The Annual Feast
In which everyone gathers for dinner in the meadow ... and then the children sleep outside, under the stars
This week’s story (in honor of Thanksgiving) is a double-feature …
Evening in the meadow, and the long tables were set with Raccoon’s fanciest place setttings, Rabbit’s handmade candles, and vases filled with stems of red and gold tree leaves.
Ancient platters and bowls and tureens, from Old Possum’s hall closet, lined the center of the table, and these were filled with everyone’s autumn-feast favorites: butternut squash soup, sourdough croutons, roasted chestnuts, and banana-walnut bread slathered with honey butter. To be honest, though, Squirrel was most excited to finally taste three of the dishes from his great-grandmother’s newly discovered cookbook — acorn soufflé, roasted walnuts, and acorn stew — which Mama Chipmunk had prepared as a special treat.
As was tradition, even the cats came out from the cottage to join in the festivities, and they were offered plates of grilled prawns on sourdough toast.
Waiting in the wings, of course, were Raccoon’s magnificent pies.
Last year was just the first time, but that was all it took. It was tradition now for the chipmunk and squirrel children to sleep outside on the night of the autumn feast.
After dinner, the leftover food (there wasn’t much), the candles, and the dishes had all been taken in, and stacks of bedding brought out. The little squirrels and chipmunks wrapped up in blankets and quilts and tumbled into a sleepy pile.
By morning, the children’s quilts and blankets glittered with frost. But as the sun rose over the treetops and shone on the meadow, the adults arrived with pumpkin pie and whipped cream, and pot after pot of hot tea.
Want more tiny bedtime stories for grown-ups? To get ten days’ worth of 1-minute tales (including some not previously published) from our first year in Tiny Garden Story-land, sign up at ReadPurrNewsletter.com.
Want a small pawful of (illustrated!) Tiny Garden Stories, in print? Check out our first of several Tiny Books at ReadPurrShop.com.
To learn more about my mission to give 10,000 books to children who need them, visit ReadPurr.com.
Such charming details! Would love to have a cozy holiday like this 🥰