A tale told by a mouse..: December 2009

Are you sitting comfy Dearest...Will you pour us a nice cup of tea..I am afraid this teapot is to big for a little moussie like me..we will treat ourselves to a piece of chocolate cake..and then I will continue my story..
Isn't it warm and quiet in the Kitchen..you can hear the clock ticking and the fire softly crackle..you could almost fall asleep after this lovely walk we had in the Hilltop Forest..
Well,where was I....O Yes...About the Alphabet,the Alphabet that's hidden in the old Cabinet!
There you see the cabinet..standing before you..isn't it marvelous...What did you say...Its bigger then you expected it to be..Yes my dear...its grand..and full of wonderful and magical things...Later we will take a piek inside...
I am so sorry that I'm not allowed to show you the secret drawer where the Alphabet hides..because then it wouldn't be a secret anymore now would it..!
There is another little something I have to tell you about the Alphabet...and I would like to ask you a question..How many letters has the alphabet as you know it..?
In Hilltop language there are 26....and if you remember well, I told you that the Alphabet in the secret drawer only counts 24....So...Yes My dear..You are absolutely right...two letters are missing...
When our Dutchess was young,she was a very headstrong little girl..
It wasn't easy to teach her something..She always had to find out herself why things were as they were!
She always started to answer a question,(like for instance this one,"Is it so that one and one makes two")with...NO.....This, to be on the safe side ..she could always change it in ,yes, if she was absolutely sure that, even in a very exceptional case, it would never be possible that one and one could ever make three!
The alphabet had a lot of patience with this sweet stubborn girl...all the letters loved Victoria very dearly.. they told her many many stories and often kept her from harm by warning her and giving her messages..Now, you may ask ,what has all this to do with the missing letters..Well...Dearest...two of the letters from this magical alphabet did also learn something ...They learned to say..NO!
You may have experienced yourself how hard it can be to just say No when you have to do something you really don't feel like doing...wasn't this easier when you were a child...like little Victoria..when you just could have a terrible fit from time to time and scream NO!
The letter N and the letter O thought so too and decided it would be marvelous to scream NO together ,so...one night they secretly sneaked out of the drawer and ran away...never to be seen again..They can only be found when you can scream louder then they do..I must say its fun to try...I did ones....together with Gustave..there we were..a moussie and a frog ..screaming at the top of our longs...NOOOOOOO..we did feel ever so much better after that..
Speaking of Gustave...he told me he would come and join us today...we must pay attention to the doormat..
There is this entrance under the flowerpot...I always use it..You enter the flowerpot...then slide through a crack in the wall..and you appear from under the doormat..We've done that more than a thousand times...never a problem..
O...there he is..one leg that is..and there follows the rest of the frog..including his bow tie..
Gustave ,sweet friend..so good to see you..may I introduce to you a Kindred Spirit..who came to visit Hilltop Hall and listen to all our stories of wonder..
Come sit on our table...make yourself comfortable and tell us about the secrets of the Hilltop known to thee...whilst we sip our tea..
Just when Gustave was about to speak..Miss Moussie squeeked...O goodness, look outside darlings...Its getting ever so dark..and look at the trees....I think something's brewing...and its not the tea... I believe there is a storm coming up ,croaked Gustave...Seems we will be sitting here for a while..All the more time I'll have to tell my story...

Soon darkness fell around Hilltop Hall..
The wind was howling through the forest.. the trees bended to his power.. Don't worry..inside this Kitchen you will be safe...There is Miss Moussie who will take good care of you...Gustave, who will protect you...and..wait a minute..I do believe there is another creature present..one you can hardly notice because its so very small...on top of the Cuckoo clock..behind the cuckoo...sits a tiny Gnome...He is humming a tune...not to be heard by the others because of the many different songs the wind is singing in the chimney..

Let me start at the beginning ,croaked Gustave sitting on the table...He leaned against the sugar bowl..took a big sip from his tea and cleared his throat...

