Pooh and Party Look for Haycorns and Discover Christmas

Transcription

1 Pooh and Party Look for Haycorns and Discover Christmas Michael A. Dover To Reach The Author, Put Pooh in the Subject and Write: This story was published in the Michigan Daily Christmas edition long ago. It has been reissued in 2017, with the intention of publishing it open access, for non-commercial use. I m hoping this story helps us remember when days were simpler, and helps us to continue to hope for peace on earth. IT FELT LIKE SNOWING THAT DAY, and so it did, much to Pooh's surprise. About half past a little something that morning, we find Pooh sitting beneath one of his favorite haycorn trees in the Hundred Acre Woods. Just sitting there in a pleasant daze, dreaming of pleasant days and a ho ho hazy world where it rained honey. All of a sudden, who came along but a snowflake. It didn't announce itself, or say Hello, and how are you today? (Say fine, thank you.) It just fluffed down and landed on the tippy-tip-tip of Pooh s cold little nose. Now Winnie-the-Pooh was not used to snow. In fact, he didn t even remember what it was! Last winter, we can remember, he buried himself in a brown fur knicker and a big fur cap and furry down mittens in a big fur bed and slept the whole winter away dreaming of big fur bears and jars full of honey. Having gone to bed about the time the leaves turn from honey to molasses, he hadn t seen the snow until the next spring, when it was water. (And believe it or not, few of the other animals knew what snow was either. Maybe, just maybe, they hadn t been looking in the right direction in past winters.) So then, we can understand that Pooh could be very disturbed at this floating intruder into his land of dreams. But what was even more disturbing to Pooh was that, his eyeballs being where they were used to being, and not feeling too much like moving, it was impossible for him to see this white fleck of fluff that had balanced on his nose. And of course, said Pooh, If I can t see it, it isn t there! Pretty soon he was right! Because, while Pooh Bear does have a cold nose, he doesn t have that cold a nose, and after a while all that was left was a trickle of water. Although Pooh never really figured out what it was that had landed on his nose, he did notice that this strange fluff was falling all over the place. He stuck out his paw to catch some, but no sooner had it landed on his warm paw than it wasn t there anymore! Pooh just didn t know what to think. And when Winnie-the-Pooh doesn t know quite what to think, he knows someone who does! So off he went towards Christopher Robin s house.

2 On the way, he stumbled into Rabbit and Owl, who had noticed that the ground seemed to be changing color. Owl had been flying around surveying his territory, indeed all his land from the Floody Place to the Big Stones and Rox, when first he observed this phenomenon. As Pooh approached, Owl was conferring with his colleague Rabbit as to the probable nature of this variance in the environment. Undoubtedly, Rabbit was saying, I agree with your theory that this is a perfectly natural and cyclical result of a change in the seasons. However, I can not help but wonder what type of seasoning has brought about this change in the color of the ground. That is a good question, Professor Rabbit, which requires Earnest Thought, Owl replied. Meanwhile, if Owl and Rabbit would only look up, they would see the Bear standing there, face uplifted, paws outstretched, taking it all in. Ah yes, Owl said inspirationally, I have it. Let us assume leaves. Then we add that leaves change color over time. If we take into account the seasonings you were so smart to mention, we are likely to find that ground (earthus dirtius) as well as leaves changes color over time. The snow was beginning to fall fairly rapidly by this time. Rabbit and Owl, however, were so busy studying the composition of the ground beneath their studious eyes, that they hadn t bothered to notice that by this time the sun was taking a nap behind the clouds. The snow had by now completely covered the ground and was almost as high as Rabbit s toenail. No longer could they help but see that Pooh was upon them. Rabbit and Owl responded to Pooh s greetings by raising their eyes from the ground long enough to give Pooh the courtesy and privilege of a Look (although, believe it or not, the small bear was their friend.) Strange, said Pooh, This fluff is falling all over the place, but none of it seems to land on me. I m almost blind there s so much of it, but whenever I see some land on me, it disappears in no time at all! Owl was shocked. Falling??? Falling... This is a strange disorder, exclaimed Owl, Unique in the history of our forest. We had just been pondering the same thing, hadn t we Rabbit? Why, why yes we had Pooh and... Rabbit started to say. Why, yes we had Pooh, Owl panicked, having begun to look up uneasily at the sky. And the

