Laina and Anja live on a beautiful hobby farm with their mom and dad and two sisters on central Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. On the property there is a large flock of chickens, a duck and dog named Milly. They also have two large vegetable gardens and a big orchard with various types of fruit trees and berries. There is one full time Scare Crow, or as he likes to be called by his real name, “Carl” who guards the produce and ensures everything grows to its fullest in peace, without being stolen or eaten before it is harvested. In the late spring, summer and early autumn, the whole family enjoys farm fresh vegetables, fruit and berries for pretty near every meal. Any extra fruit or berries is frozen and enjoyed in the winter months.

Also on the acreage their dad has built numerous adventure stations for everyone to enjoy a good workout on. They include a Ninja horizontal rope ladder and climbing rope. There are swings, slides, balance beams, and designated areas for badminton, soccer games and a multitude of bike trails.

But it is not all fun and games on the farm. There are always lots of chores to do including, cleaning the chicken coop, collecting eggs, watering and weeding the gardens, feeding and caring for Milly, cutting the lawn, raking leaves, cutting and hauling firewood, maintaining fences and many more assorted things that always seem to pop up that need doing.

Now it is mid August and most of the berries, fruit and garden vegetables are at their peak of ripeness and ready to harvest. Today Laina’s mom asked her and Anja if they would go to the garden and dig up some fresh potatoes for dinner. Laina and Anja said, “Sure, they are always so good to eat!”

The two girls then picked up their shovels and headed to the back garden area which is in the orchard.

Beautiful day with warm temperatures, and a light wind blowing gently. As they made their way to the orchard they heard birds singing and they were probably thinking, “Hey don’t eat all the berries.”

At the orchard they unlocked the main gate and shut it behind them to prevent any small animals from coming in for a free dinner while they were digging potatoes. They stopped briefly to say “Hi” to Carl who was standing guard over all the produce. Then they made their way to the potato patch.

Most of the potatoes had been dug up leaving just the dry dead leaves, but there was one more place that was still producing the delicious delights. Laina and Anja started to dig. The ground was fairly hard due to all the sun that had dried it. But once they broke through the surface the digging got easier.

After about 10 minutes they found their first potato. Then digging deeper and wider they began finding a lot more. After about 45 minutes in the sun and heat a bit of sweat started running down their faces.

Soon their bucket was full and they continued to keep finding more so they just piled up the extras in a neat little mound next to the bucket.

It has now been an hour digging and both Anja and Laina were hot and very tired. Anja suggested before they bring back the potatoes to their mom why not have a few raspberries and blueberries as it was cool and shady over there. Laina said, “Great Idea.” Then they both walked over into the shade of the berry bushes. Anja said, “Gee, my legs are a wee bit sore from standing so long digging for the potatoes.” Laina said, “Ya right, mine are too, I think I will just stretch out on this soft grass under the raspberry bush for awhile.” Anja replied, “Good idea, I will join you, we can take the potatoes back to mom in a little while, that cool wind in the shade of the berries feels so good.” Both girls stretched out under the berry bushes in the shade and rested. It was all very quiet now except for the gentle rustle of leaves on the bushes and the occasional chirp from the birds in the area.

ZZZ ZZZZ Both girls then fell asleep ZZZZ ZZZZ

“WOW. Look at the size of this potato I just dug up, it must weigh over 100 pounds,” said Laina. “Yes, what a monster of a potato that is,” said Anja.

Then Laina and Anja heard the loud sound of an airplane directly overhead that seemed to be circling around and getting a bit lower. They both sat on a near by log and pointed up to it as it appeared to be slowing down and now not quite so loud.

Then suddenly someone jumped out of the plane and a parachute opened and slowly was drifting towards the orchard area. Anja said, “What the heck, who is that and why are they headed this way?” Laina said,”No idea but lets hide in the bush and watch what happens next.”

The person on the parachute kept getting closer and closer to where Laina and Anja were digging potatoes. Both girls watched with amazement, wonder and somewhat nervous feelings. Then it got really close to them!

Laina and Anja froze and looked on as a weird little man was about to touch down only a few feet from where they were hiding in the bush. Then Milly, their dog began barking at the strange fellow but the girls remained quiet and bewildered.

Finally the stranger touched down gently in the Orchard, undid his straps from the parachute and walked over to where Laina and Anja had been digging potatoes. He then looked closely at the Huge potato that Laina had dug up. He smiled and looked around and then spotted Laina and Anja in the bush. He called out to them and said, “Don’t be scared, my name is Pedro Potato and I am an Inspector for PEE.” Laina and Anja just looked at each other and thought what kind of a fruitcake is this guy? Milly then growled and came out of the bush and cornered Pedro up against a big tree. Pedro, then said,”Please don’t bite me Mr. Dog, I come in peace and just want to talk.”

