Freddy rubbed the sleep from his eyes, kicked the covers off his legs and jumped out of bed.   He walked over to the window and looked out at the grey morning.  

Mist covered the fields of the farm he lived on.   In the distance he could see Pa's flock of sheep standing under a large oak tree.   Their heads hung down as they sought what shelter they could from the steady rain.  

Freddy yanked off his pajamas and pulled on his shirt and bib overalls.   He grabbed his socks and shoes and headed downstairs to the kitchen.  

Pa was sitting at the table eating breakfast.   He had already been up for two hours milking the cows.  

"If this rain doesn't stop, I'm never going to be able to get into the fields to plant corn,: Pa said.  

"When I drove into town yesterday, I saw one of the Johnson's fields that looked like a lake, there was so much water on it," Ma said as she turned from the stove and handed Freddy a plate of bacon and scrambled eggs.  

"It is so unusual to have this much rain in May," Pa said as he took a bite of toast.  

Freddy knew that it was important for his father's farm to have a good harvest in the fall.   Pa sold the corn and wheat that he grew.   The money from that sale bought Freddy's clothes for school, food at the grocery store and Christmas presents.  

Freddy thought of the sheep he had seen this morning.   "Pa, if it doesn't stop raining...will you still get money from the wool off the sheep?"  

"Well, yes.   We would still get that money, but it wouldn't be enough to get us through the winter, Freddy.   We need a good harvest to have enough money to buy seed for next year and pay for food and heat this winter."  

"Thank goodness we have the cows," Ma said.   "That will help."  

Pa nodded his head.   "That's true.   That milk check helps us every month, but without the harvest...it will be hard to get through this winter."