Rumble Says Goodnight

The big farm was getting sleepy. The sun was going down behind the green hill, making everything orange and gold.

Little Freddie had on his bright blue overalls and his shiny red boots. He held Grandma's warm hand. It was time to say goodnight to the farm.

Right next to the big red barn sat Rumble. Rumble was an old red tractor with big black wheels.

Rumble gave a friendly shake. Chug-chug-chug, went Rumble's engine.

Grandma smiled. "Listen to that," Grandma said. "Rumble wants one more slow ride around the field before bed. Would you like to steer, Freddie?"

Freddie clapped his hands. "Yes, please!" he said.

Grandma lifted Freddie up, up, up into the tractor seat. Freddie put his hands on the big steering wheel. Grandma sat right beside him. Chug-chug-chug, went Rumble, rolling out across the dirt path, slow and steady.

First, they rolled past the hen house.

The three brown hens were hopping up the ramp, tucking in their wings.

Freddie waved from high up on the seat. "Goodnight, hens!" called Freddie.

Rumble gave a quiet beep on the horn. Toot-toot.

"Cluck, cluck," said the hens, closing their eyes together in the straw. "Cluck, cluck, goodnight."

Rumble rolled on, smooth and slow. Chug-chug-chug.

Next, they rolled by the green meadow.

The two spotted cows were lying down in the clover. Their tails gave one last, lazy flick to say hello.

Freddie waved his hand. "Goodnight, big cows!" called Freddie.

Rumble tapped his horn. Toot-toot.

"Moo, moo," said the cows, resting their heavy chins on the grass. "Moo, moo, goodnight."

Rumble turned the corner by the wooden fence, rolling even slower now. Chug... chug... chug.

Next, they rolled beside the apple tree.

Four fluffy sheep were curled up close together in a great big woolly heap. They looked just like puffy white pillows.

Freddie leaned over the fender. "Goodnight, sheep!" called Freddie.

Rumble gave a quiet little honk. Toot-toot.

"Baa, baa," said the woolly sheep, snuggling their noses in tight. "Baa, baa, goodnight."

The sky was turning deep blue now. A star blinked above the barn.

Freddie turned the big steering wheel all the way to the left. "Back to the barn, Rumble," he said.

Chug... chug... chug, Rumble rolled, right through the tall open doors. Inside, the barn smelled of sweet hay and dry wood.

High up in the rafters, sitting on a wooden beam, was a brown owl. The owl opened its big, round yellow eyes and stretched its wings. It was just waking up.

Freddie looked up into the shadows. "Goodnight, owl," whispered Freddie.

Rumble clicked his bright headlights off with a soft click.

The owl bobbed its feathery head. "Hoo, hoo," said the owl into the quiet barn. "Hoo, hoo, goodnight."

"We tucked everyone in," Freddie whispered to Grandma.

"We surely did," Grandma said softly. "Good job, Freddie."

Grandma reached over and turned the tractor key.

Rumble sighed a warm breath of air. The engine went chug... chug... chug... softer and slower, until it stopped with a low hum. Rumble was parked in his corner for the night, his big black tires resting on the cool barn floor.

Grandma lifted Freddie down. Freddie's legs felt heavy and warm. His red boots scuffed slowly across the straw.

He reached out and patted the tractor's red hood. "Goodnight, Rumble," Freddie said.

Rumble's metal gave a cooling tick. Goodnight.

Freddie gave a wide yawn. Grandma scooped him up into her arms, resting his head right against her shoulder. The denim of her jacket was soft against his cheek.

Grandma carried Freddie out of the dark barn and down the quiet path toward the yellow porch light.

The hens were sleeping in their coop.

The cows were sleeping in the meadow.

The sheep were sleeping under the apple tree.

And Rumble was resting, safe and still in the barn.

Grandma walked up the wooden steps, one, two, three. Freddie closed his eyes. Goodnight, farm. Goodnight, Rumble. Goodnight, Freddie.