Beautiful, all-white flakes calmly fell to the ground as Sam, the little Squirrel, searched for food. Running from side to side, he searched the snow-covered ground for old nuts, frozen berries or even a few seeds. Christmas was only a week away and Sam wanted to find a special meal to bring home for his mom and dad's Christmas dinner.
Entering the little wood, Sam moved further and further away from her house. Finally he came to the top of a big mountain at the edge of the forest. Stopping for a few minutes, he sat up on his hind legs and gazed down at the valley below. There, at the bottom of the mountain, there were giant nests that Papa and Mama Squirrel called houses.
Although Sam was a very young Squirrel, he knew who lived in the houses, the humans! His father and mother often warned him to stay far, far away from humans. Sam scratched her little gray head as she thought for a minute. He had searched the entire forest and hadn't found a single crumb of food.
Now it was almost dark, but little Squirrel didn't want to come home empty-handed. Even though he had never been down to the valley himself, Sam knew there was plenty of delicious leftovers there. His friend and neighbor, Alex the Blue Jay, had told him that the people in the valley were kind to birds. Often they would lay bread, seeds or fruit outside for the hungry birds so that they could feed during the winter. Sam was not a bird, but he was certainly very hungry. While thinking of bread, seeds and fruits, he licked his lips. He really wanted to go down into the valley but he was very scared of humans. What could he do? What will happen to him if he approaches the houses? Should he stay in the forest or go down the mountain?
Just then an icy gust of winter wind answered his question. A rapid gust of wind knocked the tiny Squirrel off its feet and hurtled down the slope. As he tumbled, head over tail, Squirrel Sam rolled in the snow. He descended the mountain like a ball of gray fur sliding down into the valley.
Beding! Bedang ! Sam finally stopped, crashing into the snowy lid of a trash can. He stopped rolling but his eyes didn't. They were spinning, spinning and spinning in their orbit. The whole universe seemed right side up, upside down, upside down, upside down.
Poor little Squirrel was so dizzy that when he tried to walk he pounded on his own tail and fell face first in the snow. He stayed there until the houses stopped circling around him. He waited until this moment to begin his search for food.
The first thing he did was climb over to the side of the trash can and peek inside. All he saw was an old shoe, a half-smoked cigar, and a banana peel. This is a very poor Christmas meal for the squirrel family.
As Sam was perched on the edge of the trash can, he saw a strange light flashing, coming from the window of a nearby house. He had never seen anything like it. Flashes of red, blue, green and yellow that kept fading and rekindling, again and again and again.
What can it be ? the curious little Squirrel wondered. I'm gonna go find out what's going on in this nest of humans . Sam darted down the slope and rushed through the snowflakes. He climbed up the wall of the house. When he reached the window, he found the ledge covered with sunflower seeds, raisins and crusts of bread. The people who lived in this house had deposited this food for the birds and for Sam it was a real feast!
WoW !, that's a real treasure, Sam shouted happily; it will be an extraordinary Christmas meal
He was so excited that, for a moment, he forgot about the strange lights flickering and coming from that window. Quickly he picked up the food and got ready to leave. Just then Sam remembered why he had climbed onto that window sill. He pressed his little pink nose to the window and peered inside the nest. What he saw amused him a lot.
There, right in the middle of the nest, stood a tree. . . a tree just like the one he lived in in the forest, except that it was much, much smaller and lots of shiny things hanging from its branches. Of course, there were also the red, blue, green and yellow lights that kept blinking. All around the tree hung strings of popcorn. Here and there on the branches were little red and white canes that looked like candy. And at the very top of the tree sat a big shining golden star.
This tree was the most beautiful tree Sam the little Squirrel had ever seen. Of course, the young Squirrel had heard some stories about Christmas trees, but he had never seen one.
Yes, Sam whispered, as he looked out the window. that must be it, a Christmas tree. I wish we could have a Christmas tree so much.
If we had a tree like this in our house, would our Christmas be much happier? Just then, little Squirrel had an idea. Why couldn't they have a Christmas tree?
We can have one, he cried, answering his own question.
I'm going home right away and going to ask Mom and Dad for one.
Picking up the food he had found e , Sam jumped out of the window sill in the lower soft snowbanks. Through the heap of white flakes, it advanced without hesitation like a living snowplow. At the top of the mountain, he trotted across the fields and then the woods. After a while, he reached the big, tall pine tree where he lived with his parents and several neighbors.
As he climbed up the trunk he was shouting to his neighbors: We will have a Christmas tree , he shouted to Mr. Owl.
"Ououou1 what a wonderful idea" hooted Mr. Owl
There will be a Christmas tree in our house this year , Sam told Raccoon David.
Wonderful, replied David the Raccoon.
We'll have a Christmas tree, Sam said to Alex the Blue Jay.
Sensational ! yelled Alex the Blue Jay.
Arriving at the top of the big pine, Sam the Squirrel poked his head through the hole where he was staying.
I have great news! he said to his parents, while jumping inside. I bet you do not know what art does .
You found a huge nut for our Christmas dinner, Mama Squirrel tried.
Sam smiled and shook her head. No!
You found two nuts! says Papa Squirrel
The little Squirrel smiled and shook his head again. I told you you couldn't guess. I have found something better than a walnut and even better than two walnuts. I found sunflower seeds, crusts of bread and raisins for Christmas dinner, Sam shouted happily.
