Cricket’s Magic Remedy

“No I can’t play today, Cricket, I just don’t feel well” Jelly Bean told her rat friend.

Cricket took one sniff of Jelly Bean and knew that Jelly was sick.

“Don’t worry,” Cricket said. “I will go into the enchanted woods and find a cure for you.”

“How will you do that?”

“Vaccinations come from needles.” Cricket reasoned. “I will go into the enchanted woods and bring back a pine needle to cure you.”

So Cricket went through the long dark tunnel and emerged into the enchanted forest.

She frolicked only a short way before she came across many trees from which she took a branch of pine needles back to Jelly Bean.

Jelly Bean chewed on the pine needles but she did not feel any better.

On the 2^nd day Cricket reasoned with Jelly Bean, “Warm soup can cure any cold. I will go into the enchanted woods and bring back some mushrooms to make a soup for you.” So Cricket went through the long dark tunnel and emerged into the enchanted forest. She pranced only a short way before she came across some delicious looking mushrooms.

Jelly Bean slurped down all her soup but she only felt a little better.

On the 3^rd day Cricket told Jelly Bean, “The pine cones in the forest are magical. I will go into the enchanted woods and bring back a pinecone for you.” So Cricket went through the long dark tunnel and emerged into the enchanted forest. She skipped only a short way before she found a fallen pine cone which she dragged back.

Jelly gnawed on the pinecone but only felt a little better.

On the 4^th day Cricket told Jelly Bean “Don’t worry. I will go into the enchanted woods and find a cure for you.” But Jelly Bean met her on the way out. “I feel much better.” Jelly Bean said. “We can go together today.”

“But you didn’t feel well!” Cricket said. “And the pine needles didn’t work, and the mushroom didn’t work, and the pine cone didn’t work.”

“I guess sometimes you just have to wait and rest to feel better.” Jelly Bean said. And they both scurried off to enjoy their day in the enchanted woods.

Dance of the Rats

There were strange things happening in my house while I was away at work. When I came home at night somehow the Christmas tree lights were already on, though no one was here to turn them on.

This remained a mystery for a few nights until I came home early this Friday. I quickly found out that Cricket was magical, and with a little help from Jelly, was turning on the lights all by herself.

See for yourself.

Thanksgiving Feast of Rats

One day Jelly Bean happened across a giant table (giant compared to her) filled with delicious smells and food.

There was a roasted turkey with savory seasoning, creamy mashed potatoes topped with fresh melted butter, bread crumb dressing with celery bits, and rich gravy.

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She ate, and ate, and ate until she was so full she could not eat anymore.

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And when she stopped, she had eaten it all.

 

She was so full, she slept the rest of that afternoon and ate the lovely feast again in her dreams.

And so passed Thanksgiving in similar fashion for all of us.

The Enchanted Forest

One day, Jelly Bean the dumbo rat and Cricket the fancy rat were out exploring together. They came across a small tunnel, and Jelly immediately wanted to go inside.

“Now you just wait here and I will go in first,” said Cricket, remembering how Jelly had recently gotten herself stuck in a hole.

Cricket went in first and Jelly waited patiently. But when she could no longer here Cricket’s footsteps her curiosity became too much.

She started into the tunnel cautiously at first.  It wasn’t a deep tunnel, and she could not understand how Cricket could have disappeared.

As Jelly got further inside all things became darker and darker.

The tunnel was much longer on the inside than it had looked to her on the outside. And no matter how far she went she could not seem to find the end of it.

The tunnel was narrow and dark, and she let her whiskers guide her forward.

Jelly kept going even though she was beginning to be worried. The tunnel was becoming damp as water started to drip from the ceiling and formed a little stream.  Then she saw a light up ahead, and, she thought, the end of the tunnel.

When Jelly came to the end of the tunnel she looked out on a beautiful forest meadow.

Cricket was already there, enjoying the sunny woods.  “We shall have to remember this tunnel and come back here sometime.” Cricket said.

Jelly and Cricket stayed the rest of the day. Only when the sun began to set did they return home.

The Trixy Pixy Rat

Jelly Bean, the dumbo rat, had prepared ahead of time for all Hallows Night when she would go out into the world as the Trixy Pixy Rat and collect sweets.

