Miss Moussie and Gustave were sitting in the Kitchen...It was very quiet on Hilltop Hall...The Dutchess was out..all the little creatures were minding there own buisiness,the alphabet safe and sound in the secret drawer,and the Gnome high and dry in the Cuckoo clock..So,nothing to worry about...
-'I dont know what it is'...twittered Miss Moussie...'I have this strange feeling inside...like when very unexpected things are about to happen...I don't like unexpected things...they can be very suspecious!'
-'Dearest Miss',croaked Gustave...'You worry to much,look ouside..the sun is shining...its a perfect day to go ice skating..come on...my pond is your pond...'
It really was a perfect day on the Hilltop...a bleu sky,clear crisp frosty air...and a red and orange sun...shining so bright that it looked like a big ball of fire..
In the snow a very beautiful bird was surching for breadcrumbs...he was sure to find them because our Dutchess never forgets to feed the little birdies from Chatter Creek....Today the Red Robin was very lucky to find bits of chocolate chip cookies..
Whilst he was nibbeling merrily he heard a voice sounding like a little jingling bell,it said...
-Please little Robin...may I nibble with you..cocolate chip cookies are my favorite..
The Robin looked up...to see where this little bell came from..and there it was..sitting on top of the bird feeder..an enchanting tiny creature..
Elvira takes her job as gate keeper very serious...come snow or come ice she is standing guard!
This is why she noticed the Robin talking to a little creature sitting on the bird feeder..Quickly she hurried over there to go see...
-'Goodmorning stranger',she asked with a gentle voice..'Who are you and what are you doing on top of the bird feeder..?'
-'Waiting to be fed.',jingled a voice sounding like sweet chiming bells ..
'I am ever so hungry..'
-'Then where is your home',asked Elvira curious,'and didn't they feed you over there?'
-The food was terrible at my place...chimed the little bells..and I heard from a very dear friend THIS was the place to be...in your garden! One of the greatest of greatest gourmet chefs should live here..I believe his restaurant is called.."Unexpected".
-'Well',said Elvira,'I do know a Gustave,and he is a great cook...but what I didn't know was that he started a diner..
-'My dear squirrel...it isn't a Diner..don't let the Great Gustave hear you say that...he is the most famous pasta maker ever...and his imaginary cookies won a prise in Paris..very unexpected...
-A Gourmet Chef ,in our garden,very unexpected indeed..said Elvira...I must go and find Gustave...see what he has to say about all this..But before I go, can you tell me your name, and who this dear friend of you is..the one who told you to come here..
-'My name is Bell...and the name of the friend who invited me here is Beauregard....he is very very nice with a sweet and kind look in eyes..'answered Bell.
-Beauregard....Elvira was puzzled...She knew everybody in the garden...and everybody in the Hilltop forest..but a Beauregard...Who could this be..
Elvira soon found Gustave..She heard from a little bird that Gustave was having tea with Miss Moussie in the Kitchen.
Gustave was enjoying some quiet time..looking out of the window...watching snowflakes fall..
Elvira hopped on the kitchen window seal and with a very elegant tap she politely knocked. .....
-'O ,there's Elvira'..twittered Miss Moussie..'she must be ever so cold standing guard at the garden gate all day..I will ask her in for a cup of tea'.
Whilst opening the window she squeaked..'Come in Elvira dearest,and sit yourself down by the fire'.
Elvira rushed in....taking with her a whirl of snowflakes...
She didn't take time to sit down but immediately started talking..
-'Gustave ,there is someone to see you at the gate...that is ..she is sitting on the bird feeder waiting to be fed...and she wants you do feed her...'said Elvira very exited!
Gustave,who was just stirring his tea...with four lumps of sugar..paused..
-'Did I hear you correctly Elvira'..he croaked puzzled..'I am sure I didn't understand you correctly..?'
-'He has to feed WHOM with whát...twittered Miss Moussie curious..'and whére...?'
-In his restaurant said Elvira...Unexpected...
-Unexpected ,twittered Miss Moussie,'unexpected..I knew something unexpected was about to happen..told you so..I hate unexpected things...they can be very suspicious...I want to know more about this'...and then she grabbed her bonnet,mittens, and coat,swooped down under the doormat, to wiggle herself through the crack in the wall,this wasn't easy to do wearing all this thick winter cloths..!
See how she runs.....followed in her tracks by Elvira...and ofcourse Gustave..
In the kitchen the Cuckoo clock stopped ticking...the little clock door opened and the Cuckoo came out...
