Story: Eerie Silence

“Listen. The woods are quiet compared to the rest of the year,” Pip, the deer mouse, observes while she is busy sorting nuts and seeds.

Mia, the blue jay, hops down to Pip’s hollow in the cypress tree, “It’s strange, isn’t it?”

Pip nods, “Yes… even a little eerie.”

“The morning songs and chatter are less and less each day,” Mia realizes. “Many of our feathered friends are flying south for the winter.”

Pip nods again, “Can you imagine flying so far away every winter?”

Mia sighs, “We will see them again when they return in the spring.”

She looks around Pip’s cozy hollow filled with acorns, leaves, and moss. “I’m glad we can stay here in the Watercolor Woods for the winter.”

Pip grins, “I have an idea!” Let’s have a farewell party for our friends who have not left yet.”

Mia’s face lights up, “A farewell party? We can make a bonfire and have a feast out by the river.”

Pip asks, “Do you think Moonbeam and Rosemary will help us?”

Mia bobs her head with enthusiasm, “Absolutely! They love a good party! I think Oliver would help. He is missing the nightly frog choir. It ended when the nights turned cold.”

Pip laughs, “Can you imagine an even bigger frown on his face?”

“Let’s go ask them,” Mia calls back to Pip and takes off towards the meadow.

“There is Moonbeam,” Pip sees her white and black fur between the autumn wildflowers.

Moonbeam, the skunk, sees her friends coming down the trail to the meadow and waves, “Hello, Pip! Hello, Mia! What are you two doing today?”

Pip explains, “We are thinking about having a farewell party down by the river for our migrating friends.”

Moonbeam giggles, “What a great idea! Can I help?”

Mia suggests, “Could you gather some autumn wildflowers and moss?”

“Absolutely!” Moonbeam agrees.

“Wonderful.” Pip smiles and claps her paws. Let’s find Rosemary, the rabbit.

Mia spots her in a clover patch nearby. “Hello, Rosemary! We have an idea to share with you.”

After hearing their plans, Rosemary smiles, “Oh, what a great idea! I saw a patch of delicious blackberries. They will be perfect for the party.”

“Yummy! We will see you at the river this evening!” Mia waves and turns to Pip.

“We can stop by Oliver’s home near the creek while we gather acorns, seeds, and things for the party,” suggests Pip.

“Who’s there?” Oliver hears giggles and chatter from under a leaf where he is resting. He pokes his head out and sees his friends, “Hello, Pip. Hello, Mia.”

“Hello, Oliver,” Mia chirps. “We are planning a farewell party by the river tonight for our feathered friends migrating south for the winter. Will you help us?”

Oliver bellows, “I wouldn’t miss it!”

Pip waves goodbye, “We will meet at the river’s edge this evening before sunset.”

Mia takes off in flight, “I will fly tree to tree and invite everyone.”

“And, I will arrange the berries, sunflower seeds, and acorns on moss for the feast,” Pip calls out.

Moonbeam gets to work, “I will arrange the wildflowers around Pip’s food and drink as decoration.”

Rosemary helps Moonbeam with the arrangements, “It will be sad to see them leave for the winter.”

Pip frowns, “Yes, it will be sad, but we will be happy to see them arrive home in the spring.”

Oliver arranges sticks for the bonfire, “Telling stories around the fire will help us remember the fun adventures this past summer.”

Mia adds, “They will be back before we know it.”

“Look! Pip points to the sky. “Here they come.”

A sparrow lands beside Mia, “Hello Mia! It’s been too long. Good to see you again!”

Mia beams with joy, “I am glad you came.”

Pip stands up, “Eh-em! Thank you all for coming. We know you have a long journey ahead, and we will miss you! Enjoy a hearty meal, and let’s share stories around the fire.”

Rosemary nibbles a blackberry, “They seem to enjoy the festivities. I will miss their songs this winter.”

The sparrow nods, “We will miss you all, too. And, we will be thinking about the Watercolor Woods until we return.”

“Look. The sun is gone,” Pip sadly points to the moon rising.

The sparrow takes flight and calls back to them, “We will see you in spring. Hold onto those stories until then.”

Mia waves her wing, “Bye.”

Oliver sits back down, “Let’s enjoy the fire a little longer before returning home for the night.”

Pip snuggles close to Mia, “Imagine the new stories they will share of their journey when they return.”