Not just any worm....

A little creature scurries through the garden...he is following his nose...and his nose told him to go to Hilltop Hall in a hurry because there could be something chocolate...!

-Chocolate..whispers Gustave (because that's who it is)...chocolate..only the Dutchess can make hot chocolate that smells this good..and he makes a big leap for joy..
There..he can see Hilltop Hall in the distance...How wonderful...Smoke is coming out the chimney and there are lights in the kitchen...It looks ever so warm and inviting..
Coming closer Gustave hears a murmur of laughter through the treetops...its coming out of the house and it sounds very familiar..It could be Miss Moussie..
-Well...they are having fun in there..says Gustave to himself and he stops to listen..
-Isn't it wonderful to have friends to come home to ,he sighs gratefully...

The evening is quiet and very still...There's only the sound of leaves whirling on the ground..round and round and round they go....a beautiful happy dance...The moon is full and casts his light on a big red toadstool...Gustave decides to pause for a while to enjoy the view and the fresh night air..
He hops on the stool and gazes at the sky...its clear and bright...and very cold..very cold indeed...Gustave's mind wanders of...thinking..There could be snow....yes....there could be snow..wouldn't that be enchanting..

-Hello there....hé...you up there..excuse me....helloooooo....!

A little creature stretched itself up on tiptoe, and peeped over the edge of the mushroom, and its eyes immediately met those of Gustave, sitting on the top.....

-Helloooooo IT uttered again....excuse me....you up there...can I ask you a question...?

Gustave responded immediately and he asked in great surprise....'Who are you.....?
-I'm Alice..answered the creature..and I am a worm..not just ANY worm you know..I come from Wonderland...

And then Gustave almost fell of his stool...laughing like he couldn't stop...
A worm from Wonderland....HaaaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

To every book its worm..

-There's a bang at the door....squeaked Miss Moussie..someone who isn't polite enough to gracefully knock..
-I'LL go and see who that is..said the Dutches..and with her cup of hot chocolate still in her hand she walked to the kitchen door and opened it..

Who..because that's who it was..stood up from the doormat, where he made his spectacular landing just a few seconds before.. and entered..
He didn't say a word....He shook his wings..fumbled with his feathers..and then flew up with a little flutter ...muttering something like...'AAAh'..and then crashed on the kitchen table..leaning his head in a very dramatic pose against the teapot..

-Who..so nice of you to drop by....said the Dutchess with a smile...
-Yes..nice..twittered Miss Mousie ,but could you please knock next time..I find a bang on the door to be very suspicious..one never knows what one will find on one's doormat..
-I am so sorry...said Who a bit out of breath...but I was in a hurry...And I didn't come alone..
-Is there somebody else going to bump into our kitchen door....twittered Miss Moussie curious..tell me Who..who..?..

Again Who started to fumble with his feathers...and flap his wings.. he didn't seem to be able to sit still...

-Who dear..please sit still for a while...you are making me nervous..are you having an itch..twittered Miss Moussie...and then she herself started to scratch her back..
-Is there something tickling you ,asked the Dutchess,when she saw Who starting to giggle and now jump up and down on the kitchen table..

-WHOOOHAHA..uttered Who ...just a minute....have to find something..WOOHAH.......AAAAh..there IT is....
-Where..where squeaked Miss Moussie..Who..you are scaring me now..I don't see IT..'

-But I do..said the Dutchess...will you look at that tiny little creature...how cute...

On the table next to Who's big owl feet..crawled a white wiggly wormy thing...Yes..a worm..!

-May I introduce to you..said Who..now relieved to got rid of this tickling thing...may I introduce to you..a worm from a book...and not just any book..this one comes from...Frankenstein..

The Dutchess and Miss Moussie where flabbergasted..they stood there staring at this wiggly THING...a sound came out of it...

-Hi there..it said...with a very tiny voice...I come from Frankensteins book and my name is Monster...how do you do..

First there was silence..and then Miss Moussie started to laugh..like she couldn't stop..

Enter....

At the end of the afternoon,the Dutchess stumbled down the stairs....tired..wearing a deep frown on her forehead...she had been writing....
-'O my gosh'..she whispered to herself at the last step of the stairs..'its already dark in the hall...what could be the time..?'
She reached for the light switch..and waited for the chandelier to spread his light on the big standing clock....
-'Six o clock....of course....we arrived in wintertime..the time of early darkness but also the time of light....we can start thinking about Christmas...how wonderful..'
All kinds of thoughts tumbled through the Dutchess's mind when she walked through the hallway...trees..lights..presents..turkey...friends..castles crowns cottages and laughter...and.. hot chocolate because THAT was the reason to go downstairs..towards the kitchen..
Again....in the kitchen...total darkness...and silence...nobody home..

-I am going to gather and light all the candles there are in the house..and I'm going to have a little party all by myself...celebrating THIS time of year...and everything nice to come...sitting in my quiet kitchen and just contemplate..
After she thought up this wonderful idea...the Dutchess wanted to go on a candle search in the dark...(She didn;t want to turn on the kitchen light to disturb the romance..)

THEN....Ssst....what was that...what sound did she just hear coming out of the darkness....It was a very loud squeak followed by.. the patter of little feet....
-Someone there..asked the Dutchess a bit nervous...who are you..and what are you doing in my kitchen....
-O..so sorry...Its only me....I didn't want to frighten you....but when you came in YOU frightened ME...
-Ah..its you Miss Moussie....I should have recognised you by your lovely squeak...tell me...why are you wandering around in the dark...did you need anything from the kitchen..
-No No...I came to visit you my dearest....I was thinking..why is it so dark in the kitchen...no lights..no stove burning...no Dutchess cooking or sitting at the table....I thought something could be wrong...Are you feeling well dear.....can I make you a cup of tea..You look kind of tired...
-Thank you so much for you concern dear Miss M....but I'm fine..
-"Speak you this with a sad brow?" ...twittered Miss Moussie....I don't believe you..
-Ah..Shakespeare my dear....how wonderful witty...and this you can see in the darkness..
-Mice have very good eyesight...but it would be better to bring some light into this kitchen...I agree..
- I was just on my way to light ALL the candles we have in the house and create a romantic atmosphere in this kitchen...just because its November and we are starting a new wonderful season...The season of light..Would you like to join me...
-Marvelous...simply marvelous dearest....I'll help you....and could we please make some hot chocolate before we sit down to enjoy the candlelight view..
-You can read my mind..smiled the Dutchess....

When the first candles did light up the kitchen,the stove was burning,and the smell of hot chocolate made its way out through the crack in the door....a little creature, walking in the garden stopped in his tracks...

-Hmmmmmm.....I MUST follow that smell.....it uttered in immediate haste....and there it went..

High above the bare treetops....in a cold blustery autumn wind..an owl came circling down...
Who flew in....with mighty flapping wings...not stopping until he bumped into the kitchen door...with a devastating big bump...and there it was he dropped...on the doormat..

A voice inside the Hilltop Hall squeaked..ENTER..

(There we go again dear reader and friend..a new season a new adventure...you are ever so welcome to follow...)