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Friendship Happy Kids

Dahlia, a little gray mouse, dressed in her large flowery blue hat, sat at a table in front of Madam Prompamiers Cafe on a warm spring day. Sipping her tea and reading a magazine.


“Dahlia!” A sweet feminine voice called out. Dahlia’s friend Tulip came rushing down the street, little paw on her head to hold in place a little lace hat. Her shopping bags were swinging wildly, till she reached the table where Dahlia was sitting.


“Good heavens my sweet friend! Whatever is the matter?” Dahlia helped Tulip to sit, ordering for her friend, some cool lemonade.


Tulip pulled a fan from her little purse and waved it before her nose. “Oh, my but it is a very hot day. Summer will be here before we know it, I would dare say.” she declared.


“Is that what has you all in a tizzy? Running from there to here looking all silly?” Dahlia asked curiously.


“Oh no, that is not why, I simply came to ask if you had heard about poor Timothy’s wife?” Tulip sipped her lemonade and gossiped with great delight. “She had another six babies last week I hear. This being her second litter this year! I do declare, the poor dear, all those young ones to feed, how is there going to be enough bread to eat? The little thing needs a break I think." Tulip paused to take a breath. “More importantly, who will be hosting the spring formal? I would do it myself, but my husband detests parties you see.”

“Has anyone been to see Timothy’s wife? To check and see if she is alright?” Dahlia asked before Tulip could continue.


“Oh, I do not know dear. I will have a maid send a gift later this afternoon.” She waved a paw in dismissal.


 Looking down at her little watch, Tulip suddenly exclaimed, “I am late! I must go now; my hairdresser is waiting for me!” Up she jumped, grabbing her things, and away she went down the street.


I suppose I have sat here long enough; I must go see Mary. Dahlia thought. Having paid for the drinks and picking out a cake. She made her way to the outskirts of town, to where Mary and her family lived in a little cottage with flowers all around.


Down the country lane she walked taking a deep breath of the fresh spring air. How wonderful it was that the rain had stopped, leaving little puddles in the holes for her to stomp in. She giggled in delight till a gust of wind blew the hat off her head. Down in the mud it landed.


“Oh, what a bother!” she cried. Picking it up out of the mud she brushed it off but sadly decided. “I cannot wear this as it needs a good washing.” so she tucked it under her arm and set off.

Arriving a few minutes later at the bottom of a tall maple tree, she came across a gate that led into a garden. Full of golden daffodils, silver bells, lilac trees, and butterfly bushes, the garden was a burst of colors. Insects scurried or fluttered about tending to the many plants with fervor.


The little cottage hidden between the roots of the maple tree had smoke coming from its chimney. Covered in ivy vines, it looked so romantic and cozy that Dahlia sighed. Little squeals of laughter sounded from within making Dahlia smile. She loved children.


Knocking on the door she called out in greeting “I have brought cake!”


“Cake!” came shouts of delight as out through the door burst eight little mice.


“Children out of the way! Let your Aunt Dahlia in.” Their mother Mary admonished from the kitchen, where she was using a ladle to make some soup.


“What kind of cake did you bring?” one of the little girl mice asked, she was brown in color with little white socks.


Dahlia stepped into the house, dodging over toys, and avoiding stepping on little toes that bounced around her excitedly.


“Aunt Dahlia, what happened to your hat?” Another little brown mouse with a white patch over his eye asked, wrinkling his nose.


“Aunt Dahlia, why is you fur covered in mud?” Another white mouse with a heart shaped mark on the back of her ear wondered.


The runt of the litter, a boy as pure white as his father, with pink eyes, timidly asked. “Aunt Dahlia, can you hold me?”


With all the excitement Dahlia carefully placed the cake on the table before suggesting. “How about you all go outside while I help your mother, and I will pack a picnic for you this afternoon.”


“Alright!” and “Yay!” coursed around then they all scampered from the room.


Hanging her hat on a peg by the door, Dahlia went to the kitchen to hug her sister. “Hello, Mary. What is this I hear about you having six more little ones?”


Mary’s smile was weary, but still full of warmth, and contentment. “It’s true. While you were away in Paris with your new groom.”


“Well, how about you sit down and tell me what you have been up to.” Dahlia insisted.


While the sisters talked, Dahlia played with the little ones who had begun to toddle. She helped feed and bathe them, then put them to bed. She also put on some water to boil. She cleaned the kitchen and made some sandwiches, cutting some of the cake to save for later. Hollering outside she gave the older children a picnic basket overflowing with the sandwiches, along with fresh berries and fresh milk to go with their treat. The rest of the cake she packed carefully in a separate box and sent them away to play.


Dahlia heard the kettle singing, and before Mary could get out of her seat, Dahlia ran to get it. “No need, I know you are tired. Just sit and I will tell you all about my Paris trip.”


Pouring the water into two handmade ceramic mugs, Dahlia prepared earl grey tea for herself and her sister. Setting them on the table to drink while they ate their spiced cake.



January 25, 2025 21:35

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