-'This was the last cuckoo you will ever hear from me in this kitchen', it cuckood...'I am off...I packed my bags and I am going back to Cuckoo land...Farewell..!'
And with a bang the door closed behind him.
What happened up there..?
Miss Moussie arrived at the scene....
-'There it is',she whispered...'its sitting high and dry in the bird feeder...what a darling little creature..!'
Then..the darling little creature looked down on Miss Moussie and said...
-Hello down there....any chance you know the way to the restaurant dear mouse....
- 'You are in the wrong garden little one'...twittered miss Moussie..'There is no restaurant at our place'.
-'But there is there is'..croaked Gustave...who followed Miss Moussie to the bird feeder and now stood next to her..He was looking very anxious and couldn't stop fiddling his bow tie..
-'I know that look on your face...squeaked Miss Moussie..Tell me what's going on,and stop fiddling that tie...you are making me nervous..
Gustave took a deep breath and then and there he told Miss Moussie the great news about him winning the Great Gourmet Award and how he very unexpectedly got the idea to start a restaurant....in the garden...under the Lilac bush..this would make a perfect spot..especially in Summer..
For a minute Miss Moussie was speechless..this doesn't happen very often..
Taking her chance to interrupted the conversation between Gustave and Miss Moussie,from out of the bird feeder little Bell chimed...'Then,can we go and eat now..I am very very hungry..please I must warn you,when I don't eat on time I get very cranky and I become a very LOUD Bell'.....
Elvira introduced Bell to Miss Moussie and Gustave...they both were charmed by this little creature!
-'You are ever so welcome in my new restaurant',croaked Gustave,'but I'm afraid it will take a while before we can celebrate the grand opening..I was thinking somewhere in Spring..'
-'SOMEWHERE IN SPRING'...Bell chimed...'SOMEWHERE IN SPRING...BUT THEN I WILL STARVE TO DEATH..!'
-'O dear',twittered Miss Moussie covering her ears...'take it easy dear Bell,not so loud,we hear you...'
-'O NO you DON'T'...chimed Bell even louder....'YOU HEAR ME BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND...WHAT HAS TO BECOME OF ME...IT"S LIKE WITH LOVE..'
-'What is'..croaked Gustave,'and please little one,explain it to us gently..'
-'I CAN'T BE GENTLY WHEN I AM HUNGRY....I NEEEEEEEED TO BE FED...JUST ONE TINY PLATE OF YOUR FABULOUS PASTA...PLEASE...?'
Meanwhile in the kitchen...
Very slowly the door of the Cuckoo Clock opened...a familiar Gnome's face appeared.. humming..."What's this loud and disturbing racket I hear...wait a minute...I recognise that racket...its Bell's racket...!' Immediately,with a big leap the Gnome jumped down from the clock and ran out of the kitchen...into the garden..
As fast as lightning our little Gnome leaped through the garden....whilst humming, 'Bell Bell,is that you...where are you ma belle Bell......
Up,in the bird feeder, Bell saw something move in the distance...she abruptly stopped shouting...she saw a little figure coming closer...it leaped through the bushes with a very familiar leap..and it was humming a tune she heard before..
-Beauregard...chimed Bell...O Beauregard..its you...safe me..safe me......
Miss Moussie,Elvira, and Gustave, very curious gazed in the distance to see who, or what is was that approached them, and which apparently had the name...Beauregard.. !
-Leaping lizard's...croaked Gustave surprised,would you believe that..Its the Gnome..
-So THAT'S Beauregard...squeaked Miss Moussie..and started to giggle..
There, with a very courageous and also very spectacular jump, Beauregard landed next to Bell in the bird feeder...
-O...my....my hero ...stammered Bell...and then she fainted.....into Beauregard's arms...
-Goodness..what's wrong with the poor thing..twittered Miss Moussie....
-She really must have been very hungry,said Elvira...
-Indeed,said Beauregard..she was very hungry indeed...you know, its like with love...
-What is ...croaked Gustave...Bell was trying to tell the same thing...what is like love...
-Well,said Miss Moussie...I think I understand now...You have to nourish love....because when you don't.. things can go very wrong...love can disappear...or even worse..it can wither and die....so ,like our little Bell here...it has to be fed...and taken care of...
-I knew that...croaked Gustave..while he gave Miss Moussie a wink...Love is like to eat a big bowl of spaghetti...together.!.
Bell,laying safe in Beauregard's arms...sighed....and whispered....Take me home my darling....please...and she looked deep into Beauregard's eyes..
-Never fear my dear...said Beauregard...and holding Bell very close ,he leaped from the bird feeder....to disappear within seconds into Hilltop Hall...
