Speaker 1: Yea, hello. My name's Josephine and this is the Animal
Tales podcast, where you suggest the animals featured in our stories.
There are new tales to enjoy every Monday and Wednesday,
with a third premium only story every Friday. Reviews help
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so if you can, please take the time to leave
us one Lluella and Jack are from Millsap, Texas in
the USA, and they have asked for a story featuring
a dog, a horse, and a cow. You can learn
more about these creatures in the animal facts after the story. Okay,
are you ready? That's good? Then I'll begin copy Christmas.
There was a chill in the Texas air as Jack
the dog came bounding into the barn. You'll never guess
what they're doing now, he said. Luella, a long legged
Palomino horse, lifted her ears. Go on, do tell, she urged.
They're up ladders attaching string to the outside of the house,
said Jack. String. Are you sure, asked Amanda, a Jersey cow.
Are they tying the house up like a hay bale?
I don't think so, said Jack. The string has nobbly
bits hanging from it, like the string has not seen
it or something. They've all gone mad, I tell you,
said Amanda. I've never once understood the humans. I still
don't believe what you said earlier, Jack sniffed the horse.
I mean, why would any one and take a tree
inside their house? Trees belong outside, I know, agreed Jack.
Trees are for chasing squirrels up. And if you didn't
believe that, you'll never believe what they did to the
tree next. Despite herself, Louella wanted to know what. She asked.
They dangled things from it, completely covered it, said the dog,
daring them to believe him, even stuck a star on top.
Stars don't belong on trees, pointed out the cow. They
belong in the sky. If you're telling the truth, said Loella,
then there is something seriously wrong. Go back and see
what they're doing now, insisted Amanda. I think we should know.
Good idea, said Jack, and he raced from the barn,
leaving the horse and the cow behind. Is he having
a son, do you think, asked Loella. Or maybe he's confused.
He is only a dog, after all, He's not normally
one for lying, pointed out Amanda. I've a feeling in
my udders that he speaks the truth. Then what exactly
are those humans doing, Loella wondered. They could tell by
the low sun casting long shadows that it would be
night soon. That meant one of the humans would be
in soon to feed them. It was a worry for
both animals, after all, if the humans were behaving strangely,
maybe they might forget about feeding them altogether. But they
need not have worried. A young woman arrived and began
sorting their feed, chatting away to them like humans so
often did she fetching some fresh water. When Jack returned
in an excited flurry, his tail wagging furiously. Guess what,
he barked, but had to be shushed by Loella. Sh
you daft hound, She'll hear you, the horse warned. So
for a few frustrating minutes, Jack lingered, ears folded back
as he waited for the human to finish her jobs.
Loella and Amanda fidgeted restlessly, desperate to learn the news
that the dog had brought. That's you all done, announced
the woman as she brushed off her hands. See you
guys in the morning for the big day. Come on, Jack,
it's time to feed you too. Normally Jack would follow
at her heels, but today he hesitated, waiting for the
human to pass through the barn door. Seeing it was
now safe, he turned to the two animal's eyes wide
and said, everything's bright. What do you mean everything's bright?
Snorted Amanda. It makes no sense, agreed Loella. It's almost
dark already. No, you don't understand, said the agitated dog.
The string, the tree, it's all bright. Do you mean lights?
Asked the horse. Are you saying the string and the
tree light up? Yes? Yes, barked Jack, That's exactly it,
and he raced away again, not wanting to miss his meal.
Well I definitely don't believe him now, snapped Loella. Trees
and string don't light up. It's not natural. I've had
enough of this, said the cow. Sounding stern, she began
nudging at the latch on her stool with her nose.
What are you doing, shrieked Loella. You know you're not
supposed to leave your stall. Of course, I know that,
insisted the cow, But this is important. We need to
see whatever's going on with our own eyes. Her nose
wasn't doing the job, so instead she tried her long
pink tongue. Seconds later she was free. Well, don't leave
me behind, demanded Loella. I want to see two. Within
five minutes, the cow and the horse were poking their
heads through the open barn door, left a jar by
the human woman so Jack could follow her out, leaving
their stools without a human present. Never ever happened, so
both animals were nervous, but they were not disappointed by
what they saw. The farmhouse was covered in brightly colored lights.
It looked bizarre and yet strangely beautiful too. And there
through one of the tall glass windows they could see
the inside tree, covered in yet more lights, decorations, and
with a star on top. Amazing, said Louella quietly. Wonderful,
muttered Amanda. But what does it mean, questioned the horse.
Why go to all that trouble? The door banged in
the darkness, startling both animals, but it was only Jack returning.
Oh boy, have I got more news for you, he
announced excitedly. Not here, though, said Amanda. Come inside. The
horse and the cow didn't return to the stalls, but
instead stood just inside the barn door, eager to learn more.
It's for some sort of party, he aped the dog.
A special party. Day. I think more humans are coming,
and they're bringing treats. As a dog, he liked both
new people and treats. But a party for what, asked Luella.
It's got something to do with a special human who
brings something that you want, explained Jack, although not very well.
I saw a picture of him. He wears red and
white and has a fairy head, and he's coming to
this party, asked Amanda. No, no, that's the weird bit,
replied Jack. He comes to night and he leaves the
thing you want while you're sleeping. Then everyone sees what
he's brought them at the party. This is all terribly confusing,
complained Loella. Why can't the poor furry headed human stay
for the party. It doesn't seem fair that he misses it.