Then Laina and Anja slowly came out of the bush, keeping their distance from the stranger and Laina said,” Who are you and what do you want?” Before the stranger could say anything Milly barked loudly and forced the guy tighter against the big tree. Laina then came closer and patted Milly on the back and said, “Good Job Milly.”

Then the stranger said,”Sorry if I scared or upset you but, my name is really Pedro Potato and I am a Potato Inspector with PEE which stands for Potato Environmental Enforcement. I travel throughout British Columbia inspecting farms and other high volume growing operations to ensure that they conform to all Environmental laws and restrictions. I also take soil samples and samples from produce that are grown to make sure they are suitable and safe for human consumption. I also check that the plantations and orchards are not interfering with any natural water ways or other natural formations on the land. When I was flying over your Orchard I noticed a Huge Potato that you had dug up and wanted to inspect it and the soil that grew it more closely of course with your permission.

That is one Whopper of a potato that you grew for sure!” Now feeling a bit better Laina and Anja got a little closer and shook hands with Pedro and introduced themselves. Milly let out a little growl and backed off a bit. Then Pedro said,”Could you two help me get this potato out of the ground and roll it over so I can take a good look at it and maybe take a small sample for analysis at the lab later, plus do you mind if I take a wee bit of the soil too?” Laina said,”Sure we can help you, but I will have to check with my dad before you take any samples, etc.” “No Problem” said Pedro.

Then Laina, Anja and Pedro grabbed onto the Big potato and rolled it out of the hole and in front of a log. Pedro took out a camera and started to take pictures and then measurements of the potato. He then said, This has to be the biggest potato I have ever seen or even heard about, Wow what a Big Brute.”

After Pedro did his preliminary examination of the potato he sat back on the log and chatted with Anja and Laina. “You sure live in a beautiful place here with all the trees, creek, and the mountains. Plus it looks like you are only about 15 minutes to the main city of Nanaimo,” Pedro said. Anja replied,”Yes we love it here, so nice and peaceful, no traffic noise or lots of people, except for the occasional Parachutist who drops in for a visit, ha ha ha.”

Then Laina said,” I will go get my dad and he can discuss with you about taking soil and potato samples, I will be right back.” Then Laina ran back towards the house. Milly slowly looked Pedro over up and down then came over and sat directly in front of Anja as if to protect her in case Pedro got weird.

Laina ran into the house and yelled, “Hey dad, where are you?.” Her dad answered, “Up stairs in my office.” Laina ran up the stairs and into her dad’s office. Then she said, “Well you won’t believe this, but Anja and I were out digging potatoes for supper, and found a HUGE potato, probably over 100 pounds. We dug it partially out but couldn’t lift it out of the ground, then we heard an airplane flying overhead, then a guy parachuted out and landed in the orchard next to where we were digging potatoes. Anja, me and Milly hid in the bush as he was kind of scary looking. He said his name was Pedro Potato and he was a Pee Inspector. But after talking to him more he seemed like a nice guy just doing his job.” Then Laina’s dad said,” Lets get this straight now, you and Anja were digging potatoes, a guy parachuted down next to you, he peed in the bush and then inspected the pee and then said his name was Pedro Potato and you now think he is a nice guy?”

Then Laina said, “No, not exactly, his name is Pedro Potato, he didn’t pee in the bush and inspect the pee, he is an Inspector for PEE which stands for Potato Environmental Enforcement. He takes samples of soil and potatoes to analyze to ensure they are not contaminated. He also makes sure the area where produce is grown is not impeding any natural waterways or other natural formations. I guess when he was flying by he spotted the Huge potato we dug up and wanted to check it out. Plus see what kind of soil would produce such a Huge potato.” Laina’s dad then said, “That is quite a story, have you and Anja been in the hot sun too long and maybe exaggerating this story a bit?” “It is hot out there, but that’s the true story.” said Laina. “Pedro just wants your permission to take some small soil samples and a bit of the Big potato so he can check it out further at the lab where he works.”

“Well that is quite a strange story, I am very busy right now, but you can tell Pedro, sure he can take some soil samples and take the whole Big potato if he wants, just ask him for a receipt, and I will be out there soon” said Laina’s dad. “Ok, I will tell him then. I better get back out there now. Come out to meet him if you have time,” said Laina as she hurried down the stairs and made her way back to the orchard.

