THE HOLIDAYS
Written by Leona NielsenPublished on January 2018
The communicating of the Pleasants searching for food broke the silence of the morning.
Annie had been awake for awhile. She didn't want to wake anybody but lying still wasn't in her makeup so she decided to go exploring while the others slept.
“Stay out of trouble” Baby whispered.
“You are awake Baby.”
“Yes and no. I am not ready to get up yet.”
“Okay,
I'll be good Baby.” Annie answered as she tiptoed quietly out of the barn.
“Okay,
do I believe that or not?” Baby asked himself as he recalled what Annie had
said.oseph
was dreaming as usual. His legs were like poetry in motion. Baby couldn't help
but wonder what kind of dream he was having.
The
quietness of the barn made Baby decide to close his eyes for a few more minutes
when……………………….
“WAKE-UP!!!
WAKE-UP!!!! EVERYONE, there is a stranger outside the barn…WAKE-UP!!” Annie kept yelling as she ran around. “The stranger is really funny looking, I don't know who it is!!!!”
Joseph
jumped to his feet still in his dream. He looked around with a strange look on
his face.
“Where
are my apples and carrots?” Joseph shouted.
“Am
I the only one who has both feet on the ground this morning” Baby added as he
shook his head.
“I
am not kidding; there is a stranger outside the barn. I saw it with my own eyes.
I swear I did. I am not making it up.”
Annie said trying to convince everyone.
“You
ate my apples and carrots.” Joseph said to Baby.
“What
are you talking about Joseph? I don't
have any carrots or apples. You were dreaming before Annie woke you up.
“DREAMING!!!!
You're telling me that those carrots and apples weren't real!!!!!”
“That’s
actually right Joseph.”
“”You
shouldn't have got me up until I had a
bite or two from the apple at least.”
“I
didn't wake you, Annie did.”
“Oh,
I should have known better than to blame you Baby…sorry. What has she got
herself into now and where is she?”
“Something
about a stranger outside the barn and she has gone to tell TC.”
Just
as Baby finished his sentence she could hear Annie telling TC.
“I
really did TC.”
“Okay,
Annie I think we better go and investigate this stranger.” TC answered as they
started making their way towards the door.
“Who
is it?” Joseph asked Baby.
“Not
sure myself who it is.”
“Then
we better go with TC and find out, don't you think Baby?”
“Let’s
go Joseph and see what she is talking about.”
As
everyone approached the door Annie started to get closer and closer to TC. Baby
came up behind Annie…………BOOOOOOO!
Annie
was air born in seconds. When she touched down on all fours again, she looked
at Baby.
“That
wasn't very nice at all.”
Baby
could see by the expression on Annie’s face that she was afraid.
“Sorry
Annie.”
“All
right Annie, show us where the stranger is.” TC stated.
‘Who
is it? That is what I want to know.”
Joseph said.
Annie
peeked around the door and within seconds jumped back behind TC.
“It
is still there.’ Annie said in a small voice.
“TC,
can I take a look?” Baby asked.
“Sure,
go ahead Baby.”
Baby
looked out the door, shook his head and started laughing.
“Baby,
it’s not funny.” Annie yelled.
“Yes
it is Annie. It is a big shiny ornament.
“No
it isn't! Didn't you see the stranger
out there?”
“Annie,
the only thing I saw was my own reflection in the ornament.”
“No
Baby, you don't look like that.”
Just
then Joseph had a look and he too started laughing over what he saw.
“I
know you had to see the stranger Joseph, didn't you?”
“Nope,
all I saw was my big funny ears.”
“Come
Annie, let me show you what you saw. It is your reflection in the shiny
ornament. That is what you saw earlier. Take a look.” TC said as she pushed Annie gently to the
door.
Annie
turned around looking at TC. “You are
telling me that is me TC?”
“Yes,
Annie.”
“I
don't really look like that do I?”
“You
don't Annie but when you look at yourself in the ornament you look different, Let
me show you.” TC said as she looked at herself.
“Oh,
TC you look so funny.”
“That
is exactly what we have been trying to tell you Annie.”
“What
is it doing here in the first place?” Annie wanted to know.
“Oh,
don't you know it’s Christmas?”
“Christmas?!”
Annie replied with wonderment.
Just
then Scout came to join them.
“Have
I missed anything?” asked Scout.
