News of Toad's new car faded.
The days got shorter and summer faded too.
Soon the river was too cold for boating.
Winter was on its way.
"You slept late, Rat," Mole said one morning.
"It's cold," said Rat.
"There isn't much to do.
I think I'll write poems by the fire."
This was Rat's favorite hobby in winter.
But Mole was bored.
"Let's invite Badger to dinner," Mole said.
"I only saw him once, and it was very quick.
He seems so odd and strange!"
"Oh, Badger hates dinner parties," said Rat.
"Maybe he would come for tea?" asked Mole.
"He's very shy," said Rat.
"He will visit when he's ready."
Every time Mole asked,
"Can we invite Badger today?"
Rat always answered the same way:
"Badger will show up sometime."
"Let's go visit him," Mole said finally.
"Badger wouldn't like that," said Rat.
"Anyway we can't go, Mole," Rat explained.
"Badger lives in the Wild Wood."
"You said the folks there were nice," said Mole.
"Yes, but it's a long way," said Rat.
"And the weather is much too cold."
Rat sat by the fire to write a poem.
Rat was sleepy.
Before long he was snoring in his chair.
Quietly Mole snuck out into the cold.
Feeling brave, he hurried to the Wild Wood.