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It was Picnic Day at the Family Zoo, and Negative Natalie had already decided it would rain. She stood by the gate with her tiny navy umbrella open, even though the sky was only a little gray. "Picnics never work," she sighed. "The sandwiches get soggy. The blanket gets muddy. And somebody always sits on the pie."
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Generous Piggy jingled her belly pouch. "I packed extra napkins, just in case!" Chaos Cat rolled across the blanket with his tangled yarn tail and, yes, sat right on the pie. "Told you," said Natalie, ears drooping. Then the first raindrop landed on her nose. Plip.
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"It's a DISASTER!" gasped Drama Llama, twirling her sparkly scarf. Fearless Puppy puffed out his little red cape. "Don't worry, I'll fight the rain!" Everyone dashed for cover. Everyone, that is, except Natalie. For once, she was the only one already under an umbrella, and somehow there was room for one more. And then one more after that.
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Soon the whole family was squeezed beneath that tiny umbrella, giggling and dripping. Chill Panda closed his eyes. "Listen," he whispered. The rain played on the umbrella like a drum. Pitter, patter, pat. Smarty Pants pushed up his glasses. "Technically," he said, "that's the best music I've heard all week."
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When the rain stopped, the clouds slid apart and a rainbow stretched over the Zoo. The Zookeeper knelt beside Natalie. "Your umbrella kept everyone together today," they said. "Getting ready for the rain isn't silly. Just leave a little room for the rainbow, too." Natalie looked up, and the corner of her mouth did something it hadn't done all day.
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That night, the family ate squished pie under the stars, and it tasted better than any pie ever had. Natalie kept her umbrella beside her bed, just in case. But this time she left it closed, so she could see the moon.