I don't know, shrugged Jack. But what I do know
is that I would like him to leave me something
that I want. That would be nice, admitted the horse.
Do you think he'll leave us something as well? I
doubt it, said the dog. I think the tree inside
the house and the bright string is to let the
fairy headed human know where to go. I'll be all
right sleeping in the house, but you two don't stand
a chance. Well that's not fair, complained Amanda. No, it's
not agreed, Loella, So we should do something about it.
Whatever do you mean, yelped the cow, sounding shocked. It's
bad enough that we've left our stalls. Are you suggesting
we sleep in the house as well? No, of course not,
said Luella calmly. I'm just saying that maybe we should
decorate the barn, just like the humans have decorated the house. Oh,
what a good idea, said Jack, his tail wagging again.
I'll help. Amanda wasn't sure, but because Jack and Luella
were keen, she decided to go along with it. Ok,
she said, what's first. We're going to need a tree,
said Jack, And I know exactly where we can find one.
Under the cover of darkness, the dog, the horse, and
the cow crept from the barn. Jack led them to
the corner of the pasture, where a tall Texas ash
tree grew. There, he said proudly, and he began digging
in the dirt. Oh, Jack, that's far too big, said Luella.
It's bigger than the barn. Even if you dug it up,
we'd never drag something that size back again, are you sure,
asked the dog as he paused his digging. Very sure,
insisted Amanda. Sorry, but I can't think of another tree,
he said, sadly. Not a big one anyway, But we
don't want a big one, remember, reminded Loella. Oh well,
in that case, follow me, Jack said, and they were
off again. This time he brought them to a patch
of land behind the farmhouse that Luella and Amanda had
never seen before. There were seats and a table, a
large barbecue, and several pots and tubs with plants in
this one, said Jack as he wagged his tail beside
a squat bush. It's not quite a tree, is it,
pointed out Amanda. You will have to do, decided Loella.
Inside the family were watching television, and had any of
them looked up at that moment, they would have seen
three of the animals nudging one of their plant pots
across the deck. Fortunately, nobody looked back In the barn,
Luella gave the pot a final push with her nose,
then stood back to admire it. What now, she asked, Decorations,
said Jack, eagerly. Come on. This time, he took them
to the farm's bins, knocking the lid aside to reveal
the trash within. It smells a bit, said Amanda. Never
mind that, said Loella. Try to choose colorful or shiny
bits there look best. It took several trips, but soon
the branches of the bush were covered in foil wrappers,
empty soda cans, and a shredded magazine. They couldn't find
a star, so they used a banana peal instead. It
looked like a yellow octopus was perched on the top
of the bush. Good job, every one, announced Jack. Now
all we need is some of that bright string. Any
ideas any one not me, said Amanda, nor me, admitted Loella.
Well we've got to think of something, said Jack. We're
so close to making this thing work. Oh wait, I
have an idea, said Amanda, heading for the door, But
we may be too late. Curious, the dog and the
horse followed the cow across the pasture and down the
slope to where a stream ran along the edge of
the property. There were lots of bare trees and tall,
dry grasses here, but nothing at all that looked like string.
What are we doing here, asked Jack. We're just wasting time. Patience,
said the cow. Just give me a moment. Then into
the darkness, she said, hullo, is anyone there? Nothing happened.
I know it's late in the year, but I was
wondering if any of you were still around, she asked again.
Still nothing. Amanda gave it one last try. I can
offer you somewhere much warmer than this, if you'd care
to join us. A glint of yellowy green light flickered
on and off, then another, this one closer, then others
flashed to their left. All of a sudden, the night
was alive with pulsating light. Fireflies, gasped Luella. I thought
they were gone until spring. Let's offer them a lift
back to the barn, suggested Amanda. They'll be weak and
tired from the cold. Back at the barn, they encouraged
the fireflies to take up positions throughout the decorated bush,
across the rafters, and just about anywhere they could find
a space. One two, three, go, barked Jack, signaling for
every firefly to light up. It's beautiful, sighed Luella. Simply marvelous,
agreed Amanda. We should get back to our stalls before
the furry headed human finds us out of them. Good idea,
said Luella, not wanting to get into trouble. Jack was
so pleased by what they'd achieved that he settled down
atop a hay bale and joined his companions at marveling
at the decorations. In doing so, all three were soon
fast asleep. This was how Santa found them later that night,
and he was very impressed by their efforts, so he
reached into his sack and pulled out a beautifully wrapped
gift for a dog, a horse, and a cow. Animal fact.
The dog in the story is based on a Blue Lacey,
a breed of working dog that originated in Texas. They're
lightly built, but swift and strong, and were named the
state dog of Texas in two thousand and five. Palomino
horses have a golden coat of hair with a white
mane and tail. Their striking color has made them a
popular horse, particularly in movies and TV shows. Jersey cows
originated on the island of Jersey, one of the Channel
islands between the UK and France. Their milk is slightly
yellower than normal due to high butter fat. Thank you
for your suggestions, Loella and Jack. We hope you enjoyed
the tale and Thank you to all of you across
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animal tale. Good Bye,