Unexpected

Miss Moussie and Gustave were sitting in the Kitchen...It was very quiet on Hilltop Hall...The Dutchess was out..all the little creatures were minding there own buisiness,the alphabet safe and sound in the secret drawer,and the Gnome high and dry in the Cuckoo clock..So,nothing to worry about...

-'I dont know what it is'...twittered Miss Moussie...'I have this strange feeling inside...like when very unexpected things are about to happen...I don't like unexpected things...they can be very suspecious!'
-'Dearest Miss',croaked Gustave...'You worry to much,look ouside..the sun is shining...its a perfect day to go ice skating..come on...my pond is your pond...'

It really was a perfect day on the Hilltop...a bleu sky,clear crisp frosty air...and a red and orange sun...shining so bright that it looked like a big ball of fire..

In the snow a very beautiful bird was surching for breadcrumbs...he was sure to find them because our Dutchess never forgets to feed the little birdies from Chatter Creek....Today the Red Robin was very lucky to find bits of chocolate chip cookies..
Whilst he was nibbeling merrily he heard a voice sounding like a little jingling bell,it said...

-Please little Robin...may I nibble with you..cocolate chip cookies are my favorite..

The Robin looked up...to see where this little bell came from..and there it was..sitting on top of the bird feeder..an enchanting tiny creature..

Elvira takes her job as gate keeper very serious...come snow or come ice she is standing guard!
This is why she noticed the Robin talking to a little creature sitting on the bird feeder..Quickly she hurried over there to go see...

-'Goodmorning stranger',she asked with a gentle voice..'Who are you and what are you doing on top of the bird feeder..?'
-'Waiting to be fed.',jingled a voice sounding like sweet chiming bells ..
'I am ever so hungry..'
-'Then where is your home',asked Elvira curious,'and didn't they feed you over there?'
-The food was terrible at my place...chimed the little bells..and I heard from a very dear friend THIS was the place to be...in your garden! One of the greatest of greatest gourmet chefs should live here..I believe his restaurant is called.."Unexpected".
-'Well',said Elvira,'I do know a Gustave,and he is a great cook...but what I didn't know was that he started a diner..
-'My dear squirrel...it isn't a Diner..don't let the Great Gustave hear you say that...he is the most famous pasta maker ever...and his imaginary cookies won a prise in Paris..very unexpected...
-A Gourmet Chef ,in our garden,very unexpected indeed..said Elvira...I must go and find Gustave...see what he has to say about all this..But before I go, can you tell me your name, and who this dear friend of you is..the one who told you to come here..
-'My name is Bell...and the name of the friend who invited me here is Beauregard....he is very very nice with a sweet and kind look in eyes..'answered Bell.
-Beauregard....Elvira was puzzled...She knew everybody in the garden...and everybody in the Hilltop forest..but a Beauregard...Who could this be..

Elvira soon found Gustave..She heard from a little bird that Gustave was having tea with Miss Moussie in the Kitchen.
Gustave was enjoying some quiet time..looking out of the window...watching snowflakes fall..

Elvira hopped on the kitchen window seal and with a very elegant tap she politely knocked. .....

-'O ,there's Elvira'..twittered Miss Moussie..'she must be ever so cold standing guard at the garden gate all day..I will ask her in for a cup of tea'.
Whilst opening the window she squeaked..'Come in Elvira dearest,and sit yourself down by the fire'.
Elvira rushed in....taking with her a whirl of snowflakes...
She didn't take time to sit down but immediately started talking..

-'Gustave ,there is someone to see you at the gate...that is ..she is sitting on the bird feeder waiting to be fed...and she wants you do feed her...'said Elvira very exited!
Gustave,who was just stirring his tea...with four lumps of sugar..paused..
-'Did I hear you correctly Elvira'..he croaked puzzled..'I am sure I didn't understand you correctly..?'
-'He has to feed WHOM with whát...twittered Miss Moussie curious..'and whére...?'
-In his restaurant said Elvira...Unexpected...
-Unexpected ,twittered Miss Moussie,'unexpected..I knew something unexpected was about to happen..told you so..I hate unexpected things...they can be very suspicious...I want to know more about this'...and then she grabbed her bonnet,mittens, and coat,swooped down under the doormat, to wiggle herself through the crack in the wall,this wasn't easy to do wearing all this thick winter cloths..!

See how she runs.....followed in her tracks by Elvira...and ofcourse Gustave..

In the kitchen the Cuckoo clock stopped ticking...the little clock door opened and the Cuckoo came out...
-'This was the last cuckoo you will ever hear from me in this kitchen', it cuckood...'I am off...I packed my bags and I am going back to Cuckoo land...Farewell..!'
And with a bang the door closed behind him.


