Three stood in the way of the approaching black clouds and flashes of lightning; three seen clearly against the wall of an unfinished building.

The largest one was a huge white dog, whose hulking form stood out vividly in the darkness. He was afraid of nothing. But he didn't like being outside with a storm coming. He hated getting wet. The dog had been just about to chase a cat away when he stopped to gaze up at the sky.

The next one was a small calico cat, who had stopped in her tracks at the ominous sound of thunder. She was even more afraid of thunder than she was of the huge dog. This was the first time she had ever been outside, and she vowed she would never sneak through an open door again because just see what terrors awaited her out there! She had been just about to chase a mouse when she heard the thunder.

The third form was a tiny grey mouse, who crouched, snuffling and trembling, with fearful eyes darting between the dog and the cat. He was afraid of absolutely everything, and just wanted to disappear, but he was too terrified to move. He wondered how on earth he managed to expose himself to all these frightful perils at once, and was quite sure he wouldn't live to wonder for long.

Where to run? What to do? Three pairs of eyes darted from one to another as the rain began to pelt them all. Wait, this was not rain! It was too hard! This was hail! The mouse squeaked in pain, the calico yowled in fright, and the sensible dog ran under a piece of siding propped against the building wall. That's the only shelter there was! The calico could see there was no other shelter for her, and the mouse couldn't see at all.

Where to run? What to do? Everyone knows calico cats are brilliant and creative. The calico thought swiftly, there was no room for her under the siding, but there was plenty of room for her under the dog. She streaked toward it, and hid herself under the dog's belly before he even knew she was there. Dogs can be a little slow.

Where to run? What to do? Everyone knows mice don't have a thought in their heads, and this one was no exception. But he opened his eyes and saw what the calico did, so he would do the same. The dog didn't eat her, maybe he would be as lucky. He streaked for the siding and hid himself under the cat. There the three of them shivered and waited out the hailstorm.

When the noise stopped and the sky became lighter, the mouse looked over his head into the calico fur, thanked his lucky stars that he had not been eaten, and backed out carefully from under the cat. Then he ran for home. The cat dipped her head and saw him move away, but she did not dare pounce for fear of alerting the dog. Then she looked over her head into the huge expanse of dog fur, thanked her lucky stars she had not been caught, and backed out carefully from under the dog. And she ran for home.

The dog looked over his head into the clearing sky, thanked his lucky stars he didn't get wet, and trotted forward from under the siding. He headed for home, none the wiser that he had provided shelter while he sought it.

As I mentioned, dogs can be a little slow.

NEXT: Queenie is Lost

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