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dogs, or whether dogs were more faithful, kind-hearted, braver, “Did you know Daisy Butterfield has bought a ball?” Henny
cuter, furrier, and stronger than cats. They never settled the began. “It’s not my place to say a cow shouldn’t be an athlete, but
matter. still. The whole village has gone without milk while the only cow
Purdy was searching in the yard for his book about plants. stands in the field with her ball, waiting for someone to come
He was sure he’d left it by the flowerbed the day before when and give her a game.”
he was trying to identify and record all the plants in the garden. “Daisy’s good at waiting. Cows are very patient,” Barker said.
“Did you move my book?” he asked Barker, who was watering “But they’re not very smart,” Purdy added.
the sunflowers in a wide-brimmed straw hat. “Unlike chickens. We’re known for our intelligence,” Henny
“Why would I do that? I don’t need a book to know what the said proudly.
plants are.” “Yes, we know what they say about birds’ brains,” Purdy said.
“Is that so? In that case, what’s a Taraxacum officinale?” “They’re famous,” Barker agreed.
“Never heard of it.” “Really? Well, anyway, I came up here to ask if you’d go and
“It’s a dandelion.” talk some sense into Daisy. I’m sure she’d listen to you.”
“And dandelion’s a dandy name for it, so that’s what I use,” “What should we tell her?” Barker asked.
Barker muttered. “To end this nonsense and give us some milk,” Henny huffed.
“What about the Latin name? You can’t claim to know about So Purdy and Barker had no choice but to go along with
plants if you don’t know their scientific names.” Henny and speak to Daisy.
“By the way, you’re standing in the stinging nettle,” Barker The situation was exactly as Henny had described. Daisy
said. “I don’t know its scientific name.” stood in the field, staring at a white ball with her big moist eyes.
“Yeeow!” Purdy yelped, leaping straight up. Then he dashed She chewed pensively, but was otherwise motionless. Several
inside to put cream on his nettle rash. villagers, including Winky Pig and Cloppity Hay, had gathered
at the edge of the field with their milk cans and buckets. When
One day Henny Cluckington came up the lane. She was out Purdy and Barker arrived, they were all standing around looking
of breath from climbing the steep hill, so she sat in the shade helpless.
of a birch tree and gratefully accepted the glass of juice Barker “It’s good you’re here. We’ve asked Daisy to take a quick break
brought out to her. Purdy left his plant collection and came over from staring and give us some milk, but she won’t listen, and sees
to sit with Barker and Henny. nothing but the ball,” Winky explained.
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