Richie’s Sore Tummy and the Fennel Friend

A Buddy & Richie Forager Tale

Richie wasn’t quite himself.

He didn’t feel like chasing his ball. He didn’t even want to sniff the hedgerow. He just curled up in a shady spot by the allotment shed with his chin on his paws.

Buddy padded over and gave him a little nose-nudge.
“What’s up, little Richie?”

Richie sighed. “My tummy is hurting and feels all bubbly.”

Buddy sat beside him, thinking. Then his ears perked up. “I know just the plant.”

They trotted gently (very gently for Richie) over to the corner of the herb bed where tall, feathery fronds swayed in the breeze.

“Fennel,” said Buddy. “It smells like aniseed. Mama says it helps when your tummy’s in a twist.”

Richie gave the fronds a sniff.
“It smells like Mama’s toothpaste!” he said, surprised.

Buddy carefully bit off a soft green frond — just the right amount — and placed it gently in front of Richie.
“Here. Just this bit. Not too much. Mama says the seeds are stronger, and those are for special tummy tea.”

Richie nibbled the fennel, slowly and carefully. Then they lay down in the dappled light. Buddy told him a story about a mouse who made fennel tea with one seed in a thimble.

After a while, Richie lifted his head and looked startled.
“I felt a sore pain… but then a big pumper noise came out my bum bum that made me jump—” he blinked, then smiled shyly, “a windy pop—but… my tummy feels nicer now.”

Buddy nodded. “Fennel’s a good friend.”
“I asked her if she could help,” said Buddy. “She said she could — and she did.”

And from that day on, Richie always remembered:
🌿 When in doubt, ask a good friend.