Not based on true events

Finally, the depth of the water increased once more and formed a placid  pool from which the pine needle hoped never to escape, for it had very much disliked the roller-coaster ride to which it had just been subjected. But that pleasant hope was not to be, for who comes along but a playful child who immediately caught sight of it peacefully floating in the pool. Without merciful warning, the needle felt itself plucked from the surface by chubby fingers and plopped downstream where lake once more turned into a stream. And that was the worst part. For this time, the strem zigzagged here and there like an insane serpent, and hardly had the needle been thrust one way when it was pulled the other. Then, around a terrible bend, there came the hill. Yes, a towering hill. Before the pine needle could gasp for a last breath, it shot down, down the raging river. Stones carried by the rapids rumbled and crashed about it, almost on top of it at times, but the nightmare was yet to come, for, before the needle knew what was occurring, it found itself plunging down, down into darkness on an airborne waterfall. It had fallen into a manhole, and was not seen again for a very, very long time. A few months passed, as did the storm, of course, and we find ourselves with the owner of the prickly roses. She was holding an envelope, an envelope which smelled of lavender and violets. This she opened and discovered within a letter, but not only a letter. Resting upon the very bottom of the envelope was a pine needle, the very pine needle with which this tale is concerned. She gave a curt laugh upon sight of it, believing that it had been set within for some strange sort of a joke, and sashaying to the front door of her home, she threw it into the yard beyond. And so, the Jack Pine Needle returned, and found that the roses were not too prickly to listen decently to its adventures after all.

Jack Pine
Pinus banksiana

Jack Pine are magnificent and exotic-looking native conifers of Saskatchewan. They were the first of the hard-leaved trees to grow in burned areas, and their needles are eaten by both beasts and birds. The cones they bear are shut tight with resin until they are heated. Then they open to send out their many seeds.

Tea Rose
Rosa odorata

Also known as the Garden Rose, these flowers are natives of China, but are popular with gardeners elsewhere. They are related to raspberries and chokecherries, and have been heavily hybridized. There can  be one to three blossoms in a variety of colours, from white to pink to yellow. Though we do not have this rose as a native in our country, we have the equally beautiful Prickly Wild Rose.

House Mouse
Mus musculus

This is probably about the most well-known mouse species there is. Named after their habit of occupying domestic buildings, these mice probably came from Asia and were brought by the first settlers after the rodents had spread to Europe. They have a sweet squeaking voice which they use to communicate. White varieties of this mouse are often sold as pets.