can full of fresh paint.
Miss Prudence looked down approvingly at the prepared project, then shook the large bell she held in her hand with a loud clanking sound.
"Come along children.  Get out those paint brushes mommy and daddy gave you and let's pretty up these lovely old tires from Mr. Perry's automobile repair shop," she called.
The children scattered in different directions, picking up brushes from under the trees where they had placed them.
"Let's make these old sad tire look new and happy," she sang out in her most encouraging voice.
The children giggled and chatted among themselves, painting their tires enthusiastically.  All, that is, except little Rodney Riley.   He moved very slowly as he painted and didn't seem quite himself.  The old schoolteacher toddled over to him and said, "My goodness Rodney.  Where has that bright smile of yours gone today?  All the sunshine has left your face.  Are you having a cloudy day of sorts?"  Miss Prudence always referred to happy as sunny and sad as cloudy, like a weather report.
"Yes Miss Prudence," Rodney said quietly.  He looked up into the kind but wrinkled face as his soft brown eyes began to tear up.
"Oh now there Rodney," the gentle voice whispered.  Miss Prudence eased herself down onto the grass beside the small boy, pulling him close to her with a loving arm. "What can we do to make that sad face a glad one?"
"Awwwwhhhh Miss Prudence.  My dad says we are going to have to move away to Iowa because my grandpa is sick and Grandma needs help with her farm.  I don't want to leave my school and you and Rudy."
"Why Rodney," Miss Prudence exclaimed, "I had no idea you were moving.  I certainly will miss you.  I believe I am feeling a bit cloudy myself on that thought.  But who is Rudy?  Is he a little friend of yours."
Rodney hung his head down, gazing at the bright yellow paint in the coffee can.  He put his paintbrush down, then looked up again.  Tears began to flow down the cheeks forming a smudge.  "No Miss Prudence.  He's not a friend, but yes he is too kinda.  Rudy is my pet rat.  He's real nice and he's smart too.  My grandma hates rats and Mom says I have to give Rudy away."
At that Rodney began to cry and sniffle.  Several children looked over and Miss Prudence waived her hand their way saying, "Now keep painting…just never mind."
The children resumed their projects, looking at each other in bewilderment. Miss Prudence picked up the paintbrush from the can and painted R-U-D-Y on the tire.  Rodney smiled.  "That's a good boy Rodney," she cuddled.  "Now paint your tire and we'll see what we can work out."
The old schoolteacher grappled her way to her feet.  She looked at Rodney and sighed one more time.  "Poor little guy," she thought.  "It is always so difficult to give up a pet.  And this little creature will have to give up such a lovely boy."
After the painting project had been completed, Miss Prudence produced a bushel basket of apples… yellow, green and red like the cans of paint, and told the children their different names as they sampled juicy bits and bites.  "And because you did such a splendid job on those old tires," proclaimed Miss Prudence, "I have some melted caramel for dipping your apple bits into."  The children squealed with delight and gathered around a plate of the melted candy.
After the children had finished their snacks, Miss Prudence asked them if they wanted to have their story time under the Magic Oak Tree on the school grounds, and, of course, they all shouted "yes yes yes", clapping their yellow, green and red paint colored hands with enthusiasm.  The Magic Oak Tree was a favorite story telling spot for the children and Miss Prudence both.  Miss Prudence told the children all good stories contain a bit of magic because you get to use your imagination, and that is how the Magic Oak Tree got its name.
Miss Prudence read the children the adventures of Johnny Appleseed who planted apple trees in many places. Just as she finished up, Mr. Murphy came down the lane with his hay wagon and horse named Dobbins.
"We have a surprise boys and girls," Miss Prudence announced.  "Let's all climb on board the wagon and take a ride."
Miss Prudence thanked Mr. Murphy for making their day special by bringing his horse and wagon to school and shook his hand.
Mr. Murphy laughed as the children scrambled on board, thrilled by the adventure.  Miss Prudence climbed in the back and sat next to Rodney, who smiled up at her.  He fell back into the soft hay and laughed shyly.
"Feeling a little cheerier, Rodney?" she asked.
"Yes Miss Prudence," he giggled.  "I got a good idea.  A really good idea."
"Why, what is it Rodney.  Tell me quick.  I can't wait to hear what it might be."  Miss Prudence sighed deep inside, knowing the boy was feeling somewhat happier.
"Miss Prudence.  You can take care of Rudy for me.  You are my favorite person in the whole entire school.  I know Rudy will love you a lot.  And I can write to him from Iowa, and you can read the letters to him.  Don't you think that is a great idea?"  Rodney beamed.  His sunny face was shining.
"Uh….a pet rat.  Errrrr….uh…..I never thought about having a pet rat before Rodney.  Do you think he will like me?  I mean…..uh….he is used to a little boy and I am, well, somewhat of an old lady.  There are no children at my house."  Miss Prudence stammered.
"Oh Miss Prudence, Rudy will love you like I love you.  I know he will."  Rodney gave Miss Prudence a big two arms hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Well enough then Rodney.  We'll speak to your parents about Rudy coming to live with me."
The pale blue eyes looked up from beneath the old straw hat into the white clouds that floated on blue in the heavens.  Miss Prudence sighed once more as the children began to toss hay at one another in the back of the old wagon that jostled down Happy Valley Road.  Rodney joined in the merriment.  Two weeks later, Mrs. And Mr. Riley and Rodney were at the door of the tiny cottage on Maple Lane with Rudy and his fine cage.  Rodney took Rudy out of his cage and placed him in the arms of the pudgy first grade school teacher.
"He's really a special rat, Miss Prudence", Rodney smiled.  "You take good care of him for me…o.k.?"
"Oh I certainly will Rodney.  Look at those bright eyes of his."
Rudy blinked up into the face of his new mistress, as Miss Prudence gently scratched his soft brown ears.
And that is how Miss Prudence got her pet, or how it all began.  Somehow, nothing would quite ever be the same.