“Where
have you been Scout?” asked Baby.
“Sleeping.”
“SLEEPING!!”
yelled Joseph.
“Didn’t
you know that the sky could fall and Scout wouldn’t hear a thing?” TC replied.
“Now
TC, I’m not that bad, but what have I missed?”
“Just
Christmas Scout.” Annie answered.
“I
didn’t sleep that long that I missed Christmas?”
“No
Scout. Annie just had a run-in with that big shiny ornament that the owners
hang over the front door at Christmas.” Baby replied.
“Oh,
I bet it was interesting!”
“To
say the least.” TC answered Scout with a smile.
“I
don’t remember much of Christmas.” Annie replied.
“That’s
because last year was your first Christmas and you were small.” Joseph added.
“Do
you remember anything at all Annie?” Baby asked.
Before
Annie could answer TC said, “Little Ones!
Can I ask you, Annie, to wait just a minute before answering Baby. I do
have something that I think needs to be said. Annie, I am very pleased with you
for coming back in the barn when you were not sure of what was on the other
side of the doors. It was the right thing to do. I mean this for all of us. If
we find ourselves in a situation that doesn’t feel right, go and find someone
you know who can help. This time it wasn’t a stranger but could have been. It
is important to stay safe. Does everyone understand?”
“Yes
TC, we do and we will remember.” Baby answered for everyone.
Minutes
later Annie ran up to Baby and Joseph who were finishing their breakfast.
“Want
to hang out for awhile? Maybe we could
play in the snow?”
“Okay
great! I need a snow bath.” Baby replied.
“I’ll
hang out but you can forget the bath.” Joseph answered.
A
few minutes later they were off to have some snow fun.
“Look,
I am making tracks in the snow. I think I’ll put my face in the snow and see if
I can make some funny faces.”
“Mmmmm,
that tastes good.”
“What’s
that Annie?” Baby wanted to know.
“The
snow.”
“I
don’t think that is a good idea to eat the snow.”
“Why?”
“Well,
snow sometimes isn’t very clean.”
“It
looks clean to me.”
“You
haven’t seen yellow snow yet” Joseph added.
“What’s
that?”
“Joseph!!!!!
Listen Annie the best thing to do is not to eat the snow period. That way you
won’t have to worry about the yellow snow. You still can have a snow bath
though.” Baby said as he found a spot where he could roll around and refresh
his fur.
“That
looks fun Baby. I think I will do it too. Come on Joseph and join us.”
“I
am going to stay being a spectator.”
“Snow’s
not like water is for a bath Joseph.”
“That’s
okay, I am still going to sit this one out.”
The
barn was alive with a lot of activities when they arrived back from their fun
in the snow. Shiny stuff was everywhere.
“Oh,
we have been invaded with Christmas.” Joseph said.
Annie
looked around with big eyes.
“I
can’t believe that I don’t remember any of this from last year.”
Just
then, curiosity got the better of Annie as she wanted to know what was in the
box. She stuck her nose in to see what was there.
“WOW!!!!
Am I ever glad I didn’t see this box this morning. There are hundreds of me in
here.”
Joseph
also took a look at all the shiny ornaments in the box.
“I
am glad you didn’t because the way you were jumping this morning, this box
would have put you into next week.”
“How
could I get myself into next week Joseph?”
“Don’t
worry Annie, that is another one of Joseph’s sayings.” Baby added.
“Where
are all the ornaments going Scout?”
“They
will be everywhere for everyone to see when they come for a visit over the
holidays.”
“We
have company coming for real Scout? Where are they going to sleep and can we be
friends with them?”
“No,
Annie, they won’t be staying here, they will just visit for a few minutes and yes
you can be friends with them. They won’t be strangers. They are the friends of
our owners.”
“Oh,
it is going to be so much fun.” Annie answered as she left to do some more
playing when……………
“Help! Help me somebody!” could be heard throughout the barn.
Baby
and Joseph heard the call for help. When they arrived on the scene, there was
Annie on the floor with a tree on top of her.
“Can
someone please get me out of here?”
“How
did you get under the tree Annie?” Baby asked.
“I
didn’t see it when I ran around the corner.”
“Guess
it saw you.” Joseph added as he thought how funny the whole thing looked.
“Say
hello to the Christmas tree Annie.” Baby said as he and Joseph pushed the tree
off to the side so she could get up.
