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Fireflies To The Rescue by Coralyn Wall Want to use your Kindle 2? Shop by title or by author in Kindle format. Project BookRead and Father Robert Aloysius Peter Darin have been given authorization to distribute and/or publish this by the author as listed in the first two lines of this text. This work may *NOT* be used for sale and/or redistrubition in any form/nature known or unknown at this time or in the future without consent of the author (Coralyn Wall). Project BookRead's authorization for this text does *NOT* extend to anyone person and/or company outside its bounds. This text may be shared as long as it is in its original unaltered form as listed in Project BookRead's stack. This text is solely copywritten to the original author as listed above. "Oh, what a glorious spring day this is. I'm so happy, Miss Willow", said Squeaky, leaping from branch to branch while she bent and swayed to make his game more interesting. My cousin, Peter Possum, is coming here to live. At last I will have some of my family here in Woodland." "That will be lovely for you Squeaky, how did you find out?" asked Miss Willow. "Well you see, Sam Sparrow called past here on the way to visit his city friends and he gave me the message. Sam lives in the `other place' and because he knows Peter so well he offered to bring me the news. Then continue on to visit his friends in the city because it has been such a long time since his last visit." The `other place' is what most of Woodland called the rest of the forest, where the creatures lived who were not interested in the `Great One'. So, the fact that Peter Possum wanted to come and live in Woodland, excited Squeaky all the more. Peter had been in touch from time to time /so he had heard all the exciting things that had been happening to his cousin and the others, and he had shown an interest in maybe getting to know this one Squeaky kept calling Father. "Sam also said that Peter has a lady friend named Patricia and they are planning to become partners at Christmas time, that's why Peter wants to come here and live now. He is going to get a home established for his lady and she will come and join him here when everything is ready. They want to have a big celebration with a party afterwards. All my friends are invited to help them share their special day for the formal start of their life together. Oh, it will be so wonderful, maybe we can start a new tradition and have joining ceremonies like the humans do. Maybe Ripley could even ask Father for a few special words that he could speak over them like he did when the fox had his name changed It would sort of make it more official somehow, don't you think so ? Oh, Miss Willow, wouldn't it be lovely if they chose to do that here under your branches, you are quite the most beautiful tree in the whole of Woodland" enthused Squeaky. Miss Willow blushed and giggled, "Thank you Squeaky, how kind you are, you always say such nice things to me. If your cousin and his friend, Patricia, would like to have their ceremony here under my branches I would be most honoured. Just make sure you let me know ahead of time so I can be looking my absolute best for the occasion and I'm sure my neighbouring trees will all do their best to look lovely once I spread the word, so do try to find out as soon as you can". Squeaky was so excited he could not keep still a moment longer, he called out "O.K." and off he went to share his good news with anyone he could find. Squeaky scampered along humming a little tune, "I am so happy, happy, happy." he sang to himself as he skipped up tree trunks and back down again, just enjoying the sun and loving everyone. He was so overjoyed at the thought of sharing all this with Peter, and then with Peter's friend when she arrived, he really was not paying much attention to his surroundings at all. He was so busy daydreaming he did not realize he had gone beyond the safe area at the edge of woodland and was lost deep in the forest. The shadows had started to close in and Squeaky was realizing he was quite hungry. He had no idea where he was, or just how he had managed to get himself into such a situation. Oh dear, oh dear, whatever shall I do now, it will be very dark soon. If I try to find my way out of here I shall probably end up even more lost than I am now. Whatever should I do, it will be so scary all by myself all night, lost in the forest, I will have to find a comfortable branch in a tree and just sit quiet and still all night. Maybe no one will notice I'm here and I will be safe until daybreak, then when its light I'll retrace the way I came in here, if I can figure out which way that was." Squeaky turned this way and that, searching through the trees with the little bit of daylight there was left hoping to find something to eat, but there seemed to be nothing in this area and he was getting so nervous. As it got darker he started imagining all kinds of things in the darkness, menacing, scary things that would creep up on him if he took his eyes off them for even a moment. Poor Squeaky was in such a state he almost fell as he was climbing up to the branch he had selected to be his refuge for the night. It was a cosy little fork in a large, strong-looking tree that seemed just a little friendlier than most of the other trees. He settled himself down into it and decided he must keep awake all night