Now what do you think that Chippy should do?
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Chapter Eight - The Midnight Rescue
"How are we going to rescue Chimmy?" wondered Chippy. "We cannot just leave him in the box on the back of the truck. Christmas is almost here. We have to do something and do it fast!"
It was as if Rudy must have heard his thoughts as he suddenly appeared out of nowhere and said, "We will have to make a great big ruckus. Then that man will unlock the lock on the truck door."
"That might be a good idea," said Webb, who had been very deep in thought. "But what do we do about that dog?" he asked fearfully.
Suddenly, he had an idea. "You know," he said, "Maybe I could hop away. The dog will chase me. He cannot get under the fence and Chippy can help Chimmy to escape."
"Yes, I can get up into the box and help Chimmy!" said Chippy excitedly.
"Let's do it!" Rudy said. "But you will both have to help me."
Chippy could see a glow around Rudy and a twinkle in his eye that he had never noticed before. He saw that Rudy was carrying something on his back. He was not quite sure what it was.
As quickly and as quietly as they could, the three of them headed back to the big yard and the truck.
"Sh," said Rudy. "Be really careful."
"I have a plan," he whispered, as they came closer. "We have to be really quiet. Chip, climb up over my antlers and get that candy cane. Then get up on my antlers and help me hang it on the lock on the door of the truck. Webb, you watch for that dog. We don't want him barking yet!"
Rudy lowered his head, so that Chippy could scramble up over his antlers onto his back. He was totally amazed at what he found and he did exactly what Rudy told him to do.
"Perfect," said Rudy, as they gazed at the big red and white candy cane that Chippy and Rudy had hung on the lock. "Now Chippy, get up on top of the box and stay there."
"But....but....." Chippy said, hesitating for a moment. "I am going to do it," he decided bravely. "I think Rudy knows what he is doing."
Chippy climbed up to the top of the box on the back of the truck, just as quick as a wink, forgetting all about being afraid of heights.
"Now just watch and be ready," Rudy ordered, as he bounded away towards the fence. Webb looked up at Chippy and Chippy looked down at Webb, and then both of them looked at the candy cane.
"Now what?" they both wondered, but neither of them spoke.
Suddenly, they heard a voice.
"Chippy?" said a sleepy voice that was coming from inside the truck. "Is that you?"
"Chimmy!" whispered Chippy excitedly, "Sh......we are going to get you out of there!" Rudy was right after all. Chimmy was trapped inside the big box on the back of the truck.
Suddenly, there was a huge gust of wind and the candy cane hammered against the side of the truck several times, with a loud clanging. Then there was another gust of wind and a tremendous ruckus on the top of the box, as there appeared not only Rudy, but a whole collection of other reindeer in front of a sleigh carrying Santa Claus and a huge bag of toys.
"Run for it," Rudy ordered Webb, as the dog that had spotted them earlier came running towards them. "Go Webb! Run as fast as you can!"
Webb did not waste even one second. He hopped away towards the fence, with the dog right behind him.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! Now it is up to you," Santa hollered to Chippy, as he, Rudy and the other reindeer pulling the sleigh, flew away into the night. Rudy was the reindeer leading the way!"
"Grandma! Grandpa!" hollered the little girl that they had seen earlier in the forest. "Santa Claus was here. I heard him."
A few seconds later, the door of the house opened and the elderly man, his wife and the little girl, all in their pyjamas, came outside and gazed up into the sky.
"Look Grandpa! He left you a present!" the little girl said excitedly as she spotted the candy cane on the back door of the truck. "Wow! I have never seen a candy cane that big before!"
The elderly man went over to the truck and gazed at the huge candy cane. "Oh my goodness! It is really huge!" he said, as he tried to pull it off the lock. "It is stuck. What is my combination? I think that I will have to take the lock off," he said finally.
"33-14-25," he said, as he struggled with the combination lock in the moonlight. "Or was it 25-14-33?"
"33-14-25, I think," said his wife. "That is some candy cane!" She could not believe what she saw.
"Hurry!" thought Chippy. He could hear the dog still barking at Webb in the distance. "Hurry before that dog comes back!"Suddenly, the lock popped open and the candy cane fell to the ground. The elderly man left it there for a moment, as he opened the door of the truck.
"Wonder what all that ruckus was about!" he said. "I'd better check inside!" He gazed at the candy cane lying on the ground, as he lifted the door.
Chimmy did not waste even one moment. He scurried out and climbed up to the top of the truck where Chippy was waiting for him.
"Grandpa!" the little girl hollered, at the very same moment. She had spotted the dog coming towards her. "I think that Santa brought me a puppy! What does this say?" she asked excitedly, handing him a note that was tied around the dog's neck.
"Hmmmm...." said Grandpa, holding the note up to the moonlight. He did not see the two chipmunks on the top of the truck. "It says, 'I need a good home'. Looks like you have a puppy, girl."
"You mean that I can really keep him?" asked the little girl with amazement. "I am going to call him 'Boots'?" she decided.
"I will make you a deal," said her grandfather. "If you take really good care of him and if I get to keep the candy cane, you get to keep the dog. Fair?" He picked up the huge candy cane. "I really like candy canes," he said.
"I love you!" said the little girl as she picked up the puppy and held him close. He licked her cheek as if he understood what she had said.
"I get the Christmas wreath!" said the little girl's grandmother. "And now I think it is time for hot chocolate!"
With that, they all disappeared into the house. Chippy and Chimmy scurried down from the top of the box on the truck and stood there looking at each other in amazement. Webb hopped back across the yard towards them.
"Merry Christmas!" he said happily.
"Merry Christmas!" Chippy and Chimmy said at the same time.
"You said it right!" said Chippy with amazement.
"I did?" said Webb. "Merry Christmas! I really did!"
"How are we going to rescue Chimmy?" wondered Chippy. "We cannot just leave him in the box on the back of the truck. Christmas is almost here. We have to do something and do it fast!"
It was as if Rudy must have heard his thoughts as he suddenly appeared out of nowhere and said, "We will have to make a great big ruckus. Then that man will unlock the lock on the truck door."
"That might be a good idea," said Webb, who had been very deep in thought. "But what do we do about that dog?" he asked fearfully.
Suddenly, he had an idea. "You know," he said, "Maybe I could hop away. The dog will chase me. He cannot get under the fence and Chippy can help Chimmy to escape."
