The Badger Who Put the Moon on Wheels

How it begins

The moon arrived at Bram's workshop with a flat tire.

This was surprising for two reasons.

First, the moon did not usually visit.

Second, it did not have a tire.

“I thought,” the moon said, “you might lend me one.”

Bram looked past it. The night sky had a large empty place.

“Are you meant to be down here?”

“Not particularly.”

“Is anyone expecting you?”

“Quite a lot of people.”

The moon sighed. A pale glow moved across the workshop floor.

“I've been going around for a very long time. I wondered what the woods looked like from underneath.”

Bram understood wanting a different view. His own view was mostly broken lawnmowers.

He fetched four wheels, a red cart, and a cushion with only one hole.

The moon settled into the cart.

“Comfortable?”

“Wonderfully.”

Bram pushed it out of the workshop.

At the first corner, an owl flew into a hedge.

“Who moved the sky?”

“Temporary arrangement,” Bram called.

At the pond, the frogs gathered around their unexpected reflection. At the bakery, the dough began rising as if it had received excellent news.

The moon watched everything.

“I had no idea windows were so warm.”

Bram slowed beside a little house.

Inside, a mouse was reading in bed. She looked up, saw the moon at her window, and politely turned the book so it could see the picture.

They stayed for three pages.

Then a crab knocked on the cart.

It wore a small official hat and looked out of breath.

“The sea would like a word.”

The moon's light dimmed.

“Already?”

Bram checked the wheels. One had begun to wobble.

Above the trees, the empty sky waited.

He had built a cart for a lovely evening. He had not yet built anything tall enough to put the evening back.

“Right,” he said, reaching for his toolbox. “We'll need a ramp.”