Midwinter Magic

For several days Breathless and Quickly had sensed excitement rising
in the house above them. It was buzzing with hustle and bustle all day
long. Rich, spicy, fruity smells drifted down from the kitchen and
under the bay window the mice caught the scent of a pine forest. The
air was filled with joyful, jingly music unlike any they heard during
the rest of the year.
"It will soon be the Big Day," said Quickly.
"Really?" said Breathless, so excited he could hardly speak.
"It always comes around at this time of year," said Quickly.
Like so many things that happened upstairs in the world of the Big Ones
the reason for all this commotion was a complete mystery to the mice.
But they didn't let this worry them.
"If it's celebration time for the Big Ones then it should be for us,"
said Quickly.
"I quite agree," said Breathless. "We don't want to spoil the party,
after all."
It was a good time for the mice to celebrate. Outside the ground had
been iron hard for weeks and they had hardly ventured beyond their
front door. Their stores were filled with plenty of food and they had
lined the walls with extra layers of straw, feathers, dry moss, scraps
of paper - anything to keep them snug and warm.
"We need a plan," said Quickly. "If we're going to have a party we'll
have to get organised."
"I'll do the decorations," said Breathless.
"Who is the artistic mouse in this household?" asked Quickly in a stern
voice..
"Well, you are," agreed Breathless reluctantly. "In that case I'll do
the food."
Quickly thought about this for a moment. Which was worse - Breathless
putting up his harmless attempts at decorations or the risk of being
poisoned by his cooking?
"You do the decorations," she said. "It'll give you a chance to develop
your artistic talents."
"Oh, thank you, Quickly. I'll do a good job, don't you worry." he said
and scampered off to look for useful bits and pieces.
By the end of the day he'd amassed a fine collection and started to
decorate.. A trip into the garden had produced a harvest of holly
sprigs with shiny red berries just like the ones he'd seen hanging on
the Big Ones' front door. From odds and ends of glittery paper and
tinfoil he cut out star shapes and stuck them all around the room. His
finest effort (his piece de resistance as Quickly called it) was his
snowscape. He stuck tiny scraps of foil for stars and cotton wool for
snowflakes onto a sheet of black plastic and then fixed it to the
ceiling.
"The stars look like they're really twinkling and you can almost feel
the snowflakes gently falling," said Quickly appreciatively. Breathless
had never felt so proud in his whole life..
Meanwhile, Quickly had made plans for their Big Day meal. She picked
out the finest acorns she could find from their store and pricked them
with cloves (which she had stolen in a daring raid on the Big Ones'
larder) to make them spicy and special. She planned to serve some dried
mushrooms and pieces of carrot as well. Everything was to be crowned by
a sauce made from mashed cranberries. To drink they would have
elderberry cordial that she had made a few months ago - a real winter's
drink it was - rich, dark and fruity.
&;#353;

Without a calendar the mice couldn't know exactly when the Big Day was
but one afternoon they realised that the sounds from upstairs had
changed. They heard furniture being moved, scuttling footsteps up and
down stairs, the doorbell ringing followed by welcoming cries, echoing
laughter and the friendly aroma of baking mince pies.
"It's tomorrow," declared Quickly.
"Are you sure?" said breathless.
"Certain as certain can be," said Quickly. "It's like this every year.
More and more noise, people arriving, the smell of pastry and spices
and the music. There's no doubt that it's tomorrow."
Breathless was envious of his friend. "How can you remember all that? I
can hardly remember what I was doing yesterday," he said.
"It's just a gift I have," said Quickly modestly.
"What was I doing yesterday?" asked Breathless.
"Putting up the decorations for tomorrow," said Quickly.
"Of course. I can't wait!" squealed Breathless. "I wish it was tomorrow
right now."
"What you need is an early night," Quickly suggested. "All the better
to enjoy tomorrow's celebration."
"I'll never get to sleep. I'm too excited!" said Breathless.