When Laina arrived back in the orchard she found Pedro, Anja and Milly all sitting together talking to each other. Then Laina said to Pedro, “I spoke to my dad and he said you can take soil samples plus you can take the whole Big potato if you can, back to your lab to check it out thoroughly.” Pedro said, “Oh Great, I will take soil samples and the Big potato.” “I was just talking to my office on my cell phone and they are sending me a helicopter to pick me and the potato up soon.”

Then Anja said,”Hey Pedro, do you want to play on some of our activity equipment, climbing rope, swings and balance board while you are waiting for your helicopter to arrive?” “Sure” said Pedro. Over the next hour Pedro, Laina and Anja had fun on the various equipment and workout stations.

Soon Laina noticed the time and said to Anja, “I guess we better take that bucket of potatoes into the house now so mom can start washing them and get them ready for dinner.”

Then Anja asked Pedro, “Hey Pedro do you want to stay for dinner?” Pedro said, “Wow, Thanks for the offer but I am expecting my chopper to arrive anytime now and have to get back to the lab right away.”

“I will wait here by the Big Potato for the chopper to pick me up, you girls go and take the bucket of potatoes into your house” said Pedro. “Ok we will be back out soon,” said Laina and Anja.

About 20 minutes later Laina & Anja were about to walk back to the orchard to talk to Pedro again but just as they stepped out of their house a deafening roaring sound was heard out by the orchard. The ground shook and leaves and dirt swirled around creating a little dust storm. Suddenly they saw a huge helicopter lifting off carrying the Big Potato and could see Pedro waving Good Bye out the window as the helicopter gained altitude and flew away.

Then Anja said,”Awwh too bad we missed saying good bye to Pedro but I guess he was in a hurry to go and a chopper that big must be costing a lot of money to use per hour.” Laina then said,”Pedro was definitely a strange guy but was nice and friendly once you got to know him.”

“Lets load up the bucket again with the pile of potatoes we left behind, might as well take them into the house, you can never have too many potatoes I have been told.” Laina and Anja loaded the pile of potatoes into the bucket, filled in the big hole left by the Huge potato and raked up around the area to make it look neat again, as that would be the last of digging for potatoes this year.

As they were about to leave the area Milly started barking and pointing to a tree nearby. They walked over and saw a note pinned to the tree.

“Well, that was a very different potato digging experience I must say” said Laina. “Yes, indeed” replied Anja as they both began walking back to their house with the last bucket of potatoes.

“Wakey Wakey……Hello There……Wakey Wakey”

“Hey you guys, what are you doing laying down under the raspberry bushes, were you sleeping?” “I thought you came out here to dig us a few potatoes for supper tonight, you have been out here for a couple of hours” said their dad.

Then both girls sat up, rubbed their eyes and Anja said, “I thought we brought in the potatoes, are you here to meet Pedro, if so you are too late he just left in a huge big helicopter carrying a monster size potato.” “What are you talking about? Who is Pedro and what has a helicopter and monster potato have to do with anything?” said their dad.

Just then Laina opened and rubbed her eyes again and said, “Oh oh, I think Anja and I might have fallen asleep and both had a VERY WEIRD dream. We dug a pail full and more potatoes just over in the potato section of the orchard but we got real hot and tired so we decided to lay down under the bushes here to cool off and I guess we fell asleep for awhile, sorry.” “Oh, that’s ok, lets go get the potatoes and bring them into the house, as it is just about dinner time now anyways” said their dad. Then all three of them walked over picked up the bucket full of potatoes and a handful of the others in the pile and carried them into the house. Their mom and other two sisters were busy making supper. Anja asked her mom and sisters, “did anyone hear a loud helicopter noise recently in the yard and orchard area?” They all said, “No, dad has been cutting firewood with his loud chainsaw, that’s all we heard.” Then Anja and Laina walked outside and sat down. Laina said to Anja.”did you have the same dream I did, about Pedro parachuting into the orchard, playing on our swings and other workout stuff, then flying away carrying a huge potato? Anja replied, “Yes, exactly the same dream, but it seemed so real but it must have been just a dream, right?” Laina said, “Right, just a dream unless we can prove otherwise somehow.” Then their mom called them in for dinner. As they were eating everyone remarked, “Wow these fresh potatoes are sure smooth and tasty, hard to beat for sure.”

After dinner Anja and Laina helped clean up and did some chores around the house and outside. Just before bedtime they both went for one last swing ride in the yard. Then as the sun was just about to go behind the mountain it lit up a small shiny object in the dirt, partially buried, beneath one of the bar swings. They both went to look to see what it was. It was Pedro’s Badge that must have fallen off him when he was swinging upside down on the swing! Anja and Laina hugged each other and quietly said, “It really did happen, it was Not a dream.”