What happened up there..?


Miss Moussie arrived at the scene....

-'There it is',she whispered...'its sitting high and dry in the bird feeder...what a darling little creature..!'

Then..the darling little creature looked down on Miss Moussie and said...

-Hello down there....any chance you know the way to the restaurant dear mouse....

- 'You are in the wrong garden little one'...twittered miss Moussie..'There is no restaurant at our place'.

-'But there is there is'..croaked Gustave...who followed Miss Moussie to the bird feeder and now stood next to her..He was looking very anxious and couldn't stop fiddling his bow tie..

-'I know that look on your face...squeaked Miss Moussie..Tell me what's going on,and stop fiddling that tie...you are making me nervous..

Gustave took a deep breath and then and there he told Miss Moussie the great news about him winning the Great Gourmet Award and how he very unexpectedly got the idea to start a restaurant....in the garden...under the Lilac bush..this would make a perfect spot..especially in Summer..

For a minute Miss Moussie was speechless..this doesn't happen very often..

Taking her chance to interrupted the conversation between Gustave and Miss Moussie,from out of the bird feeder little Bell chimed...'Then,can we go and eat now..I am very very hungry..please I must warn you,when I don't eat on time I get very cranky and I become a very LOUD Bell'.....

Elvira introduced Bell to Miss Moussie and Gustave...they both were charmed by this little creature!

-'You are ever so welcome in my new restaurant',croaked Gustave,'but I'm afraid it will take a while before we can celebrate the grand opening..I was thinking somewhere in Spring..'
-'SOMEWHERE IN SPRING'...Bell chimed...'SOMEWHERE IN SPRING...BUT THEN I WILL STARVE TO DEATH..!'
-'O dear',twittered Miss Moussie covering her ears...'take it easy dear Bell,not so loud,we hear you...'
-'O NO you DON'T'...chimed Bell even louder....'YOU HEAR ME BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND...WHAT HAS TO BECOME OF ME...IT"S LIKE WITH LOVE..'
-'What is'..croaked Gustave,'and please little one,explain it to us gently..'
-'I CAN'T BE GENTLY WHEN I AM HUNGRY....I NEEEEEEEED TO BE FED...JUST ONE TINY PLATE OF YOUR FABULOUS PASTA...PLEASE...?'

Meanwhile in the kitchen...

Very slowly the door of the Cuckoo Clock opened...a familiar Gnome's face appeared.. humming..."What's this loud and disturbing racket I hear...wait a minute...I recognise that racket...its Bell's racket...!' Immediately,with a big leap the Gnome jumped down from the clock and ran out of the kitchen...into the garden..

As fast as lightning our little Gnome leaped through the garden....whilst humming, 'Bell Bell,is that you...where are you ma belle Bell......

Up,in the bird feeder, Bell saw something move in the distance...she abruptly stopped shouting...she saw a little figure coming closer...it leaped through the bushes with a very familiar leap..and it was humming a tune she heard before..

-Beauregard...chimed Bell...O Beauregard..its you...safe me..safe me......

Miss Moussie,Elvira, and Gustave, very curious gazed in the distance to see who, or what is was that approached them, and which apparently had the name...Beauregard.. !

-Leaping lizard's...croaked Gustave surprised,would you believe that..Its the Gnome..
-So THAT'S Beauregard...squeaked Miss Moussie..and started to giggle..

There, with a very courageous and also very spectacular jump, Beauregard landed next to Bell in the bird feeder...

-O...my....my hero ...stammered Bell...and then she fainted.....into Beauregard's arms...

-Goodness..what's wrong with the poor thing..twittered Miss Moussie....
-She really must have been very hungry,said Elvira...

-Indeed,said Beauregard..she was very hungry indeed...you know, its like with love...
-What is ...croaked Gustave...Bell was trying to tell the same thing...what is like love...
-Well,said Miss Moussie...I think I understand now...You have to nourish love....because when you don't.. things can go very wrong...love can disappear...or even worse..it can wither and die....so ,like our little Bell here...it has to be fed...and taken care of...
-I knew that...croaked Gustave..while he gave Miss Moussie a wink...Love is like to eat a big bowl of spaghetti...together.!.
Bell,laying safe in Beauregard's arms...sighed....and whispered....Take me home my darling....please...and she looked deep into Beauregard's eyes..
-Never fear my dear...said Beauregard...and holding Bell very close ,he leaped from the bird feeder....to disappear within seconds into Hilltop Hall...

