The Koala & Llama

Story & Illustrations © ‘For our Kids Someday’

It

has been raining cats and dogs,

the

skys’ been nothing but gray,

our

gigantic suns’ been hiding day after day.

Today

is so different, the storm clouds rolled away,

now

it's time for Leo the Llama to get out

and play!

Kid

Bud, Koda Koala, will be waiting outside.

Leo

is frantically fumbling with laces to get his shoes tied.

One

toe out, he gasped at Mama’s posted 'Fridge List'

Sadly grumbling

knowing he must not resist–

having

no choice but to enlist.

Leo,

{no going out} till your 'Chore' day is done.

He

turned into SadSack, so anxious to have fun.

Mama,

he said with his lip in a pout,

Koda

is waiting to run all about,

pllleeeaaassseee,

can I go, it's just so sun-shiny out.

I

know you’ve got ants in your pants to get out to play,

but

rules are rules, then you can be on your way!

Leo

moped in such a quandary,

yet

conceded and started with laundry;

folding

pants, tank tops, undies, and shirts,

matching

socks, folding jammies, jackets, and skirts.

Koda

knocked, asking what he could do–

chores

are more fun when done by two!

Mama

agreed to let Koda help out,

now

Leo and Koda were goofball twirling about~

running

‘round and

sliding on floors

wearing

fluffy dryer socks while stuffing the drawers.

Mama

got a whirl out

of their childish silliness

~still

a sock slider ~ even a grocery cart rider~

Next

on the list was cleaning up toys;

putting

away cars, trucks, and trains that make noise;

Legos

and blocks, bouncing balls and bats,

stuffed

animal giraffes and smiling Cheshire cats.

Toybox

is bursting

seams…

time

to move on to other things.

Zero

o’ dust, although no muss or fuss

mostly

just whiffing & wheezing!

They

shook out rugs while bagging the trash;

with

two, it was E-z/P-z.

Out

to the garden to pull up weeds,

mow

the grass and rake up leaves…

small

break to admire the flowers and bees. {viaKristenQueenBee}

Back

on kitchen tasks ~

snuck

'unnoticed' snax.

Washed

and dried bowls, pans, forks, and knives.

Carefully

wiped the stove so as not to ignite,

then

polished the counters, shiny and bright.

Up

to the bedroom to tuck sheets and fluff beds,

assuring

pillow fights between those two knuckleheads,

with giggles and feathers filling the air

~ no Goofs here ~ MamaLlama,

the white glove inspector will soon be upstairs

Bubble

scrub the tub while de-toothpasting the mirror–

Just

make it clean; you know what I mean!

With

each soapy sponge swipe, their reflections got clearer;

dreams

of escaping drawing nearer and nearer.

Mama

was delighted ~ now that you’re done

just

promise me one thing ~ you’ll have tons o’ fun ~

Now

skip on out, and as always,

don't

let the doorknob hit ya

where

the good Lord split ya!

Tossed

hard balls - parched, sipping water from the hose.

Clipped

playing cards to their bicycle spokes

~clickety-clack~

annoying

neighbors with rambunctious boyish sounds

popping

wheelies single file all over town.

Paid

a visit to the candy shop ~

ate

junk food ‘till their buttons popped!

Stopped

by the river to take a Dip,

back

to race bikes as they “Schvitz”...

Drip,

Drip, Drip.

Off

to the merry-go-round for a spin–

faces

sore from their dizzy grins.

Shoveling

deep in sandbox piles,

polishing

treasures through gritty smiles.

Koda

taught Leo how to climb a tree,

found

shapes in the clouds, floating free.

Told

jokes and laughed till their bellies hurt.

Made

royal castles out of sand and dirt.

Hopscotch,

jump rope, and hula hoop,

tic-tac-toe,

and Rubix cube, too.

Knuckling

down marbles and magic tricks;

collecting

shiny rocks and cool wand-like-Schticks,

{j-amigo-ism}

Showing-off

somersaults and risky backflips.

Ears

perk up at the dinner bell,

noses

sniff skyward toward suppers super smells.

Totally

Buddy-Bummed to part ways,

hungry

rumbles bring an end to their play.

High-fives

~ fist bumps ~ secret handshake

wraps

up another Epic PlayDay.

Co-Creators, Ink - By: Jay Kantor & Kristen Balyeat

- Vocal Village Community -