“Is
anyone going to be upset with me for knocking the tree down?”
“No,
I don’t think so Annie. The tree was not dressed up yet.”
“Dressed
up….oh I get it now…all those ornaments in the box.”
The
owners placed the tree back in its stand, put it in the corner out of the way
and decorated it with the ornaments.
“Wow!!
That is so pretty.” Annie said as she stared at it.
Supper
arrived but Annie thought it was rather strange as it was coming through the
front doors and not out of the feed bin.
“What
is that smell?” asked Annie.
Everyone
started making their way to their feeding bowls. As Scout made his way he
started licking his lips in anticipation.
“It’s
our supper.”
“Supper
doesn’t smell like that.”
“This
is our Christmas supper Annie.” Joseph replied.
Baby
looked up from his supper and noticed that Annie was just staring at her bowl.
“Annie,
are you going to eat your supper?”
“Nope.”
“Didn’t
you even want to try it?”
“I
don’t like the smell and I am not going to eat it.”
“Annie,
it is really good, believe me and we only get it at Christmas for a couple of
days. Try trusting me Annie, it is really good.”
“You
told me not to eat the snow. It looked clean and now you are telling to me eat
this which smells awful. I don’t understand.”
“Annie,
this is one time you are going to have to put your trust in Baby because he is
right. Our owners make this for us every Christmas and I have had it for as
long as I can remember. They put oats, apples, carrots, raisin and some other
stuff that is good for us. It is called Mash. They want us to be a part of
Christmas too.” TC told Annie.
“They
really make it for us so we can be a part of Christmas?”
“Yes
Annie, they do.” TC added as she went back to her food bowl. She was hoping
that Annie would try it.
“Annie,
did you eat your supper?” asked Joseph,
“Is
there any more?” Annie wanted to know.
“I
guess I won’t be getting any leftovers this time.”
“Joseph,
sometimes I don’t know about you, asking Annie if she is going to finish her
supper.” Baby said.
“Can’t
blame a donkey for trying now, can you?”
“Guess
not.”
“Scout,
you have to come and see this. We have another non- raisin eater.”
Scout
and TC stood looking at the raisins in Annie’s bowl. She had eaten everything
else and put the raisins aside.
“TC,
remember when Missy used to do the same thing with her raisins?”
“I
sure do Scout. I wish she was here to
see that we have another one just like her.”
“What’s
wrong with that? I don’t like those things called raisins.”
“It
is alright Annie. We were just
remembering old times. You did a good job with your supper and, yes, there is
another serving tomorrow.”
“For
supper I hope. Baby was right, it was so good and the smell wasn’t that bad
after all.”
The
clouds were gathering over the mountains, struggling with the weight they were
carrying. It was going to snow tonight.
Everyone
settled down for a good sleep. Well, all except Annie. She was still pretty
excited over the events of the day. Suddenly she gave Baby a gentle poke in his
side.
“What
was that for Annie?”
“I
just wanted to see if you were asleep yet and ask you if you think TC would
mind if I stayed up to see our owners come to see if we really talk.”
“Annie,
I thought you didn’t remember anything from last Christmas.”
“I
did remember that.”
Annie
poked Baby again.
“Did
you remember something else Annie?”
“Nope,
I just wanted to say I love everyone here in the barn.” “Hear that Joseph?”
“Yep,
it must be a girl thing.”
“Oh
Joseph!!”
TC
could hear what was being said and called them over to sleep in the big barn
with her and Scout since it was Christmas.
“Good
night Little Ones.”
“Good
night TC and Scout.”
“Everything
is good. I got my carrots and apples after all.” Joseph added with a sleepy
voice.
In
the days that followed, family and friends visited the barn with lots of treats
and, true to form, Annie was making friends with everyone outside the barn. She
knew it was alright because they were friends of the owners – not strangers.
Hi everyone! We hope you enjoyed hearing about what happened at our barn
during the holidays. We learned that things don’t always appear as they should,
especially when it comes to the Christmas ornaments. Try it sometime and see
what you look like. The most important lesson of all was learning that it is
always best to find someone when you are not sure of something or someone, like
Annie did.
Next
time our story will be Identity Crisis. See you then and remember play and stay
safe.
Baby Joseph, Scout, TC and
Little Annie