Mitten happily rests beside his brother in the girl's pocket, but then he falls... It's cold... It's dark... Who will help Mitten get home?
Nope, not a doll. It's me, under the tree on my second Christmas.
Carry Me Home
Mitten slept beside his brother in the girl's jacket pocket. His brother was squished into a corner. Mitten pocked his thumb out of the pocket and felt the breeze as the girl ran. Mitten liked how the wind felt so he inched even farther out of the pocket and farther and... He fell. Thud! He hit the cold, hard ground. All around him was white. The sky glowed with bright sunshine.
"Help," Mitten called. "Brother, where are you? Brother! Help!"
O-o-oh, howled the win. "You are alone. All alone."
"Please, Mr. Wind, please, carry me home."
O-o-oh, howled the wind, louder. "Alone."
Mitten shivered. "I miss my bother." He thought of his brother safe and warm in the pocket. "Does he miss me? Does he even know I'm gone?" He remembered the fun games they played. He patted the snow, but one mitten can't make a snowball. "If you're happy and you know it, clap your mittens...um...er...mitten," he sang. But all he felt was sad.
Orange light filled the sky as Sun prepared for bed.
"Please don't leave me all alone in the cold, dark night," Mitten begged.
"Day is over. It's time for night," Sun said and went to bed.
Mitten rolled up into a tight ball on the cold, white snow.
"Lullaby and good night," Moon sang.
All night long Mitten shivered. All night long Mitten dreamed of the warm pocket and his dear brother.
Early the next morning, Mitten heard flap, flap, flap. He felt something land on top of him.
"You're the perfect thing to feather my nest," Bird sang.
Bird picked up Mitten and flew into the sky--higher and higher and higher.
"Please, Bird, please carry me home. I miss my brother. I miss the warm pocket."
"You'll be nice and warm in my nest," Bird sang and kept flying. So Mitten wiggled and squirmed, squirmed and wiggled, wiggled and--. He fel-l-l.Thud! He landed on top of Squirrel.
"Just think how many nuts I can hide in you," Squirrel said.
"Please, Squirrel, please carry me home. I miss my brother. I miss the warm pocket."
Squirrel held Mitten in his paws and scampered down a path into the dark forest. He jumped over a log. Mitten wrapped around a branch that stuck out of the log.
"Let go," Squirrel shouted. He pulled and pulled and pulled.
Mitten held on tight.
Woof. Woof. Woof. Dog ran through the forest.
"Dog!" Squirrel stopped pulling and ran away.
"Here, Dog. Come here," Mitten called.
Dog ran to Mitten.
"Hey, I know you," Mitten said. "You're Trixie and you belong to my little girl."
"Our little girl," Trixie said. "She has been looking all over for you."
"She has?"
"And your brother is so sad. He misses you so much," Trixie said.
"He does?"
"Of course. Where were you?"
"I fell out of the pocket and Bird picked me up and flew away. I asked Bird to take me home. When Bird didn't listen, I tried to get away and--and--I did. But I fell on Squirrel. I asked him to help me but he... but he..." Mitten took a breath. "Please, Trixie, please take me home."
And Trixie carried Mitten all the way home.
Happy Holidays!
Sunday, December 24
Christmas Collection (short stories)
A slight change of plans. I've decided to share my collection of Christmas-themed short stories--including the one I wrote this year. I hope you enjoy reading them. The best of the season to you.
Sunday, December 29
Holiday Office Party (short story)
Holiday parties can be challenging, especially for spouses. What do you say to people you barely know but who may be important to your husband's career?
And my year-end wind-up.
About Mary Poppins...
The over-60-year age difference between my paternal grandmother and me felt insurmountable until I brought one of my favourite picture books to her bedside as she was nearing the end of her life. Her eyes lit up as she revisited her beloved England through the lens of P. L. Travers' words. Mary Poppins truly creates magic. I've been a fan all my life.
HarperCollins Publishers...
This December marks 90 years since P. L. Travers introduced the world to Mary Poppins, the magical nanny who has captured the hearts and imaginations of readers worldwide. Between 1934 and 1988, Travers wrote eight books bringing to life the extraordinary adventures of Poppins and the Banks children—from circus escapades in the sky to delightful garden parties under the sea. Through beautifully illustrated and picture book formats, the timeless stories have become cherished by generations. Join us in celebrating this literary classic and beloved series that continue to inspire and delight readers of all ages.