"Yes, I can get up into the box and help Chimmy!" said Chippy excitedly.
"Let's do it!" Rudy said. "But you will both have to help me."
Chippy could see a glow around Rudy and a twinkle in his eye that he had never noticed before. He saw that Rudy was carrying something on his back. He was not quite sure what it was.
As quickly and as quietly as they could, the three of them headed back to the big yard and the truck.
"Sh," said Rudy. "Be really careful."
"I have a plan," he whispered, as they came closer. "We have to be really quiet. Chip, climb up over my antlers and get that candy cane. Then get up on my antlers and help me hang it on the lock on the door of the truck. Webb, you watch for that dog. We don't want him barking yet!"
Rudy lowered his head, so that Chippy could scramble up over his antlers onto his back. He was totally amazed at what he found and he did exactly what Rudy told him to do.
"Perfect," said Rudy, as they gazed at the big red and white candy cane that Chippy and Rudy had hung on the lock. "Now Chippy, get up on top of the box and stay there."
"But....but....." Chippy said, hesitating for a moment. "I am going to do it," he decided bravely. "I think Rudy knows what he is doing."
Chippy climbed up to the top of the box on the back of the truck, just as quick as a wink, forgetting all about being afraid of heights.
"Now just watch and be ready," Rudy ordered, as he bounded away towards the fence. Webb looked up at Chippy and Chippy looked down at Webb, and then both of them looked at the candy cane.
"Now what?" they both wondered, but neither of them spoke.
Suddenly, they heard a voice.
"Chippy?" said a sleepy voice that was coming from inside the truck. "Is that you?"
"Chimmy!" whispered Chippy excitedly, "Sh......we are going to get you out of there!" Rudy was right after all. Chimmy was trapped inside the big box on the back of the truck.
Suddenly, there was a huge gust of wind and the candy cane hammered against the side of the truck several times, with a loud clanging. Then there was another gust of wind and a tremendous ruckus on the top of the box, as there appeared not only Rudy, but a whole collection of other reindeer in front of a sleigh carrying Santa Claus and a huge bag of toys.
"Run for it," Rudy ordered Webb, as the dog that had spotted them earlier came running towards them. "Go Webb! Run as fast as you can!"
Webb did not waste even one second. He hopped away towards the fence, with the dog right behind him.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! Now it is up to you," Santa hollered to Chippy, as he, Rudy and the other reindeer pulling the sleigh, flew away into the night. Rudy was the reindeer leading the way!"
"Grandma! Grandpa!" hollered the little girl that they had seen earlier in the forest. "Santa Claus was here. I heard him."
A few seconds later, the door of the house opened and the elderly man, his wife and the little girl, all in their pyjamas, came outside and gazed up into the sky.
"Look Grandpa! He left you a present!" the little girl said excitedly as she spotted the candy cane on the back door of the truck. "Wow! I have never seen a candy cane that big before!"
The elderly man went over to the truck and gazed at the huge candy cane. "Oh my goodness! It is really huge!" he said, as he tried to pull it off the lock. "It is stuck. What is my combination? I think that I will have to take the lock off," he said finally.
"33-14-25," he said, as he struggled with the combination lock in the moonlight. "Or was it 25-14-33?"
"33-14-25, I think," said his wife. "That is some candy cane!" She could not believe what she saw.
"Hurry!" thought Chippy. He could hear the dog still barking at Webb in the distance. "Hurry before that dog comes back!"Suddenly, the lock popped open and the candy cane fell to the ground. The elderly man left it there for a moment, as he opened the door of the truck.
"Wonder what all that ruckus was about!" he said. "I'd better check inside!" He gazed at the candy cane lying on the ground, as he lifted the door.
Chimmy did not waste even one moment. He scurried out and climbed up to the top of the truck where Chippy was waiting for him.
"Grandpa!" the little girl hollered, at the very same moment. She had spotted the dog coming towards her. "I think that Santa brought me a puppy! What does this say?" she asked excitedly, handing him a note that was tied around the dog's neck.
"Hmmmm...." said Grandpa, holding the note up to the moonlight. He did not see the two chipmunks on the top of the truck. "It says, 'I need a good home'. Looks like you have a puppy, girl."
"You mean that I can really keep him?" asked the little girl with amazement. "I am going to call him 'Boots'?" she decided.
"I will make you a deal," said her grandfather. "If you take really good care of him and if I get to keep the candy cane, you get to keep the dog. Fair?" He picked up the huge candy cane. "I really like candy canes," he said.
"I love you!" said the little girl as she picked up the puppy and held him close. He licked her cheek as if he understood what she had said.
"I get the Christmas wreath!" said the little girl's grandmother. "And now I think it is time for hot chocolate!"
With that, they all disappeared into the house. Chippy and Chimmy scurried down from the top of the box on the truck and stood there looking at each other in amazement. Webb hopped back across the yard towards them.
"Merry Christmas!" he said happily.
"Merry Christmas!" Chippy and Chimmy said at the same time.
"You said it right!" said Chippy with amazement.
"I did?" said Webb. "Merry Christmas! I really did!"
Chapter Seven - The Best News Yet
"My goodness!" said Chippy, a little while later when he saw Webb hopping toward him as quickly as he could. Webb had gone to see if there was any more news about Chimmy. Chippy decided to remain there in case Chimmy returned and to start building a new winter storage area for all of the peanuts that he found. "I wonder what is happening?"
Webb needed a moment to catch his breath. Chippy waited patiently for him to tell him what was going on. "I guess even rabbits can get out of breath sometimes," he decided.
"You have to come immediately!" said Webb excitedly, as soon as he was able to speak. "Come on! Let's go!" he insisted.
"But what if Chimmy comes back and I am not here?" thought Chippy. He decided to trust Webb and to go with him. "After all," he reasoned, "My rabbit friend has not let me down so far."
Webb did not say even one word. He just hopped away very quickly with Chippy scurrying to keep up with him. Obviously, Webb was not going to take the time to tell him where they were going in such a hurry.
When they came to the fence, Chippy realized that they were back at the same yard where he had met the elderly man, the first time. Webb located a large hole under the fence. Both of them dived into it, went under the fence and raced through the big yard towards a truck that was standing in the driveway.
Webb stopped abruptly beside the truck but he was much too short of breath to speak at first. Chippy, also gasping for breath, waited, wondering what was going on as he gazed up at the big truck.
