by Jeffrey Grant –
Gramma Moose began to tidy up. Since opening her sewing business for the forest animals, she was always very busy.
She heard a loud rap at the door.
“Come in.”
The door flew open and in came Rachael Raccoon.
“Pajamas,” Rachael gasped. “I need a pair of Gramma’s-Jammas, fast!”
Gramma Moose frowned. “Exactly how fast?” she asked.
Rachael gasped, “I need them tomorrow for the annual gift exchange.”
The annual gift exchange was the most anticipated event of the year. All the animals drew names from the hollow stump. Then everyone met under the giant oak tree late on Christmas Eve to give each other gifts.
“Well…I suppose I could whip up just one pair of pajamas,” Gramma Moose replied.
“What type of fabric would you like?” Gramma asked as she rummaged through a big box.
“The glow in the dark acorns one would be great,” Rachael decided. “After all, they’re for Sammy the Squirrel.”
Gramma Moose immediately set to work. She was just finishing the sleeve when a resounding thud shook her sewing machine. It was the front door again.
“Come in,” she called out. A large deer with heavy antlers worked his way in.
“Well, if it isn’t Derry Deer. My word, you look upset. What’s the problem?” Gramma Moose asked.
Derry pleaded. “I need a gift for tomorrow night and I haven’t been able to find anything. I know you make the most wonderful pajamas. Could you make a pair for me to give to Fred Fox?”
Gramma Moose cringed. “I…I guess,” she said.
“Thank you, oh, thank you!” His antlers almost poked the ceiling when he jumped with joy.
Gramma worked even harder and had just finished Sammy Squirrel’s PJs when she heard loud sniffing, followed by the sound of a giant paw hitting the porch. She knew of only one animal that announced it’s presence that way.
“Come in Barow,” she sang out cheerfully.
In bumbled the biggest black bear in the forest.
“Gramma,” he began, “I have tried to find the right gift for Reggie-Rabbit, but have failed miserably. Can you help me?”
“How about a nice wreath of berries?” she suggested.
“I tried that but…well, I…”
“You what?” Gramma asked.
“I ate them. Now all that’s left it a bunch of twigs.” He looked up with hopeful eyes.
“You want a pair of pajamas, don’t you?”
“Oh thank you so much!” he exclaimed, giving her a big bear hug. He chose a purple fruit material then squeezed back out the door.
Midnight came and Gramma had finished Sammy’s, Fred’s and was working on Reggie’s pajamas, when the air was filled with a strong odour. She knew right away that Selma Skunk was outside.
“Hi, Gramma. What are you doing up so late?” Selma asked.
“Working on pajama orders. How ‘bout you?”
Selma ignored the question and said excitedly, “You’re working? That’s great! I need a pair of PJs for tomorrow night. I picked Percy Porcupine’s name from the stump and haven’t got a thing for him, what kind of material do you have?”
She spoke so fast that Gramma didn’t have a chance to tell her she was too busy to make any more pajamas.
Selma ranted on. “It doesn’t matter you pick it out I know you’ll do a good job.” Selma then bounced off.
Gramma decided she would have to stay up all night to get everything done.
Finally, at three o’clock in the morning, Gramma finished the last pair of pajamas. It was time to start her baking. Just then there was a skittering across her roof and down the drainpipe. A tapping at the window revealed Sammy Squirrel perched on the sill.
“Don’t tell me, you have nothing for your gift to…?”
“Rachael Raccoon!,” he said quickly. He turned a circle and jabbed the air with his little hands. “I need one, I do, I do, I do!”
She simply nodded and watched Sammy run around. He left after picking out a pink polka-dotted material.
Ten minutes later the yipping of Freddy Fox was at her door. She sighed and pulled out the box of material.
By dawn Gramma Moose was exhausted. She hadn’t gotten to any of her own gifts. What would everyone think if she showed up at the tree empty handed?
Ignoring the urge to sleep she started baking and was actually making progress when Percy Porcupine showed up. But she soon had to stop – he needed pajamas for Selma Skunk.
Two minutes after Percy left, Reggie Rabbit thumped like a jack-hammer on her porch. “I need pajamas for Barow Bear,” he begged.
Gramma Moose groaned. She would have to combine two different bolts of material just to fit him.
She finished the last pajama orders at three in the afternoon and soon everyone came and picked up the gifts. She sat in her rocking chair and was beginning to sew a button on a coat when she slowly drifted off to sleep.
The hands of the clock spun ‘round and ‘round.
Gramma Moose finally awoke. She felt refreshed and happy…that is until she glanced at the clock.
It was eleven forty-five!
She barely had time to get to the party. And worst of all? She had no gifts to bring anyone.
In the distance she could hear Christmas Carols being sung. She walked slowly down the path and entered the clearing of The Big Oak Tree.
“Look everyone, it’s Gramma Moose!”
Gramma stopped. All her friends were there. She shuffled forward, afraid of what they would say.
Suddenly, the whole group closed around her, beaming with happiness.
They could see she had no gifts…couldn’t they? It was then Selma stepped forward.
“Gramma-” she began.
“I’m so sorry,” Gramma Moose interrupted. “I will make it up to you all, I promise.”
Selma looked back at the group and rolled her eyes. They all laughed.
“Gramma, we don’t care about the gifts. As a matter of fact, we have a gift for you.”
Barow Bear came forward carrying a large present. It was decorated with gold paper and had beautiful berry branches wrapped around it.
“From all of us,” he said.
She didn’t know what to say. She had nothing to give and yet here was a gift for her?
Gramma slowly unwrapped the large box and pulled out a huge wad of material. It was a set of pajamas – moose size. In all her years, no one had ever given her a present so wonderful.
“Oh, thank you. Thank you all,” she said with tears in her eyes. “But I brought nothing. I don’t deserve this.”
The circle closed until all her friends were close enough to hug her.
“You give us the greatest gift of all…love.”
“And what else?” Rachael Racoon shouted.
“Gramma’s-Jammas!!” everyone yelled.
It was the best Christmas Gramma Moose ever had.
the end.
Question Time
- What did the animals want Gramma Moose to do?
- Do you think Gramma Moose likes sewing and making things for other animals? Why?
- What happened – why did Gramma not make the pajamas for everyone?
- What did everyone do for Gramma Moose? How did it make her feel?
