In a little white cottage with blue window shutters and flower boxes full of red geraniums, there lived a cheerful girl named Gustava. She had curly golden hair, bright blue eyes, and the sunniest smile in the whole village.
Every spring morning, Gustava would wake up to the birds singing outside her window. She would jump out of bed, put on her blue dress and white apron, and hurry to the kitchen. 'Good morning, Mama!' she would say. 'May I take my breakfast to the porch?'
Gustava's mother would smile and help her fill a little wooden tray with fresh bread, a pat of butter, and a cup of warm milk. 'Don't forget your friends are waiting,' Mama would say with a wink. Gustava would carry her tray very carefully out to the front porch.
The moment Gustava sat down on the porch step, she heard a soft 'meow.' It was her gray tabby cat, stretching and yawning in the sunshine. The cat padded over and rubbed against Gustava's legs, purring like a little motor. 'Good morning, Kitty!' said Gustava, pouring a saucer of milk.
Next came a cheerful 'cluck, cluck, cluck!' Her brown speckled hen came strutting around the corner of the house, bobbing her red comb and looking very businesslike. 'Good morning, Henny!' laughed Gustava, scattering some bread crumbs on the ground. The hen pecked them up happily.
Then Gustava heard a gentle cooing from the rooftop. Two snow-white doves fluttered down from the chimney and landed softly on the porch railing. They tilted their heads and cooed their sweet morning song. 'Good morning, my doves!' said Gustava, holding out bits of bread on her flat palm.
Last of all came the sound of little paws running — tap, tap, tap, tap! Around the corner came Rags, her scruffy little terrier, with his tongue out and his tail wagging so hard his whole body wiggled. He jumped right into Gustava's lap and licked her cheek. 'Good morning, Rags, you silly dog!' she giggled.
Now all her friends were gathered around her. The cat purred at her feet. The hen pecked nearby. The doves cooed on the railing. And Rags sat beside her, hoping for another piece of bread. Gustava broke her bread into pieces and shared it with every one of them.
The warm spring sunshine fell on the little porch like a golden blanket. Bees buzzed in the flower boxes, and the smell of geraniums filled the air. Gustava sipped her milk and looked at all her animal friends. 'This is my favorite part of every day,' she said happily.
The cat began to wash her face with her paw. The hen found a sunny spot and fluffed her feathers. The doves preened each other's wings. And Rags rolled over in the sunshine, showing his tummy. Every animal was happy and content, because every animal was loved.
Gustava's mother came to the door and watched her daughter with a smile. 'You have the kindest heart, Gustava,' she said. 'No wonder all the animals love you so.' Gustava beamed. 'It's because I love them, Mama. And sharing makes everything taste better!'
When breakfast was over, Gustava stood up and brushed the crumbs from her apron. 'Same time tomorrow?' she asked her animal friends. The cat meowed, the hen clucked, the doves cooed, and Rags barked one happy bark. It was their way of saying yes. And every morning after that, the little porch was always full of friends.