There was a huge white box on the back of the truck. The sign on its side, painted over a picture of some fruit and vegetables, read, "Herb's Garden! Fresh produce...we aim to please!"
Chippy did not quite understand why Webb had brought him here. "Is this the truck?" he wondered. "I hope, I hope!"
Rudy appeared suddenly, as if out of nowhere. "This is it! This is the truck!" he explained to Chippy before Chippy even had a chance to ask any questions. "Yes, we found Chimmy. He is inside the box on the back of the truck. He must have gotten in there before the truck left to go to the market."
Chippy was overjoyed but only for a moment as he saw the big padlock on the back of the truck.
"I think he is probably asleep," said Rudy. "But he is in there. I know........." He was just about to tell Chippy that he had used his reindeer radar to find him, when suddenly a dog barked. "I have to go!" he said and raced across the yard toward the fence. He jumped over the fence and disappeared into the forest.
Webb made a dash for the hole under the fence while Chippy climbed over the top of it. He had forgotten that he was afraid of heights.
It was not a moment too soon either as the dog was right behind them. Fortunately, he was too large to get through the hole in the fence. But he had spotted them and now they could hear him just on the other side of the fence.
"What are we going to do?" asked Chippy, as he scurried behind Webb back into the forest."
"I don't know," replied Webb. "For now, Chimmy is safe."
"So are we," thought Chippy, as he breathed a sigh of relief. "At least for now."
"My goodness!" said Chippy, a little while later when he saw Webb hopping toward him as quickly as he could. Webb had gone to see if there was any more news about Chimmy. Chippy decided to remain there in case Chimmy returned and to start building a new winter storage area for all of the peanuts that he found. "I wonder what is happening?"
Webb needed a moment to catch his breath. Chippy waited patiently for him to tell him what was going on. "I guess even rabbits can get out of breath sometimes," he decided.
"You have to come immediately!" said Webb excitedly, as soon as he was able to speak. "Come on! Let's go!" he insisted.
"But what if Chimmy comes back and I am not here?" thought Chippy. He decided to trust Webb and to go with him. "After all," he reasoned, "My rabbit friend has not let me down so far."
Webb did not say even one word. He just hopped away very quickly with Chippy scurrying to keep up with him. Obviously, Webb was not going to take the time to tell him where they were going in such a hurry.
When they came to the fence, Chippy realized that they were back at the same yard where he had met the elderly man, the first time. Webb located a large hole under the fence. Both of them dived into it, went under the fence and raced through the big yard towards a truck that was standing in the driveway.
Webb stopped abruptly beside the truck but he was much too short of breath to speak at first. Chippy, also gasping for breath, waited, wondering what was going on as he gazed up at the big truck.
There was a huge white box on the back of the truck. The sign on its side, painted over a picture of some fruit and vegetables, read, "Herb's Garden! Fresh produce...we aim to please!"
Chippy did not quite understand why Webb had brought him here. "Is this the truck?" he wondered. "I hope, I hope!"
Rudy appeared suddenly, as if out of nowhere. "This is it! This is the truck!" he explained to Chippy before Chippy even had a chance to ask any questions. "Yes, we found Chimmy. He is inside the box on the back of the truck. He must have gotten in there before the truck left to go to the market."
Chippy was overjoyed but only for a moment as he saw the big padlock on the back of the truck.
"I think he is probably asleep," said Rudy. "But he is in there. I know........." He was just about to tell Chippy that he had used his reindeer radar to find him, when suddenly a dog barked. "I have to go!" he said and raced across the yard toward the fence. He jumped over the fence and disappeared into the forest.
Webb made a dash for the hole under the fence while Chippy climbed over the top of it. He had forgotten that he was afraid of heights.
It was not a moment too soon either as the dog was right behind them. Fortunately, he was too large to get through the hole in the fence. But he had spotted them and now they could hear him just on the other side of the fence.
"What are we going to do?" asked Chippy, as he scurried behind Webb back into the forest."
"I don't know," replied Webb. "For now, Chimmy is safe."
"So are we," thought Chippy, as he breathed a sigh of relief. "At least for now."
Chapter Six - A Gift
"Grandpa! Look!" a little girl's voice echoed through the forest. "Rabbit tracks!"
"Oh no!" said Rudy. "I have to get out of here immediately... before she spots my glowing red nose! I know how to find your brother, Chip!" he whispered before he disappeared into the forest as quick as a wink.
"There are some reindeer tracks and some chipmunk tracks here too, Grandpa!" the little girl said excitedly.
"Chip!" whispered Webb. "Come on! We have to hide! Now!"
Both of them headed straight for a hollow log just in front of Chippy's home, as quickly as they could. There was just enough snow on the ground to show their tracks, but Chippy was hoping that the leaves would hide their whereabouts.
"Look Grandpa! See what I found!"
The little girl had spotted Rudy's mask, as she bent over to pick some dried flowers. It looked like a brown furry bag with two long ties on it. "May I keep this?" she asked, as her grandfather came closer. "I know just what I am going to do with it. I will fill it with flowers, nuts and cones to give to Grandma," she said aloud, not waiting for him to answer.
Chippy was startled. This was the same man that he had met earlier beside the fence. He could see that the man was carrying something in a big bag.
"Those are rabbit tracks all right," the elderly man said. "Oh, here ..." he continued, looking more closely at the ground. "Yes, these are chipmunk tracks." He was quite pleased at how well his grand daughter had learned to track wild animals.
"See Grandpa!" The little girl pointed to the reindeer tracks. "Reindeer!"
"You are right," the elderly man said, kneeling down to look at the deep prints that Rudy had left in the partly frozen ground. "These are fresh too. They have not had time to freeze yet."
"Let's put the food for the animals out here," the little girl said, as she reached up for the bag that her grandfather was carrying. He nodded and handed it to her. "Peanuts for the chipmunk! Lettuce for the rabbit and salt for the deer."
"Good. I wish I had a present for Grandma though," her grandfather said sadly. "We can feed the animals, but I couldn't buy her a present today. I didn't get enough money for the produce that I took to market on the truck today."
"Maybe that is the truck that Chimmy was on?" whispered Chippy to Webb, suddenly experiencing a glimmer of hope once again.
"Sh!" whispered Webb. "They might find us!"