Late that night they heard a different music coming from above. Lots of
voices sang sweet and gently swooping melodies together. It somehow
sounded extremely solemn and tremendously joyful all at the same time.
Breathless drifted away into soothing sleep full of dreams in which he
was surrounded by all the good things he was looking forward to: fine
food, delightful surprises and the warmth of friendship.
&;#353;
Breathless was the first to wake in the morning. Up above he heard
small feet scampering, paper tearing and screams of delight. He rushed
to where Quickly was still sleeping soundly.
"Wake up! Wake up! It's the day, the Big Day! It's finally arrived!" He
hopped from foot to foot in excitement as if keeping still might make
the day disappear.
"The day will last as long as any other day," said Quickly. "Why do we
have to start it so early?"
"So that we don't miss any of it," replied Breathless. "Not a second!
Get up now, please Quickly!""
"Very well," said Quickly, reluctantly getting out of bed.
"Let's open our presents first," said Breathless getting more and more
excited by the minute.
"A little grooming would not go amiss," Quickly reminded him.
"Oh yes, sorry," said Breathless. He speedily set about his whiskers
and coat with quick-moving paws.
"Even on a special day we should not forget the important things of
life," said Quickly.
"I'm ready!" cried Breathless. Quickly looked him over and decided that
he was as neat as he'd ever be on this particular day.
"Very well," she said. "Present time."
Breathless rushed out of the room and returned a few minutes later
carrying a long, thin object wrapped up in bright red maple
leaves.
"What a beautiful parcel," said Quickly. "That wrapping itself is a
marvellous gift; such a beautiful colour."
"Open it! Open it!" urged Breathless. "I know you're going to like
it."
"I'm sure I shall," said Quickly as she carefully peeled the leaf away
to reveal a beautiful flute made from hollow stem.
"Well?" said Breathless anxiously.
"It's exactly what I wanted," said Quickly and she placed it carefully
to her lips to blow across the mouthpiece. The sound she produced
filled the room and seemed to transport them to places where the summer
sun glistened on the surface of a running stream and kingfishers darted
from perch to nest.
"This is the best present I have ever had," said Quickly so sincerely
that she made Breathless turn his head away in embarrassment.
"It was quite a job to make," he said trying to cover up his
embarrassment. "All those little holes to nibble - and as for tuning it
. . ."
"I only wish I had got you something half as good," said Quickly.
"It doesn't matter what you've got me. I remember what you once said
'It is better to give than to receive'. Besides, once you've learned to
play it you'll be giving me music for ever and ever."
Quickly realised that Breathless wouldn't stop talking until he'd been
given his present and so she reached beneath her bed, pulled out a
parcel and handed it to him.
"What is it?" Breathless asked.
"Open it and see," advised Quickly.
Unlike his friend, Breathless tore at the wrapping in frenzy. He was
overwhelmed by what he found. There was not one present but three.
There was a little rucksack of plaited straw - ideal for his foraging
and scavenging expeditions - a piece of silvered glass - so that he
could carry his reflection with him wherever he went - and a little
brush made from the a teasel - to groom himself with.
"Oh, Quickly! You shouldn't have!" he said, almost unable to
speak.
"Don't be silly. That's what the Big Day is for. Now it's time for
breakfast, I think. I've got a special treat for you."
Breathless slung his rucksack on his back proudly, took a quick look at
his reflection in the glass and followed her into the other room.
Quickly went into the foodstore and staggered out a few moments later,
weighed down by a huge piece of pork-pie.
"What's that?" gasped Breathless.
"I think it's some sort of special treat the Big Ones have," said
Quickly. "I found it upstairs last week and saved it for today. I think
we should make it our tradition to eat it for Big Day breakfast every
year."
Breathless nibbled on the piecrust and agreed whole-heartedly.
&;#353;
The morning sped by. Quickly was busy with preparing the Big Day dinner
but still found time to start learning to play her flute. By the time
they were ready to eat she could already play a simple tune they both
knew called Three Blind Cats.
