Lessons in agriculture

Mr. Dog picked Little Dog up from school today and on the way to the house they passed the now fading garden. The fence that once teemed with bean plants is strung with dried vines and withered beans.

"Where did the beans go?" asked Little Dog.

"They're here," said Mr. Dog plucking a dried bean from the vine, "They've dried. They're bean seeds now."

Little Dog looked at the bean thoughtfully and Mr. Dog handed him the seed.

"What can you do with it?" he asked

"Well, you can plant them and grow new beans next year. Do you want to show it to mama? Or you could take it to school tomorrow and show your friends the bean you grew," Mr. Dog suggested.

Little Dog continued to stare the the bean in his hand, this little seed that could grow into a big vine like the one we had this summer. He held the bean between his thumb and index finger as he examined it further.

"What are you going to do with it?" asked Mr. Dog.

Little Dog considered this a moment, then with a new certainty put the bean up his nose.