"Oh, it's always fun eating, when you've nothing to do.
A big scrumptious cake, to break my fast,
Though I'm not sure how long it would last,
With being dealt with a hare or two!
Eating a summer salad would be a whizz,
While gulping down some strawberry fizz,
Deeper'n'ever'n'turnip'n'tater'n'beetroot pie, oh my oh my!
I'd eat everything, that I cannot deny,
And when there's none left, alone I shall cry!"
The hare finished the last warbley notes dragged out in poetic fashion. He bowed galantly and said modestly, "Just doin' me job, chaps!"
"Excellent performance, Turfy! You did really well!" shouted a yound squirrelmaid, a few seasons out of her Dibbun years. She saw the hare puff out his narrow chest, and beam proudly.
Her name was Daisy. She was clad in a woven green dress and she wore pretty beads around her slender neck. She had just finished Abbey school. She jumped slightly as Gurdy came up behind her, pinching her bushy, brown tail. She whirled around to face him, her face brimming with anger.
"What in the name of seasons do you think you're doing, young fellow? That hurt, ya know. 'Tis bad manners to do that." She wagged a severe paw under the mole's nose. He nodded understandingly.
"Hurr, thaot bee's whaot Favver Avvot bee sayin' too, ee missers." Daisy understood mole dialect, and ended her reprimand. Gurdy walked away.
Night was falling over Redwall Abbey, and the Dibbuns were all in bed and accounted for. Daisy sat with the Abbot, Brother Mendell, Sister Joesephine, Tokam Greypinch, and Mother Ruth in Cavern Hole. They discussed the upcoming feast on the following day. The food lay out cooling in the pantries, the drinks had been tapped. All was set. Everybeast was eager to see the events of the upcoming day.
"I do hope it don't rain on the morrow," said Brother Mendell. "Today dark clouds were rolling in from the east." This news was new to every other beast and a murmur arose from the assembled group. They couldn't imagine having to wait longer for the feast.
Ruth wave a paw for silence, issuing orders, firmly and effectively. If it did rain tomorrow, they would dine inside, and there they would also hold the entertainment. When it got bright and sunny again, they would have a contest and games outside. Everybeast roared approval to this.
"Mother Ruth, how do you always seem to come up with an answer for everything?" asked Daisy as she eyed the ancient badgermum. The badger smiled and looked upon the young squirrelmaid.
"When you've seen as many seasons as I have, then you will see." Daisy nodded knowingly.
Dawn broke silent as a shadow over the land, and every creature awoke to find a clear, fresh morning. The storm had blown over during the night, leaving the inhabitants of Redwall Abbey much time outside to eat and play. Dibbuns yelled and screamed with delight, enlightened by the day's course. Daisy walked with Ruth down the steps into Cavern Hole, conversing as they went down.
"Oh, today will be a wonderful day, won't it, Badgermum?" asked Daisy. She looked up into the motherly eyes of the ancient badger. Ruth smiled knowingly.
"Aye, I think that the Dibbuns will enjoy it most of all." She looked fondly at the small creatures, pushing and shoving to get out the door.
"Mother Ruth, they're so innocent, you can't keep mad at them for long." The badgermum nodded.
"Aye, no one can stay mad at them, except for Friar Tum. Look, there he goes again." Friar Tum was quivering with rage.
"Alright, which one of you ate it? Speak up, you little rapscallions!" The Dibbuns stood there, bemused. Tonky the mousebabe spoke up for them all.
"Sir, we just got up, we haven't had the time to eat anything from the kitchens." Turfy strode up, preening his long whiskers proudly. He faced the Friar and defended the babes.
"The chaps and chapessess are right sir. They didn't have time to eat no custard from your kitchens, wot wot!" The hare had made a big mistake. The Friar looked at him accusingly. He apologized to the Dibbuns, then took care of the hare.
"You, how did you know it was a custard? Listen, steer clear of my kitchens if you know what's good fer you."
Ruth and Daisy had watched the scene from the stairs. Both were in hoots of laughter as the Friar reprimanded the fibbing hare.
"Mother Ruth, did you see the look on his face when he found out the Friar knew?" Daisy chortled.
The old badger laughed until tears ran from her eyes. All their laughter stopped as the Abbey bells rung out a tune for the start of the feast.
Page 2.
That was the first chapter, I hope you enjoyed. Please read and review!