Now

Dear you...Lets walk while we talk..Today,and NOW,two very special moments in time, I would like to take you on a tour....we are going to visit the kitchen of Hilltop Hall...a marvelous place to be this time a year...it's warm and cosy, and there is always food on the table..
Scrumptious stews..marvelous marmalades..delicious dumplings..terrific tea..wonderful waffles..crunchy cookies,and more yummy stuff..Food for the soul..
I love to sit by the crackling fire that's burning in the heart of the stove.
In the kitchen,very proudly ,stands a very old cabinet...
The grandfather from our dear Dutches made it himself..from a Cherry tree..a tree that blossomed every year in the garden but sadly,one cold winter night.. died..
Rumour goes the tree died under a spell..the curse of the Garden Gnome...a magical creature that wanders the Hilltop grounds..it sometimes visits Hilltop Hall by night.
He is the tiniest Gnome you ever did see..if you ever DID see one that is...most people never see a Gnome in there entire life...So,better be ware when you walk the Hilltop grounds...you might step on it..
It is possible to hear him coming...he likes to sing..well,its more a humming sound..like from a Bee..it sounds a bit creepy if you ask me...
And there is another thing you need to know about him! When the moon comes out and stars are shining bright...the Gnome haunts the rooms of the Hilltop Hall and can attack you from out of a dark corner...jumping into your hair, twisting it in a thousand knots...whilst humming his spells..
They say he casted a spell on the Cherry tree..so it would never bloom again... all this because this horrible creature wanted to eat Cherries in wintertime...and the poor Cherry tree asked him to please wait until summer....Our beautiful tree withered and died..
The Dutchess's grandfather then decided to make a cabinet.This man was a great carpenter..He carved Cherry blossoms and wild Ivy in the cabinet doors to honor the tree,and so ,in a wonderful way it is like she is still in bloom..and now for ever and ever..
When we arrive in the kitchen ,please say something nice to the cabinet..then you will be able to smell the sweet sent of Cherry blossom and see the Ivy grow..
In a secret drawer..hidden inside the cabinet...you can find the cabinets wonder...it really is something like a miracle..
A little drawer filled with 24 letters ,letters carved out of that same enchanted wood from the Cherry tree...24 letters forming the Alphabet.When our Dutchess was a little girl she used to play with the letters...soon to find out that this alphabet wasn't just an ordinary one...It could spell on his own....and it was to be found everywhere..hiding under the table..running down the stairs..walking through the forest,playing hide and seek..But always doing so by making words..like when they ran,they formed the words..VERY FAST..
Later, when our Dutchess grew up to be a girl who knew many many words..the alphabet retired..Now only to come out when it was absolutely necessary..if there occurred a spelling problem of some sort..last time we did see it was last Christmas,when we didn't know how to spell..'marvelous'..because that's how I looked in my red Christmas dress..

Almost there now...we are about to enter the kitchen..Come inside dear one..and lets sit at the kitchen table...there I will tell you more..about the Hilltop Hall and its secrets..

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!

Mouse Tail.....

One's upon a time a long long time ago..there was a bear...he lived alone in a dark pinewood forest.
Days went by,months went by,years went by and the bear lost track of time...He remembered being a young strong bear catching fish in the river,he remembered being a young cub, playing, catching butterflies..but now, the bear was very old and tired, and he knew there wasn't much time left for to make new memories for him to remember later....this made him very sad. If only he could stop time from passing by...
One very beautiful summer night the bear wandered trough the grasslands...he walked slowly...enjoying the night air and the light of the full moon standing proudly above him...o..those summer nights..and that beautiful starry sky..at that moment the bear made a wish. He wished he could be a star...a star who would shine for ever and ever..How tired he was...he had to lay down for a moment in the grass..his eyes gazing at the sky...Look.. there he saw a very bright star...did this star just move, or did his eyes play tricks on him...no ,it did move...It could be a falling star...but no...it was falling down very slow...it was kind of gliding like a leaf in the wind.
The bear didn't dare to move...mesmerized....spellbound...he just knew something wonderful was bound to happen.
The shiny little star came closer and closer...and then the bear heard that this little star had a voice..a clear crystal sound, like from a silver bell. And this sweet little voice was saying..'Lay still..very still, for I am going to land on your nose..'
And so the little star landed....and the bear holding his nose high up in the air was trying to see wat exactly had landed there...this wasn't very easy..
'Hello there'..he heard the little voice say...and he felt a flutter on his nose that almost made him sneeze..
"O no,dear bear,please...hold your breath..you might sneeze me off into the pine forest...and I came all the way down here to ask you a very important question..'
"What question might that be"...asked the bear very curious...still trying to get a clear view of what was sitting there on his nose...
"I came to ask you if you would like to go with me up into the air and help me ...I am the fearless gatekeeper in the sky and I could use some help from a big strong and very wise bear...
"Help you...how can I do that"said the bear,looking very cross eyed..now beginning to see a tiny winged creature ...could this creature be a ....mouse? Could there really be a mouse with wings..sitting on his nose?
'Dear bear'...said the creature...'we need your wisdom to guide people..you know we live in troubled times and when people are lost they need someone to help them find there way...they need something that will be there for ever and ever..as a beacon..a lifeline..A star..'
'A star'...the bear jumped up for joy..'I am going to be a star'?
"O my goodness"...squeaked the little voice,"now look what you did,this is not a good start in helping someone finding her way...Now I"m lost in the clover...please pick me up.."
The bear looked down and there he saw a little light in the grass..very gently he stretched out his paw ..'Come on' said the bear...'You can climb on safely...I promise not to jump up again..'And there on his paw a tiny shiny fairy mouse climbed up...'Now I can see you better,smiled the bear...you are a mouse..'
"No no no...I am a fairy mouse, a fairy with a tale ..And I do hope this tale will have a happy ending ..so please dear Bear will you come with me ...You will be not just one star ...because you are so big and strong you are going to be seven shining stars and when people look up to the sky they will see you there, shining, for ever and ever and they will feel safe and sheltered'.
"This is a very important job",said the bear....'well,I always wanted to be a star..and seven stars..o my, who could resist..My sweet fairy mouse, my answer is going to be..Yes... It would be a great honor..'
'Then,my dear bear friend we have to hurry..time flies..please, let me sit on your nose again because I have to give you a kiss...after that...lift off ..the sky is the limit my dear bear friend..'
Sitting on the bears nose the fairy mouse gave her furry friend a sweet tiny kiss on his forehead and the very next minute they where gone....
Off to eternity...and until this day..and for ever and ever ..you can see the big bear standing there, shining, in his sheltering sky..