Once upon a time ,a long long time ago there was a little girl....she was born in a far far away land across the big blue see in the year 1888...Of course I am not this old to live and tell...this was told to me by my great great great etc etc...grandfather frog Gustave the first..He traveled together with the little girl and her parents on a big ship..coming from a deserted Island called, The island that was..
It wasn't his intention to go and leave The Island that was......he accidentally was shipped into a box of waterlilies...Lillie's who were to be planted in a pond..a pond on a Hilltop,far far away!After a long journey they arrived at a beautiful house...in a warm and cosy kitchen..the kitchen we are sitting this very moment..The Kitchen of Hilltop Hall.
The little girl grew up very happily until on her seventh birthday something tragic happened...her father disappeared..They searched desperately for days and months..but couldn't find him..leaving the little girl and her mother being ever so sad!
You must know the father of this little girl wasn't just an ordinary man...He was very clever ..he owned more then a thousand books..and the story goes that he also kept a treasure hidden on a secret place on the Hilltop ..A treasure he took with him from The Island that was....a treasure he gathered roaming the seven sees when he was still a Pirate..Yes my dear..you heard well...the great great grandfather of our Duchess was a Pirate..
When you go up the stairs you can find a big painting hanging there...before your very eyes you can see a man looking down at you ..smiling a mysterious smile..a man with a secret...Mr Pirate himself!
At the time of his disappearing strange and wonderful things began to happen...Do you remember what Miss Moussie told you about the magical Cabinet standing in this Kitchen..and the enchanted Alphabet? It was in these days the Alphabet started to wander through the Hilltop Hall..it was in these days they began to follow the little girl..and it was in these days the Gnome appeared..
The Gnome scared the wits out of everybody on the Hilltop..he attacked every visitor..he tied knots in shoelaces..tied knots in ties...he tied knots in every thing he possible could ....even in your hair ,jumping out of a dark corner when you would least expect it!
He was ever so sweet towards the little girl....he never bothered her...he used to sit next to her bedside to watch the little girl sleep...like he was guarding her..to keep her from harm...like the alphabet did!
The tiny Gnome and the Alphabet weren't the only ones to stand guard....
In the Hilltop Forest a strong and mighty creature..a very big and powerful Bear was also guarding something ...The Pirates Treasure..The bears from the Hilltop forest promised they would keep the treasure safe...only to give it back to The Pirate on his safe return on the Hilltop..!
One day...one fine day in the midst of Summer..The little girl from Hilltop Hall found it was time...time to go on a quest...She was going to search for her father..and how she did that..well dearest that's a very very long story...I believe our Dutchess is writing a book about it...For now we must end our little get together..it allready dark outside...you must go home or you will not be able to find your way through the forest...Let us give you a lantern to light the path you have to walk to the gate and further..be safe my dear...watch out for the bears...and when you hear a humming sound...hold on to your hairdo..
Please come back anytime...you are ever so welcome...hug from all of us...and remember...stay warm and stay happy..

A few minutes later....Miss Moussie and Gustave were cleaning up the Kitchen...the Cuckoo clock cuckood twelve....At the last cuckoo something tumbled down..it came from behind the cuckoo...and it fell in a cooking pot...a pot of soup which Gustave made that day..
-What was that...squeaked Miss Moussie...I am sure I saw something taking a plunge into the soup.
-You did..croaked Gustave...Well...lets hope it was something elementary..I will give it a good stir..
Gustave stirred the soup and took a taste.."O my...wonderful soup as I say so myself..as far as you can tell from cold soup...we will enjoy this tomorrow..
Then they turned down the lights...crawled under the doormat to slide through the crack in the wall to leave through the flowerpot entrance..
Together arm in arm they went home.
-See you,Dear Gustave ..twittered Miss Moussie..sleep well...
-Sweet dreams Miss,croaked Gustave..meet you in the kitchen tomorrow...

Then everything was quiet at the Hilltop....well,not everything...in the kitchen a tiny little Gnome was splashing around in a pot of tomato soup...humming, and not at all pleased..

In the middle of the night our dear Dutchess came home..she entered through the Kitchen door...dropped her bags on the doorstep...and sighed.
It had been a long long day and she was very tired. What I need now is a cup of hot cocoa before I go to bed..she said to herself. She turned up the lights and walked towards the stove...

-O how lovely...Tomato soup...Gustave must have made this today..he is such a darling...but...well..as always he made a terrible mess...there's soup everywhere..!

Then...the Dutchess found something very peculiar...on the stove,next to the pot of soup she saw tiny footprints...

-Strange,she whispered...tomato soup footprints....

Suddenly....a noise behind her startled her! It came from under the doormat..

