Dear Diary,

This morning felt crisp, like the first true hint that summer is coming to an end. The leaves in the Whispering Woods are just beginning to turn, some golden and a few even a deep, rusty red. I love this time of year. There’s something about the coolness in the air that makes me feel extra alive. I hopped out of my burrow early, the grass still wet with dew, and the gentle breeze ruffling my fur. I think autumn is my favorite season.

I wandered down to the old apple orchard today, the one where the trees have stood for as long as anyone can remember. It’s quiet there, peaceful, with just the sound of a few birds chirping and the occasional thump of apples falling to the ground. I spent the better part of the morning gathering the good apples that had dropped. Some were bruised, but there were a few perfect ones too—bright red and just the right size to carry back to my burrow. I munched on one as I sat under an old apple tree, watching the sunlight filter through the leaves. It was a sweet, juicy one. I thought about how soon it would be time to prepare for winter, but for now, I’m happy to enjoy the cool, quiet days of early autumn.

As I headed back home, I noticed that the squirrels were already starting to collect acorns. Nibbles was darting around, his cheeks puffed out as usual. I waved to him, but he was too busy to stop. I guess I’ll have to start my own preparations soon, but for today, it was just nice to enjoy the simple things—like a stroll through the orchard, the feel of cool air, and the taste of fresh apples. I think tomorrow, I might take Charlie and Molly with me to pick more. There are plenty of apples to share.

Until tomorrow —

Benny

You can learn much more about Benny and his Whispering Woods friends while reading their exciting adventure stories at:

https://bennysbraveadventures.com

Sing their songs, too:

youtube.com/@bennysbraveadventures

Read their books:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hong+z+mccormickm