3 conclusion we had come to was that, HELP, HELP! Rabbit, the sky is falling! The origin of all this fluff had finally impressed itself upon Owl. He thought about flying away, but was scared he too would fall. Rabbit, of course, was somewhat shaken himself. But seeing as Owl panicked first, he could see no point in it. Besides, the more that the stuff fell, the taller the Rabbit seemed to get, which made him feel more Important. Rabbit tried to calm Owl down, with some success. All I can say, said Owl, is that those things look an awful lot like feathers. Now be still, Owl, Rabbit pacified. It is not feathers that are falling, what it is is: the-cloudsbreaking-up-into-small-pieces-and-falling-back-to-earth! I think we should tell Robin immediately. Yes, let s ask Robin, said Pooh, anxious (as you know, small bears will be) to be on his way. So all three trundled off to Christopher Robin s. On the way, they stopped by to pick up Piglet, who rode on Pooh s back, since the snow was getting very deep for small pigs. Piglet, too, was scared: How am I going to find my haycorns with all those snew on the ground, Piglet worried. Well, it s too late now, said the Rabbit. You should have saved for the winter. But before Pooh could intervene with a Helpful Comment it occurred to Owl: WHAT DID YOU CALL THIS STUFF? he asked, looking up at the sky and then back at the ground again and again as if he wondered whether to believe his own eyes. Snew, Piglet answered. Oh Oh???? What were your sources? Sources? asked the wonderful pig. What we mean, said Rabbit, is how do know it s called snew? How did you know, what ever made you think it s called snew? How would you ever find out anything like that? Oh, that s easy, Piglet replied. Christopher Robin told me. He told me about snewing and Christmasing and everything. (Now Owl and Rabbit knew exactly was Christmasing was, just like they claimed they knew what snowing was. Only they weren t quite sure where to find it. But they knew Robin would

4 know.) While they were still busy analyzing what Piglet had said, who came along but Tigger. Slowly and very definitely, he said, Tiggers don t like fluff. Well then, come with us to Christopher Robin s house, Piglet said, I don t like it either. Yes, come with us, said Rabbit and Owl, None of us likes it, whatever it is. Oh, I don t know. I think it is sort of nice. It s not hurting me at all, said Pooh, very quietly. That s right, you don t know, Rabbit quickly admonished. So on they walked toward Robin s. This time the usually bouncy Tigger was the last one in line. Piglet, who was noticing Tigger s unbouncyness said, All I can say is I sure hope snew doesn t make Tiggers sneezy! (As you will remember and if you don t, as you will see Tigger sneezes are very upsetting to Piglets.) The animals were walking single file, so as to have someone s footsteps to walk in. Walking, that is except for Owl, who was flying very cautiously and slowly around in circles, making sure his feathers weren t falling out. Rabbit was blazing the trail, in hope he could be the first one to tell Robin it was snewing and Christmasing. Rabbit was also doing the tracking, always on the lookout for Strange New Animals. Our winged friend Owl was the first to notice Eeyore s footprints heading towards the House at Pooh Corner. Oh yes, he said, hoping the others wouldn t see the holes in the snow that looked like Eeyore s feet. I have come up with an idea none of you not even Rabbit has thought of. Why doesn t one of you go get Eeyore? We wouldn t want him to feel left out. Since no one exactly leaped with joy at the suggestion of blazing out into the snow alone, it fell upon Owl himself to go. After informing the rest of the animals that even though he had more important things to think about, he would go get Eeyore, he flew off on a tangent toward Eeyore s previous pile of sticks, the abode now known as the House at Pooh Corner, ever since Pooh and party s forest renewal project (but that is another story.) The remaining animals reached Christopher Robin s house, only to find him asleep, it being Saturday and C. R., who was an early riser in the days before school came all day long, being tired nowadays from 11 times 18 (well almost), washing the blackboard, and hopscotch during recess (not to mention all the Robin pay attentions ), was dreaming of the old days, and Pooh.