It was very dark in the hollow log, but somehow it seemed to be nice and warm too, as Webb's furry coat was protecting both him and Chippy from the cold wind. Somehow the darkness seemed to surround them like a blanket. Chippy suddenly realized that he was no longer afraid of the dark.
"Grandpa!" said the little girl excitedly. "Do you think that we could give this to Grandma for Christmas too? Do you think that she would like it? It is really pretty. It even has a red bow on it!"
Webb and Chippy peered out of the end of the hollow log to see what she was holding. It was the wreath that Rudy had brought for Chippy.
"Where did you find that?" the elderly man asked in amazement. "Maybe someone lost it?"
"I don't think so," said the little girl joyfully. "I think Santa must have been here already. It was over there hanging on that tree. He must have left it for us."
"Too early..." replied her grandfather. "Well.....maybe.....I don't know. But I do know one thing. Grandma will love it. It is going to be the best Christmas that she has ever had."
The little girl handed it to her grandfather. Happily, the two of them walked back through the forest toward the fence. Every once in a while she stopped to pick up a flower, a nut or a cone to add to her treasures.
"Grandpa," the little girl asked, as they walked along. "Do you think that you could tell me the Christmas story?"
"A long time ago, shepherds in a field saw a star....." the grandfather replied as they disappeared from sight.
Chippy and Webb were both totally amazed at what they found when they left their hiding place.
"That was a really good trade!" said Webb.
"Look at all of the food!" Chippy said. There were peanuts everywhere.
"There is just one more thing that we need to have happen in order for us to have a perfect Christmas," he thought sadly.
"If only we could bring Chimmy home for Christmas," he said aloud.
"Let's make that happen!" said Webb.
"I think Rudy might just be able to do that," he thought to himself. He knew that Rudy had reindeer radar, but he was not about to give away Rudy's secret.
"Yes," agreed Chippy, as he started to gather all of the peanuts that had been left on top of the hollow log. He was determined to have the best Christmas ever too and not even one of those peanuts was going to be wasted.
"If Chimmy comes home, we are going to be ready", he decided, as he picked up one of the flowers that the little girl must have dropped. It seemed to blink at him when he held it up to the moonlight, as if to tell him that Chimmy was really coming home.
"Grandpa! Look!" a little girl's voice echoed through the forest. "Rabbit tracks!"
"Oh no!" said Rudy. "I have to get out of here immediately... before she spots my glowing red nose! I know how to find your brother, Chip!" he whispered before he disappeared into the forest as quick as a wink.
"There are some reindeer tracks and some chipmunk tracks here too, Grandpa!" the little girl said excitedly.
"Chip!" whispered Webb. "Come on! We have to hide! Now!"
Both of them headed straight for a hollow log just in front of Chippy's home, as quickly as they could. There was just enough snow on the ground to show their tracks, but Chippy was hoping that the leaves would hide their whereabouts.
"Look Grandpa! See what I found!"
The little girl had spotted Rudy's mask, as she bent over to pick some dried flowers. It looked like a brown furry bag with two long ties on it. "May I keep this?" she asked, as her grandfather came closer. "I know just what I am going to do with it. I will fill it with flowers, nuts and cones to give to Grandma," she said aloud, not waiting for him to answer.
Chippy was startled. This was the same man that he had met earlier beside the fence. He could see that the man was carrying something in a big bag.
"Those are rabbit tracks all right," the elderly man said. "Oh, here ..." he continued, looking more closely at the ground. "Yes, these are chipmunk tracks." He was quite pleased at how well his grand daughter had learned to track wild animals.
"See Grandpa!" The little girl pointed to the reindeer tracks. "Reindeer!"
"You are right," the elderly man said, kneeling down to look at the deep prints that Rudy had left in the partly frozen ground. "These are fresh too. They have not had time to freeze yet."
"Let's put the food for the animals out here," the little girl said, as she reached up for the bag that her grandfather was carrying. He nodded and handed it to her. "Peanuts for the chipmunk! Lettuce for the rabbit and salt for the deer."
"Good. I wish I had a present for Grandma though," her grandfather said sadly. "We can feed the animals, but I couldn't buy her a present today. I didn't get enough money for the produce that I took to market on the truck today."
"Maybe that is the truck that Chimmy was on?" whispered Chippy to Webb, suddenly experiencing a glimmer of hope once again.
"Sh!" whispered Webb. "They might find us!"
It was very dark in the hollow log, but somehow it seemed to be nice and warm too, as Webb's furry coat was protecting both him and Chippy from the cold wind. Somehow the darkness seemed to surround them like a blanket. Chippy suddenly realized that he was no longer afraid of the dark.
"Grandpa!" said the little girl excitedly. "Do you think that we could give this to Grandma for Christmas too? Do you think that she would like it? It is really pretty. It even has a red bow on it!"
Webb and Chippy peered out of the end of the hollow log to see what she was holding. It was the wreath that Rudy had brought for Chippy.
"Where did you find that?" the elderly man asked in amazement. "Maybe someone lost it?"
"I don't think so," said the little girl joyfully. "I think Santa must have been here already. It was over there hanging on that tree. He must have left it for us."
"Too early..." replied her grandfather. "Well.....maybe.....I don't know. But I do know one thing. Grandma will love it. It is going to be the best Christmas that she has ever had."
The little girl handed it to her grandfather. Happily, the two of them walked back through the forest toward the fence. Every once in a while she stopped to pick up a flower, a nut or a cone to add to her treasures.
"Grandpa," the little girl asked, as they walked along. "Do you think that you could tell me the Christmas story?"
"A long time ago, shepherds in a field saw a star....." the grandfather replied as they disappeared from sight.
Chippy and Webb were both totally amazed at what they found when they left their hiding place.
"That was a really good trade!" said Webb.
"Look at all of the food!" Chippy said. There were peanuts everywhere.
"There is just one more thing that we need to have happen in order for us to have a perfect Christmas," he thought sadly.
"If only we could bring Chimmy home for Christmas," he said aloud.
"Let's make that happen!" said Webb.
"I think Rudy might just be able to do that," he thought to himself. He knew that Rudy had reindeer radar, but he was not about to give away Rudy's secret.
"Yes," agreed Chippy, as he started to gather all of the peanuts that had been left on top of the hollow log. He was determined to have the best Christmas ever too and not even one of those peanuts was going to be wasted.
