Chapter 2
At Redwall, there was a rush of creatures to get their chores done so
they could begin preparations for the Nameday Feast for summer. The abbot
was in the gatehouse sorting through suggestions for the name. He had
narrowed it down to 2 now, "Summer of the Buzzing Bees" and his nomination,
"Summer of the Plentiful Honey." He finally decided to combine the two
names together. Sapoak, a military hare, was second in command in the
kitchens. He was proud to be helping the cook, since the cook had so many
other things to do. Sapoak made sure everything was perfect, right down to
the numbers of the raisins in the scones. After all the baking was
finished, they set up 5 long running tables around the abbey walls,
creating a huge running buffet. After they had set those up, they found
that they needed 2 more tables to hold the rest of the food. On the tables
were honey smothered scones, pies of all flavors, 3 of the moles Turnip 'n'
Tater 'n' Beetroot pies, cordials and beers of all sorts, cake by the
slice, wonderful flans, 12 different types of bread, and anything else in
the Redwall Abbey cookbooks. Right after every beast had gotten finished
setting up, the abbot came up to the stands that were set up in the orchard
for that's night festivities to make the announcement. "I had a very hard
time deciding what name to choose. It was between one suggestion and mine.
So I combined them to call this season 'The Summer of the Plentiful Honey
Bees.' Let's celebrate!" Even with his old age he performed an agile jump
from the stage and made a fast dash for the food tables set up in a running
buffet in Great Hall. He then found he was being chased by a group of
dibbuns trying to beat him there, to claim first rights of the food. After
the food, singing and reciting was welcomed. After such a meal, any
dancing was out of the question, for anyone. A mouse named Rosie was
finally persuaded to get up and sing a song.
Listen up and I'll tell you a tale,
Of a mouse and a pail.
It happened upon a stormy night,
To a mouse who was having a fright.
It was the lightning that scared him most,
Thinking that with it would come a ghost.
Then there came a big bolt of lightning,
Which I must say, was quite frightening.
Then he saw his worst nightmare,
A white ghost saying, "No fair!"
Then he gave one last wail,
Before jumping into a water pale.
All the ghost was, was an old mouse,
Folding white bed sheets for his house!
After she finished singing the song twice, the entire group was rolling in
laughter. Later that night a mouse named Matthew was asked to recite a
poem. "I found this on a scroll in the gatehouse. It's just jabber, but
it's a poem." He said.
To find the thing that you seek,
Look where dibbuns would never peek.
Way, way, way, way, down below,
Farther than any shovel would go.
Once you enter scour the floor,
For a red tile, that's the door.
Once you open the door and fall,
Look around, find the dry-wet wall.
Once the wall has been found,
Find a green one and turn it around.
On the side, peel off the kelp,
Now, this scroll will be of great help!
After Matthew finished the entire group was silent. Matthew gave a look of
embarrassment and left.