5 But today was the day for C. R.. He woke up quickly at the sound of Rabbit s urgent knocking. Robin sensed today meant something special for him and his friends. There was something in the air which made him want to put on his winter coat, and when he opened the door to let in the regular Saturday morning entourage, he found out what it was. For before Rabbit could even open his mouth, a loud ACHOO! showered everyone with a fluffy blanket of snow. In just a moment the snow settled down and everyone had a good laugh. Everyone, that is, except Piglet and Rabbit. Now we both know why Rabbit didn t laugh (he s a grump-a-lot), but as for Piglet, well, why not the good-natured pig? Piglet dragged himself slowly out of the snow bank, shook his pointed little ears free of the fluff, and said, Maybe snew doesn t make Tiggers bouncy, but it sure makes them sneezy! I ll say, said Pooh, who himself had been shaken by the blast and had dropped Piglet from his shoulders. But at least we re here. Yes, you are, Robin said, come in Piglet. Hi Pooh, hi Tigger. Hi Rabbit, how are you this fine morning? Poor Piglet, Pooh said, while everyone got settled down; down, that is, with the exception of Pooh, who was talking to Robin from up in the honey cupboard, First the haycorns and now the sneezes. This snewing and Christmasing sure is hard on little pigs. Really, what happened to your haycorns, Piglet? asked Robin, daubing him with a towel. Well, you see, it s like this, Rabbit butted in. Piglet thinks he knows all about snewing and Christmasing, but if he did, why didn t he store up acorns for the cold season? Now they re all covered up, like everything else. That s easy, said Pooh, Anyone knows that the only storage place small pigs (and especially small bears) have is their own tummy-tum-tum. Still, said Rabbit, I think Piglet is big enough to take care of himself. Shush! said Robin, So are you Rabbit. But you are still our friend. Now, Piglet, tell me what s wrong, small friend. Maybe I can help you, for now I am seven. And with the help of the brains of Pooh, I am sure I can help you. Piglet sniffled, Oh, oh here I am a very small pig weighing as I do almost nothing at all and now no food for the winter. I am afraid I will just disappear away to nothing. Oh no, of course you won t, Piglet, said Pooh. Of course you won t, Rabbit insisted, you will only be a trifle hungry, nothing really at least for the time being. Tell me, Robin, about this snewing and all.

6 Well, I would Rabbit, said Robin, but I think we should take care of the small things first, you know, little things like anxious bears and hungry pigs. After all, what is all the snowing and Christmasing in the world if Piglet doesn t have any acorns to eat. Tell you what, how would you like to help us find a way to get acorns? Owl, still slowly dragging Eeyore into the house, said, Well, by now, I assume you have discovered that it is snewing and Christmasing, Actually we hadn t discussed that point yet, replied Rabbit. However, I was just about to bring it up with Robin here. After all, there are more important things to do than look for haycorns for one small pig. So Robin, now that we are all here, I gather that all this stuff on the ground has something to do with snowing, but Piglet here seems to be a little mixed up about Christmasing. We, meaning Owl and I, were going to tell him earlier all about it, but we knew you could tell him so much better. I d rather have haycorns really, said Piglet, but yes, tell us Robin, what is Christmasing anyhow? I think you told me before all about it but it didn t all make it in, he continued, pointing at his little noggin. Well, don t worry, said Robin, it ll happen in good time, Piglet. You ll see. But as for now... Eggzactly, said Owl, who suddenly realized Robin was more interested in haycorns, We ll see. Now as for haycorns Eggzactly, said Eeyore, remember me? You re still pulling on my ear, but as you can very well see, I am already well inside the door on my own somewhat free four hooves. And may I now ask, what, eggzactly, is the reason I ve been abducted from my comfortable hut, so graciously rebuilt by you fellows, and dragged on a forced march to this dwelling? May I ask, humbly, before you interrupt me, what I have done to deserve this deed which you have perpetrated upon me? Why have you done this thing to me? Eeyore, we ve really done it for ourselves, not for you, Robin said, because we need your help. We have a problem of great magnitude to solve. And we need your help in thinking how to solve it. My, my touching, Eeyore said, Your graciousness overwhelms me. I am at your service, of course. Would you like me to be your doorstop? Or perhaps a doormat, to keep the fluff (Piglet, etcetera, Pooh, oddments) out of your honorable abode? Or, if you wish, I can merely keep from being underfoot. Just ask, and it s as good as done. As far as my thinking goes, well, never mind, you wouldn t understand. Why not, Eeyore? everyone said at once. You wouldn t understand. What I think is really of no concern to you in any case. So if you would mind your own mind, we would get along a lot better, I assure you. Now if you don t

