FirstpublishedintheUnitedKingdomby
HarperCollins Children’ s Books in2022
Thiseditionpublishedin2023
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Textcopyright©MichaelMorpurgo2022
Illustrationscopyright©GuyParker-Rees2022
Coverillustrationscopyright©GuyParker-Rees2022
Coverdesigncopyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd2022
Allrightsreserved
isbn 978-0-00-840868-8
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I’ mnotverygoodattalking.Mymouthgoes allstiffifItry,andIstutter.Everyonekept askingmequestions–thepolicewoman,the farmer,myfriends.Myteacher,MrMorrison, nevermademetalkifIdidn’twantto.He
croucheddownbesidemeandsaidIdidn’t havetotellpeopleaboutitifIdidn’twant
to,butmaybeIcouldwriteitalldown,
everythingthathadhappened.Ilikewriting–Idon’tstutterwhenIwrite.SoIdid.Hereit is,MrMorrison.Nostuttering.
‘Ihadarealadventuretoday.Itbeganbefore breakfast.Wearedownatthefarm,you andmeandtherestofmyclass,stayingat NethercottHouselikewealwaysdoevery year,doingfarmingstufflikefeedinghens andducksandgeese,andcalvesandsheep andpigs.Wedoalotoffeeding,andIlike doingit.Wealldo,exceptitsmellsabit–sometimesalot.
Anyway,itwasourturntogetupearly andgowithyouandthefarmertofeedthe sheepandcountthelambs.Wehavetofeed
themothersheep–ewes,they’recalled–so theycanmakemilktofeedtheirlambs.Sowe
allhadsacksofcornandweemptiedthecorn
intothetrough,whichisn’teasybecausethe ewespushandshovealot.ButIlikedthatbit, becauseyoucanstandthereandpushyour fingersdeepdownintotheirgreasywool, andthenstrokethem,andtheydon’tmind becausethey’retoobusyeatingtoworry aboutyou.
Andthenwehadtostand backandcountthesheep andthelambs,justincase anyhadgonemissingor wereillorsomething.There shouldhavebeentwenty-six ewes,andsixty-onelambs.
Wecountedtwenty-sixewes –thatwaseasyandweall agreedonthenumber.But noneofuscouldcountmore thansixtylambs.Wechecked andwechecked.Onewas definitelymissing.
Sothefarmersentusofftolookforit.It wasaramlamb,thefarmersaid–aboylamb. Therewerefoxesandcrowsaboutthatcould attackhim,andwithouthismothertofeed himhe’dsoonbeintrouble.Sowehadto findhim,andquick.
“Thefirsttofindhimwillbe‘farmerof theday’,”yousaid.AndIreallywantedto
befarmeroftheday.Wegetabadgeforthat, andIlikebadges.
Sooffwewentinonesandtwosall
aroundthefield.Iwentinones,onmyown.
Thelambwasn’tlyingdownsickinthe grassbythehedge.
Hewasn’tcaught upinthewire.
Thefarmertoldustolookinthecorner ofthefieldespecially.
Theyliketheshelterthere,hesaid,from thesunorthewindortherain.
