Story: Hibernating Henry
“Oh my!” Pip, the deer mouse, shivers. “It is chilly outside this morning.”
Mia, the blue jay, hops down to Pip’s hollow in the cypress tree they call home, “Brrr! It sure is!”
“What do you think? Would you like to visit Henry? He will soon bed down and sleep for the entire winter.”
“Yes. That is a great suggestion, Pip. He will start hibernation soon, and we will not see him again until spring,” Mia ruffles her feathers in the cold autumn air.
“I will bring him some of my best acorns,” Pip digs through her stash.
“And I can grab a few delicious blackberries on the way for him,” Mia tilts her head.
“Hey, look!” Pip points to the meadow. “There’s Rosemary, the rabbit. Hello, Rosemary!”
When she discovers they are heading to Henry’s for a visit, she offers a gift, “Here. I have sprigs of various herbs he might enjoy.”
“Henry will love these,” Pip says, wrapping the gifts in a large leaf.
Walking down the trail, Pip notices, “The leaves falling from the trees are dancing in the wind.”
Mia adds, “And, the colors of the Watercolor Woods are beautiful this time of year. Autumn brings a mix of we reds, yellows, browns, and greens.”
“There’s Henry’s burrow at the bottom of the hill,” Pip points to the opening in the ground.”
Mia peeks inside, “It looks like he is home.”
“Henry,” Pip calls, “It’s us—Pip and Mia!”
Henry, the groundhog, pokes his head out of the burrow, “Well, hello, my friends. Come in. It’s getting chilly out there.”
“We brought you treats,” Mia chirps.
Henry’s eyes light up, “Why! Look at this! There are acorns, blackberries, and even a few sprigs of herbs. Yummy!”
While Henry enjoys eating the treats, Pip shares, “The Watercolor Woods are bustling with activity. The squirrels scurry around, storing food. The geese are leaving the river to fly south. Frost is settling the woods on these cold mornings now.”
Henry chuckles, “I will miss hearing all about your daily adventures. Tonight, I will go to sleep and will wake up in the spring.”
Pip’s ears droop, “We’ll miss you, Henry. As soon as the snow melts, we will come and visit again. There will be many new stories to share.”
“That’s a promise, Henry!” Mia nods.
Henry finishes the last blackberry, “You have made me a happy groundhog!”
The friends sit together, talking and laughing in the warmth of Henry’s cozy burrow. Pip sees it is getting late, “It’s time to let Henry rest.”
“I need a hug, Henry,” Pip opens her arms wide. “Goodnight. I will see you in the spring.”
“Sleep tight,” Mia adds with a big hug for Henry.
Henry smiles and settles down in his bed of leaves, “Goodnight, Pip and MIa.”
As they leave for home, Pip looks up at Mia, “I think this is going to be the best winter yet. Come spring, we’ll be ready with a big welcome back visit for Henry.”
Mia nods, “Yes, with new stories of our winter adventures in the Watercolor Woods.