-Dearest..Its me ,Miss Moussie...I can't get in ...your bags are in the way..Yoehoe..
Quickly The Dutches removed her belongings from the doormat and helped Miss Moussie enter the kitchen.
-So Happy to see you ,squeaked miss Moussie..brushing of her coat..you know dearest its quit dusty under this mat..you should sweep the floor more often.
-This I will do..said the Dutchess with a smile...My dear Miss Moussie its so good to see you again..and at this time a night...did I wake you up..
-No No...I wanted to say goodnight ...and to be sure you are fine..
-This is so sweet of you my dear Miss M...I was going to make myself a cup of cocoa..would you like to join me? And now that you are here...there is something I must tell you..I discovered something very strange...
-You did...squeaked Miss Moussie...and what might this be..
-Look..said the Dutchess pointing at the stove...footprints...tomato soup footprints...and they look familiar..
-O dear...twittered Miss Moussie...not Gustave again..I told him not to spill the soup..and now you tell me he even walked through it..
-No dearest..I wasn't Gustave..these footprints are to tiny..I did see them before,when I was a little girl...These footprints are from...a Gnome..
-O Goodness me...twittered Miss Moussie nervously...is it HIM...the humming Gnome....just a few ours ago we were talking about him...at this table..I wonder..
-Wonder WHAT..dear Miss M..do you think he was all ready here...in the Kitchen..listening to what you were saying ..
-This could very well be possible...said Miss Moussie...and when Gustave and I were cleaning up the Kitchen..something fell in the soup...
-AHAA,said the Dutchess...you are so clever Miss Watson..this was elementary..this explains the footprints..the Gnome fell in the soup!
-He did..twittered Miss Moussie..and this means we have to solve the next problem...
-So we do...so we do...said the dutches taking a sip of her cocoa...just where might this Gnome be...

-I am staying the night...I am not going to leave you alone with this creature..I will be back in a jiffy...just going to get my pyjamas....twittered Miss Moussie whilst she took a dive under the doormat ...
Within minutes she came back..in her robe...
-Darling,this is so sweet of you but I am sure I will be fine...I know this little fellow..he was always very nice to me..
-Gnome's are not to be trusted and I find them very suspicious..twittered Miss Moussie with a firm tone of voice...I am staying!
-Very well then..You can sleep next to me....This will be fun...a pyjama party..Come ..lets go upstairs..its very late and us girls we do need our beauty sleep..

It was a dark night on Hilltop Hall...nothing was stirring..not even a mouse..
Well..not this time...the Mousse in question was very jumpy and nervous..She was laying in bed ..listening to every sound..watching every shadow..
The Dutchess was sound a sleep...you only could see her nose above the blankets and a whirl of tangled curly hair..
-I must stay awake...whispered Miss Moussie...I don't like Gnome's..you never know what they are up to..She started counting sheep...this to help her NOT to fall in sleep..
-Thousand and one ,thousand and two, thousand and four, thousand and..WHAT WAS THAT...
Miss Moussie jumped up and started to run to the Dutchess...this wasn't easy to do in such a big soft fluffy pillow..she almost disappeared in it...It was like she had to climb a very high mountain...She struggled to reach the Dutchess...she crawled next to the Dutchess's ear and pulled it..whispering...Dearest..wake up...wake up..listen, do you hear what I hear..?
-The Dutchess opened her eyes..its him ,she said..I can hear him humming..its the Gnome..
-O Dear ...O Dear...squeaked Miss Moussie...Now what...and then she slipped under the blankets..mumbling..I think I will stay here for a while..
-That's a good idea..whispered the Dutchess..wait there..Don't worry..I will be right back....I think these humming sounds are coming from the bathroom...Then she stepped out of bed and tiptoed towards the door...
Miss Moussie couldn't stand the suspense...she ran after the Dutchess as fast as she possibly could....Then ,they very slowly opened the bathroom door...to see splishing and splashing in the bathroom sink..a tiny Gnome...taking a bath..whilst humming a merry tune..

Together,Miss Moussie and the Dutchess yelled OOOOooOOOoooo....
The Gnome in the sink...scared out of his wits by these two ladies ....yelled..AAAAaaaaaaaaH...and then he jumped...into the Dutchess her hair.....

-He's in you hair, he's in your hair...Squeaked Miss Moussie....
-Get out of there..you silly Gnome..get out..said the Dutchess...OUT NOW...

Then they heard a tiny voice hum...No can't do...I am not decent.....

I'm not decent...yelled the little Gnome whilst clutching on to the Dutchess her hair...I am only wearing my hat..
We won't look..we swear,squeaked Miss Moussie...please be a gentlemen and come out of there...
For a minute nothing happened...The Dutchess was standing very still...waiting..and Miss Moussie tried to get a glimpse of the Gnome...where was he...

OK then..said the Dutchess..if you won't come out yourself I will just have to come and get you...and she walked towards the mirror to take a good look..
This helped....suddenly with a big leap the Gnome flew out of the Dutchess hair and disappeared behind a piece of soap..

You better be careful...a little voice said...don't come any closer...I am very dangerous in this condition..

Then tell us dear Gnome what are you doing here in our house at this time of night...asked the Dutchess.
Well...Its the season...answered the Gnome..
The Season, squeaked Miss Moussie ..what do you mean by that...its the season to swim in tomato soup..?
No No..Its the season to be Jolly said the Gnome...But I started of on the wrong foot..I fell out of the cuckoo clock!
You poor thing,said the Dutchess with a smile...are you alright..I do remember you you know..from long ago ...
Then, a little face with a big grin appeared from behind the soap...Yes ,it said..and didn't we have happy times...