"If Chimmy comes home, we are going to be ready", he decided, as he picked up one of the flowers that the little girl must have dropped. It seemed to blink at him when he held it up to the moonlight, as if to tell him that Chimmy was really coming home.
Chapter Five - Good News
"My name is Rudy," said the reindeer to Chippy, as he helped him to put the wreath in place. "Webb told me your name is Chip."
Chippy looked at the big reindeer more closely. His voice sounded kind of muffled and there seemed to be a very strange glow about him. In the darkness of the early evening, he had not seen the mask that Rudy was wearing over his mouth and nose.
"That sounds so grownup," thought Chippy. "In fact, I rather like that name!" He was much too polite to ask the reindeer why he had his mouth and nose covered. "Maybe he has a cold...sure sounds like it," he reasoned to himself.
"Sorry if I frightened you. I have to be really careful because I am not at all like other reindeer. I have a very bright red nose and it scares everyone, so I keep it covered. It is really not much fun being different. Sometimes I get laughed at too," the reindeer said sadly.
Chippy could hardly believe his ears. "I won't laugh at you," he promised Rudy. "Thank you for coming to help me. I really appreciate it."
"You mean I can finally take this silly thing off?" asked Rudy. "I hate wearing a mask over my mouth and nose. I can barely breathe in it."
As Chippy nodded his head, the reindeer tried to brush against the tree to remove the mask, but it was tied at the back of his head and he could not take it off. Chippy scurried back up the tree as quickly as he could and out onto the branch to help him.
"I will untie it for you," he said to Rudy and he did just that.
"What a relief that is!" said Rudy, as it fell to the ground.
"Oh my!" said Chippy, quite startled at what he saw. "I am so sorry! It just took me by surprize."
Rudy's nose was glowing like a brilliant light in the darkness of the early evening. In fact, it lit up the entire area with a warm and wonderful glow. Not knowing what to say, Chippy scurried back down the tree to retrieve it for him.
"I know," said Rudy. "Everyone reacts the same way as soon as they see me."
"Now I know why Webb sent Rudy here," thought Chippy. "He knew that I was afraid of the dark." He gazed up at Rudy. This was the last thing that he had ever expected to see.
Suddenly the moon appeared, just as if it had been hiding behind the clouds, waiting for this exact moment to come out.
"Well, I think that we had better get busy finding your brother," said Rudy very seriously. "Christmas will be here very soon."
Chippy nodded in agreement. "Yes," he said. "What shall we do?"
"Good new! Good news!" Rudy and Chippy could hear Webb's voice calling to them from a distance.
"We're here!" hollered Chippy to Webb as he hopped closer. "Did you find Chimmy?"
But Chippy was only to be disappointed, as Webb relayed the message to them that someone had seen a chipmunk, sitting on the back of a big truck that had pulled away earlier that day.
Now neither Rudy nor Webb knew what to say as they gazed at Chippy's unhappy face. Chippy turned away, trying not to cry. He looked up. Just then, the 'man in the moon' seemed to smile gently as if to say that everything would be all right.
"My name is Rudy," said the reindeer to Chippy, as he helped him to put the wreath in place. "Webb told me your name is Chip."
Chippy looked at the big reindeer more closely. His voice sounded kind of muffled and there seemed to be a very strange glow about him. In the darkness of the early evening, he had not seen the mask that Rudy was wearing over his mouth and nose.
"That sounds so grownup," thought Chippy. "In fact, I rather like that name!" He was much too polite to ask the reindeer why he had his mouth and nose covered. "Maybe he has a cold...sure sounds like it," he reasoned to himself.
"Sorry if I frightened you. I have to be really careful because I am not at all like other reindeer. I have a very bright red nose and it scares everyone, so I keep it covered. It is really not much fun being different. Sometimes I get laughed at too," the reindeer said sadly.
Chippy could hardly believe his ears. "I won't laugh at you," he promised Rudy. "Thank you for coming to help me. I really appreciate it."
"You mean I can finally take this silly thing off?" asked Rudy. "I hate wearing a mask over my mouth and nose. I can barely breathe in it."
As Chippy nodded his head, the reindeer tried to brush against the tree to remove the mask, but it was tied at the back of his head and he could not take it off. Chippy scurried back up the tree as quickly as he could and out onto the branch to help him.
"I will untie it for you," he said to Rudy and he did just that.
"What a relief that is!" said Rudy, as it fell to the ground.
"Oh my!" said Chippy, quite startled at what he saw. "I am so sorry! It just took me by surprize."
Rudy's nose was glowing like a brilliant light in the darkness of the early evening. In fact, it lit up the entire area with a warm and wonderful glow. Not knowing what to say, Chippy scurried back down the tree to retrieve it for him.
"I know," said Rudy. "Everyone reacts the same way as soon as they see me."
"Now I know why Webb sent Rudy here," thought Chippy. "He knew that I was afraid of the dark." He gazed up at Rudy. This was the last thing that he had ever expected to see.
Suddenly the moon appeared, just as if it had been hiding behind the clouds, waiting for this exact moment to come out.
"Well, I think that we had better get busy finding your brother," said Rudy very seriously. "Christmas will be here very soon."
Chippy nodded in agreement. "Yes," he said. "What shall we do?"
"Good new! Good news!" Rudy and Chippy could hear Webb's voice calling to them from a distance.
"We're here!" hollered Chippy to Webb as he hopped closer. "Did you find Chimmy?"
But Chippy was only to be disappointed, as Webb relayed the message to them that someone had seen a chipmunk, sitting on the back of a big truck that had pulled away earlier that day.
Now neither Rudy nor Webb knew what to say as they gazed at Chippy's unhappy face. Chippy turned away, trying not to cry. He looked up. Just then, the 'man in the moon' seemed to smile gently as if to say that everything would be all right.
Chapter Four - A Celebration
"Mewwy Christmas! Mewwy Christmas!" said Webb again and again.
Chippy listened to him trying to say "Merry Christmas" correctly. Webb was still having a lot of difficulty saying his 'r's', in spite of the fact that Chippy had been coaching him all afternoon.
"Keep trying!" Chippy said to encourage him. "It will happen sooner than you think."
"Thank you ever so much for helping me," Webb said. He was very discouraged but he not about to give up. He knew that he had found a really good friend.
