The Magickal Mischief at Faeryland's Farm

Faeryland's Farm was a small, enchanting nonprofit animal sanctuary nestled in a hollow of Middle Tennessee. The animals were more than just residents; they were family. With fifteen goats, six dogs, three cats, eleven chickens, two guinea fowl, three ducks, three turtles, and the rare Australian Long-billed Corella named Stevie, the farm was always buzzing with activity, chaos, and whimsy. The animals were all loved and cared for by Farmer Joe and his wife, Corabell, the most beloved of the creatures, and fondly known as "Ma" to all the animals.

One bright Spring Day, the sun peeked over the horizon. This was a very special day; indeed, it was Corabell's birthday. The playful troupe of baby goats: Perfect, Poison Ivy, her little sister Holly Berry, and the buckling Nameless were always up to mischief, as goats are inclined to do. They had overheard Farmer Joe mention a “birthday cake. " While they were not entirely sure what it was, they knew they had to make one for Ma’s special day.

During their morning feeding, Perfect, the daughter of the Herd Queen and leader of the baby goats, devised a plan. "Alright, team," she whispered, her eyes gleaming with determination. We sneak into the cabin, and we make this 'birthday cake' surprise for Ma!"

"What is a cake?" Holly Berry asked thoughtfully, munching on some hay.

"Food!" Poison Ivy, her big sister, answered confidently with her mouth full of hay as her little horns poking out from a tuft of fluffy fur. “It is sweet and round and has frosting!”

"Is it like pumpkin pie that Ma makes us?” Nameless asked, looking up from the hay feeder and licking his lips; he did like pumpkin pie. Then again, he liked to eat most things.

“Ma says it is more de-ca-dent,” Perfect spoke up with all her queenly training, sounding out the word to get it right.

“That is why you only get it on your birthday!” Poison Ivy explained to the other baby goats. “Or else, you will get fat like Nameless.” She said innocently. Nameless stuck his tongue out at her. “Ma says I am healthy!” Poison Ivy snorted and rolled her eyes.

“How do we make Ma a cake?” Holly Berry, munching more hay, called back their attention.

“We sneak into the cabin and bake it!” Perfect announced decisively.

“Oh, I have never been in the house,” Nameless said nervously.

“That is ok! We were born there!” Poison Ivy proclaimed. “There is so much good stuff to eat like carrots, plants, cookies, bread, crackers, plants…

“Ma says we cannot eat the plants and other stuff in the house.” Holly Berry interjected worriedly.

“Relax, she is not really going to barbecue us.” Pison Ivy assured her little sister. As Ma often threatens to BBQ them when they misbehave, which has never happened once. “Besides, “She shrugged. “We are making her a birthday cake. We will sneak in and sneak out, and neither she nor Farmer Joe will ever notice.

“Then we will make Ma a cake!” Perfect concluded.

With their plan set, the four goats tiptoed (or rather, tip-hoofed) towards the cabin, giggling softly, as Farmer Joe and Ma diligently cared to clean up the Farm and animal shelters, oblivious to their newest adventure.

As they slipped inside, they marveled at the human world—so many shiny pots, fragrant herbs, other good plants, and human food to eat! They set off to work with clumsy yet earnest attentiveness.

Perfect tried to balance on a stool to reach the flour, but with a wobble and a sneeze, the cloud of white powder exploded in all directions. "Bless you!" chimed Holly Berry as she and Ivy danced around the room, leaving little goat-shaped flour prints everywhere.

Nameless, thrilled by a cascade of colorful sprinkles he had discovered, joyfully shook the box, creating a rainbow blizzard that the goats greedily ate off the kitchen counter.

“What are these?” Holly Berry asked, pulling with her mouth a strange bowl of shiny balls off the table that scattered across the floor.

“Those are marbles,” Perfect observed from the other side of the counter, where she was trying to crack eggs in a bowl only to have most of them fall on the floor. “We need milk,” she instructed.

“It is in the big white box! I will get it!” Poison Ivy shouted as she opened the door to the refrigerator.

The door opened to reveal all sorts of fantastic items.

“Are those apples?” Nameless asked, sniffing a tray of apples.

“Look carrots!” Poison Ivy exclaimed excitedly as she and Nameless hooved the vegetables and fought to get inside the refrigerator.

“We just need milk.” Perfect called.

Poison Ivy stood on her front legs and hooved the gallon of milk off the top shelf.

“Watch it!” Holly Berry cried as the gallon fell to the floor, spilling its contents all over and falling on Nameless’s head, causing him to look up suddenly and knock the refrigerator shelves onto the floor, scattering food items all over the kitchen.

The cabin became a hilarious chaos of slipping hooves, scattered items, and rolling marbles. Despite the pandemonium, Perfect persevered, blending a mishmash of ingredients in her bowl.

“All finished,” She declared proudly.

“Now what?” Nameless asked

“That does not look like any cake I have ever seen.” Poison Ivy declared as she sniffed and eyed the bowl cautiously.

“You have to bake it first.” Holly Berry offered. “In the oven.”

“Oven?” Inquired Nameless.

Perfect nodded her horns toward the oven. “That big silver box over there. We have to turn it on first.”

“Got it.” Poison Ivy shouted, as she leapt on top of the oven and began hooving the buttons.

At that moment, their Ma entered the cabin, drawn by the commotion. “What is going on in here?” She demanded firmly, assessing the disaster.

“Nothin’,” answered Poison Ivy, as she walked over to a house plant and began chomping on the leaves.

“Nah, Nah, Nah!” Ma cried out, pointing a finger at Poison Ivy. “Not my plants!”

“What!?” Poison Ivy asked innocently, as she snuck another bite.

“We were trying to make you a birthday cake, Ma,” Holly Berry explained with tears in her eyes, as she was the most innocent and emotional of the baby goats. “Now, we have ruined your birthday!”

Corabell’s eyes softened at the sight—her sweet goats covered in flour, sprinkles, and mischief. She laughed, eyes twinkling. “My, my little ones, you have outdone yourselves indeed!"

“So, you are not mad at us?” Nameless asked hopefully. “Never. In fact, I have a surprise for all of you.” She said, “Which will probably be just as messy,” she added after thinking about it for a minute.

The baby goats all rubbed against Ma’s legs and jumped up for kisses and scratches. “Follow me!” She instructed leading them back outside; Poison Ivy managed to eat a few more leaves off house plants before following them out of the cabin.

Outside on the picnic table was the birthday cake Farmer Joe had bought earlier. Each baby goat devoured their piece with glee.

In the end, it wasn't the perfect cake that made the day special. It was the love and laughter that came with it— a reminder that even when plans go awry, magic is found in the heart and the misguided intentions of baby goats.

Corabell snuggled her mischievous goats as the sun sank below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the whimsical sanctuary. Fairy lights glimmered in the sky as the day turned into night.

"To Ma!" cheered the goats, as they dashed off to bed with full bellies and full hearts wondering what adventures awaited them tomorrow.