The Gnome gathered his clothes...Miss Moussie and the Dutchess politely looked the other way...then the three of them went downstairs.
My dear Fellow..said the Dutchess when they were sitting warmly by the fire in the living room ..Its so good to see you again..but you must tell me...did you really come here to be Jolly..or is there something else we must know...
O goodness,squeaked Miss Moussie..I knew it ,I knew it...this is going to be very suspicious ..she then sat herself closer to the Gnome...looked him in the eye..whilst saying..Well Mister...the truth and nothing but the truth...and no funny business...
Miss Moussie looked the little Gnome deep in his eyes ..."Well little man..we are waiting for you to tell your story...why are you wandering through Hilltop Hall in the middle of the night... For a time it was very still in the living room...the only sound came from the crackling fire...And just at the very moment when the Gnome openend his mouth to speak...there was a knock...and another one.. Was there someone knocking at the door?...No..this sound came from the kitchen..and this knocking sounded very persistent.....'Listen' whispered The Dutchess ..'this knocking has a rhythm... Oh, squeeked Miss Moussie ..like the Tango... No..silly mouse..hissed the Gnome..Like a mayday.. A May day...what's wrong with a day in may...twittered Miss Moussie offended by the way the Gnome reacted.. Dearest...said the Dutchess...our "Jolly" old chap here means that this knocking sound is a signal..someone needs our help....

The Dutchess and Miss Moussie rushed to the kitchen...there they listened carefully..the knocking continued...

Its coming from the Cabinet....squeaked Miss Moussie...maybe a lost moussie is in there and can't get out...lets open the Cabinet and see..
Very slowly the Dutchess opened the big Cabinet...the doors squeaked..they sounded a bit like a noise Miss Mousie sometimes makes when you tickle her..

Cups and saucers..pots and pans..napkins and tablecloths...a thee pot ..a sugar bowl..a cookie jar..Well...twittered Miss Moussie,I don't see anything that could be suspicious..

But there is..there is ...said a little voice coming from the cuckoo clock..
Its in a secret place...you have to look again...
It was our little Gnome..sitting in the clock,next to the cuckoo,looking down..

-A secret hiding place you say...then I think I know what to do...said the Dutchess whilst pulling up a chair very close to the Cabinet...
-Do you need to sit down dearest..squeaked Miss Moussie ..are you not feeling well..
-I am fine Miss M...said the Dutchess,now standing on the chair...and don't be scared now..hold on to your whiskers...I am going to open the secret drawer..

She pulled and pulled...the drawer didn't open..it was stuck..the knocking now got even louder...

O my Goodness...twittered miss Moussie..what's in that drawer..better let it stay there..

The Dutchess pulled again...and then, tumbled down from the chair holding the drawer in her hand...

Timber...shouted the Gnome in the clock...an avalanche...

Miss Moussie and the Dutchess took a dive under the kitchen table ,holding on to each other..
-Its the Alphabet..twittered Miss Moussie..I saw it..it fell out of the drawer..I almost got hit by a B...how marvelous..Dearest,do you think its safe to come out now..

Then they heard the little Gnome yelling...come out come out where ever you are...we got company..

The Dutchess lifted miss Moussie up and placed the little mouse on her shoulder..sitting on the ground they both looked up to the ceiling and this is what they saw..

THANK YU

The letters were making words...a welcome message

LETS HUG

Twentyfour letters swooped down and twirled around the Dutchess and the Mouse...It was like they were sitting in a whirlwind....like there was a troupe of birdies circling there heads...You could here the twitter of Miss Moussie...squeaking something like..O dear..and, O Goodness me.....
Then...Suddenly, the letters flew up to the ceiling again..

HI FRUG

-What ever could they mean by that..said Miss Moussie...whats a FRUG..
-Don't forget whispered the Dutchess in Miss Moussies ear...there are two letters missing...

A familiar croak sounded through the kitchen...
-The Name Is Gustave...croaked Gustave who just came in.....and I am FROG...

LETS HUG

Said the Alphabet...and they all swooped down on poor Gustave who completely disappeared under a pile of 24 hugs....

O dear ..squeaked Miss Moussie..Gustave are you oke..shall we come to the rescue?

Gustave's laughing face emerged from under the hugs...What a wonderful welcome comity..he croaked...shall I come in again...and he was about to go crawl back under the doormat when a voice from above said..

No time for fooling around now...Listen to me...Its only ten days to Christmas and there is something very important for us to do before that...

It was the little Gnome...sitting in the cuckoo clock...

