Christmas Presents
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Fluffy rabbit wanted to make Christmas special for his friends in the forest. But he couldn’t think of anything exciting to do. So he decided to go near the village to learn what people do to make Christmas special and to get some tips. He was pretty sure that he would be able to get a few good ideas that way. So he went near the road and hid among some tall bushes. Two children came walking down the road. “I can’t wait to see what Santa brings for me this time!” said one child. “It’s so nice to see gifts left by Santa near the fire-place, when you wake up in the morning!” said the other.
“That’s it!” thought Fluffy running back to the forest trampling the freshly fallen snow. “I’ll act like Santa and leave gifts at everyone’s doorstep. When they wake up on Christmas morning, they’ll all be very surprised and happy!”
Now Fluffy knew the forest like the back of his paw. He knew where everyone lived and all the short-cuts in the forest. So he knew that finding his friend’s houses at night won’t be difficult. But the problem was in selecting the gifts. So he thought and thought and finally decided what to get everyone. Because of the cold weather, finding food was difficult in the forest. “I’ll give food to everyone to make their Christmas breakfast special!” he thought. So he spent the next few days close to the village market and managed to gather enough fruits and vegetables which the vendors threw away after closing the market each evening.
It was surprising how people threw away and wasted perfectly good food. Fluffy carefully kept what he found, hidden in his burrow, feeling very excited with his little secret plan.
On Christmas Eve Fluffy sorted out the food. There were carrots for Mr. Brown Hare, some green leaves for the deer family, potatoes for the hedgehog family, some nuts for the little red squirrel and so on. Fluffy peeped out of his burrow. The snow had fallen forming a thick layer, covering all the trees and shrubs.
He knew it was going to be very cold at night, but the excitement of playing Santa made him feel all warm inside. After the sun set, Fluffy hopped out with a big sack of gifts. His plan was to start with Mr. Brown Hare’s house and finish at the tree where the little red squirrel lived.
So he hopped along searching for Mr. Brown Hare’s house in the freezing cold weather.Fluffy hopped this way and that way but he couldn’t find Mr. Hare’s house. The snow had covered all the tracks and the trees all looked the same in a thick coat of white snow. It was difficult to identify anything properly in the dark. After hopping around for a long time, Fluffy finally found a place that kind of looked like Mr. Hare’s house.
He left two big carrots at the door. Then he found a log which was similar to the hedgehog’s house. So he left their gift by that door. By now the cold snowy wind was blowing on Fluffy’s face and he could hardly see where he was going. He hopped all over the forest which felt like an unknown place covered in snow. But he left the gifts by the doors of his friends, which he found with great difficulty and managed to finish his delivery before morning. Then tired Fluffy went back home, hopped onto his bed and fell asleep in no time.
The next morning Fluffy woke up when someone knocked on his door. It was the little red squirrel and he had two big carrots with him. Fluffy was surprised to see the carrots which looked just like the ones he left at Mr. Hare’s house. “These are a Christmas gift from me to you!” said the little red squirrel. “Why, thank you,” stuttered Fluffy in surprise, “they look good. From where did you get them?” “Last night someone had left gifts at everyone’s door, but the food kept was not the type usually eaten by them.” “What do you mean?” asked Fluffy in shock.
“Well, some carrots were left by my door. Mr. Hedgehog got some seeds, Mr. Hare got some potatoes, the deer family got some nuts…” went on the little red squirrel. “Oh dear! It looks like I have got all the houses mixed-up in the dark!” sighed Fluffy. “Was it you who did such a kind deed?” asked the little squirrel
putting his arm around Fluffy. “Yes, but what is the point?” sighed Fluffy, “no one got what I wanted them to have! The wind was blowing on my face and the whole forest looked like a big field of white snow. I couldn’t find my way around like I always do. And now all my effort is in vain!” “Are you kidding?” asked the little squirrel. Then he pointed at the others and said, “Everyone is
sharing gifts because you got the houses mixed-up.
They are all gifting what they got to others who really need them. Look at how happy everyone is, Fluffy! Nothing gives more joy than giving others. Could Christmas get any better than this?” Fluffy looked around and then he smiled to himself. Everyone was gifting what they got to others who needed them. Yes, the little red squirrel was right. Everyone looked so happy and there was something very special about sharing things that way. After all, Christmas is about sharing the joy with others. “Merry Christmas Fluffy!” said the little squirrel giving him a big hug. Fluffy smiled and hugged him back “Merry Christmas to you too, my friend!”