Barnaby the badger was thirsty. Terribly, awfully, terribly thirsty! The sun beat down on Sunny Meadow, baking the earth until it cracked like a dropped biscuit. The usually gurgling stream, Willow Brook, was a mere trickle, barely enough to wet a thirsty robin's beak. Barnaby sighed, his whiskers drooping. He’d searched high and low, but every puddle was dried up, every dewdrop vanished. Suddenly, he saw it – a small, shimmering pool hidden beneath a giant oak tree. But…it wasn't alone. A grumpy old grumpy gopher, Grumbles, was guarding it with a fierce scowl. "Excuse me, Mr. Grumbles," Barnaby squeaked, his voice as dry as a dusty old boot. "Might I have a tiny sip? I'm terribly thirsty." Grumbles narrowed his beady eyes. "This water is mine! I dug this well myself! Go away!" He puffed out his cheeks and stamped his tiny foot. Barnaby knew he couldn't just give up. He was too thirsty! He thought quickly. "But Mr. Grumbles," he said, "look how little water there is! If we share, there'll be enough for both of us! And...and I can help you!" Grumbles grumbled some more, but he looked at the tiny pool. It truly *was* small. Barnaby, seeing his chance, continued, "I know how to collect dew! I can gather enough dew from the clover patch to replenish the pool each morning!" Grumbles, despite his grumpy nature, loved his little pool. He considered Barnaby's offer. The thought of a full pool each morning was tempting. "Dew…?" he muttered. Barnaby nodded eagerly. "Yes! And I can sing you a song while we work!" He began to hum a cheerful tune. Grumbles, surprisingly, found himself tapping his foot to the rhythm. The next morning, Barnaby and Grumbles worked together. Barnaby, humming his tune, collected glistening dewdrops from the clover patch, while Grumbles carefully poured them into his little pool. They worked with a surprising amount of teamwork. Soon, the pool was brimming! They drank deeply and happily, sharing the cool water under the shade of the oak tree. Grumbles, surprised by his own pleasant experience, even offered Barnaby a juicy grub from his burrow. And from then on, the badger and the gopher, once rivals, became unlikely friends. After all, even grumpy gophers appreciate a good friend and a full pool.