At the end of the afternoon,the Dutchess stumbled down the stairs....tired..wearing a deep frown on her forehead...she had been writing....
-'O my gosh'..she whispered to herself at the last step of the stairs..'its already dark in the hall...what could be the time..?'
She reached for the light switch..and waited for the chandelier to spread his light on the big standing clock....
-'Six o clock....of course....we arrived in wintertime..the time of early darkness but also the time of light....we can start thinking about Christmas...how wonderful..'
All kinds of thoughts tumbled through the Dutchess's mind when she walked through the hallway...trees..lights..presents..turkey...friends..castles crowns cottages and laughter...and.. hot chocolate because THAT was the reason to go downstairs..towards the kitchen..
Again....in the kitchen...total darkness...and silence...nobody home..
-I am going to gather and light all the candles there are in the house..and I'm going to have a little party all by myself...celebrating THIS time of year...and everything nice to come...sitting in my quiet kitchen and just contemplate..
After she thought up this wonderful idea...the Dutchess wanted to go on a candle search in the dark...(She didn;t want to turn on the kitchen light to disturb the romance..)
THEN....Ssst....what was that...what sound did she just hear coming out of the darkness....It was a very loud squeak followed by.. the patter of little feet....
-Someone there..asked the Dutchess a bit nervous...who are you..and what are you doing in my kitchen....
-O..so sorry...Its only me....I didn't want to frighten you....but when you came in YOU frightened ME...
-Ah..its you Miss Moussie....I should have recognised you by your lovely squeak...tell me...why are you wandering around in the dark...did you need anything from the kitchen..
-No No...I came to visit you my dearest....I was thinking..why is it so dark in the kitchen...no lights..no stove burning...no Dutchess cooking or sitting at the table....I thought something could be wrong...Are you feeling well dear.....can I make you a cup of tea..You look kind of tired...
-Thank you so much for you concern dear Miss M....but I'm fine..
-"Speak you this with a sad brow?" ...twittered Miss Moussie....I don't believe you..
-Ah..Shakespeare my dear....how wonderful witty...and this you can see in the darkness..
-Mice have very good eyesight...but it would be better to bring some light into this kitchen...I agree..
- I was just on my way to light ALL the candles we have in the house and create a romantic atmosphere in this kitchen...just because its November and we are starting a new wonderful season...The season of light..Would you like to join me...
-Marvelous...simply marvelous dearest....I'll help you....and could we please make some hot chocolate before we sit down to enjoy the candlelight view..
-You can read my mind..smiled the Dutchess....
When the first candles did light up the kitchen,the stove was burning,and the smell of hot chocolate made its way out through the crack in the door....a little creature, walking in the garden stopped in his tracks...
-Hmmmmmm.....I MUST follow that smell.....it uttered in immediate haste....and there it went..
High above the bare treetops....in a cold blustery winter wind..an owl came circling down...
Who flew in....with mighty flapping wings...not stopping until he bumped into the kitchen door...with a devastating big bump...and there it was he dropped...on the doormat..
A voice inside the Hilltop Hall squeaked..ENTER..
-There's a bang at the door....squeaked Miss Moussie..someone who isn't polite enough to gracefully knock..
-I'LL go and see who that is..said the Dutches..and with her cup of hot chocolate still in her hand she walked to the kitchen door and opened it..
Who..because that's who it was..stood up from the doormat, where he made his spectacular landing just a few seconds before.. and entered..
He didn't say a word....He shook his wings..fumbled with his feathers..and then flew up with a little flutter ...muttering something like...'AAAh'..and then crashed on the kitchen table..leaning his head in a very dramatic pose against the teapot..
-Who..so nice of you to drop by....said the Dutchess with a smile...
-Yes..nice..twittered Miss Mousie ,but could you please knock next time..I find a bang on the door to be very suspicious..one never knows what one will find on one's doormat..
-I am so sorry...said Who a bit out of breath...but I was in a hurry...And I didn't come alone..
-Is there somebody else going to bump into our kitchen door....twittered Miss Moussie curious..tell me Who..who..?..
Again Who started to fumble with his feathers...and flap his wings.. he didn't seem to be able to sit still...
