“Just look at the berries this year,” Din Din happily said to Kit the cat who was also the caretaker of his garden. Kit’s kittens had been scampering around him elated to see Din Din after a week. Din Din hadn’t been able to visit his garden because of his school assignments. When he was finally able to come on Friday evening the scent of ripe berries greeted him.

“Yes, Din Din. That’s what I had been meaning to tell you. I was waiting for you to visit this weekend. The bushes are simply overflowing with ripe blue berries and if we don’t harvest them soon they will fall and rot or be trampled,” replied the cat anxiously.

“Yes,” the dinosaur frowned. “That’s true.”

“I suggest we pick the berries from the bushes as soon as possible,” Kit suggested.

“Yes, that’s a good idea. We will start early tomorrow morning,” agreed Din Din. “But I think we will need more hands,” added Kit. “Sure, I’ll ask my three brothers to volunteer,” said Din Din. That night over dinner Din Din requested his brothers Derek, Dave and Don to help him pick the berries.

“Awww,” whined Don. “I wanted to spend a relaxing Saturday and you’re asking me to sweat in your garden picking berries.”

“How many berries are there?” asked Derek.

“All the bushes that line my garden are filled with berries. I estimate that seven baskets of berries might be filled,” Din Din replied.

“Oh man! That will take all day,” whistled Dave.

“Well, if you three don’t wish to help I’ll manage alone,” Din Din replied indignantly.

“Now, now, boys,” cajoled Mrs Dee. “There’s no need to squabble. I’m sure your brothers will help you, Din Din. Won’t you my dears?” she added sternly, throwing the younger dinosaurs a quelling look.

“But what in the world will you do with so many berries, Din Din?” asked their father.

“I…I haven’t thought about that,” replied Din Din, flustered.

“Yes, Din Din. We will need to use the berries quickly once they are picked…to make a jam or juice or pickle them. Otherwise they will decay and mould,” Grandmamma added.

“Maybe Mom can use them in her chocolates or make jams out of them,” suggested Din Din.

“Seven baskets of berries are a lot, Din Din. How much jam can I make and how can I do it alone?” Mrs Dee replied. “We will discuss what to do with the fruit after the berries are picked,” suggested Grandpa.

Early Saturday morning, the four dinosaur brothers made their way to Din Din’s garden. Thankfully, the weather was pleasant and Mrs Dee had packed a picnic basket for them to snack from. By midday, the berries had been picked and the dinosaurs’ front paws were stained blue from picking blue berries all day.

“Whew, that was tiring,” complained Derek. “And now we have to lug the baskets back home.”

It was sundown by the time the baskets were hauled upon the four dinosaurs’ backs and taken home to their cave.

“Oh dear! That’s a lot of berries,” exclaimed Mrs Dee. “What shall we do with all these? There’s hardly any room to put these baskets in the cave,” asked Din Din fretfully.

“I have an idea,” said Grandmamma. “When I was younger, and it was fruit picking time, all the neighbours would gather and make jams or purees. Let’s invite all the creatures of Fruit Park to participate in a Berry Festival. Together we can all make jams here in our front garden or learn to pickle berries. They will have to barter an item in return for the berry item they take home.”

“Now that’s a splendid idea,” said Mrs Dee. “And it will be a great publicity to sell my latest chocolate at our chocolate kiosk.”

The next day Din Din woke up early and knocked on cave doors inviting all the dinosaurs for a Sunday Berry Festival. Before noon a crowd began to gather outside Din Din’s cave home. The berries were all washed and sparkling and set in baskets. On one corner Grandmamma began to guide a group of older dinosaurs to make the berries into jams. On the other side, under the shade of the large date palms, Mrs Dee helped some dinosaurs pickle the berries. Mr Dee and Grandfather made juice from the remaining berries and bartered them to the visiting dinosaurs.

“Ah! What a refreshing drink!” said Old Rex as he chugged down a whole pot of juice.

“This gathering reminds me of the days of yore when we were young dinosaurs. A lot of Sundays would be spent in sitting together pickling fruit.”

“We can all thank Din Din and his berries for this get-together,” said Mr Dee with a proud smile. Din Din blushed in pleasure at the compliment.

“I’m just glad the berries could be of use to so many creatures,” Din Din admitted.

That evening the dinosaurs of Fruit Park returned to their homes with earthenware jars of berries. Some were filled with sweet jams and others with tangy pickled berries.

“Whew! What a wonderfully berrilicious day!” commented Grandmamma with a chuckle.

“Certainly, today was proof that together our joys and achievements multiply,” agreed Grandpa. And with the saccharine scent of berries still lurking in the air, the family fell into their beds, tired, yet contented.

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