The Tales of Tiptoes Lightly (11 page)

“I can’t wait until it flowers,” said Pine Cone. 
“Sunflowers have such big, noddy heads.”

“And they love the Sun so much their flowers follow it
all day long,” said Pepper Pot.  “How do they do that?”

“It’s like baby ducklings,” replied Pine Cone.  “They
follow Mother Duck everywhere she goes.”

Pine Cone and Pepper Pot looked at the sunflower. 
Then they looked up at the Sun.  The Sun smiled warmly.

“The Sun is full of secrets,” said Pepper Pot.

“Yes, it is,” echoed Pine Cone, and they both stood
quietly for a while.

Jeremy Mouse finished gathering fresh dry grass for
his bed. Tiptoes had come along the day before, just as he started to make a
new bed, and they had to look for the Mother of the Half-egg. That had taken
all day. Now, at last, he was finished, and his bedroom underneath the Great
Oak Tree smelt like sweet hay.

Suddenly he heard someone knocking. Jeremy Mouse went
to his door and looked out. Nobody was there.

“That’s strange,” he thought. “I did hear someone
knocking quite loudly,” and went back inside.

No sooner was he back in his bedroom when he heard
‘knock, knock, knock’ again. Jeremy Mouse ran to the door as fast as he could,
but no matter how hard he looked there was still nobody there.

“Someone is playing tricks on me,” he thought. “I
wonder who it is?”

Suddenly a ‘knock, knock, rat-a-tat-tat,
rat-a-tat-tat’ sounded above his head. It was so loud he had to cover is ears.
He looked up and saw Chips the Woodpecker hammering on the Oak Tree. He was
called Chips because wood chips flew in all directions when he was hammering.

“What are you doing?” called Jeremy Mouse.

“I’m rat-a-tat-tating a nesting hole,” Chips replied.

“It’s very noisy,” said Jeremy Mouse. “I can hardly
hear myself think.”

“Eh? What did you say?” called Chips. “I can’t hear
very well.”

“How long will you be making a nest?” shouted Jeremy
Mouse loudly.

“Three rat-a-tat-tatting days,” replied Chips, and
went back to work.

“Three days!” said Jeremy Mouse to himself. “My ears
will fall off with all this racket.”

Just then Tiptoes landed beside him.

“Chips the Woodpecker is going to be working for three
whole days,” said Jeremy Mouse. “We’ll not get any peace.”

“I know. I heard you talking to him,” said Tiptoes.
“We’ll have to go away until he’s finished.”

Jeremy Mouse and Tiptoes sat in Farmer John’s flower
garden. Two children were playing on a swing underneath a mulberry tree close
by. One was Tom Nutcracker, Farmer John’s son,  and the other was his sister,
June Berry. They were the best of friends. Sometimes they played with Tiptoes,
but Jeremy Mouse stayed out of sight. He was shy of people, even children.

Two butterflies flitted from flower to flower. They
had creamy yellow wings and played tag with each other in the air.

“Why do butterflies and flowers look so alike?” asked
Jeremy Mouse.

“Well,” said Tiptoes, “I’ll tell you. When the earth
was  young there were no plants or butterflies, but the Earth Princess lived in
the world. In summer, when it was hot, the Earth Princess flew high into the
air and spread out wings like flower petals which covered the whole summer
world. In winter, when it was cold, she changed into a root and dug deep into
the earth to get away from the ice and snow.

“Then a long, long winter came. It lasted for many
seasons and the sun seemed far away. The Earth Princess grew old, and knew that
soon she would die. So she reached into a pocket with one hand and scattered
seeds all over the ground. Then she reached into another pocket with her other
hand and scattered tiny eggs all over the earth. The seeds and eggs rested for
long ages.

“When the sun grew strong again, the seeds sprouted
roots and grew towards the sun. They blossomed into flowers all over the summer
earth. And the tiny eggs grew into butterflies who flitted in the sunlight
above the flowers.

“That’s why butterflies and flowers are almost the
same,” said Tiptoes. “They are brothers and sisters, who once, a long time ago,
came from the same mother.”

“That’s a good story,” said Jeremy Mouse. “I’m hungry.
Can we get something to eat?”

Tiptoes laughed. A story always made Jeremy Mouse
hungry. “Let’s go to Farmer John’s kitchen and see if we can get you some
cheese.”

Jeremy Mouse thought that sounded like a good idea—but
it wasn’t.

Jeremy Mouse scurried across the lawn towards the
house while Tiptoes flew overhead. They had almost reached the door when Tiger
the Tabby Cat pounced. He had been sitting on a windowsill hidden by a bush. He
grabbed Jeremy Mouse before he could even squeak.

Tiger ran across the lawn towards the mulberry tree
with Tiptoes buzzing around his head. She could buzz like a bumble bee when she
was angry. Tiptoes was very angry.

“Let go!” she shouted. “He’s my friend!” But Tiger
kept on running.

Tom Nutcracker heard the loud buzzing and saw Tiger
with something in his mouth. He ran over and grabbed him by the neck.

“Let go, Tiger,” he shouted. “Let go NOW!”

Tiger let Jeremy Mouse drop to the ground and slunk
away.

June Berry ran over.

“A field mouse,” she exclaimed when she saw him. “Is
he okay?”

Tom Nutcracker gently picked up Jeremy Mouse. “He’s
alive,” he said. “I can see him breathing. He’s had a shock.”

“I hope he isn’t hurt,” said June Berry. “Let’s bring
him inside.”

Tom Nutcracker carried him into the house. June Berry
found a shoe box, put in some soft cloth, and lay Jeremy Mouse inside. Tiptoes
flew down and stroked his head.

“Oh, look!” said June Berry. “There’s that fairy with
the golden hair and blue wings. She must be his friend. See, she’s shooing us
away to give him some rest.”