-Who dear..please sit still for a while...you are making me nervous..are you having an itch..twittered Miss Moussie...and then she herself started to scratch her back..
-Is there something tickling you ,asked the Dutchess,when she saw Who starting to giggle and now jump up and down on the kitchen table..
-WHOOOHAHA..uttered Who ...just a minute....have to find something..WOOHAH.......AAAAh..there IT is....
-Where..where squeaked Miss Moussie..Who..you are scaring me now..I don't see IT..'
-But I do..said the Dutchess...will you look at that tiny little creature...how cute...
On the table next to Who's big owl feet..crawled a white wiggly wormy thing...Yes..a worm..!
-May I introduce to you..said Who..now relieved to got rid of this tickling thing...may I introduce to you..a worm from a book...and not just any book..this one comes from...Frankenstein..
The Dutchess and Miss Moussie where flabbergasted..they stood there staring at this wiggly THING...a sound came out of it...
-Hi there..it said...with a very tiny voice...I come from Frankensteins book and my name is Monster...how do you do..
First there was silence..and then Miss Moussie started to laugh..like she couldn't stop..
IN the meantime..A little creature scurries through the garden...he is following his nose...and his nose told him to go to Hilltop Hall in a hurry because there could be something chocolate...!
-Chocolate..whispers Gustave (because that's who it is)...chocolate..only the Dutchess can make hot chocolate that smells this good..and he makes a big leap for joy..
There..he can see Hilltop Hall in the distance...How wonderful...Smoke is coming out the chimney and there are lights in the kitchen...It looks ever so warm and inviting..
Coming closer Gustave hears a murmur of laughter through the treetops...its coming out of the house and it sounds very familiar..It could be Miss Moussie..
-Well...they are having fun in there..says Gustave to himself and he stops to listen..
-Isn't it wonderful to have friends to come home to ,he sighs gratefully...
The evening is quiet and very still...There's only the sound of leaves whirling on the ground..round and round and round they go....a beautiful happy dance...The moon is full and casts his light on a big red toadstool...Gustave decides to pause for a while to enjoy the view and the fresh night air..
He hops on the stool and gazes at the sky...its clear and bright...and very cold..very cold indeed...Gustave's mind wanders of...thinking..There could be snow....yes....there could be snow..wouldn't that be enchanting..
-Hello there....hé...you up there..excuse me....helloooooo....!
A little creature stretched itself up on tiptoe, and peeped over the edge of the mushroom, and its eyes immediately met those of Gustave, sitting on the top.....
-Helloooooo IT uttered again....excuse me....you up there...can I ask you a question...?
Gustave responded immediately and he asked in great surprise....'Who are you.....?
-I'm Alice..answered the creature..and I am a worm..not just ANY worm you know..I come from Wonderland...
And then Gustave almost fell of his stool...laughing like he couldn't stop...
A worm from Wonderland....HaaaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
-What's so funny ...said Alice... please Mr Frog, is it possible, when you have stopped laughing, to ask you a question....?
-O..I'm so sorry my dear ...croaked Gustave with a big grin on his frog face..I'm so sorry,this isn't very polite of me...Its ever so nice to meet you..you look adorable.. My name is Gustave and please..do tell me...how can I help you..?
-Well,the problem is...Gustave.. I AM LOST....and everything is getting curiouser and curiouser...
-Lost you say...lost in the woods....?
-Yes....suddenly I found myself falling and falling ..and there I was..In the middle of Hilltop forest...and now I don't know how to get back..
-Back to whére little Alice,croaked Gustave...where did you come from..?
-From a book...said Alice with a very tiny voice...the most wonderful book ever written...and I;m a very important character in it...I'm Alice....
Gustave looked puzzled....he didn't know what to say..A lost worm....how strange..
-Come on..he croaked whilst hopping of his stool...I know just the person who can help you....follow me little Alice..We are going to visit the Dutchess..she'll know what to do..
-The Duchess...uttered Alice surprised..did you say the Duchess...she's in my book you know..she is very ugly don;t you think..!
-I THINK NOT...croaked Gustave...my Dutchess is very lovely looking...how dare you say this about the Dutchess..are we speaking about the same person..?