7 mind, I ll just sit over in the corner and enjoy myself. All of this time, Owl had been paying very little attention to Eeyore. Owl had quietly let go of Eeyore s ear and paused in Quiet Ponderance. Now the solution to all Piglets problems suddenly seemed very clear to him. For, Owl had an idea. Piglet, Owl crowed. Your problems are over. I have the answer. Everyone suddenly crowded around, surprised at wise Owl s sudden solution. You say you can t find haycorns because it is snowing. And that is because where there is snow they are covered up. So where there is no snow we can find haycorns. And where there is no snow is beneath pine trees! Piglet hesitated and timidly said, well, I don t know Rabbit. (Piglet had happened to think that there were no haycorns under pine trees, only under haycorn trees, which you could tell because there were haycorns under them.) Rabbit said, Not really? Did I hear you say something to the effect of not really? How dare you criticize our plans? We know what you need, and how to get it to. We are the ones with the brains around here. If you don t want our help, don t ask for it. Follow us! On to the Six Pine Trees to save Piglet! So off went the expotitionary force. Owl and Rabbit, off they went. Pooh and Piglet and Tigger (not to mention Eeyore) weren t sure whether or not to go, but Robin motioned for them to stay. With their noses pressed to the windows, Pooh and his friends watched as Owl and Rabbit, and then Rabbit and Owl, and finally with Owl in the lead, the two eager animals marched off on their journey. Suddenly, Rabbit stopped and looked back and realize that they were a party of two. He threw up his paws in disgust, and began to head back. Owl however stood his ground, waving a wing adamantly as if to say, forward! But as Rabbit continued to put one paw in front of another back to C.R.s, Owl finally relented and, head down, slowly winged his way back. The two might have felt better if they had only looked up to see the little circles of breath on the windows where their friends had dejectedly watch them walk off, and where they were now apprehensively watching them return, worried of course about the blowup they feared would soon come! No sooner were Owl and Rabbit at the door than Christopher Robin opened it and said, You re welcome to come back my friends. We were waiting for you. Welcome, sure, said Owl. that s why you never listen to us. I know you meant well, Owl, said Robin, And it s really not true that we don t listen to you.

8 We listen, but you see it s just that we don t always agree with you. It s okay, isn t it Owl, said Rabbit. But I still say it makes perfect sense to look for haycorns where there is no snow. I still say we could have found some haycorns under those pine trees! Well, one way or another, I m sure everything will turn out all right, Christopher Robin reassured. Now why don t we all sit in a circle and shut our eyes real tight and put our hands on our chins and think, real hard about what we can do. One by one the animals sat down around Christopher Robin s big round cozy rug. No one opened their eyes even a crack, except Eeyore, who waited until everyone was settled before he peeked and slowly advanced on the circle. Pooh s forehead was all wrinkled. Piglet looked like he was dreaming of acorns. Owl was doing his best to look wise. Rabbit kept nodding his head affirmatively, as if on the verge of a great discovery. Tigger curled his whiskers. Christopher Robin, for his part, just remembered he forgot his morning prayers, and this seemed as good as time as any! After a few moments of silence, Tigger suddenly said, We ve just got to find Piglet something to eat! Shush, I m thinking, said Rabbit. And, said Winnie the Pooh, I know how to do it. He paused. I think. For Pooh had an idea. And although he wasn t quite sure it was the very best thing to do, because he was, after all, a bear very little brain, he thought it might just work. Tigger, Pooh whispered, do small pigs like honey? I think so, whispered Tigger. Why are you whispering? Well, replied Pooh, carefully prodding his stomach with his right paw, I just want to make sure I don t do anything I might regret. Finally Pooh stood himself up at his highest, cleared his throat and in that peculiar way that all the residents of the forest were aware came especially from a small bear ready to say something, and said, Piglet, well, here goes, Piglet who needs acorns? Why don t you share my honey with me this winter? That should last us. Piglet jumped up and down, squealed, ran in one big circle, hugged Pooh s fur and sighed, Oh, Pooh, thank you. Thank you ever so much. And oh, and next Spring you can have so my haycorns, okay? Well I don t know, Piglet, because if next spring turns out the way I hope it does, I won t have

9 room for anything but honey, Pooh said, still feeling his stomach with his paw. Oh, that reminds me Robin, I have a problem too. Robin, what do bees do in the winter? After all if you want to have honey you have to have bees, even if they do bite, and I do so hope that this snewing won t hurt them. Robin smiled. What do you think bees do in the winter, Pooh? Well, I was thinking but I wasn t quite too sure that maybe if bears hibernate, well then, do bees hivernate? Piglet giggled. Tigger suppressed a sneeze. We don t really know what Eeyore did, and as for Christopher Robin, he just smiled to Pooh and himself and said, Oh Pooh, I love you. No matter what, thanks to the heart of Pooh, you re the one who is always right. I love you too, Pooh bear, said Piglet. Me too! said Tigger. We all do, said Alexander Beetle, who had been hiding in Robin s coat pocket. Rabbit swayed back and forth, as if to say, Ah shucks. Owl tried hard to look like he didn t approve of all this mush, but you could tell if you look real close that he loved Pooh too! As for Pooh, he looked contented, not the least bit an anxious bear. Still, he looked for the nearest corner and just as Pooh did so Robin said, don t worry Pooh, Eeyore loves you too. (And he did! In fact, we even think we saw him turn and look this way!) Then, without a word and with a smile on his face which said Pooh loves you, off went Pooh and party to a Christmas honey eating party in the house at Pooh corner. (The End) p.s. Eeyore went to. After all, it was his house!