Miss Carson's Farm in Spring

This easy reader got out of hand. I fell in love with the characters, so I'm writing four stories about them, one for each season.

Miss Carson had a new farm. She was a new farmer. She used to be a teacher, but she wanted to try something new. She had an organic farm, and she needed help.

The farm was very big. Miss Carson wanted to grow many different things, and to raise some animals. She wanted to raise corn, peas, carrots, blueberries, strawberries, apples, and green beans. She had small herds of goats, sheep and pigs. She had flocks of chickens, ducks and geese. She even had some turkeys and a cow. Miss Carson wasn't sure she could take care of it all. She needed help.

Big Pedro had a big family. There was his wife, Young Rosa; his wife's mother, Old Rosa; his boys, Little Pedro, Chavo and Tito; and his girls, Rosita and Little Lupe. They lived in Mexico in the winter, but in the summer they traveled all over North America. They helped farmers to pick their corn, peas, carrots, blueberries, strawberries, apples and green beans. Big Pedro loved farms.

Miss Carson had an idea. She would travel South and find help. She would hire summer helpers in spring. It was a bold plan. She packed her truck and started driving.

Big Pedro was driving too. It was time to find summer work. He prayed for help in finding good work. He wanted good jobs for his family this summer. Sometimes he wished they could just stay at one farm all summer, but each farm grew one kind of crop. The harvest took a few weeks and then it was over.

Miss Carson pulled into the hiring fair. This was a new idea. She didn't know if anyone would like it. She didn't know if anyone would come up North to her farm so early in the year.

Big Pedro's family piled out of the RV. Everyone was tired of driving. Little Pedro and Rosita ran off to find old friends. Big Pedro and Young Rosa prayed with Old Rosa that God would help Big Pedro find good work. There were so many children in Big Pedro's family.

Miss Carson felt lost. She'd never hired helpers before. She didn't know what to do. She wandered around the hiring fair looking for help. Little Pedro was wandering too. Little Pedro couldn't find Juan. Juan was his best friend from last year. They had promised to meet.

Miss Carson turned a corner. Little Pedro turned the same corner. They bumped each other. Little Pedro fell down. Miss Carson felt bad. She picked him up. Little Pedro was fine, but Miss Carson took him back to Big Pedro. She wanted to be sure Little Pedro was OK.

Miss Carson liked Big Pedro. She liked Young Rosa and Old Rosa. She liked all the children. She wondered if they would like her. She wondered if they would come and help her with her new farm.

Young Rosa liked Miss Carson. She asked why someone from the North was at the hiring fair. Miss Carson explained her ideas. Old Rosa thought they were very good ideas. Miss Carson started to smile. Young Rosa smiled back. Now they had to wait for Big Pedro to come back.

Big Pedro was sad. He didn't like the work at this fair. He would have to drive to another fair. Little Pedro would miss Juan. Rosita would not like to drive some more. Young Rosa and Old Rosa would worry.

Big Pedro came back to the RV. Young Rosa was smiling. Old Rosa was smiling. The children were smiling. He felt sad. They would not like his news.

Miss Carson said hello. She explained her ideas to Big Pedro. She asked if he would like to come and help. She went back to her truck to let them talk about her idea. Miss Carson prayed in the truck. She wanted Big Pedro to say yes.

Big Pedro came to find Miss Carson's truck. "We will help you." he said. "We will help you with your new farm and your new ideas. We will come up North and spend the summer and fall at your farm. We will help you pick the corn, peas, carrots, blueberries, strawberries, apples and green beans."

They shook hands and said goodbye.
"Thank God." said Miss Carson.
"Thank you, God." said Big Pedro.