The meadow was hot and bright. Dolly trotted to the water trough for a drink.
She tipped her nose over the rim and peered down. Far below, only a tiny shimmer of water glinted at the bottom.
Dolly stood on her toes and listened to the little stream gurgling nearby. “Oh no—there's only one last sip!” she said.
The stream slipped over stones in the shade. Wildflowers nodded in the heat, and the trough waited in the sun.
Dolly stretched her neck. Then she tried a small hop. Then a bigger hop.
Clunk! The trough gave back a hollow sound. The water stayed out of reach.
She scuffed the grass and looked at the meadow. The younger animals would be thirsty soon too.
Then Dolly heard the stream again. She turned fast and trotted toward it.
At the stream, she nudged a smooth pebble with her hoof. Then another. Then another.
She carried the first pebble to the trough and dropped it in. Plink!
Plink! Plink! Each pebble made the water climb a little higher.
One pebble made a silly splash and sprinkled her nose. Dolly blinked and let out a surprised, “Baa!”
Back and forth she raced, from stream to trough, stream to trough, carrying smooth pebbles one by one.
At last the trough was full of pebbles, and the water rose right to the top edge.
She saw the bright sky wobble in the water. Then the last pebble went bloop and sent the final sip right up where it could be reached.
Soon the younger animals crowded around with happy slurps. Dolly stepped aside and waited.
When they were done, Dolly took her own neat sip at last.
The meadow sounded busy and peaceful again—water, chewing, and soft little baas.