.

The Pumkin on the Hiltop

On a beautiful Autumn Morning Miss Mousie was reading her newspaper...

O my..Do you know what the days news is...you are not going to believe this...there seems to be a haunted Pumpkin on the Hill-top..wow...I hate anything haunted..it's too suspicious..and I can't stand the suspense..O dear...Well,I am not going near that spooky pumpkin...wonder if Gustave knows..he likes scary things..

Now..after reading the news everybody is talking about The haunted pumpkin on the Hill!.And where do you go to hear the latest gossip...yes..to the barbershop!

-Dear Sir Hog..please sit still..its only your beard that needs a trim..

In the barbershop chair sits Sir H. Hog...nobody knows where the H stands for..well,we believe it to be Horatio..but we are not sure..Sir Hog comes from a very noble  family..royalty he wants us to believe..

-Sir Hog..please ,why are you so jumpy today..
-Why?Do you even have to ask..I want to go to the Haunted Pumpkin..did you see it last night..it was glowing in the dark...I tell you,it was staring at me with two creepy piercing eyes..I didn't dare to go near it ..but now at daytime I will go and take a look..
-O my dear Sir...would this be wise.....rumour said spooky noises are coming out of there..like chains rattling..and the whispering of voices..
-Well,somebody has to go there...don't worry I will be fine..I...Sir H. Hog come from a very noble family..my grandfather was a Knight..and my mother always told me I am just like him..a fearless creature..

And after saying this Sir H Hog jumped out of his seat and headed in the direction of the Haunted Pumpkin on the Hill...

It was still dark when Miss Moussie awoke...there was a blustery wind howling outside her window..
Goodness,she twittered,what dreadful weather..So happy I did all of my shopping yesterday...now I can stay inside today with a cup of tea and a book.
She tried to get back to sleep but the wind was rocking her little houssie and cried many lyrics..
Then, there was a sudden knock on the door...and again...and again!
Who could this be..?
Miss Moussie heard a panicking voice calling..."Please, Miss Moussie open up..Its Me.. WHO!
As quick as possible Miss Moussie jumped in her slippers and ren to open the door.
There stood WHO..out of breath..with a bewildered look on his face..

-The Pumpkin ,he stammered,the Pumpkin...and poor Horatio!
-What are you trying to tell me dear Who..did something happen to Sir Hog?
-I saw him in the forest..heading towards the Haunted Pumpkin..I warned him not to go there... I said to him ..-.'there is more between heaven and earth then we know my friend Horatio'-....this could be very dangerous...but he wouldn't listen..and now he is gone...he went into the Pumpkin..I waited and waited..but Horatio disappeared, then I heard a creepy voice cackle... GO AWAY........

WHO crached on the sofa..leaving Miss Moussie standing in the doorway ..in the blustering wind..now what to do.....

