Follow Me

  AUTHOR

The Groundhogs of Linden Manor

Chapter 12:

"Up on the Housetop"

It was Christmas Eve, and Zuzu was nestled all snug in her bed. She was just drifting off to sleep when she heard footsteps on the roof above her. She froze and listened as hard as she could. 

All was quiet. 

She started to drift off to sleep again when she heard more footsteps and the sound of bells jingling. She sat straight up!

 She didn’t know what to do. Had Santa and his reindeer landed on her roof? If she got up, would she scare Santa away before he’d left all the presents, filled all the stockings, and eaten all the cookies?

And what if it wasn’t Santa? What if it was a burglar?

She decided it wouldn’t hurt to peek out her window. She got out of bed. She tiptoed to the window and pulled back the curtain. At first she didn’t see anything but snow and darkness. Then she saw movement.

There was something crawling up the downspout of the Wileys’ house next door. It was gray and had a long skinny tail. ‘That’s the biggest rat I’ve ever seen,’ thought Zuzu.

Feeling brave, she opened her window and yelled, “Hey!” She hoped she would scare it away. Mrs. Wiley would be thankful for that.

The giant rat turned its head slowly. “Do you mind?” it said. “I need to concentrate and focus. Focus and concentrate.” The rat had a white face, a big pink nose, and black eyes. Zuzu could see moonlight in its eyes.

“What are you doing?” Zuzu asked.

“I’m spreading cheer and wonder. Wonder and cheer,” the giant rat said. He started to climb again and Zuzu heard jingle bells. 

“Is that you jingling?” she asked.

“Clearly,” said the giant rat. “If you don’t mind, let’s continue this chat on the roof. Follow me.”

Zuzu was not a good jumper but she was a good climber. She climbed out the window and down the side of Linden Manor. Then she walked across to the Wileys’ house. She climbed up after the rat.

When they were on the roof, she found him walking around in circles. “Join me!” he said. He took a bell off of one of his legs and rolled it over to Zuzu. “Just stomp and jingle. Jingle and stomp.”

Zuzu joined in. It was fun to stomp and jingle.

“Next house!” the giant rat said after a few moments.

They went to four more houses to jingle and stomp. Then he said, “Time for tea and beetles. Beetles and tea. Come with me.”

Zuzu followed him back to Linden Manor. They shook their bells as they walked. 

They came to the backyard. “Come warm up,” said the giant rat. He went to a spot not far from the linden tree, and then he disappeared underground. Zuzu waited. His head popped back out of the hole. “Come on!” he said.

She followed him into the burrow. The place was warm and dusty and familiar. It smelled like mint. She followed the giant rat into a big chamber where there was a table and some chairs.

“Sit down!” he said. And went off to another chamber. He came out carrying two cups of steaming tea. He set them on the table. He left again. This time he came back with a bowl full of shiny black beetles.

“Eat and drink!” he said. Zuzu sipped her tea. It was good. 

As for the beetles, she said a polite, “None for me, thank you.” The rat just nodded and took one for himself.

“How long have you lived here?” Zuzu asked.

“Moved in about a year ago,” he said. “Fixed it up a bit. I think it was some of your folk that lived here before.”

“Oh!” said Zuzu. That’s why burrow was familiar. “I was born here!” she said. “My papa dug this burrow!”

“Mmm-hmm,” said the giant rat.

“I didn’t know rats lived in old groundhog burrows.”

“Rats!” he said. “I’m no rat! I’m a Virginia Opossum!” 

“I’m sorry,” said Zuzu. “What’s your name?”

“Eugene,” the opossum replied.

“So you’re not a Virginia Opossum, you’re a Eugene Opossum,”

“Blah,” said Eugene.

“Why do you jingle and stomp?” Zuzu said.

“For the children.”

“Everyone knows Santa is quiet as a snowman. And you know he’s been there because he leaves presents, and fills the stockings, and eats the cookies.”

“It’s little extra Christmas wonder and delight. Delight and wonder.”

Zuzu finished her tea. “I better get back to bed. Thank you for the tea.”

“My pleasure,” said Eugene. “Visit me anytime.”

“Merry Christmas!” Zuzu said. 

“Tidings of comfort and joy,” said Eugene.

“Joy and comfort!” Zuzu called back.