"I have a problem too," said Chippy, almost too ashamed to admit the truth. He was afraid of the dark and he knew that with night approaching and still no sign of his brother Chimmy, that he would have to face his very first night all alone.
"You have a problem too?" asked Webb. He could hardly believe his ears. "Maybe I can help you?" He had been wondering how he would ever be able to repay Chippy for helping him.
"Maybe," replied Chippy, reluctant to tell Webb about his fear of the dark. "I don't know where my brother Chimmy is," he said quietly. "And.......now it is starting to get dark....."
"I know just what to do," said Webb excitedly. "I will be back," he promised, hopping away very quickly, before Chippy had time to say another word.
"Oh no," thought Chippy. "I should not have said anything. Now he is gone too and I am really all alone. What am I going to do?" He started to shiver.
A cool, early winter wind was starting to blow, swirling a few leaves here and a few leaves there. When Chimmy was with him, it had been fun to chase after them, but being all alone now, it was no longer any fun.
"I won't cry," Chippy promised himself. "After all, Chimmy may still come home tonight," he reminded himself hopefully, as he scurried about gathering more food for the winter. "Chimmy would not cry," he told himself.
But it was getting darker and darker. There was still no sign of Chimmy and Webb was no where to be seen. A few snow flurries were beginning to fall too.
"Hey there!" he heard a big, booming voice say suddenly. He looked around and did not see anyone. All he could see was the lengthening shadows of the trees. He was scared. He peered in every direction, trying to see where the voice was coming from, but he could not see anyone.
"Don't be afraid!" The voice was coming from above him. "Look up!"
Chippy was almost too afraid to look up, but he was so curious that he knew he had to face who ever this was. Timidly, he raised his eyes and to his amazement, he saw a reindeer looking down at him. Swinging from his antlers was a very large wreath.
"My goodness! You are afraid, aren't you?" The reindeer said gently. "I will not hurt you. Webb told me that you could not find your brother, so I came right away. We are going to alert everyone in the forest. We will help you find him."
"Thank you," said Chippy, totally relieved and amazed at what Webb had done for him.
"And when we find him, we are all going to have a celebration!" said the reindeer. "A Christmas to be remembered!"
Little did Chippy know what a wonderful celebration that was going to be, as he scurried up onto a branch, in order to take the wreath off the reindeer's antler and place it over his doorway.
"Thank you! Thank you!" he said to the reindeer.
So much had happened that day that he did not realize that he was no longer afraid of going up the tree and out onto the branch.
"Mewwy Christmas! Mewwy Christmas!" said Webb again and again.
Chippy listened to him trying to say "Merry Christmas" correctly. Webb was still having a lot of difficulty saying his 'r's', in spite of the fact that Chippy had been coaching him all afternoon.
"Keep trying!" Chippy said to encourage him. "It will happen sooner than you think."
"Thank you ever so much for helping me," Webb said. He was very discouraged but he not about to give up. He knew that he had found a really good friend.
"I have a problem too," said Chippy, almost too ashamed to admit the truth. He was afraid of the dark and he knew that with night approaching and still no sign of his brother Chimmy, that he would have to face his very first night all alone.
"You have a problem too?" asked Webb. He could hardly believe his ears. "Maybe I can help you?" He had been wondering how he would ever be able to repay Chippy for helping him.
"Maybe," replied Chippy, reluctant to tell Webb about his fear of the dark. "I don't know where my brother Chimmy is," he said quietly. "And.......now it is starting to get dark....."
"I know just what to do," said Webb excitedly. "I will be back," he promised, hopping away very quickly, before Chippy had time to say another word.
"Oh no," thought Chippy. "I should not have said anything. Now he is gone too and I am really all alone. What am I going to do?" He started to shiver.
A cool, early winter wind was starting to blow, swirling a few leaves here and a few leaves there. When Chimmy was with him, it had been fun to chase after them, but being all alone now, it was no longer any fun.
"I won't cry," Chippy promised himself. "After all, Chimmy may still come home tonight," he reminded himself hopefully, as he scurried about gathering more food for the winter. "Chimmy would not cry," he told himself.
But it was getting darker and darker. There was still no sign of Chimmy and Webb was no where to be seen. A few snow flurries were beginning to fall too.
"Hey there!" he heard a big, booming voice say suddenly. He looked around and did not see anyone. All he could see was the lengthening shadows of the trees. He was scared. He peered in every direction, trying to see where the voice was coming from, but he could not see anyone.
"Don't be afraid!" The voice was coming from above him. "Look up!"
Chippy was almost too afraid to look up, but he was so curious that he knew he had to face who ever this was. Timidly, he raised his eyes and to his amazement, he saw a reindeer looking down at him. Swinging from his antlers was a very large wreath.
"My goodness! You are afraid, aren't you?" The reindeer said gently. "I will not hurt you. Webb told me that you could not find your brother, so I came right away. We are going to alert everyone in the forest. We will help you find him."
"Thank you," said Chippy, totally relieved and amazed at what Webb had done for him.
"And when we find him, we are all going to have a celebration!" said the reindeer. "A Christmas to be remembered!"
Little did Chippy know what a wonderful celebration that was going to be, as he scurried up onto a branch, in order to take the wreath off the reindeer's antler and place it over his doorway.
"Thank you! Thank you!" he said to the reindeer.
So much had happened that day that he did not realize that he was no longer afraid of going up the tree and out onto the branch.
Chapter Three - A Christmas Wish
"I wish.....I wish....." thought Chippy, as he looked up, gazing at the tall tree beside his home. Chimmy, his brother, was so much better at climbing trees than he was. "If only I was as brave as my brother."
Chimmy still had not come back home. Chippy was debating about climbing up into the tree and surveying the area to see if he could spot Chimmy anywhere in the distance, but he was afraid of heights.
"I have to try to find him," he said aloud. "I have to be brave and climb up that tree. I just have to."
"It is now or never," he decided, looking at the lowest branch. "Even if I only get up to that branch, I might be able to see him," he concluded. He was determined to try.
With that thought in mind, he started on his first solo tree climbing adventure.
And he did succeed......well, almost. Chippy scurried up the tree trunk as quickly as he could but he was much too frightened to go out on the tree limb. In fact, he was so afraid that he closed his eyes and clung tightly to the tree trunk.
Suddenly, he heard a sound, like someone crying. He opened his eyes but could not see anyone. He heard it again; it was closer this time.
