Jeremy Otter was bored. He had lost track of his friends Oliver, Daisy and Digby and had no one to play with. Usually, on such a bright sunny morning they would be splashing around in the water, diving, playing tag and just generally having a good time.
So, he set out to look for a playmate. He swam down the river to find Boris Beaver busily cutting down trees to build a dam. “Will you come play with me Boris?” asked Jeremy.
“No time, no time,” said Boris, “Can’t you see I’ve got work to do? I must get more logs and get this dam built.”
“But why?” asked Jeremy. “You just finished the last dam yesterday.”
“Because that’s what beavers do’ said Boris, turning his back on Jeremy and as he started to gnaw another tree with his huge incisors.
Jeremy swam a little further and came to Missy Raccoon at the water’s edge.
“Come play with me, Missy?” he asked.
“I can’t right now” said Missy. "Can’t you see I’m busy? I have food to wash.” And she dipped another paw full of clams in the water, swishing them around to get out the grit.
“Come on, Missy. You can wash your food later.”
“Sorry Jeremy, but that’s what raccoons do.”
By the water’s edge there was a tall tree that was home to Rusty Squirrel. “How about you Rusty? Will you come play?”
“I’m too busy,” said Rusty. “I have to gather nuts for winter.”
“But winter’s ages away, Rusty. Come play for a while.”
“Sorry Jeremy, I have to make sure I have lots of nuts stored. That’s what squirrels do.”
Roberta the Robin flew past Jeremy’s head carrying a piece of string in her beak.
“Not a chance, Jeremy,” she said when he asked her to play. “I have to get my nest built for when my babies arrive. That’s what robins do.”
Jeremy sighed and turned to swim back to the pond. As he passed Boris, the beaver said. “If you can’t find anyone to play with you, why don’t you help me build my dam”?
Just then Jeremy heard a splash and saw his friends had returned. Oliver was scooting down the riverbank on a slide of leaves and moss while Daisy and Digby played tag to see who went next.
“Thanks but no thanks, Boris.” Jeremy raced up the slope and joyfully followed Oliver down the slide splashing into the water. “I have to play with my friends, because that’s what otters do.”