-Well, last week she said this to me...listen "'You don't know much; and that's a fact",this wasn't very nice...
-Couldn't be my Dutchess, said Gustave..I'm sure of it...
-How about this then.....and I quote..: Be what you would seem to be -- or, if you'd like it put more simply -- Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise.
-This COULD be my Dutchess but I think I should understand that better, if you had it written down....I can't quite follow it as you say it...
-THAT'S what I thought..when I heard that the first time.... Alice said surprised..
The situation was,like Alice mentioned before,getting curiouser and curiouser..Together Gustave and Alice walked towards Hilltop Hall....Off to see The Dutchess..
Meanwhile ...in the kitchen of Hilltop Hall....a little wormy creature named Monster asked..
-What;s so funny...never saw a worm before...?
--Not a worm from frankenstein...laughed Miss Moussie...Whats with all the stitches..you look all stitched up...I'm afraid when I touch you ,you might fall apart...
-I happen to be proud of my stitches ...Its what makes me special..I am a very important character from a very famous book...I'm the Monster...I was created....
-O yes..I know the book..twittered Miss Moussie...I found it very creepy.....The monster was made by a crazy scientist...And crazy scientists are not to be trusted...
-Well,let me tell you....I am NOT my creator...I am a very loving creature..!
Let me quote myself...I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me likes of which you can scarcely imagine and eh.....eh....
-And eh WHAT,,twittered miss Moussie..
-Eh..I fforgot the rrest...stammered the monster...
-HMMN...squeaked Miss Moussie..whilst looking at the Dutchess.....very suspicious....
-O my goodness...said the Dutchess...look what just entered the kitchen....
Miss Moussie turned around and saw Gustave standing on the doormat...and next to him a worm..a worm with curls ....
-I'll say.....twittered Miss Moussie..O. M. G. indeed....!
-Hello there...croaked Gustave...I was planning to come for a cup of cocoa but look what I found on my way over here..and he pointed towards the worm standing next to him....Dear friends..let me introduce to you ...Alice...from wonderland...
Alice..very courteously made a bough and said...So nice to meet you all...I hope I'm not causing any inconvenience by crawling in unannounced...
-Well..dear Gustave..and..eh ..Alice, twittered Miss Moussie..you are ever so welcome...and please meet another unexpected quest....The Monster...from Frankenstein...!
Now it was Gustave's turn to be surprised again...and little Alice stood there silent..and motionless...
Nobody knew exactly what to do or what to say...
Dear friends...said the Dutchess breaking the silence.....this seems to be a very awkward situation.....so please forgive us our behavior...worms on kitchen tables or on doormats are not something we are used to..Please, Mr Monster and sweet little Alice ..would you be so kind to tell us what may be the purpose of your visit..
-Its a worm thing...said the Monster
-No,its a book thing..said little Alice whilst climbing the table leg...
-Its more wormy then book..said the Monster..
-No,its more book then wormy..said Alice..now reaching the table surface..
-I would say its a bookworm thing..said the Monster.
-I agree,said Alice..and she sat herself down at Owls feet.....who sat very still in anticipation....what next..?
-Oke..,croaked Gustave ..leaping from the doormat to a kitchen chair....so far so good...
-What's a bookworm thing...twittered Miss Moussie...I never saw it before...never heard of it either...?
Did You...?
It was a strange looking scene in the Dutchess's kitchen...There was Who, sitting on the Table with at his big owl feet two little worms..
Miss Moussie had sat herself down on her thimble...it was always standing ready for her next to the teapot warmer,and Gustave found a lovely seat close to the Dutchess...at the rim of her now empty cocoa cup.
The worms continued there story..
-Dear Dutchess said Alice....when was the last time you visited your library..I ask you this because there's SO many dust on all of the books...you wouldn;t believe !...WE...the bookworms who live there are having some serious allergy problems...we can not stop sneezing....
-And don't forget to mention the darkness...there hasn;t been any light coming into MY book for ages....said the Monster...
-We need the light dearest Dutchess...its not possible for any living being to live in darkness all of the time...we don't know when its day or night...I can't see if the roses are white or red in MY book...sighed Alice..and this could bring some characters of my story in big problems..