"Who is that? Maybe it is Chimmy?" he wondered.
But he was still too frightened to call out Chimmy's name.
"Mewwy Chwistmas, Mewwy Chwistmas, Mewwy Chwistmas," he heard someone say, between sniffles. It was not Chimmy's voice.
"Mewwy Chwistmas, Mewwy Chwistmas," he heard again, but this time he saw where the voice was coming from. A very sad and unhappy fluffy white rabbit was hopping along, coming toward the tree.
"I wish, I wish, I wish...." said the rabbit, "That I could say my r's right." He wiped the tears from his eyes. "Maybe if I keep on trying.......maybe by Chwistmas."
"Mewwy Chwistmas, Mewwy Chwistmas," he said, as he hopped away.
Suddenly Chippy knew just what to do. He scurried out on the branch and called out. "Rabbit!"
The little rabbit stopped and looked around but he did not see anyone.
"I am up here," Chippy said excitedly, almost losing his balance. "Wait! Stay right there, I am coming down." He scurried across the branch, back to the tree trunk and down the tree. For a moment, he forgot how frightened of heights he actually was.
"Hello," said the rabbit, totally surprized to see the chipmunk. "My name is Webbit Wabbit!" he said sadly. "You can call me Webb. I just wish that I could say my r's correctly. Chwistmas will soon be hewe. I am twying to learn to say them fow Chwistmas."
Chippy forgot about his missing brother for a moment.
"I will help you!" Chippy said immediately.
Little did he know how much Webb would help him too.
"I wish.....I wish....." thought Chippy, as he looked up, gazing at the tall tree beside his home. Chimmy, his brother, was so much better at climbing trees than he was. "If only I was as brave as my brother."
Chimmy still had not come back home. Chippy was debating about climbing up into the tree and surveying the area to see if he could spot Chimmy anywhere in the distance, but he was afraid of heights.
"I have to try to find him," he said aloud. "I have to be brave and climb up that tree. I just have to."
"It is now or never," he decided, looking at the lowest branch. "Even if I only get up to that branch, I might be able to see him," he concluded. He was determined to try.
With that thought in mind, he started on his first solo tree climbing adventure.
And he did succeed......well, almost. Chippy scurried up the tree trunk as quickly as he could but he was much too frightened to go out on the tree limb. In fact, he was so afraid that he closed his eyes and clung tightly to the tree trunk.
Suddenly, he heard a sound, like someone crying. He opened his eyes but could not see anyone. He heard it again; it was closer this time.
"Who is that? Maybe it is Chimmy?" he wondered.
But he was still too frightened to call out Chimmy's name.
"Mewwy Chwistmas, Mewwy Chwistmas, Mewwy Chwistmas," he heard someone say, between sniffles. It was not Chimmy's voice.
"Mewwy Chwistmas, Mewwy Chwistmas," he heard again, but this time he saw where the voice was coming from. A very sad and unhappy fluffy white rabbit was hopping along, coming toward the tree.
"I wish, I wish, I wish...." said the rabbit, "That I could say my r's right." He wiped the tears from his eyes. "Maybe if I keep on trying.......maybe by Chwistmas."
"Mewwy Chwistmas, Mewwy Chwistmas," he said, as he hopped away.
Suddenly Chippy knew just what to do. He scurried out on the branch and called out. "Rabbit!"
The little rabbit stopped and looked around but he did not see anyone.
"I am up here," Chippy said excitedly, almost losing his balance. "Wait! Stay right there, I am coming down." He scurried across the branch, back to the tree trunk and down the tree. For a moment, he forgot how frightened of heights he actually was.
"Hello," said the rabbit, totally surprized to see the chipmunk. "My name is Webbit Wabbit!" he said sadly. "You can call me Webb. I just wish that I could say my r's correctly. Chwistmas will soon be hewe. I am twying to learn to say them fow Chwistmas."
Chippy forgot about his missing brother for a moment.
"I will help you!" Chippy said immediately.
Little did he know how much Webb would help him too.
Chapter Two - The Encounter
"My, what a really gorgeous day this is!" Chippy said to himself, a little while later, looking at the bright orange autumn sun with its long black shadows stretching across the crisp ground. "Wonder where that brother of mine is hiding!"
Chippy still had not seen Chimmy, his twin brother, or heard anything from him since the night before and he was beginning to become more and more worried about him. It was already mid morning.
He remembered how he had been named 'Chippy' by his parents, like 'a chip off the old block', and how his brother had been named 'Chimmy', because he was so much bigger and stronger, 'like a chimpanzee'.
"What on earth is that?" he asked himself aloud, suddenly hearing a very loud scraping sound in the distance.
"Chimmy!" he hollered, just as loud as he could.
But no one answered.
"He is probably so busy that he just cannot hear me," decided Chippy, scurrying across the large branch from an old oak tree that had fallen down in front of their home, hiding their doorway. He was so excited that he almost slid off the slippery branch.
"I'll find him now," Chippy concluded, quickly scurrying across the paved walkway through the forest. He stopped for a moment and listened. The scraping sound was getting closer.
"Chimmy must be hiding behind that new fence," Chippy decided, hurriedly scrurrying down the pathway that wound through the wild raspberry bushes. "I could go over the top of the fence, I suppose, but my balance is not that great yet." Chimmy's balance was so much better than Chippy's. He decided to try to find an open area underneath the fence instead.
"Here's one!" he said to himself, ducking down quickly as he went under the fence. "I will just sneak up on him and surprize him!" He could hardly wait to see his brother.
"Well hello there, my little friend!" a big voice boomed, as Chippy suddenly encountered a very large man, nearly face to face. He was on his hands and knees, immediately in front of him, apparently scraping the leaves off the topsoil with a garden tool and planting some spring bulbs along the fence line. "Now who are you? he asked, pleasantly surprized by the sudden appearance of the chipmunk.
Chippy froze, momentarily so stunned that he was not able to reply. He was not certain who had been more startled by the encounter, him or the man.
"Who are you?" Chippy wondered.
Obviously it was not Chimmy!
Chippy was so timid that all he wanted to do was to run. He turned about very quickly and scurried back under the fence, down the pathway, across the paved walkway, up and across the branch and back to the safety of his home.
"Whew! That was close!" he said, wiping his brow and very relieved that he had managed to escape.
