The Bridge of Borrowed Planks

Lantern one glows behind them as Quokky and Bramble reach Fernwater Creek. The autumn floods have carried off most of the footbridge. A painted sign reads: THIS BRIDGE NEEDS 12 PLANKS TO CROSS SAFELY.

Quokky counts 4 planks still firmly in place. Pell the beaver paddles over with 3 planks she saved from her dam repairs. Ardea the heron brings 2 more, balanced carefully on her back. Bramble pulls 1 sturdy plank from the woodpile he hauled along.

“Every plank here is lent, not given,” Bramble reminds them. “We return them all after the season.” Borrowed or not, each one still counts toward crossing tonight.