Breathless kept putting on his haversack and strolling around as if he
was on an adventure. Every so often he pulled out the glass to admire
his reflection. Perhaps he'd use the brush later, he thought. Just
before the meal was ready Quickly called him into the kitchen.
"I think we could do with some ice," she announced.
"Ice?" said Breathless. "What on earth for?"
"I heard somewhere that the Big Ones often put it in their drinks. It
makes them jingle and sparkle. It's a special day we should do things
in a special way."
"But where are we going to get ice from?" asked Breathless.
"You are going to get it outside. Find a puddle, break the ice and
collect it up in this." explained Quickly, handing him a battered
thimble she had found on one of her trips upstairs.
"But it's so cold out there."
"Then there'll be plenty of ice for you to collect," said Quickly in a
tone that made Breathless think there was little point in
arguing.
&;#353;
Outside the ground was lightly covered by snow that had fallen in the
night. Breathless dived in and tunnelled beneath the surface looking
for ice. Although he had been reluctant to leave the snug warmth of the
house, he actually found himself enjoying the adventure. It was
exciting to be hidden by the layer of snow. He had gone a little way
when he found his way blocked by a fallen apple. Rather than make a
detour around it, he stopped to have a little snack.
All of a sudden Breathless felt the earth begin to tremble. Thump after
thump shook the ground. All around him the snow seemed to shudder and
shake. He could hear shrieks of laughter and bellows of complaint.
Bravely he poked his head through the snow until it reached the
surface. The garden was full of Big Ones running about, throwing snow
at each other, shouting and screaming. How very strange these Big Ones
are, thought Breathless.
He watched them for a few moments and then wriggled back down through
the snow to resume his search for ice. But in all the excitement he had
lost his sense of direction. After a few steps he felt the ground
beneath his feet disappear. His feet no longer gripped. He was sliding
and rolling out of control. The more he tried to stop, the faster he
slid until he hit something very hard and sharp which knocked his
breath away.
When he came to he was leaning against a large rock. He thought he'd
seen it before; but then it had been in the middle of the pond.
Somebody must have taken it out of the pond and put it onto all this
slippery stuff. He summoned up all his strength and made another dash
for it but only ended upside down with his legs in the air. What could
he do now? He was well and truly stranded.
Just as Breathless had decided that this was going to be his Final
Adventure the shadows of two Big Ones blocked out the light. He looked
up and saw them peering down at him. They were making the strange Big
One sounds that Quickly said was their language. He wondered if they
were discussing what a delicious Big Day snack he would make when one
of them reached down with a huge paw and picked him up by the tail.
Quickly had told him what to do if this ever happened but he couldn't
remember whether he should wriggle or pretend to be dead. As it was he
couldn't help but wriggle because his tail was so terribly
ticklish.
The Big One swung him high into the air and then down again until he
thumped back onto the grass and was released. Not stopping to thank the
Big One Breathless scuttled straight back under the snow where he
immediately bumped his nose on the thimble and he remembered why he'd
come out in the first place. He dashed about collecting ice until his
thimble was full and then headed back home. The danger seemed to have
given him a new sense of direction and he was soon squeezing into the
house through the broken air-brick.
"You're just in time," said Quickly who was about to serve dinner.
"Give me the ice," she said and tipped the chunks into two acorn cups
and followed them by a generous measure of elderberry cordial. She
lifted her cup.
"A toast!" she proposed. "To the Big Day!"
"The Big Day," repeated Breathless and then added in a heartfelt voice.
"And the Big Ones."
"What took so long with the ice, by the way," asked Quickly.
"It's a long story," said Breathless.
"Then it'll entertain us over dinner," said Quickly. "A good dinner
deserves a good story."
&;#353;
When their stomachs were full and heavy the mice sat back with
satisfied smiles on their faces.
"That was the best dinner I've ever had," declared Breathless. "My
compliments to the chef."