"That is probably not what Chimmy would have done," he decided after thinking about the encounter for a while. "I should have asked him if he had seen Chimmy. Maybe I should go back?" he wondered.
But there was no longer the sound of scraping. Chippy knew that it probably was too late. The man would have left by now.
"Oh Chimmy, I wish you were here," he thought to himself. "Where are you?"
But only the wind answered him.
"My, what a really gorgeous day this is!" Chippy said to himself, a little while later, looking at the bright orange autumn sun with its long black shadows stretching across the crisp ground. "Wonder where that brother of mine is hiding!"
Chippy still had not seen Chimmy, his twin brother, or heard anything from him since the night before and he was beginning to become more and more worried about him. It was already mid morning.
He remembered how he had been named 'Chippy' by his parents, like 'a chip off the old block', and how his brother had been named 'Chimmy', because he was so much bigger and stronger, 'like a chimpanzee'.
"What on earth is that?" he asked himself aloud, suddenly hearing a very loud scraping sound in the distance.
"Chimmy!" he hollered, just as loud as he could.
But no one answered.
"He is probably so busy that he just cannot hear me," decided Chippy, scurrying across the large branch from an old oak tree that had fallen down in front of their home, hiding their doorway. He was so excited that he almost slid off the slippery branch.
"I'll find him now," Chippy concluded, quickly scurrying across the paved walkway through the forest. He stopped for a moment and listened. The scraping sound was getting closer.
"Chimmy must be hiding behind that new fence," Chippy decided, hurriedly scrurrying down the pathway that wound through the wild raspberry bushes. "I could go over the top of the fence, I suppose, but my balance is not that great yet." Chimmy's balance was so much better than Chippy's. He decided to try to find an open area underneath the fence instead.
"Here's one!" he said to himself, ducking down quickly as he went under the fence. "I will just sneak up on him and surprize him!" He could hardly wait to see his brother.
"Well hello there, my little friend!" a big voice boomed, as Chippy suddenly encountered a very large man, nearly face to face. He was on his hands and knees, immediately in front of him, apparently scraping the leaves off the topsoil with a garden tool and planting some spring bulbs along the fence line. "Now who are you? he asked, pleasantly surprized by the sudden appearance of the chipmunk.
Chippy froze, momentarily so stunned that he was not able to reply. He was not certain who had been more startled by the encounter, him or the man.
"Who are you?" Chippy wondered.
Obviously it was not Chimmy!
Chippy was so timid that all he wanted to do was to run. He turned about very quickly and scurried back under the fence, down the pathway, across the paved walkway, up and across the branch and back to the safety of his home.
"Whew! That was close!" he said, wiping his brow and very relieved that he had managed to escape.
"That is probably not what Chimmy would have done," he decided after thinking about the encounter for a while. "I should have asked him if he had seen Chimmy. Maybe I should go back?" he wondered.
But there was no longer the sound of scraping. Chippy knew that it probably was too late. The man would have left by now.
"Oh Chimmy, I wish you were here," he thought to himself. "Where are you?"
But only the wind answered him.
Chapter 1 - The Disappearance
"Hey there Chimmy, where are you?", Chippy Chipmunk called out to his twin brother. "You lost again?"
Chippy looked around. Suddenly he felt very cold and his teeth started to chatter. He was scared.
Chimmy was nowhere to be seen.
Of the two little chipmunks, Chippy was the younger of the two and smaller than his brother.
"Well," he said to himself aloud, trying hard to be brave, "It looks like a really fine day, maybe the nicest one that we have had this fall! Maybe I should just go out and relax in the nice warm sun for a while and just enjoy the weather."
"But on second thought, that might not be such a good idea", he concluded, remembering that he was supposed to be up early this morning, gathering food for the winter.
"Winter is coming very quickly and we had better be ready for it," Chimmy had told him repeatedly. The two of them were all alone, as their parents had disappeared when they were young. They both knew that they had to take care of each other, as there was no one else for them to turn to.
"But I am too scared to go out there by myself, so now what do I do?" he asked himself. He remembered that his twin brother had been there the night before, when he had drifted off to sleep.
"Oh Chimmy, where are you?" he cried out, much louder this time.
But no one answered.
A tiny salty tear rolled down his cheek. He tried to ignore the lump that he felt growing larger and larger in his throat.
"Maybe he is already out looking for food for the winter? I had better get out there and help him. That is what I will do too and I won't think about any bad things!" he decided.
Several minutes later, he scurried out the door, prepared to do his part, even if he had to do it all alone. He was secretly hoping that he would not have to do so and that when he went out, Chimmy would be there.
"I'm coming to help!" he hollered. "Chimmy!" Then he picked up a chestnut and started to munch on it as he waited for a reply.
But no one answered.
"Hey there Chimmy, where are you?", Chippy Chipmunk called out to his twin brother. "You lost again?"
Chippy looked around. Suddenly he felt very cold and his teeth started to chatter. He was scared.
Chimmy was nowhere to be seen.
Of the two little chipmunks, Chippy was the younger of the two and smaller than his brother.
"Well," he said to himself aloud, trying hard to be brave, "It looks like a really fine day, maybe the nicest one that we have had this fall! Maybe I should just go out and relax in the nice warm sun for a while and just enjoy the weather."
"But on second thought, that might not be such a good idea", he concluded, remembering that he was supposed to be up early this morning, gathering food for the winter.
"Winter is coming very quickly and we had better be ready for it," Chimmy had told him repeatedly. The two of them were all alone, as their parents had disappeared when they were young. They both knew that they had to take care of each other, as there was no one else for them to turn to.
"But I am too scared to go out there by myself, so now what do I do?" he asked himself. He remembered that his twin brother had been there the night before, when he had drifted off to sleep.
"Oh Chimmy, where are you?" he cried out, much louder this time.
But no one answered.
A tiny salty tear rolled down his cheek. He tried to ignore the lump that he felt growing larger and larger in his throat.
"Maybe he is already out looking for food for the winter? I had better get out there and help him. That is what I will do too and I won't think about any bad things!" he decided.
Several minutes later, he scurried out the door, prepared to do his part, even if he had to do it all alone. He was secretly hoping that he would not have to do so and that when he went out, Chimmy would be there.
"I'm coming to help!" he hollered. "Chimmy!" Then he picked up a chestnut and started to munch on it as he waited for a reply.
But no one answered.
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