The morning after this stormy night was glorious ..the wind had decided to have a rest after his blustery night ,the sun was shining,and the garden lookt magical in golden autumn colors.
It could have been a wonderful autumn day if it wasn't for the sad news WHO brought home ...something terrible had happened..Sir Horatio Hog was missing...probably swallowed by the haunted Pumpkin on the Hilltop.
There they were...all the little,and not so little garden creatures,sitting in Miss Moussie's kitchen..all with troubled hearts...

-I just don't know what to say..said Gustave..and he took another bite from his fifth cookie...
-Well,you do know how to eat cookies...twittered Miss Moussie,how can you eat in a moment like this..
-It's my nerves,its my nerves..so sorry ,croaked Gustave..but when I eat I  think better..the cookies are just what I need..food for the brain..and I don't ask why you are polishing your silver like crazy..I suppose you are nervous too...
-We better come up with an idea ,said Elvira..looking very squashed and flushed,sitting between the kitchen table and the burning stove..its very hot in here...
-WHO,laying on the sofa in a very dramatic pose,didn't say much..he was still recovering from the shock...

What ever will they do...lets not disturb them any further and come back later...hopefully they will find a way to help Sir Hog...anyway..something else is puzzling me...did you see Mr C...he isn't in Miss Moussie's kitchen..

In the middle of taking a bite from his sixt cookie,Gustave frose....Then he jumped up and tryed to say something with his mouth full... "HMMPFINWTDOOO,MPFCMNNE"....he said, and then he ran out of the kitchen....
-What was he saying..squeaked Miss MOussie and she hurried after him...
-I believe it was what they call a text message...said Elvira following Miss Moussie..like..I KNW WHT TO DO..COME ON....
-You mean he has a plan...twittered Miss Moussie...thank goodness!

Gustave ran towards the pond....stopped, and then took a dive into the green water..
-Gustave ,squeaked Miss Moussie...I am not going to follow you in there...you know I can't swim, please come out and tell us what you are planning to do..
Elvira and Miss Moussie stood ther impatiently waiting for Gustave to emerge from the pond ....they waited and waited..
-Gustave this isn't funny anymore..twittered Miss Moussie..no time for jokes..we have to do something RIGHT now..
At that very moment a THING emerged from the deep dark water...it was green and slimy...with a sort of tentacles waving around...and it was hissing and puffing like a dragon...
-O.M.G...squeaked Miss Moussie grabbing Elvira by here tail trying to pull her away...A Swamp thing..run for your life..
But Elvira being very brave and clever didn't move an inch...she saw what we can't see at this moment but she saw this was not the terrible swamp thing emerging but ..Gustave !

Gustave the swamp thing climbed out of the pond..'Friends'..he said whilst dripping water and slime and waving his tentacles...Friends...we are going to beat this Haunted Pumkin with his own wapon...
-And that is,asked Miss Moussie....
-Creepiness..answered Gustave...we are going to be very scary..and demand the Pumpkin to let Sir Hog go....I just know this will work...
-O Gustave you are wonderful..said Elvira...I love it when a plan comes together...lets gather everybody...we are going to be Swampthings...
Miss Moussie was very quiet...she wasn't so sure this plan could work..and she wasn't so sure she would like to be a swamp thing....too wet..and too slimy..yak.

Ours later...In the middle of the forest,in the moonlight, on the Hilltop, we see Mr C...what is he doing there..does he know that he is standing just a few feet away from the Haunted Pumpkin? Somebody should warn him...this could be dangerous..Mr C is acting very strange...running around with a shovel and digging a hole in the ground..Maybe he is making a new entrance to his labyrinth...or maybe he is burying something..or.....someone...!

Under a full moon Who hoovered high over the tree tops..he was searching the grounds..he felt a great responsibility for the safety of all the little Hilltop Creatures..and he made a promise to himself to watch the Haunted Pumpkin 24/7..
What was that..a dark shadow moving under the bushes...Who made a dive..gliding on his brown feathered wings...he landed ever so quiet on a branch of the big Chestnut tree..he looked down..and who was it WHO saw...Yes...Mr C..

-Its C...whispered WHO to himself...this can't be good...If I don't warn him the Pumpkin might eat him like he did Sir Hog...
-Whoo hoo,whoo hoo..whood WHO...C ,can you see me ,I am up here..Whoo hoo..
Mr C didn't respond,he just kept on digging and digging..
-Who who...C ...WHO whood again...then he picked some chestnuts from the tree and started throwing to get Mr C's attention....one did hit Mr C right on his behind..!
-Who ddid tthat...stammered Mr C..waving his shovel through the air..
-Me,that's who....said WHO ..it's me up here....My dear friend C ..do you know you are in a very dangerous place ..if you look behind you, you can see the Haunted Pumpkin glowing in the dark..please keep away from there or you might end up like Sir Hog..'
-Who do you think you are attacking me with chestnuts in the middle of the night,said C irritated...I am working here can't you see....please, just let me be..
And C..started digging again....minding his own buisness...and what could this buiness be ..Who knows..well, that is ,WHO didn't know..he flew back to the garden to tell his friends all about this strange encounter with Mr C on the Hilltop!