to be sure that nothing could take him by surprise. Hours ticked by and poor Squeaky could hear all the forest noises. Some strange animal was roaming around beneath his tree and not knowing if it could climb up and get him, he hardly dared to breathe in case he was discovered, he would have cried but fear kept him quiet. Oh, how he longed for the safety of woodlands and all his trusted friends. "Oh Father, I'm so scared, here alone in the dark, I wish I had not been so careless. I wish I had not left Woodland where you are, I wish you were here with me, but what good is wishing. Grandmother always said `If wishes were horses beggars would ride.' Although, I am not completely sure what she meant by that, but I do know I really would feel a lot better about my situation with you here". As Squeaky was saying these things in his heart, he began to hear the strangest little tinkling bell noise. It seemed to be speaking to him, "Look up", the little bell voice was saying, "above you, in the thick patch of leaves." Squeaky listened hard, there it was again. It was a voice, but not like any he had ever heard before. As he obeyed the voice and looked up he could see a lot of little lights flickering.......fireflies.......dancing round a beautiful ripe apple, too surprised to wonder why he had not seen it before and too hungry to worry about it, he reached up high, picked the apple and ate it. Oh it was so good, he really had been very hungry. The tiny fireflies settled beside Squeaky on his branch and somehow it wasn't quite so lonely or scary anymore, "I wonder where the little bell voice went" thought Squeaky, "I'm right here beside you", tinkled the bell voice again. "How do you know what I am thinking?" asked Squeaky. The bells spoke again, "I will explain. I am an angel sent by the Father to assist you. I can see your thoughts, but so I would not make you more frightened, I used the fireflies to help you see the food and feel less alone. The Father was with you all the time, but because of your fear you could not feel his presence, however, as soon as you asked for His help He instructed me to come to you. I will stay with you and guide you out of the forest, with the help of our friends the fireflies." "Oh crumbs," said Squeaky. "Couldn't we wait till morning." The angel spoke again, "Have no fear, nothing will harm you. It would be much more difficult for you to see the fireflies in the sunlight. Look down now, little Squeaky, to your left." Squeaky was amazed, he saw a perfect arrow of lights pointing out a direction through the trees, and just up ahead of it another one. "Is this the way home to Woodland?" he asked. The angel's little bell voice spoke again, "Yes, Squeaky, they will guide you all the way home and, though you can't see me, I will be with you all the time. I will allow you to hear me singing the music of my homeland, so you will know I am right beside you". With that promise firmly fixed in his mind, Squeaky carefully climbed down into the dark forest and headed for the arrows of lights. He giggled at the way the fireflies seemed to be playing leapfrog as they moved from tree to tree pointing out the path home. He was so overwhelmed by the beauty of the music that he did not have one spare thought to give to fear. It seemed no time at all before they were out of the forest and Squeaky, forgetting that the angel could see his thoughts, was wishing that this night could go on and on It was such a short distance to his home now he felt certain it would all disappear any minute. "Squeaky", the bells tinkled again, "would you like us to stay with you until you are asleep in your own bed." "Oh, would you please, that would be wonderful," said Squeaky, amazed at how well this adventure had all turned out. What could have been a disaster for him, lost, alone and afraid in the dark forest, had all changed into such a special experience after he had asked the great one for His help. Squeaky curled up on his bed and smiled to himself at the game the fireflies were playing, making shapes and patterns on his ceiling. He was trying very hard to stay awake to listen to his angel's music, but he was so weary. Before he knew it the sun was shining on his face and Woodland was awake to another new day. "Knock knock, are you in there Squeaky?" a voice calling from outside his door woke Squeaky completely. He yawned and stretched and wished whoever it was would just go away. "Squeaky, are you there?" the voice called again. "Just give me a minute," said Squeaky. He had to wash his face and comb his whiskers, as he looked rather scruffy to be opening his door to anyone. He would much rather have stayed in bed thinking over everything that had happened to him yesterday but their was no chance of that now. Squeaky's home was in `Casper', a large ghost gum tree, just near Oliver Oak. No one knew this tree's real name, but he had been called Casper for such a long time that no one ever thought of him having any other name. There was a hollow in Casper's trunk which was very secure and comfortable and large enough for a small creature like Squeaky. Casper had invited him to live there quite some time ago. Squeaky opened his little door to find Ripley and a lady rabbit he had not met before standing there. Ripley spoke first, "I just had to stop by to make sure you were O.K. Squeaky, no one saw you yesterday afternoon and we couldn't find you last