-Well then..time to continue our conversation we had earlier,said the Dutches while she stood up from the kitchen floor with Miss Moussie on her shoulder..Lets talk ...what is wrong dear Gnome..why are you and the alphabet visiting us?
-Yes..please do tell ...twittered Miss Moussie..All this midnight hanky panky isn't good for my nerves...

With a big leap the Gnome flew out of the cuckoo clock....and landed on the kitchen table.

O my..that little guy can jump..croaked Gustave...and because him being a frog he followed the gnome ..just to let this little fellow know he could jump too..and maybe even better..

The Alphabet saw the gnome fly....saw Gustave jump .....and spelled..

MARVELUS

They regrouped and formed the words..

LEAP FRUG...

Then the alphabet whirled themselves on the table ...next to Gustave...

-You are absolutely right, twittered Miss Moussie proudly ,isn't Gustave marvelous..he can jump as high as a house..
Gustave's swampy shade of green turned red...a lovely blush appeared on his chubby cheeks...O ..its nothing really he mumbled while fumbling his bow tie..

The Dutchess placed Miss Moussie next to Gustave and then sat herself down at the table...Now, she said...dear Gnome...can you tell us your story...

The alphabet gathered in the middle of the table..they made a circle around Miss Moussie ,Gustave and the little Gnome...
Could you please come not so close...squeaked Miss Moussie, I am a bit claustrophobic..

SSSsst Hissed the Gnome...will you stop twittering and let me speak..
PUH...twittered Miss Moussie...and held her nose up high...looking very annoyed..

- As you all may know...said the Gnome..holding one eye on Miss Moussie and the other on the Dutchess...as you all may know...last Christmas the Alphabet visited you to help solve a spelling problem...little did we know that this visit was the start of something very sad...

The alphabet now circled like a merry go round...whirling around our little troupe on the table and the formed the word

TEARS

The Gnome continued...a day after Christmas two letters ran away...the NO..and it never came back....no where to be found..the alphabet cried many tears for there lost friends..so many words they could have spoken but so many words just couldn't be said...just because of this missing letters...
For instance you can not spell...love..without the O...you can not spell..JOY..You can not spell Friends..and all this we need so much ..always..but especially at this time a year..
Dear Friends...the alphabet asked me to ask you if we could all together go on a search...a search to find the NO..
I heard the NO is very stubborn,headstrong and very determined...it won't be easy to find..and it will not be easy to convince it to come home..

Miss Moussie raised her hand...permission to speak ,she twittered with a squeak...

-Permission granted...said the Gnome surprised...with a glimpse of a smile on his face..

-Is it true that if we shout very loud..the NO can hear us...rumour goes that when you shout NO loud enough..louder the the NO...it will come back..

-This is true Miss Moussie answered the Gnome...but the fact is there isn't anyone who can shout that loud...we would need it to be a call made around the Globe..on very different places on this earth..and ALL together to make it work..How are we going to find people who could do that...and even when we would find them...first we have to track down the NO...because one would like to know in what direction to shout!
There is a place...not far from here,we could be there in a Jiffy...were the No was last spotted...this would be a good place to start..but I would like to know from you if we can depend on your help...will you help the alphabet to find there friends,so they can celebrate Christmas ..and spell...HOPE.......you must know the Alphabet has a lot of faith in you..

There the letters wirled and twirled again..spelling..

PLEAS..

-A Christmas without HOPE..is no Christmas at all...croaked Gustave..with a lump in his throat..wiping a way a tear ...You can count me in..
-Me too...twittered Miss Moussie...there should be joy in the world on a Christmas day
-And what about LOVE..said the Dutchess...who can do without it..honestly..what would life be..

Does this mean we are going to do this...said the Gnome, now smiling a big smile from ear to ear..

-WE DO..our friends shouted together...
Then we have to start preparing this very minute said the Gnome..no time to lose..

-Where shall we start our search ..asked Gustave..you did say there was a place where No could be..are we going to travel there on the Jiffy trail...?

-We are old chap..said the Gnome..and the alphabet will tell you where we are going..I don't know the place myself...!

The Alphabet swooped up to the ceiling...made a little dance and then formed the word..

NUWHERE..

OOOO...Goodness..I know where to NO can be found..squeaked Miss Moussie..they mean NOWHERE...as in NO WHERE to be found..our dear friends Mozes and the Tea rat are all ready there...how very exiting..

She ran out of the kitchen twittering ..I am going to pack a bag ..followed by Gustave..craoking..me too!

Well then..said the dutches to the Gnome...It seams we are going on a trip...its been a long time since you and I went on an adventure together...
-At your service dear lady..said the Gnome whilst making a deep bow...
The alphabet above there heads happily whirled the words..

