Story by Nina, for Hitomi

REF# _s12-2/HitomiY2.GIF

The Coming of Winter-and What Else??

It was finally spring, and everything was once more alive. Sparrows sang, ants busily carried food to their holes, and the little stream in the quiet woods chattered and giggled. Squirrels, bears, and rabbits came out to look around. Flowers grew, the sun shone high in the sky, butterflies twiddled about. The beauty of spring had at last come!

But soon the ground trembled with the giant footsteps of Giant Twebble.

"FI-FOE-FEN-OH, DEAR, I'VE GOTTEN IT MIXED UP AGAIN,"he exclaimed noisily. "HAVE ANY OF YOU SEEN THE ELVES YET? I CAN'T FIND THEM."

All the animals shook their heads sadly as his giant feet went pounding away.

"quiet, please."

The little mouse leader tried to make his voice be heard above the enormous chatter of the unicorns, centaurs, mares, and stallions. A lion heard him and decided to help out.

"All animals, little Veesobeep (the mouse leader) has something to say. Hold your gabble!"

All the creatures quieted after they heard the lion, and Veesobeep began to speak.

"All mice, rats, and rodents know about the giant's plan!"
"Which giant???"a little voice spoke up from the crowd, probably a chipmunk.
"Why, Giant Twebble, of course!! He has called in elves to stay here every winter. Why? We don't know. But they are coming with a leader-we didn't quite catch his name. But beware-they are coming early this year."

So the seasons passed, and soon summer came. After that came fall(autumn), and it was on one crisp afternoon in late fall that something happened. Brighty Squirrel was stealthily climbing a maple tree to get acorns for her children, Moza & Derlo when she saw a line of little men in green and red led by a jolly, plump one in a red-and-white coat walking across the path.

"Hmmmm,"thought Brighty,"this must be the elves and their leader."
She jumped from the tree and shouted,"Hellloooooooo!!"
They turned around, and the leader said kindly:
"Ah, little squirrel, hello. I am Santa Claus, and these are my elves. We've come here because we make gifts for little children, and this is the perfect place to do it. I hope the inhabitants don't mind."he chuckled.
"Oh no, no, we're glad that you've come,"Brighty protested, and she was right, because that year the forest creatures got Christmas presents beyond their wildest dreams!!!!

THE HAPPY END

The End

Story by: Nina, age 10

Send comments to: Nina