night, and I have to go away for the day so I wanted to be sure you were all right before I left." "Oh Ripley, such a wonderful thing happened to me," but Ripley said "Excuse me little friend, can you tell me later. We really don't have time right now. We have a very long way to go and now that I see you are safe we must hurry. This is my very good friend Rita, we are going to see her parents. I intend to ask their permission for Rita to be my honey bunny, so you can see this is an important day for us and we must get started. I will be back tomorrow and I will visit with you then." With that they were gone. Squeaky had wanted to tell Ripley first but he just couldn't wait all that time without sharing something so wonderful. So off he went to see his dear friend, Miss Willow. He knew she would be almost as thrilled as he was about his experience with the Angel. Ripley and Rita got back the following afternoon. They had not been home more than a few minutes when they heard the story. Which by now had been told and retold so many times, it had been misquoted, added to, and generally sounded highly unlikely. So, in his usual no-nonsense way, Ripley determined that they should all gather together that evening, at the clearing, for a meeting. He would ask Squeaky to tell everyone the real story from start to finish just as it had happened. Then, when they all knew the real truth of the matter, they could spend some time giving thanks to Father for His mercy in sending the fireflies and the Angel to rescue Squeaky, whom they all loved, from what might have been a very dangerous situation indeed. Having made his decision Ripley set off to let everybody know about the meeting. The koala twins, Kitty and Kenny, were the first to be told and they thought it would be a splendid opportunity for a social evening as well. They suggested they all bring their dinner with them and meet at 6pm so they could eat together before the meeting began. Ripley agreed this was a great idea and asked them to help him spread the word as there was not much time, since it was already mid afternoon. Off they went in different directions and before long most of the creatures in woodland were busy preparing a picnic tea to take with them to the clearing for what looked like being an exciting evening. It was around 4.30pm and Gregory Groundhog was out having his afternoon walk. "Er, excuse me, could you please tell me where I might find Squeaky Squirrel?" Said a little voice behind him, "Well, hello there, are you the cousin Peter we've all been hearing so much about?" Said Gregory "Yes, I've just arrived from the other side of the forest and I'm anxious to find my cousin. I am rather tired and I would like to rest but first I have to see Squeaky as he has made all the arrangements for my stay here in Woodland." "Well," said Gregory, scratching a sudden itch behind his ear, "you will most likely find him at the clearing. We are having a special meeting tonight so he can share with us about an exciting time he has just had, and we are all having tea together. So, I would say, your best plan would be to go straight down there now, they are sure to be getting things organized." Gregory told him the directions to get to the clearing and said, "We will meet again later, but goodbye for now," and he continued with his walk. Since he had been doing exercises, and losing some of his tummy, he had been walking much further and liking it. Peter easily found the clearing and was amazed at the hustle and bustle of activity going on there. He was just about to ask a small group working near him if they knew his cousin, when Squeaky himself came scurrying over. "Hello, welcome. Hey its so good to see you Come and meet all my friends, tell me about your journey. Oh, we will have so much fun now that you're here." "Er well," said Peter, trying to get a word in, but Squeaky was just so excited, he went on and on and Peter had no chance. Poor Peter, all he really wanted to do was rest after his long and tiresome journey, but there didn't seem to be much chance of that happening for awhile. So he very graciously let Squeaky drag him around from one friend to another, making sure everyone got to meet his cousin from the `other place'. After dinner Ripley stood up on a chair in front of them ,so he could be seen, and spoke to his friends. He said, "We have called this meeting tonight to hear the true account of how our Father rescued and looked after one of our own precious friends. Then we will spend some time in singing His praises and thanking Him, but before we do that, I would like you to officially recognize and welcome Peter Possum. Who is going to live in Woodland and be a part of our community and, incidentally, it was through his excitement over this that Squeaky now has a story to tell. One more news item before we hear from our friend and that is, my trip to see Rita's parents was a total success. They have given their blessing for Rita to become my honey bunny and, it seems, that our new resident, Peter, and his friend Patricia are making similar plans. So we could be getting together for a very special celebration and party sometime in the near future. Now let us listen to this amazing story Squeaky would like to share with us." THE END. 
Top tags: squeaky, peter, ripley, woodland, fireflies, forest, friend, voice, father, friends
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