For the second time this week WHO banged on Miss Moussie door...and again in the middle of the night...

-Who is it...Miss Moussie squeaked with a very sleepy voice...GO AWAY, I was dreaming the most beautiful dream..
-Its me ,WHO...so sorry to disturb you again..but what I just saw in the forest looked very suspicious and I had to come and tell you right away..
-Suspicious you say..o dear ..Just a sec..and Miss Moussie jumped out of bed into her robe..pink ,with bleu forget me nots..then,swiftly, she opened the door.
-I am so happy to see you ,said WHO,a few minutes ago I had a strange encounter with Mr C..as you know we haven't seen much of him lately..but there he was ...digging a hole..just a few feet away from the Haunted Pumpkin..!
-Goodness,twittered Miss Moussie,dousn't he know what has happened to Sir Hog...we have to warn him..
-I did, I did...but he wouldn't listen..he told me to let him be..sighed WHO and then crashed on the sofa....
-Lets wait until daylight twittered Miss Moussie, then you and I are going to visit Gustave at the Pond..maybe he knows why Mr C is acting so very strange..
And so they did..on the red sofa,sitting on cushions of violet blue,they drank some tea with honey and ate a piece of walnut bread with raspberry marmalade to ease there nerves.
Then, at the crack of dawn, they headed in the direction of the Pond.......WHO hoovered over the tree tops with Miss Moussie on his back...

-You can land now ,Miss Moussie twittered holding on to her new hat,green..with white Lillie's of the valley.."I can see the pond ..isn't it beautiful in this morning light..I see little floating stars..
-It's magical..said WHO..it looks like Gustave sprinkled some fairy dust on the water.... Who landed softly under a willow tree..
-Care full now..we mustn't fall into the pond..squeaked Miss Moussie ..whilst she stood close to the edge of the water ...and there they where...again..calling and waiting for Gustave to come out of the water...Lets hope this time he will not emerge as the terrible swamp thing..


This time they didn't have to wait...Gustave jumped out of the water not even a second after they called him..

-There you are,he croaked happily..right on time..everything is ready..the Dress rehearsal can begin....Just you wait and see what a wonderful creations I made last night...I think I would make a great designer of Haute Couture..
Step this way please...And before the eyes of Miss Moussie and WHO...Gustave,from under the water Lillie's, revealed his Swamp Line...
-O wait for me ..called a little voice from under the lilac bush...It was Elvira..
'Am I still on time to fit my Swamp dress..'
-Just showing the latest design...croaked Gustave proudly...then we can start the fitting..you can pick one my dear...see which one you like best..

Who and Miss Moussie where flabbergasted....so Gustave and Elvira were serious about this creepy swamp thingy plan...
Miss Moussie was the first to speak..
-Gustave,your swamp creations are amazing,but I am not going to try them on..they are ever so wet and slimy..so sorry but I will have to disappoint you this time..maybe WHO would like to give it a try..?
-Did you ever see a flying swamp thing ,I don't think so ,said WHO..a little nervous...
-That's just why this plan is going to work,croaked Gustave...nobody ever saw a flying swamp thing...dear WHO..you will scare the..bliep..out of that Haunted Pumpkin..you will be our hero..
-I will..well then ..I could always give it a try..said WHO..do you have anything with wings my friend Gustave..I do love all the magical shades of green you used,you truly are an artist..

While Elvira,WHO,and Gustave were very busy fitting and adjusting there swamp costumes....Miss Moussie was having her doubts..would this work..could they save Sir Hog by scaring The Haunted Pumpkin...and shouldn't she be a part of this rescuing swampthing team..was it even possible they could do it without her...somebody had to take charge..
-Oke darlings,she squeaked...I'm in...please Gustave..give me one of your marvelously wet and slimy creations..

About two ours ,and a lot to do about nothing later...our little troup was dressed to impress...!

-Look at you ,said Gustave to WHO...MR Creepiness himself...you are the most swampy swamp thing I ever did see...
-And how many DID you see dear Gustave,twittered Miss Moussie...did you...EVER..see a swamp thing in real life...
-No Miss...croaked Gustave,but I saw many in my imagination and that's what counts..
Well, this was an argument Miss Moussie didn't dare to argue so she started to rearrange her tentacles...and she straightened her waterlily hat..
Then.. WHO flapped his majestic wings..creating a whirl of slime and muddy water..
EEEEEUuWW...squeaked Miss MOussie....WHO ,go do this somewhere else...I all ready took a shower today...
-You certainly don't look like you did ..laughed WHO..and the others laughed with him..
-Not funny...twittered Miss MOussie...and she started to walk...I am going...
There she went...a little tiny swamp creature with a tail....disappearing in to the forest..leaving a slimy wet trail...
-lets follow her guys..croaked Gustave...
-Yes, lets..said Elvira...before she gets in trouble..

