Gnomes

Once upon a time, in a land found only in one's imagination, there
lived seven gnomes in a small cottage deep within the forest. This
quaint housing, though plain, simple, and made of straw on the outside,
had quite an extraordinary interior. Within its colorful walls were
seven homey rooms. Each of the seven little rooms contained one of
seven little wood framed beds, and by each of the seven little beds was
a baseball, bat, or specially fitted glove. Out of all the gnomes, not
one didn't love to play the game of baseball. Together, they would
spend their afternoons running through the evergreen forest thickets,
warmed by the brilliant sunlight, and laugh at what amusement they
received. But every once in a while, the gnomes would have to cease
their festivities due to the arrival of the bears that greedily
inhabited the local forests. Each bear was six feet tall, and equal to
weight of fifty gnomes! Every last one was either brown, gray, black,
white, even spotted. The bears, thinking of course, that they're
superior to the poor defenseless gnomes, forced their inferiors to
scurry back to the safety of their cottage.

Finally fed up with the fear and hostility, the gnomes decided to
rebel! Though they were not the types to start a battle, that was the
last resort. However, instead of going to war, the crafty gnomes came
up with a better solution. One with which they were sure to
prevail.

The following dawn came, and at once the undersized populace sent
their leader, a truly manly gnome named Missy, to speak to the bears'
chief. On approaching the bears' gloomy cave, Missy had a sense of
dread, but he knew this was the only way to go about finding peace for
his people. With clammy hands and a cold sweat about to break out,
Missy knocked on the pile of old pine logs, which barricaded the
entrance.

Without warning, the wooden pile toppled over to reveal a large
seven-foot, brown bear, whose eyes were a rather unpleasant shade of
crimson. At first he scratched the musty brown pelt, but then saw in
amazement, who dared to interrupt his doze. Annoyed with having been
disturbed from his pleasant slumber, Jon growled, "What do you want?"
quite irritably.

"This huge fellow must be their leader," Missy thought to himself.
Nervousness always gave Missy a confidence boost so she continued
despite her cowers.

"Excuse me," said Missy. "But I do believe that your rather assertive
attitude is absolutely vulgar!" "I suppose it's time to stop this
nonsense and go along doing whatever it is you bears do."

"Ahh! Ha ha ha ha!" exclaimed Jon. "And I believe that you gnomes had
better remember your status in this forest." And with that, Jon
abruptly growled and stomped off.

"Wait one minute!" cried Missy. After getting Jon's attention for the
last time, he told him of her proposition. "If we win the game, you
leave my comrades and I at peace, but if by chance we lose, us gnomes
will gladly let you go about your original ways."

Thinking that the gnomes were no match to the fierceness of his bear
clan, Jon agreed to all the terms.

In the week to follow, both bears and gnomes trained vigorously. Each
side was perfecting their individual techniques. But all too soon, the
big day arrived. Both parties met in the meadow at dusk, when the sun
would be low in the sky, the temperature would be mild, and the breeze
light but cool.

After hours of exhausting pitches, swings, foul balls, strikes, and a
homerun or two, the score was even. It was the bottom of the ninth and
the bases were loaded. Jon was at the pitcher's mound and Missy was at
bat. Every gnome and bear were together in closely watching for the
final results. Jon nodded to an accomplice nearby, while Missy
concentrated on the ball in Jon's fingertips with his beady green eyes.
The bat then became loose in his grasp as a result from nervous
shaking, but he quickly regained his composure and watched ever more
intently. Finally the cracking of the ball against the wood of the bat
was heard. A hush came over the crowd, when the hit was announced a
foul. Missy became more and more nervous, but Jon's confidence got the
better of him. In the seconds to follow pitch number two; a huge gasp
from both teams took over the meadow. In the silence, not even the low
music of a cricket could be heard. Suddenly a large cry of joy swept
over the gnomes as they watched the ball fly into the air, and past the
hillsides. It was a homerun! The gnomes had won the game, and their
rights to the forest! The bears however, were a little disappointed but
learned a valuable lesson. Don't underestimate you opponent.

And though the bears and gnomes never did quite get along, each lived
happily ever after.

The End