Summer Sweets

By Meribeth C. Shank

Teri and Sheri are going out to pick raspberries in the garden behind the garage. “We will have raspberry muffins for supper,” says Teri. “We will have butter on hot muffins.”
“Sheri,” says Teri, “you pick at that end. I will start right here. We will meet in the middle.” Sheri walks along the path. She begins to pick at the edge of the raspberry bushes. The prickly stems hurt. There are only a few berries in her pail. Sheri hears squabbling. Four blue jays are sitting on a fence.
“Prickly,” squawk the jays. “Give up.” Sheri runs to Teri.
“Teri,” says Sheri. “These bushes are too prickly. I give up.”
“Let’s try it differently,” says Teri. “Put on these work gloves. Maybe that will help.” Sheri goes back to her pail. She begins to pick. But this time she has to reach farther and she gets scratched.
“Some plan!” screech the jays. “Not enough.” Sheri runs back to Teri.
“This is some plan,” she says, showing the scratches. “This is no way to get enough berries to eat.”

“We have to try again,” says Teri. “Put on this shirt with long sleeves. Maybe that will help.” Sheri puts on the shirt. She goes back to pick again. Her pail has more berries in it, but the berries are harder to reach. Her legs begin to itch from all the scratches.
“Impossible!” shriek the jays. “Go home.” Sheri runs back to Teri.
“These bushes are impossible,” she says. “Let’s take our pails and go back.”
“We’ll give it one more try,” says Teri. “Put on these coveralls. Pull your socks up high, and see if you can fill your pail.” Sheri carefully pulls on the coveralls. She fixes her socks. She even pulls on a cap from the pocket.
Then she begins to pick. Soon she has filled her pail almost full of berries. Sheri stops to chew and swallow a few berries as she and Teri move closer together.
“We’ve got it!” Sheri says, licking her lips.
“Yes!” says Teri. “All it took was gloves, and a long sleeved shirt and coveralls, and socks pulled up high. The cap was a good idea, too.”
The jays fly off the fence, but they cannot reach any berries to eat without getting scratched. Teri and Sheri finish their picking and go whistling into the house to make raspberry muffins for supper — with butter.