The Christmas Mouse

Sammy the Mouse loved Christmas. The lights, presents wrapped in their gleaming paper, the sweet-smelling Christmas tree—and especially the delicious, scrumptious Christmas treats! Sammy lived in a cozy house which was inhabited by a family with three children, who often dropped tantalizing crumbs of cookies and chocolate.  His own mouse hole was adorned with decorations which he had ‘borrowed’ from the humans.     

 

     Yes, Christmas was truly a wonderful time of the year. But something always seemed to be missing. Why did everyone celebrate Christmas? How was Christmas invented? What was the true meaning of Christmas? Sammy was confused by these questions, and he wanted to know the answers. Did they celebrate Christmas because of the presents? The food? The more he thought about it, the more determined the mouse became to discover the answer.  

 

      One night he awoke from his sleep to find he was lying on something hard and cold. Sammy squeaked and sprung to his feet. He was standing on a large rock on a grassy hill. The sun was casting an orange glow over the land. Wait. A field? Where was he? Horrified, Sammy spun in a circle, willing himself to wake up. It was a dream, right? But it felt all too real for that.  “Excuse me,” bleated a voice behind him.  Sammy turned and saw a sheep standing before him. “What—where am I?” The mouse cried. The sheep looked at him stunned. “You’re in Bethlehem,” he answered. “The city of David.” The sheep nodded downhill, to a small town. The streets were filled with people. Sammy found his voice. “Why are there so many people?” he asked, “Because of the census,” answered the sheep. “Caesar Augustus of Rome declared that everyone must go to their hometown to be registered.” Caesar Augustus! He had lived thousands of years ago! Had Sammy travelled back in time? He looked around and saw a whole flock of sheep on the hill. Five men stood nearby, with staffs in their hands. Shepherds, Sammy realized. Suddenly a bright light shone all around them. The shepherds gasped and looked up. Sammy looked up too, and saw, in the sky a majestic angel, shining with light. Sammy gasped, filled with awe. The shepherds fell to the ground. The angel spoke. “Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people! For unto you in the City of David is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Then suddenly with the angel appeared a host of angels, singing, “glory to God in the highest!” As suddenly as they had come, the angels were gone, and the sky was once again dark and still.   

        

“We must go and find the baby!” cried the shepherds and Sammy leaped off the rock and jumped into one of the shepherd’s satchels. He was thrilled and knew he had to go see what the angel had spoken of.  

 

     At last, the shepherds came to a stable outside the town. Sammy wrinkled his nose at the smell of manure. Inside the stable, knelt a woman and a man. They were kneeling over a manger.  Sammy paused as he entered, he felt a warmth and a sort of comfort that was unusual for a dirty stable. He strained to look at what was inside the manger. It was a baby boy, wrapped in white rags. His face seemed to shine with a radiance that filled Sammy with awe and joy. He jumped out of the shepherd’s bag and climbed up on the manger. The baby looked straight at him, and Sammy felt an indescribable love, so immense and overwhelming he nearly fell over. The shepherds knelt. “What is his name?” one asked. 

 

The woman stroked the baby’s face. “Jesus,” she said softly. Sammy bowed too, knowing that this was the Savior!     

        

     Then suddenly he woke up and he realized he was back in his mouse hole. Peering out, he heard the children were reading a story together. As he listened, he realized they were reading of what he had just witnessed in the stable. As the children finished the story, one of them said solemnly, “And that is the true meaning of Christmas! God fulfilling a promise made long ago.” Sammy was full of joy hearing the children’s words.

 

 “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given…and he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

 

Judges’ notes: Adia’s story scored significantly higher than any other story submitted this year. Each one of the four judges nominated it for a prize, and after careful consideration, voted to award two prizes to this talented young writer. Her story is both the Best Overall and the Best Religious Theme.

     Her story offers a pleasing and cozy experience and an engaging main character that serves as the device to bring the reader to the true story of Christmas magic – the nativity.