Emmy wasn't even fully awake.  

Mama was opening her bedroom window to let in the fresh morning air.  

"I guess," Emmy said as she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.  

"Well, as soon as you're done eating breakfast and I clean up the kitchen, we can go."  

Emmy stretched and yawned. "Where's Papa and Davey?"  

"They had an early breakfast. They're already out in the field. Papa's cutting hay and Davey's raking it. They'll bale it later this afternoon."  

Emmy was wide awake now. She pulled on her tee shirt and cut-off jeans.  

Mama left her room and walked down stairs.  

"See you in a few minutes," she called back. "What do you want for breakfast?"

"Okay, Mama. Just a bowl of corn flakes."  

Emmy ran into the bathroom to wash her face and brush her hair.   "A play day with Freddy. That should be fun." She thought to herself.  

Freddy was ten years old, a year younger than Emmy, but they had known each other all their lives. His family's farm was a couple of miles down the road from hers. They spent a lot of time together with their families; sharing picnics or going to church.  

Sometimes their parent's had card parties with some of the other neighbors who lived nearby. All the kids knew each other, but Freddy and Emmy were almost like brother and sister.

When his dog Tootz had puppies a few years ago, Emmy's papa got one of Tootz puppies for Davey and her. Sometimes she thought Freddy was a brat, but most of the time, they got along just fine.