Randy and Peter were outside in the slightly chilly air of early Spring. They were looking at the big woodpile that seemed to have accumulated since the previous year.
"I don't know Randy, is it really safe amongst those branches and twigs?"

"Sure it is Peter, these twigs and branches are dry and I doubt if there any critters lurking amongst them."
"But what about Orange Rapid Vipers? I heard about them from Dawn, they like to eat Twinns."
"It's Ok Peter, they don't come out till much later in the season, unlike certain groundhogs who shall remain nameless."
"I wonder if Orange Rapid Vipers eat groundhogs Randy?"
"I don't know, but if they do then I bet ol' Reading Ralph is history after he messed up with his forecast this year."

"I heard that!"
"Who said that?" Peter asked timidly.
"It is I, Reading Ralph. And next time don't expect me to be here on Groundhog Day. I have not heard the end of all the comments made about my groundhog day forecast."
"Sorry Ralph," Randy said, "But you did make a slight messup with your forecast."
"Hrumph! next time forecast your own weather! I am leaving!" Ralph said with a huff disappearing into his hole.
"I think we have upset the groundhog Randy."
"It's not a disaster, I still have an inside line to the weather through Princess Jessie of the Kingdom of Slumberland Weather Service." Randy re-assured Peter. "Now, Jo asked me to help cut up these twigs and branches. You want to pass me the chainsaw please Pete."

"Oh, that chainsaw is sharp. Randy, don't forget your safety goggles."
"I won't, better stand back Peter, this thing makes a noise and a mess."
Randy started the chainsaw and tentatively made a cut at the first branch. "May as well start here." He shouted.
"What? speak up Randy. I can't hear you over the noise."
But Randy didn't hear anything as he sawed away at the tangle of deadwood.

Randy worked diligently and soon had the heap of branches reduced to a nice pile of firewood. When he was finished he turned the chainsaw off. "Now that was a job well done. What do you think Peter?" But Peter had been driven indoors by the noise, "Oh well, I guess Peter couldn't stand the noise".
Randy decided that he would save some of the straighter sticks for Annette and the other girls to use in the garden. "Maybe Harmony will plant pole beans again," said Randy to himself. He especially liked beans made with bacon and potatoes so he hoped they were in the plan for the summer garden. Randy leaned back against his sawhorse and looked admiringly at the stack of logs. "I'll bet Carlisle can use these logs as firewood for Croc Camp. I wonder if he has any new scary stories this year."

Then Randy realized he would have to carry all the logs to the back yard where the firewood pile was located. He hefted a couple of logs experimentally. "Wow. Those are really heavy. I'd better find Pete, maybe that's why he disappeared."
Into the house Randy went but he did not see Peter anywhere. Randy asked several of the girls who were playing pinochle. "He went back outside to pose for an Easter photo with Corky," Katie reported, groaning as Rory triumphantly trumped her only ace. "Thanks a lot, Rory," added Katie sarcastically, and continued to Randy as Rory raked in the cards, "Peter and Jeremy flipped a coin and Peter lost."
"Thanks, Katie." Randy chuckled to himself, glad HE had been busy sawing wood rather than a candidate for an Easter picture. He went back outside and found Peter under a tree. "Hey, Pete, can you help me move the firewood to the back yard?"
"Sorry, Randy," replied Peter, "but as you can see, I am all dressed up for a vintage Easter photo shoot. Corky will kill me if I get sawdust on this outfit."
"Uh, yeah, I understand," said Randy, who understood that no one wanted the wrath of an Emma to descend upon him. "Nice tie," he grinned.

Peter rolled his eyes. "It gets worse," he confided, sighing. "They made me wear TIGHTS under the knickers. Listen, Randy, why don't you use the wagon?"
"It has two flat tires, remember," Randy pointed out. "We were going to fix it over the winter."
"Oh, yeah, right. Boy, the winter seemed to last forever and yet we hardly got anything accomplished. I wonder why that is."
"I don't know, but it always seems to work that way," Randy agreed. "Well, I'll figure out something. Good luck with the photo."
"Thanks, pal," said Peter sadly.
Randy thought. Then he thought some more. Finally he decided to try transporting the logs on his sled. It was hard work pulling the sled over the grass with the heavy logs on it.

Cathi arrived just as returned from his first load. "Hi Randy, say, may I have one of these smaller sticks? my special organic mixing stick is all messed up after Wendy used it to mix dye with."
"Sure, no problem Cathi, in fact If you take two you will be able to make a spare in case Wendy gets into a dyeing mood again."

Cathi left with 2 sticks which she would make into mixing implements, and it also meant that there were 2 less sticks to move. "Maybe somebody else would like some wood?" Randy thought as he loaded his sled up with more wood.
Candace and Devon were the next Twinns to appear. "Hi Randy, we would like some of your sticks to use for our project."
"Sure, go ahead girls, it will help me a lot too."
Devon and Candace made their choices and they too went indoors to finish their project.

With more wood gone Randy found that the load was much lighter, but there was still a lot of work to do. He noticed Paris and January on their way to the bus stop. "Hi Randy," they called to him. "What are you up to?"
"I cut up all those sticks that were in the brush pile with my chainsaw," Randy explained. "Where are the two of you heading?"
"We're going to the yarn shop," said Paris. "Wendy has been teaching us to knit."

"We made our sweaters and Paris made her hat and scarf. I am going to try a hat next," added January.
"You did a good job," said Randy admiringly. "The two of you will be members of SOCK before long."
"Uh, Randy, I know we will all be glad to have that big pile of sticks out of the way, but why are you pulling the logs on your sled when there isn't any snow?" asked Paris, trying to be tactful.
"Well," said Randy, "I need to get these logs to the firewood pile so Carlisle can use them for Croc Camp, but there wasn't anyone else to help me and the wagon has flat tires."
"Oh, we'll help," said January. "We can always go shopping tomorrow. Paris, you go get some of the other kids and I will get Carlisle. We'll soon have those logs put away."
The word went out through the Continuum and soon everyone was helping. No one was too busy to assist. The Twinns made a big line and handed the logs to each other. Even the crocs lent a hand... or mouth.

With so many people helping, the wood was soon piled and stashed away for the warm summer nights at Croc Camp. Everyone praised Randy for doing such a fine job.
"Thanks for the help girls and crocs, I do appreciate it."
"It's our pleasure Randy." Carlisle said on behalf of everybody. "I am sure when we are all sittting around that roaring fire at Croc Camp we will appreciate the effort that was put into todays work. I think I may just issue a "Woodwork" badge to all who took part today when next we are at camp".