So now there were three swamp creatures running through the garden...green ghostly things in a hurry...
On Hilltop Hall all was still very peaceful and quiet....When you look up..to the window on the left...you can see someone is opening the curtains...This must be our Dutchess...yes,there she is ...looking out of the window...just in time to see these peculiar creatures dashing through the morning mist.....

-Lets just go immediately and straight to the haunted pumpkin...squeaked Miss Moussie while running...I think in daylight this creepy thing won't look so creepy...
-You are absolutely right Miss,croaked Gustave out of breath...lets do it...and scare to wits out of that great big orange balloon..
-YEEE,yelled Elvira...we are the Pumpkin busters....repeat after me...when there's something strange in your neighbourhood.... Who are you gonna call...PUMPKINBUSTERS..
And above the misty clouds they heard the mighty swamp wings of WHO swirling ...and a brave voice yelling...GERONIMO.......

Our little garden creatures were ever so brave and full of courage..determent to go and save there friend Sir Horatio Hog..and..also very important....to find out why Mr C Mole was acting so strange lately....digging holes in the middle of the night..

The fog was getting thicker and thicker...Soon our little garden friends couldn't see where they were going..
-Goodness,twittered Miss Moussie...Stay close together darlings...better grab each others tentacles..Gustave..dearest..that's my tail...well never mind ...just don't let go now...

Miss Moussie ,Gustave,and Elvira walked very slowly and very close together through the misty forest..
Above there heads they could hear WHO...calling..."Whoohoo where are you ...whoohoo,answer me...
-We are down here...down here my friend..croaked Gustave very loud..
-We should sing...said Elvira..then WHO can follow the sound..
-O what a great idea darling..twittered Miss Moussie..and she started singing...
Heigh ho, heigh ho..off to the pumpkin we go...heigh ho, heigh ho..
Gustave and Elvira joined her ..and a lovely little choir sang loudly whilst walking through the foggy forest..Who just had to follow the sound of music..

However...a few minutes later...Miss Moussie's singing came abruptly to an end...

BOINGGG..Miss Moussie bumped into something...what appeared to be a signpost..
-O.M.G..squeaked Miss Moussie...a bump..
-A What..asked Gustave..a bump..
-Yes on my head...look..I believe this is going to be a big bump..
-I believe its a signpost ..said Elvira surprised..but I can't read the sign because of the fog..
-A bump as big as a sing post..O.M.G..squeaked Miss Moussie..I have to get my mirror out of my purse..
Then WHO appeared out of the mist..he circled three times round the signpost ,and then came down with this message..listen..

This path to the Pumpkin leads
Follow if you dare..

-How dares this silly signpost...telling us what to dare or not to dare...said WHO..
-I don't like signposts twittered Miss Moussie ,I think they are very suspicious..you never know if they are telling the truth..
-We are going to follow that path..croaked Gustave...
-Yeeeh,yelled Elvira..watch out Pumpkin....here we come....

They walked and walked and walked....but there didn't seem to come an end to the path they were following...Our swampthings began to get tired..
-I don't know about you ,said Elvira...but I don't look very scary anymore...
-We should rest for a while,croaked Gustave..when one is tired one can not be creepy.....
-Lets take five,twittered Miss Moussie,and I mean just five because it's getting dark soon...