LETS HUG

No way..will you stop that...said the Gnome...jumping in to the dutchess her hair..I hate HUGS..

The Dutchess was standing in the kitchen,looking out of the window..How silent this night was..in the distance she could hear an Owl...Maybe this was Who...saying goodbye to Miss Moussie and Gustave..
The Dutchess her bag was packed...it was waiting for her on the doormat..

-Well then,...time to go...she said whilst taking a deep breath and opening the door..
The night air greeted her...frosty and clear...
The Dutchess gazed at the sky....it was a strange shade of grey..with a sparkle of starlight...
-Snow...she said to herself...There is snow in the air...how wonderful.

She walked down the garden path towards the Hilltop forest...where all the little garden creatures were waiting...in her footsteps followed the Gnome...humming his tune.

The first snowflakes started to fall...

Soon the forest changed his coat...from dark brown to white...with a soft glow from the moonlight..

The Dutchess stood still under the chestnut tree...a little creature appeared..it was Elvira..She looked ever so elegant with all the glistening snowflake freckles on her furry nose..

-Dearest,she said to the Dutchess...don't you worry..I will keep an eye on things when you are gone..please take care..and be safe..
-You are such a brave little squirrel,smiled the dutchess...go quickly now...close the garden gate behind me and don't let anyone in...unless.. they know the secret password..
-I promise..said Elvira...I will let nobody enter the Hilltop...unless they say.."I am a Kindred Spirit"!
Now Elvira was the gatekeeper...the Duchess gave her the key...Elvira took it, clutched it to her chest..and disappeared in the bushes..the snow covered her tracks..

In the middle of the forest our friends gathered ..

-Goodness..its so cold..shivered Miss Moussie..I decided to wear my new bonnet..I made it myself...isn't it lovely?
-You always look lovely in pink croaked Gustave...as you can see I am wearing my snow boots..
Good thinking dear Gustave ,twittered Miss Moussie..I find them very cool...
-Very wise to dress warmly,said the Dutchess...I believe winter is now getting serious..I am wearing my winter woollies too..

-Will you stop babbling about cloths...said the little Gnome...there is no time for fashion chit chat..we have to find the Jiffy trail...

-This will be easy mmmy ffriend..stammered a voice from under a litle pile of snow..
-C...croaked Gustave...and he wiped away the snow from Mr C's nose...C,old chap...so good to see you...are you coming with us..
-No, my friends..said Mr C Mole...but I am going to show you the way to the Jiffy trail...last time we traveled I made a map...to always find the Jiffy trail back in a Jiffy....just follow me..

There they all went ..following the mole..through the falling snow..

-Who is this funny looking guy...asked the Gnome walking next to the Dutchess at the end of the row...
-That my dear Gnome is Mr C...he is ever so clever and he sees everything..
-AAh,said the Gnome..I see,that explains the glasses..

Mr C now stood still in front of two big Pine trees...the trees were standing very close together...there branches all tangled up in each other..

This is it...said C...this is were we have to say goodbye..this were you have to write your destination mail...

-O Yes...the mail...said the Dutchess..whilst she opened her bag...I did write a little something...on the back of this Christmas card....I wrote..

Nowhere or bust...

....and then all the names of the persons who want to travel...Miss Moussie..Gustave..Gnome..and little old me of course..

-Then you are all set tto travel the Jiffy trail..its right before your noses said Mr C, pointing at the Pine's.
-Really ?..twittered Miss Moussie..I can only see trees...and snow...
With the Christmas card in her hand the Dutchess walked towards the Pine trees..the trees stepped aside to let her through..and there it was...The Jiffy trail...

-O how marvelous, squeaked Miss Moussie ...she grabbed Gustave by his arm...come on my brave frog in boots..lets go..
-Just a minute..said the Dutchess....My dear C...thank you so much for bringing us here...you are a darling..
-You travel sssafe now..stammered C...when you come back there will be a wonderful diner waiting at the Hilltop...and my friend Horatio Hog promised to put up the Christmas tree in the Hall..so ,don't wwworry ....bey bey..and Mr C.....who never was very good in saying goodbye...quickly disappeared back into his secret tunnel.....to pop out again half a second later...again stammering ...bbey bey... bey....I,m going now...bey..

-Bey dear C..said the Dutchess...see you soon...She waved ,and C was gone...they still could hear him saying goodbye underground....

-Oke.....NOW can we go...asked the Gnome ..impatiently..
-We have to call the pumpkins..twittered Miss Moussie...so we can give them our mail...
-I don't think we are going to meet the pumpkins today,croaked Gustave...something completely different is coming our way......LOOK!

O my....its a snowman...twittered Miss Moussie...he is waving with his hat...

