Tumble is a trail explorer on the Back Forty and always takes the scenic route. When the trail gets bumpy, Tumble curls into a little crescent (not a ball, a crescent) and waits for it to pass. Tumble and Prickle go rock hunting every day. Yesterday they found a rock. It was a very good rock.
Buck the Longhorn has big horns, bigger ideas and very tiny legs. On the Back Forty Trail, a head nod from Buck means howdy, and a rump wiggle means let's go. He is friends with everybody, especially Sprout, who waves while Buck nods. Together they are the friendliest corner of Texas.
Prickle is a professional sunbather who finds the warmest rock on the Back Forty Trail every morning. Prickle looks unimpressed, but is secretly having a wonderful time. One sweep of the tail and the trail is swept clean. You're welcome. Tumble does the exploring, and Prickle supervises from the sunny rock.
Sprout is the official greeter of the Back Forty Trail and lives in a tiny cowboy-boot pot. Anybody who walks by gets a wave, and a wave, and one more wave. Sprout has never met a stranger. Buck nods and Sprout wiggles both arms, and that is how the trail says howdy.
Tiny Tex is the little sheriff of the Back Forty Trail, and he always has a plan. Big Tex has the big ideas at the Idea Desk, and Tiny Tex carries the small ones around in his pocket. When you talk to him he tilts his head, which means he is listening. Go on. He is ready.
Armie is the bravest explorer at the Printer Ranch, right up until a printer beeps. Then comes his one move: a quick shallow curl, a peek, and a slow uncurl to check that everything is fine. It always is. Every night Armie explores the barn with his buddy Congress, who makes him feel brave again.
Spike is the tiny security chief of the Test Bench. He looks grumpy, but he always saves you a seat. Nothing leaves the bench without one swish of his tail, which means tested, approved, carry on. His buddy Blue keeps telling him to smile more. That look on his face? That is his smile.
Jack the Jackalope tells the tallest tales on the Front Porch. Did he really jump over the barn? Twice? His antlers seem to get bigger every time he tells it. Ask him if it is true and he gives one slow nod, which probably means yes. His buddy Beep carries the parcels, and Jack carries the stories.
Beep runs the delivery department on the Front Porch and is always late for somewhere, even when that somewhere is imaginary. Every parcel that leaves the porch gets a beep-beep and a quick rock of the tail. Beep has never walked anywhere in his life. Jack says Beep is fast, but Jack says a lot of things.
Congress works the night shift at the Printer Ranch, when the printers hum and the barn goes dark. The printers get a little lonely at three in the morning, so Congress opens that cape and hands out tiny hugs. Congress calls them security checks. Everybody knows they are hugs. Best buddy Armie curls up when things get loud, and Congress keeps watch until morning.
Blue is the morale gardener at the Test Bench. Every time somebody says good job, Blue does a little bloom twist and grows a tiny bit brighter. Blue believes kind words work better than water. Spike looks grumpy, but Blue knows he is a bluebonnet on the inside.
Mr. Rattlesnake is the Front Porch alarm. When anybody comes up the steps, he gives his tail a chatter so everyone knows there are visitors. He sounds scary, but it is all warning and no bite. Mr. Toad predicts the rain, and Mr. Rattlesnake predicts the visitors.
Mr. Toad is the rain caller on the Front Porch. He can feel the weather coming in his chin: one chin bob means rain is on the way. Two chin bobs mean he would really like a puddle. Mr. Rattlesnake guards the porch, and Mr. Toad guards the puddles.
Mr. Tarantula keeps the lost-and-found at the Printer Ranch. Anything that drops off a printer, a tiny piece, a stray screw, a forgotten hat, ends up safe with him. Eight legs means eight high-fives, and he likes to give them all at once. Visitors usually scream when they meet him. Then they ask for a hug.
Mr. Coyote is the night singer at the Printer Ranch. He thinks every printer deserves a lullaby, so when the lights go low he tips his head back and sings a very quiet awooo. He knows a song for every printer in the barn. When something goes missing, Mr. Tarantula finds it, and Mr. Coyote sings it home.
Hunter is the doorway supervisor at the Test Bench, and his ears never take a day off. He can hear a snack bag open three rooms away. His tail always answers before his face does, and the answer is almost always yes. Reggie tests the snacks, and Hunter makes sure the testing is done properly.
Reggie is snack quality control at the Test Bench. Every snack gets tested, then tested again, just to be sure. That little shine on his chin is not drool. It is evidence of enthusiasm. Hunter finds the snacks, and Reggie does the paperwork.
Kitchi runs Norman's Rack, and she would like everyone to know it. She sits on whatever is newest, warmest or most important, which is usually your new toy. When she turns her head and looks at you, that is a review, and most visitors pass. Mr. Bob thinks he is in charge of security. Kitchi lets him think that.
Mr. Bob guards the server room at Norman's Rack, and he is paid in cucumber. Nobody gets near Norman without saying hello to Bob first. When he is happy he does a little loaf wobble, and he is almost always a little bit happy. Kitchi says she is the boss, but everybody knows who has the cucumber.
Tex is the Lab's first inventor, and he never runs out of ideas. Every morning at the Idea Desk he tips his tiny hat, says howdy, and asks the same big question: what should we make today? He writes down every idea, even the silly ones, because the silly ones are often the best. His buddy Mission Bot keeps the checklist, so Tex can keep dreaming.
Mission Bot came to the Idea Desk from Houston with a helmet, a visor and the longest checklist in Texas. Before a new toy gets made, Mission checks it twice: is it fun, is it friendly, will it fit in a pocket? When a friend walks by, the visor comes up for a quick peekaboo. Tex dreams up the ideas, and Mission makes sure they land safely.
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