-I'm sorry to say that there are worms who have left this building searching for a lighter and brighter place...we surtenly need this at this time of year...and after saying this Monster took a deep breath...He looked very sad....He knew where living in darkness could lead to...
-I understand...twittered Miss Moussie..it is the season of light...I would be sad too when I had to spend it in darkness...Tell me..are there more worms wandering around on the Hilltop searching for a brighter place...
-O my goodness...I feel very bad....Dear Alice..and dear Monster you are trying to tell me that I've neglected you...and you are so right..I haven't been in the library for months...the Dutchess said this whilst searching for her handkerchief...she had tears in her eyes...
-Don't cry my sweet lady...croaked Gustave..and he helped to pull out a handkerchief out of the Dutchess's sleeve...please don't cry...You couldn't help it..you have been ever so busy....writing and drawing...
-Yes yes...AND spending to much time at my computer...sniffled the Dutchess...I didn't read a book for ......I don't even know when I last read a book...a she blew her nose..very loud!!
-You know...whispered Alice,while she crawled close to the Dutchess to look her in the eye..you know, we even thought of choosing the dark side..and become a VIRUS!
People are not reading books anymore...we worry all the books could disappear in time so we were thinking to go in the computer business...and sabotage the system...we even had a name for our virus....The Trojan Horse...I believe some worms all over the world are already very busy doing so...
-O MY GOODNESS..twittered Miss Moussie...you can not do that...a virus is very dangerous and is not to be trusted...please tell us how we can help....before this gets out of control...?
For a moment there they were all thinking what to do....when a knock and muffled sound came from....the refrigerator....
-COMMmmminannnnknooowmebrrrtmn.....
-Curiouser and curiouser said Alice.....there's someone at the fridge door....
-Do you think its safe to open that fridge...twittered Miss Moussie..
-I'm curious...like Alice...said the Dutchess.....we have to know whats in there...!
-Maybe its the Christmas pudding.....getting impatient and wanting to come out....croaked Gustave..
-Shall I open it, hooted Owl....if its something creepy I'LL slam the door shot again..I'm very quick on these wings..and to demonstrate this Who flapped his wings furiously..
-And doing so Who created a storm strong enough to blow Alice and Monster away...
Luckily both of the worms made a soft landing in the sugar bowl..
-Dear Who..Be careful when you open that door ..said the Dutchess..I will be right behind you..
-Me too...squeaked Miss Moussie..
-Me three..croaked Gustave....uh...On the count of three everybody..
-One....two....THREE....and there Who opened the fridge door.....
This is what they saw....
Another worm ..sitting in the middle of the Christmas pudding...shouting..
........COME IN AND KNOW ME BETTER MAN.....!
O.M Goodness..twittered Miss Moussie...I know that worm....Its the worm of Christmas present...
-You must be the ghost of Christmas present ..twittered Miss Moussie..But ..you are very tiny...The ghost in the Christmas Carol is a giant..'
-AHAA..said the worm in the fridge..you know your classics...surely then you can remember that the ghost of Christmas present has the ability to change ..so he can fit into ANY space...like I'm doing today...!
-Did you come alone....asked the Dutchess...or are there more worms in my refrigerator..?
-I have..now let me count..uuuh...2009 brothers to be precise..answered the ghostly worm..
-YIKES......Dearest..you have more then 2000 of those wormy ghosts in your fridge..squeaked Miss Moussie..EEEuw..
-No no no...said the ghost ...I;m alone....you really should read the Christmas Carol again sweet Moussie..it seems you forgot a part that's very elementary..I am alone because I AM the GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT....meaning I can only exist in the NOW....I am on Earth for just one single year....the year 2010....and this year is almost coming to an end...SO....And there he paused for a while....so.......I come with a very important message..I am a ghost on a mission...
-We believe you are not the only worm on a mission...croaked Gustave....look...and he pointed towards the wiggly worms in the sugar bowl...they also tried to tell us something...
-And we think we've got the message dear Ghost...said the Dutchess... I believe its all my fault...I'm the one who neglected the books....and the worms...Tell me ..what can I do...
-There's no better time to make a change then the present time...said the wormy ghost....whilst wiggling out of the Christmas pudding..
