From the Rype & Readi Farm Series

Toulouse Friend From the Rype & Readi Farm Series

Toulouse Friend from The Rype & Readi Farm Series Written by Rhonda Burns

This book is dedicated to all the new kids on the block.

The only way to have a friend is to be one. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Allo French English Bonjour C est un plaisir de vous rencontrer Comment allez-vous Comment vous appelez-vous? De meme Je m appelle Je vous Maman Merci Moi petit Mon ami Oh la la! Oui Words You ll Want to Know Hello Hello or Good Morning or Good Afternoon It s a pleasure to meet you. How are you doing? What is your name? Likewise My name is You re welcome Mama Thank you Small one My friend Wow! Yes

llo! Bonjour! squawked Toulouse, the newest resident of Rype & Readi Farm, as she and her goslings strutted around greeting all the animals one by one. Je m appelle Toulouse. Comment vous appelez-vous? To her disappointment, no one answered.

Thinking perhaps she wasn t heard, and thus clearing her throat, Toulouse tried again, a bit more loudly. Bonjour! Allo! Je m appelle Toulouse. Comment vous appelez-vous? Still no answer. Everyone just stared. Silence filled the air, and stretched out most uncomfortably. Toulouse and her young goslings were new at the Rype and Readi Farm. They had wasted no time getting used to the grounds, and had already checked out the garden and determined there were plenty of good things to eat. Now they turned their attention to getting acquainted with the other animals at the Farm. But it wasn t turning out to be as easy as they had hoped.

On the Rype and Readi Farm lived an assortment of animals cows, goats, roosters, hens, several chicks, donkeys, Baby Doll sheep, and a dog and a cat. Toulouse was very much looking forward to becoming part of the barnyard group, as she loved making new friends.

What could be the matter? thought Toulouse. Do I have egg on my face or something? I m trying to be friendly. Did I not introduce myself? Did I not inquire about their names? Why do the other farm animals stare at me and not answer? Am I not welcome here? She tried one last time, a hopeful, feeble, Bonjour? Allo? For her valiant efforts, she received nothing but more stares in return from the farm animals at Rype & Readi. Feeling dejected, rejected, and downright discouraged, Toulouse slowly ducked her head, and reluctantly turned away. She waddled slowly down the path to the pond, her goslings close behind her.

Maman! Maman! what s the matter? asked one of her young ones. Ah moi petit, don t be upset. It s just that I m perplexed. I don t understand why the others wouldn t talk to me, she answered, trying to hide her tears from her young ones. It s going to be difficult living here at the Farm without any friends. I had hoped for so much more!

Of course we ll have friends! her oldest gosling said. Haven t you always told us that if you want to have a friend, you ve got to first be a friend? That s right, Maman, said the youngest, in agreement. You always say that. Oui, moi petit, said Toulouse. I do say that, and it s true. I just didn t realize how uncomfortable I would feel when meeting all the other animals. I don t understand why the others wouldn t answer me when I greeted each of them and introduced myself. But never mind that now, said Toulouse, trying to brush off her feelings of rejection. Come on, let s all go find something to eat. I m hungry! Are you?

Toulouse and her goslings busied themselves with finding delicious fat worms and bugs to eat. Fortunately, they were plentiful at the Farm. This place is fantastic! said the oldest gosling. Everything is so yummy! said the youngest. They were so busy enjoying their afternoon snack that they didn t hear Lucq, the black and white farm dog, come walking up.

Bonjour, said. Lucq, in his best French accent. The geese all turned their heads to see who had spoken. C est un plaisir de vous rencontrer. I m Lucq and I just wanted to welcome you to the Farm. Merci, de meme, said Toulouse. How very nice of you. Don t be upset that the other animals didn t answer you when you introduced yourself, said Lucq. Oh? said Toulouse. Why is that? Do you know why they wouldn t talk to me?

There is a simple explanation, mon ami, said Lucq. The others simply don t speak French, but I do. Oui? asked Toulouse, beginning to feel much better. Oui, replied Lucq. They understand only one language English so if you want to talk to them, you have to learn to speak to them in a language they understand! It s that simple.

How is it that you understand French? asked Toulouse, hope starting to blossom for her once again. Well, that s a long story, said Lucq. I come from a long line of sheepherding dogs. My forefathers were sheepherders in the Pyrenees Mountains. Do you know where that is? Oui! replied Toulouse. I know it well. Such a beautiful place. How I used to enjoy walking along with the sheep during the summer transhumance. Oui. It is indeed beautiful there, and I ve often helped the sheepherders in that journey, Lucq answered, feeling a touch of homesickness for his homeland.

Sighing, Lucq continued, I was born in France, and I flew to America on a plane. A plane? asked Toulouse. A real airplane? Yes! answered Lucq. I had a passport and everything.

Oh la la! exclaimed Toulouse, suddenly feeling much better now that she had made a new friend. How wonderful! The others here at the Farm are really nice animals when you get to know them. They re not unfriendly at all! Please, Lucq urged. Try once more to introduce yourself, and this time, speak in a language they understand. Try saying hello instead of bonjour, for example. They ll understand that. Merci! said Toulouse. I mean, thank you! Je vous, answered Lucq. I mean, you re welcome.

You know, said Lucq, smiling, If the others were in France, they would have to learn to speak French in order to understand anything! Oui, said Toulouse. I mean, yes! You re right. Toulouse and her goslings hurried as fast as they could back to find the others. One at a time, they introduced themselves to the cows, goats, roosters, donkeys, Baby Doll sheep, the hen and her chicks, and even Boris, the cat.

Hello! Hello! Hello!

And this time, everyone said, Hello! right back!

Epilogue Toulouse is named after a city in the South of France, and Lucq really did live in France long ago. Lucq was a gift to the Farmer from a sheepherder in the Pyrenees Mountains. Lucq actually did fly from France to America, and he even had his own passport! Lucq s story is told in another book in the Rype & Readi Children s Book Collection.

Who s Who at Rype & Readi Farm

About the Author Rhonda Burns is a regular visitor and part-time employee of Rype & Readi Farm, who delights in teaching children not only the advantages of the superior nutrition of farm fresh food, but of the fun to be had in day-today farm life.

Where family values prevail Rype & Readi Farm Market 5780 County Road 305 Elkton, Florida 32033 Email: RypeNReadi@gmail.com

Open 7 days a week 8 am 7 pm We are located at 5780 County Road 305, Elkton, Florida 32033 www.rypeandreadi.com