WHO landed next to his friends..bringing them some chestnuts he picked on the way..
-That's great,said Gustave..lets roast them..I will build a fire..
-Well,this is going to take more than five minutes..twittered Miss Moussie, but we do need the rest to get our strenght back so we can attack the Pumpkin..
It was very quiet in the forest...there was no wind....not a leaf was stirring...there was just the sound of the crackling fire..Our friends didn't speak..they were staring in to the dancing flames..alone with there thoughts..
Then, suddenly WHO lifted his head..and turned around...did he just hear something..a strange sound came from under that blackberry bush...there...listen..
Miss Moussie,Gustave and Elvira didn't seem to notice..
WHO decited to go and take a look....he walked slowly towards the blackberry bush..crawled under it and then...gave our friends a very big fright by yelling...WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.......
-Who,me...what who ....WHO what..stammered Gustave hopping up and down...WHO, where are you..
Miss Moussie sat as frozen on the ground...she couldn't move ,she couldn't speak...and she was thinking..no.. she couldn't even think anymore..
And Elvira...she immediately ran to the very spot where WHO had disappeared...
-WHO,she called out...WHO..and then almost fell in a big hole from which she heard the voice from WHO answer..'I am down here...I fell in some stupid hole,I bet you its from Mr C..
First Miss Moussie swallowed almost a whole chestnut,and then got back in action...
-WHO,darling are you oke..can you see anything down there..is it very dark and creepy..do tell us how we can get you out of there..
-I am fine,I can see clearly now, there is a light at the end of the tunnel..and I don't want to get out..I want to go to the light..answered WHO..
-O NO....he is going towards the light, we are loosing him..twittered Miss Moussie dramatically.
-Don't be silly Miss,croaked Gustave..he is just fine...WHO ,he called....wait there....we are coming..Come on friends...I believe WHO found a short cut..and with a bit of luck we can find Mr C. down there..
Gustave jumped very frog like into the hole..Elvira followed with a very elegant squirrelly jump...and Miss Moussie followed very Miss Moussie like..carefully stepping over the edge.....the three of them tumbled down...landing at WHO's feet.
Nice ...said WHO..so far so good fellows..now, lets find out what's at the end of this tunnel.WHO took the lead...him being the biggest and the creepiest ..
There was a bright light shining at the end of the tunnel..first he light was red..then green..then orange..
-Strange place for a traffic light..mumbled WHO..
Coming closer to the light they heard loud rattling noises..
-WHO, WHO,whispered Gustave..stop..I think we are very close to the pumpkin..I heard that creepy rattle before...
They all stopped in their tracks....listening to the rattling of the chains and then they heard a laughter...and this laughter came from the end of the tunnel...
-It's coming closer, squeaked Miss Moussie ,shaking like a leaf...it's the Pumpkin Monster....I want to get out of here...
-We came to save Sir Hog,and that's what we will do..monster or no monster..said Gustave in a firm tone of voice..stand tall my friends..we can do it...
And so our brave friends stood there.. paw in paw....ready to take charge..
A shadow appeared at the end of the tunnel...it was small..round..and prickly...followed by another one..somewhat bigger..with glasses...
Now the laughter changed in a loud scream....a scream for help...
-Help Help...screamed the two shadows....Monsters in the tunnel...help..and they turned around and ran away...
-Well,that was easy..croaked Gustave..we scared them away..piece of cake..
-Goodness...twittered miss Moussie..these screams sounded familiar..I could swear one of them was from Sir Hog..
-Yes..said Elvira ,and the other one from Mr C...
-Did we just scare our friends away, said WHO in disbelieve..
-Follow them...no time to loose, twittered Miss Moussie, and off she went...running as fast as her little moussie feet could run..yelling..Stop ...Sir Hog..Mr C..its me...

Up ahead in the tunnel the two shadows ran for there life...they hadn't seen such creepy monsters before in their whole life..
Said one shadow to another...C...listen ,this monster is making a very familiar squeaking sound ...listen..
-By jolly...friend Horatio...could this be our dear Miss Moussie...answered the other shadow..now standing still...
Horatio and C..waited...waited to see who was running after them....

WHO....they called out together...because who was the first one coming around the bend..WHO..flapping his swamp wings..WHO,old chap...what are you doing here..and why are you looking so very green,are you sick..we almost didn't recognise you at all..
-Goodness..squeaked Miss Moussie ..arriving after WHO...and what may I ask are YOU two doing here...we were ever so worried ..Sir Hog..are you oke..and dear C..why did you act so mysteriously lately..
-Did you two escape..croaked Gustave..
-Yes,do tell..was it very scary in this Haunted Pumpkin..asked Elvira exited..

-Escape..mysteriously...I am afraid I don't understand a word you are saying..said Horatio...we are fine...I believe I can't say this about you the way you look and all.....
-Well,one thing is correct said C..it all has to do with a Pumpkin,bet you can't guess what it is..
-C..croaked Gustave,no time for riddles...Reveal your secret...NOW!
_Oke Oke..said C...it supposed to be a surprise...but come on then, follow me...and you will see..
At the end of the tunnel there was an opening.....and when our gang stepped out into the forest this is what they saw....A PUMPKIN ROLLERCOASTER....

So...this was why Mr C had acted to suspicious...and why Sir Horatio had disappeared...they both..in secret made a Rollercoaster Pumpkin...how marvelous...Would you like to join our sweet garden creatures for a ride....come on lets have fun ..together we make this a day to remember...You can buy your free tickets at the free lemonade stand...All's well that ends well...and wasn't this a wonderful ending of a great adventure....
Stay warm and stay happy my friends........