-I know what to do...twittered Miss Moussie exited...I know exactly what to do.......we are...uh...and then...ah...yes....
-Don't keep us in suspense sweet Miss...croaked Gustave...we all know you're ideas can be quit brilliant at times...do share them with us..
-A big smile appeared on Miss Moussie face and she twittered with a firm tone of twitter...(which could only mean that whatever she had been figuring out definitely was going to happen).....LISTEN....We are going to celebrate Christmas in the Library..
-Marvellous...said the Dutchess...
-Amazing...croaked Gustave..
-Wonderful...wiggled the worms...
-What a hoot...hooted Owl....
-I love it when a plan comes together ..squeaked Miss Moussie....come on everybody...things to do ..places to go....no time to waste.....
And so this story comes to an end...Christmas came and all of our little garden creatures made it a very very special one..SO..On the Hilltop the days before Christmas were very busy...
Everybody was doing his best to make this the most wonderful Christmas holiday ever..
Sir Horatio Hog was in charge to arrange the lights...He was standing in the Library..looking up...
-Now that these poor little worms were in the dark for such a long time I am going to hang more then a million lights in this place...this he said to Mr C...who just entered the Hilltop Library...carrying a basket full of dusting cloths.
-Great idea my friend Horatio..said Mr C...there's more between heaven and earth then darkness...I'm sure you will do a grand job bringing light into the Library and to Hilltop Hall...
-I can't wait to see this..said the Dutchess..following Mr C and pulling behind her a vacuum cleaner..but please let us clean up first and dust the books and bookshelf's....
-Yes...OPEN those stuffy books...said C...let them breathe..(and... so he thought by himself...and...then I can take a quick look inside..he LOVED books).
Gustave was in charge of the Christmas dinner...he has been cooking for days and days....
And our dear Miss Moussie....she insisted to decorate the tree..with a little help from Elvira...
It took some time to get the tree inside the house..and for a while it was stuck at the winding stairs..the Library is at the second floor...so they had to drag the tree two spiral staircases up..!!
But today ..after some hard work...you are all ever so welcome to visit
The snowy Hilltop inhabitants would like to wish you a Merry Christmas!
Here's to you...my dear reader and friend..lets toast and sit down by the fire..Shake hand with the bookworms...and lets make them a promise..
Don't forget the BOOKS....because there are worms in it...!~We read to know we are not alone~(C.S Lewis).
And to end this little story Mr C would like to read you a poem he found whilst dusting the books...
John Kendrick Bangs (1862-1922) ‘Bookworm Ballads, a literary feast
My Bookworm gave a dinner to a number of his set.
I was not there — I say it to my very great regret.
For they dined well, I fancy, if the menu that I saw
Was followed as implicitly as one obeys the law.
“’Twill open,” he observed to me, “with quatrains on the half.
They go down easy; then for soup” — it really made me laugh —
“The poems of old Johnny Gay” — his words were rather rough —
“They’ll do quite well, for, after all, soup’s thin and sloppy stuff.
“For fish, old Izaak Walton; and to serve as an entrée,
I think some fixed-up morsel, say from James, or from Daudet;
The roast will be Charles Kingsley — there’s a deal of beef in him.
For sherbet, T. B. Aldrich is just suited to my whim.
“For game I’ll have Boccaccio — he’s quite the proper one;
He certainly is gamey, and a trifle underdone;
And for the salad, Addison, so fresh and crisp is he,
With just a touch of Pope to give a tang to him, you see.
“And then for cheese, Max Nordau, for I think you’ll find right there
Some things as strong and mushy as the best of Camembert;
And for dessert let Thackeray and O. Khayyám be brought,
The which completes a dinner of most wondrous richness fraught.
“For olives and for almonds we can take the jokes of Punch —
They’re good enough for us, I think, to casually munch;
And through it all we’ll quaff the wines that flow forever clear
From Avon’s vineyards in the heart of Will of Warwickshire.”’
From...Cobwebs from a library corner (1899) gutenberg.
Thats all folks........Hope to see you again soon.....Stay warm and Stay Happy..!
Art-Pic nr 4 `Scott Gustafson.Town mouse and Country mouse.