-You can't think how happy I am to see you, shouted the snowman from far..I felt a bit melancholy.......HOWDY to you all.....my name is MOODY..
-Well HOWDY..Moody....responded the Dutchess...are we supposed to give you our mail...?

Sometimes I'm up and sometimes down
Sometimes I laugh and sometimes I frown
Sometimes I'm happy and sometimes sad
Sometimes too many birds are circling my head
My name is Moody and I'm a bit out of balance
But I will deliver your mail....I consider it a challenge.

Then after singing this wonderful moody song...the snowman held his hat in front of the Dutchess...
-Put it in please...he smiled...you will be of in a Jiffy..and then he started to cry icy tears..

-O dear,you poor darling..twittered miss moussie...are you oke..are you sure we can leave...isn't there anything we can do..
-Don't mind me ,said Moody...I am a bit unstable today...I will be fine..just fine..You can go now..and then he started to giggle...in fact he couldn't stop..he almost fell on the ground laughing...

-Come on you guys...said the Dutches...hold on to me..stay close together now...I am going to drop the mail....

And so she did...the minute the postcard reached the bottom of Moody's hat..our little troupe disappeared

-O gosh...I am alone again...said Moody..and in between the giggles he cried big tingling icecicles.....O.. gosh....what a happy sound these tears make he said..and started to smile again...

First, let me say something about the weather in Nowhere....
Gusty winds,extreme snowfall,and very very chilly temperatures...

-Where am I...squeaked Miss Moussie in a fright..its ever so cold and I can't see anything...hello ..help anybody...I am a helpless little Moussie..
-I believe we arrived in the middle of a snowstorm...shouted the Dutchess..whilst the snow was lashing in her face...
The wind was howling....and it was cold as ice...
-I hate snow...shivered the little Gnome..I am friezing my butt of down here..
-Me too....croaked Gustave....and he jumped up and tried to reach the pocket of the Dutchess''s coat...he missed the pocket..but did manage to hang on to the coat...
-Don't let go Gustave...said the dutchess...then she quickly picked op Miss Moussie and the Gnome...
The Gnome wiggled his way out of her hands and leaped under her hat..
-Dearest...said the Dutchess to Miss Moussie..I am going to put you in my pocket...
-O please do...twittered Miss Moussie...Snowstorms are not to be trusted...in fact they can be very dangerous...

A few feet away..high up in a tree....a big snowy white bear gazed in the distance...he hardly could see anything...but he heard a familiar voice...and a familiar croak...and a familiar squeak...This is it...he said...This is what I have been waiting for...

He walked toward the sound....and there appeared a little figure in a red coat...The Dutchess..staggering through the snow...

It was a joyful reunion of friends .....

Moses,how wonderful to see you again,twittered Miss Moussie...dear friend ..there you are.....Its been a long time since you left the garden and traveled to Nowhere..I missed you so very very much..

-And I YOU my sweet little moussie,...lets shake paws and hug....said Mozes with a happy face...

It was a joyful reunion of friends .....

Tea,how wonderful to see you twittered Miss Moussie...and Mozes dear friend ..There you are...I missed you very very much..

-And I you my sweet little mouse,...lets shake paws and hug....said Mozes with a happy face...

A litle later...after tea...Tea asked ..

-Dear Friends ,do tell us the reason of your visit...I heard the Gnome say something about an Alphabet..
-Yes my dear Tea..said the Dutchess...let me introduce you...and she opened her bag...

There the Alphabet swooped out and fluttered round every body's head like little butterflies...

-By George...said Rattus surprised...what have we here...

US...

spelled the Alphabet....whirling in the sky

Mozes stepped forward...he didn't look at all pleased...

-And just what are you doing here..he asked ,while he tried to grab some letters out of the blue......your supposed to gard the Hilltop !

HELP US

spelled the alphabeth...a bit shaky...they shivered in the cold icy air..

Then the Gnome appeared from under our Duchess's hat.....
Listen folks...he said..listen....and sitting on the Duchess's head he told the story about the lost NO...and how it would be great and a deed of the up most importance if our Nowhere friends could help find it...

There our friends stood...a silence fell between them when the Gnome stopped talking...
Mozes looked in the eyes of the Dutchess..Tea grabbed hold of Rattus arm....Gustave held his breath..Gretta was worried...Miss Moussie couldn't stand the suspense....and Raccoon was looking at Gustave, thinking...O yes,that was the guy who baked this marvelous pancakes..

-WELL...whats it going to be...asked the Gnome impatiently...

-I say we go NOW..twittered Miss Moussie...everybody who wants to go with me raise your hand...

The Gnome raised his hand followed by the Dutchess,then Tea and Rattus...Gretta........Gustave....and Raccoon, who saw everybody raise there hands did the same...

