Author Information
A Christmas Story 2
“I am sad,” said Caw-Caw, a young crow. “Christmas is almost here and I have no gifts to give. Besides, who wants a noisy crow around? All I’m good for is making strange noises.”
“That’s not true,” answered Bushy-Red, his squirrel friend.
“Get away pest, is what I hear when I’m around other birds, with pretty colours,” moaned Caw-Caw. “And their voices sing like the joy of sunrise.”
Bushy-Red waggled his tail. “I understand. You’re feeling poorly,” he said.
“No you don’t!” shouted Caw-Caw. “Look at me, a feathery nothing, only able to make weird sounds. If only…” Caw-Caw whispered.
“If only, what?” Bushy-Red asked. He almost fell off the branch above a trail in the woods.
It was so peaceful with snow covering fir trees. If only Caw-Caw stopped complaining, thought the squirrel. Then his friend would notice beauty around them.
If only I wasn’t such a chubby bird dressed in black, thought the crow. How nice it would be to say something besides, Caw-Caw,” all the time.“
“But you’re such a kind bird,” said the squirrel. “And your nest is the neatest one around. You even chase away pests from the farmer’s fields.”
“That’s really nothing,” said the crow, flicking his wing.
“It means a lot to the farmers,” said Busy-Red scampering up the maple tree. “Come on up.”
‘Oh, all right” said the crow. He flapped quickly and joined his friend on the upper branch.
“Now relax,” said the squirrel to his sad friend. Then he opened his furry mouth and sang:
“Oh my friend, you’re in such misery.
And you’re just a black feathery bird
with little to say, except, CAW-CAW.”
“Christmas can be such a lonely time. It should be filled with lots of happy sounds,” said the crow. “If only I could help someone be happy, even with a terrible voice like mine.”
Busy-Red wasn’t listening, and kept on singing:
“Oh the sad crow moaned and groaned,
little else could he do. Good thing he did
not have to carry around heavy shoes, too.”
While two friends thought about Christmas to come, others far away were busy making plans.
In Belgium, little mice prepared stockings filled with treats. There was cheese and special sweet bread, called “cougnolle,” said Bushy Red.
“Maybe my voice needs practice,” said the crow. “Instead of being shooed away, someone may like me.”
But, his friend Bushy-Red, the squirrel, wasn’t listening. He was too busy singing:
“Oh the crow is a friend, indeed. Please
help him not dread the sound of his voice.
We all know, it’s the only one he has, you see.”
Then Bushy-Red looked at his friend, and said, “In Brazil, chicken with rice is the usual Christmas treat.”
“In France a Christmas tree is decorated with red ribbons and white candles,” said Bushy-Red.”
“In Germany,” the friendly squirrel added, “one little piggy is picked to ring the family bell. It’s a signal to open their gifts.”
“How can it be you are so wise?” asked the crow. He leaned from the branch trying to see if a wise owl was whispering these facts and ideas into his friend’s ear.
But, Bushy-Red wasn’t listening and began to sing once again:
“Over here, Christmas is a time for turkey treats
and trimmings. Polish sausage and Lasagna too.
So be good or else Santa will zoom on through.”
“I get it,” said the crow. “Christmas is really a happy time. And we should learn to share it too.”
“That’s the spirit,” said Bushy-Red. “ And his singing grew louder:
“Tick-Tock. Tick-Tick-Tock. I surely know
Christmas is almost here, in a few moments
we will share, and happy-happy will we be .”
Crow stretched his full feathery size. He looked left, right, lifted his chin and let out a loud cry.
Instead of “Caw-Caw,” Crow felt a beautiful sound coming from within his little chest. Words hurried through his beak and words began loudly with:
“MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