The story behind the picture

After trying everything on to make sure it fit she put it aside to wait for the sun to set. “Cricket,” She said, looking for her best rat friend. But Cricket didn’t answer. Cricket was also trying on her ‘surprise’ costume and when Jelly found Cricket’s trick or treat bucket she couldn’t believe what was holding it.

“Cricket, is that really you?”

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Cricket-in-a-costume didn’t answer, and Jelly inspected her closely. She was beginning to worry that this costume was too good. “Oh no,” Jelly said, “Cricket, you have transformed into a spider! But don’t worry Cricket, I will go and find the magic that will change you back.”

But Cricket had not changed into a spider. Jelly Bean had made an erroneous assumption without any concrete evidence to back it up. So while Jelly Bean trotted off to find the magic, Cricket was also looking for Jelly Bean.

 And while Jelly looked high

 Cricket was looking low

 And while Jelly was looking Inside

 Cricket was looking outside

 And while Jelly was looking left, Cricket was looking right.

Jelly Bean was just about to give up when she found Cricket.

“You are not a spider!” She said.

“Of course not, you silly rat.” Cricket said.

A Tale of Spooky Hallow

Dear Robynn,

 

Once lived a spider named Charlotte

Who built her web over a garden pot.

Late at night, while she slept,

First it snuck, then it crept,

And left with her web; she’s distraught

Jelly asked ‘what makes you so sad?’

She told them of what she no longer had

“I weave in sun or rain

But each night is the same

Who is it, this sneak? This footpad?”

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“What could it be,” Jelly asked Cricket.

“Who is this sneak that could be so wicked?”

“I’m not sure let’s go see,

Be it a he or she,

For our friend Charlotte we seek it.”

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Once they had climbed back down to the ground

Cricket sniffed and then she searched all around;

Pieces of web and strings,

beside sticks and odd things,

that went downhill then up a mound.

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Led by a path of web and scents

Along to a eerie hallow they went

At a strange garden bed

A spooky pumpkin said

Go in, go on, I give consent

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Deep in the hallow, in misty gloom

Where things were still and silent like a tomb

Jelly said I found it here

She said it must be near

Above her head, she said, it loomed

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She ducked behind the pumpkin head

and Cricket ducked down inside instead

Up the web the thief came

And it seemed just the same

A second spider they saw with dread

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They hurried back to Charlotte then

and showed her where it was that they had been

Once back at the hallow

Jelly said with a swallow

Just here, I believe, is it’s den

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You do not need to take my web

You can make your own web, so Charlotte said

It’s all in the design

No need to steal mine

This is how to make one instead

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The thief was pleased with what he made

Jelly and Cricket were happy to aid

No more did he steal

Farewell this ordeal

All was well now so they played

Rockin’ Rats

Dear Robynn,

One day Jelly Bean, the rat, was feeling a little sad. She was thinking about the instruments Cricket had surprised her with a few weeks ago, but Jelly did not know what to do with them.

The story behind the picture

At first she tried to play the guitar, but she couldn’t figure out which side was up.

Jelly soon gave up and Cricket took immediate interest in the guitar and began fiddling with it. Cricket was learning quickly.

Jelly next approached the piano.

The piano was much easier for her to use, but the noises she made did not sound good. She played much too loud. Clung clung went the piano. She was quickly discouraged.

The  next day she tried again, but the noises she made did not sound good. She was too off beat. Ding dung ding, ding ding went the piano. She was quickly dispirited.

The next day she tried again, but the noises she made did not sound good. The piano was out of tune. Squeal and screech went the piano. She was quickly disheartened.

The next day, Jelly Bean did not try again. She spent long hours watching longingly as Cricket practiced.

When Cricket saw that Jelly was not playing she asked her what was the matter. Jelly told her that she could not make the piano sound good. “You must keep trying,” Cricket said. “The only way to become very good at something is to keep practicing, even if it takes a long time.”

Jelly Bean practiced with Cricket every day and she became better and better.

Soon they were both playing together.

They named their duo band Rockin’ Rats and produced several smashing hits such as

• Fuzzy Mizfits
• Mad Ratters
• ‘Lil Rugrats

You can look for their album cover:

But best of all, Jelly Bean learned that she really could play the piano, so long as she practiced.