Mozes didn't respond...he started walking in the direction of Mount Almostthere.....

-Mozes....asked the Dutchess ...are you not coming with us....
-Dearest..answered Mozes..I am already on my way..

Together they climbed mountain Almostthere...

Of course it was Miss Moussie who couldn't stop twittering...

-Are we almost there dear Mozes....I don't like to climb mountains..I find them very steep!
-I'LL help you.....said Raccoon,just hang on to me...
-So nice of you..twittered Miss Moussie...and smiled a very charming smile towards Raccoon...
-Its nothing ,really ..said Raccoon blushing...anything for a lovely lady..
-O..you rascal you..twittered Miss Moussie...you know you look very handsome with that mask..
-And I always thought you found masks to be very suspicious ...croaked Gustave hopping behind Miss Moussie.
-O NO squeaked Miss Moussie...not this one...

After a while our little troupe reached the mountaintop...there they entered the Christal palace..the place where it could very well be possible to find the No..

BEAR HUG

-O my goodness twittered Miss Moussie...how beautiful ...but really, I wouldn't want to live here...to cold for a little Moussie like me..
-Its to cold for anyone to live here..said the Dutchess..I wonder if we will find the No inhere..
-If we do ,said Tea I think we will have to defrost it...
-Then...maybe a little tea would help..said Rattus..and he opened his (tea)bag..
-The Gnome..now sitting on the Dutchess her hat..looked around..took a big leap and then swung himself from icicle to icicle...
-O my ,said Gustave..that little fellow can jump....and him being a frog he jumped after the Gnome...just to show everybody he could jump like that too,and maybe even better...
-Gustave..dearest ...twittered Miss Moussie..come down from there...you are not used to leap from icicles..they can be very slippery..

Nobody noticed Gretta...who, on her own started to wander through the icy rooms...Its like there are a thousand mirrors...she whispered...its magical..
Standing before the biggest ice christal mirror in what looked like a ballroom...she made a little bow...Hello there, dear me...she said to herself...so nice to meet you....would you care for a little dance....Don't mind if I do, she answered herself...and there she went....waltzing like Mathilda....

-Everybody..listen ..said Mozes..there is someone missing...where did that cute little Gretta go...and he started calling.....GRETTA.......a a a .. a
-O how marvelous ,twittered Miss Moussie an echo...and she also started squeaking, GRETTA a a a ....WHERE ARE YOU....you you you ...
-Then the Gnome sitting very high up one an icicle started shouting too...
NO no no no NO o o o
-Then the whole troupe began to shout and chatter...just for the fun of it...and of course to find Gretta.....and the NO..
Soon it became a very loud echo concert....with a lot of ah''s and ooooh's..

In the icy ballroom Gretta was having a wonderful time....there, in the mirrors she saw a thousand Gretta's dancing....and...
Suddenly she stopped in the middle of a pirouette.......hanging and dangling from the ballroom chandelier she saw the NO....
-O No...she whispered....there it is...I have to go get the others.....
Quietly she tiptoed out of the room.......then she yelled......Tea tea tea....

-Stop shouting everybody...said Raccoon...do you hear that ....tea's ready....
-Its Gretta...said Tea...she needs help...
Gretta appeared..out of breath...she grabbed Mozes arm whilst saying ...I found it I found it......

A second later they all stood under the chandelier....The alphabet was whirling around it, spelling to many words at the same time... nobody could make any sense out of them..

Well...said the Gnome impatiently...who is gong to do the talking....or shall I say shouting..we have to shout the No down from there...

This shouting has got to have some meaning to work,said the Dutchess...we have to believe in it....and we could use some help...
Where are we going to find it...sighed Miss Moussie...its just us I am afraid..and where are we going to shout for...to give it meaning I mean...
-We are going to shout for Joy...said the Dutchess...
-Yes,and for HOPE said Rattus...
-And for love ,because that's what makes the world go round, said Tea with a big smile...
And so they did my dear reader and friend...and if you feel the same way ,then please let your voice be heard.....our friends need all the help they can get...

Our friends shouted...twittered..and croaked NO as loud as they could...and the echo helped by adding a couple of extra No's.....and then there was silence....

The alphabet got his act together and whirled the word....

WARDS

-That sounds disgusting..said Miss Moussie
-Could be something in space ...croaked Gustave..

But it was something completely different....

The No swooped up from the chandelier and formed together with his alphabet the word..

ONWARDS..

HURRAY...twittered Miss Moussie...it worked...
Group Hug ....shouted the Gnome to everybody's surprise...
And onwards we go ..said the Dutchess.....time to go .

Home.......spelled the alphabet..before...

CHRISTMAS

Please visit and join us in our very merry Christmas party...the more the merrier!