Mr. and Mrs. Squirrel clapped their paws and they surrounded Sam. He gently freed himself from their caresses and added:
But that's not the surprise.
But then, what is it? asked his parents who no longer understood anything.
We're going to have a Christmas tree, Sam said
Madame Squirrel looked at Monsieur Squirrel. Mr. Squirrel was looking at the floor. Their smiling faces suddenly became very sad. Sam didn't understand anymore.
What's wrong? he asked.
Don't want a Christmas tree?
We want a Christmas tree, replied Squirrel, but we can't have one.
Why not? Sam asked
We don't have enough space for a Christmas tree in our little house in the tree trunk . Mama Squirrel explained.
The three of us live in a tiny room and with our winter supply of nuts, there isn't enough room left to add a tree .
I'm sorry, Sam, added Papa Squirrel, a Christmas tree could never come in here.
Sam looked around. His parents were right. Their house was really, really small. I imagine you're right, Sam said sadly.
Papa Squirrel patted his son on the back.
Don't be sad, Sam. We never told you about a Christmas tree before because we knew we couldn't have one. But rejoice. We will have a wonderful Christmas feast because of everything you brought home today. It will be a very merry Christmas.
But I wanted a Christmas tree, the little Squirrel whispered, disappointed.
At that moment Alex the Blue Jay stuck his beak through the squirrel door.
I overheard your conversation, Sam he said. Why don't you write to Santa Claus asking for a tree? Santa Claus has magical powers. If anyone can put a tree up here, it's him.
That's a great idea, Sam replied. I'll write to him right away. Come in Alex . You can help me . Just a minute, Sam, said Mama Squirrel
I think writing to Santa Claus is a wonderful idea, but don't be disappointed if you don't get what you ask for. Santa has magical powers, but there are limits to what he can do. Installing a big Christmas tree in our tiny house is quite a demand, even for Santa Claus.
He won't disappoint me , Sam replied confidently. I know it; Santa is going to bring the most beautiful Christmas tree that no one has ever seen. Come on Alex. He added for his friend: Let's go write this letter.
That night, Sam the Squirrel and Alex the Blue Jay wrote the letter to Santa. As soon as it was finished, they gave it to a Snowbird who was heading north. The Snowbird had promised to deliver the letter to Santa Claus at the North Pole.
Take good care of this shipment .
Then, as they watched the Snowbird soar north, Sam said to Alex: all we can do now is wait until Christmas.
The week before Christmas seemed to pass in the blink of an eye for Sam. Already on Christmas Eve, Sam, the little Squirrel, was so excited, he was having a hard time waiting for Christmas morning. He was sure that Santa Claus would bring what he asked for.
Don't be disappointed if you don't see a tree tomorrow morning when you wake up, Mama Squirrel told him as she tucked him in her bed.
I know Santa Claus won't let me down, Sam answered and closed his eyes. When I wake up tomorrow morning, the most beautiful Christmas tree in the world will be in our house.
Then the little Squirrel fell asleep very quickly.
I hope he's right, Madame Squirrel said to her husband, tiptoeing back to Sam's tiny bed. Monsieur Squirrel was shaking his head. I do n't know what to think, he said, sighing. I'm afraid bringing a tree here will be impossible, even for Santa Claus. He sighed again.
Now, worrying about this all night, won't help us. Let's go to sleep and we'll see what happens tomorrow morning.
Mr and Mrs Squirrel got into their bed and very quickly they too were snoring peacefully
On Christmas morning, the sun was rising over the mountains and making the snow-covered land shine and sparkle. A ray of sunlight made its way into the squirrel house and directly lit Sam's face. The warmth of the sun woke Sam up. He opened one eye, then the other opened as well. Sam smiled looking at the ray of sunlight but he didn't dare turn around yet. Had Santa Claus come? Did he bring the Christmas tree?
Sam couldn't wait any longer. He sat up in his bed and turned around. The room seemed to be as it usually was…. with their tiny furniture and the pile of good things Sam had brought home last week .... but no Christmas tree, not in the middle of the room, in a corner ..
But, what is it ? Sam asked, seeing a piece of paper sticking out from under the pile of nuts on the table. Slowly Sam the Squirrel dragged himself down from his bed and walked over to the paper. He took it and saw that there was a message. He read :
Dear Sam, I'm sorry but your house is really too small for a Christmas tree. Forgive me for the disappointment. I did the best I could. I love you. XXX, Santa Claus.
The letter fell from Sam's hands. Tears appeared in her eyes. He turned and saw his parents watching him, smiling sadly at him.
Alright, I believe we won't have a Christmas tree
said the tiny Squirrel with a sigh. Before his parents could add anything, they were all stopped by a hubbub coming from outside the tree. Something strange had happened. All the neighbors were applauding.
Get out Sam the Squirrel, Alex the Blue Jay yelled. Come out, come see what Santa Claus did.
Impatient, Sam leaps for the door. Poking his head out of the hole, he looked at the tall, tall pine tree he lived in… It was now just a pine tree. It was now the largest Christmas tree in the world. Decorations hung from each branch. Colorful lights twinkled from branch to branch. A long necklace of popcorn hung from the lower branches. Completely at the top of the tree, a large, shining golden star sparkled in the sunlight.
Yeh! cried Sam.
Santa Claus came for me after all. He couldn't put a Christmas tree in my house, but he put my house in the biggest Christmas tree in the world! I am the luckiest squirrel in the whole world!
