Jasmine And Her Friends

JASMINE RESCUES WIGGLES

Wiggles was an earth worm who belonged to a very large family of
earthworms. They lived in Jasmine's garden and mostly stayed out sight
under the ground.

One day Jasmine was dozing in the warm sun room at the back of her
house. She loved looking out and seeing the flowers, grass and Mommy's
garden. The ground was quite wet from last night's rain showers and Wiggles had come up for some nice fresh air.

All of a sudden a loud squeal came from the garden. A small child had wondered into the yard and spotted Wiggles. "I'm going to squash that worm, she declared, as she stomped through through the wet grass. That will make a nice squashy mess!" "Browl and meow," called Jasmine through the window. "Don't hurt Wiggles, he is only a worm. He is our friend."

Jasmine had learned from the Discovery channel on television just how important the job that Wiggles and his family did. They burrowed through the earth, softening the soil to help the roots of the plants get food and water. "Stop little girl. Don't hurt Wiggles. He only came up for some fresh air." But the little girl could not hear Jasmine. "Oh, what will I do? wailed Jasmine. Wiggles needs to be rescued."

As she watched the little girl get closer and closer to Wiggles, she thought, I must get Mommy. She will know what to do. Jasmine often nudged Mommy to go with her when something important needed to be done. Once Mommy had to get Snuggles, the large gray cat who lived with them, out of a stuck closet! So Jasmine bumped against Mommy's leg. Mommy inquired, "What is it Jasmine? Is Snuggles stuck in a closet again?" But Jasmine just scrambled to the sun room with Mommy close behind. "Oh my, said Mommy. The child should not do that. Thank you Jasmine for telling me."

Mommy quickly went to the garden and quietly said, "Hello, little girl. Isn't that a nice little worm?" "Ugh" scowled the child. "It is slimy and messy. I'll just get rid of it by squeezing it." "You could do that, said Mommy in a friendly way, but take a look at these nice tomatoes and carrots. Wiggles helps to make them grow." "No way! exclaimed the little girl. No worm can do that."

"Oh yes," explained Mommy patiently, as Jasmine anxiously watched from the window. "Wiggles and his family are very important to our garden! They burrow through the ground to soften it, so the tomatoes and carrot roots can get food and water."

"Wow, exclaimed the little girl. I learned something important today. I think I like Wiggles! My mom said I should try to learn something new everyday." So Mommy loaded tomatoes and carrots into the little girl's arms to carry home.

Mommy thanked Jasmine for being so alert and saving Wiggles from being smashed and squished. As they glanced out the window, they watched the end of Wiggle's tail disappear down under the garden.