"Compliments accepted," said Quickly. "Although I say so myself and
shouldn't - it was magnificent." She reached for her flute and began to
practise a scale or two. Breathless gazed up at his snowscape ceiling
and imagined that the paper stars really were twinkling and the
snowflakes fluttering closer and closer. They really were getting
closer! There was a enormous bulge in the snowscape just above where
Quickly was sitting.
"Quickly," he said hesitantly, knowing how his friend was annoyed by
interruptions. "I think there's something wrong with the ceiling. It
definitely wasn't like that yesterday. Look how it's bulging - just
above your head."
Quickly put down her flute reluctantly and glanced up at the ceiling
half-expecting to see nothing at all.
"You're right," she agreed. "It wasn't like that yesterday."
"What do you think it is?" asked Breathless.
Quickly prodded it with the end of her flute and the plastic wobbled
alarmingly. "My guess would be that water has leaked from upstairs and
has been caught by your snowscape. It's probably a dripping tap or a
leaking pipe. You know how careless these Big Ones are."
"What shall we do?" asked Breathless. "We can't stop the leak."
"That's true," agreed Quickly. "And we can't let the water carry on
leaking into the ceiling like that. Water is very heavy. Sooner or
later it will bring the whole lot down and we'll be flooded out."
"What shall we do?" repeated Breathless a little more anxiously.
"We need to relieve the pressure," said Quickly with great authority.
"If we make a small hole in the ceiling the water will drip through and
we can collect it in a couple of acorn cups. Then it will be much less
likely to bring the whole lot down."
"You are clever Quickly," said Breathless with genuine
admiration.
Quickly modestly ignored this. She picked up a sharp pine needle that
she had been using for sketching and turned the thimble upside
down.
"Stand on that," she commanded, pointing to the thimble and handing
Breathless the pine needle. "You should be able to reach it. I'll get
ready with the acorn cups."
"Me? You want me to do it?" said Breathless.
"Of course. You're the one with the strength and accuracy for a job
like this."
This did not convince Breathless. It sounded like flattery and he
always mistrusted Quickly's flattery but, as he couldn't think of any
good reason why he should refuse, he stood on the thimble and began to
prod at the ceiling with the pine needle. Soon a little hole was made
and tiny drops of water dripped through the plastic.
"You'll have to make it a bit bigger than that or we'll be here all day
waiting for the water to come through," said Quickly.
Breathless prodded again and the hole got bigger. Just as he was about
to stop and get out of the way the hole turned into a gash and the all
the water cascaded down on top of him.
Breathless was completely drenched. He blinked and shook his whiskers
vigorously. He looked around for Quickly who seemed to have stepped
aside at exactly the right moment to avoid the deluge. She was leaning
against the wall, her whole body shaking as she tried very hard not to
laugh.
"I'm sorry," she said. "But that really was very, very funny."
"I'm glad to have entertained you," said Breathless crossly.
&;#353;
Breathless did not stay angry with his friend for long. It was the Big
Day and he wasn't going to let anything spoil it - even an unwanted
shower! Once he was dry he sat down to listen to Quickly playing her
flute and to bask in the smells and sounds that drifted down from
upstairs.
&;#353;
"Let's go for a little walk," said Quickly as the day came near to an
end. "A breath of fresh air will do us good."
Outside the snow had developed a hard crust that sparkled in the
moonlight. It was a perfectly magical scene.
"It's been a wonderful day," said Breathless.
"Indeed it has. A very special day, said Quickly.
"And just think," said Breathless. "It all happens again next year. And
the next! And the next!"
"I feel a poem coming on," said Quickly, stopping his friend in his
tracks. "Would you like to hear it?"
"Of course," said Breathless.
Quickly gazed up at the moon and then began to speak softly.
"Who will hear,
Oh, who will hear,
The Moon's sad song,
At the turning of the year?

Who will sing,
Oh, who will sing,
A joyful hymn,
To the coming of the Spring?"

Neither of them said anything at all, they simply looked at each,
smiled affectionately and headed for their warm, cosy beds.