Does Santa visit mice?
This story is dedicated to Nina, who supports Story Nori on Patreon.
Hello, this is Jana, and I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
But here's a very important question for the season.
Does Santa visit everyone, including little mice?
In this story, our hero Jimmy Mouse investigates.
It was the night before Christmas, and the café by the sea was closing early.
The staff, by which I mean the owner and one waitress, packed up all the leftover cakes and sandwiches to take to the shelter for the homeless.
And then they swept and mopped and wiped until the floor, tabletops and counters were sparkly clean.
Have a good Christmas.
See you in the new year, said the owner to the waitress as she locked up for the final time that year.
These words were overheard by a clever little mouse.
Her name was Judith and she was always listening out for useful information.
She immediately popped back under the floorboards and scurried to find Grandpa Mouse.
Oh, bad news, Grandpa.
It is Christmas and the humans, well, they're slacking off for the entire week.
Grandpa shook his head.
Tart, tart, he muttered.
That evening at the family meeting, Grandpa was in a downcast mood. friends, mice, family.
This is a bleak midwinter.
The humans are a lazy, selfish lot.
Christmas is their favourite time of year because all they do is open presents, stuff their faces with delicious food and sleep.
But do they spare a second thought for us, the tiny creatures beneath their floorboards?
No, They are closing the cafe and we shall be hungry all week.
Sad little squeaks echoed all around as the mice knew how hungry they would be that Christmas.
But one mouse, Rodina, did not give up hope.
Excuse me, Grandpa Mouse, she said.
I heard the children in the cafe talking about an extraordinary elf.
He is old, like you, and has a snowy white beard.
And some people call him Santa, and others call him Father Christmas.
Every year, he rides a magical sleigh through the sky and brings everyone presents.
So we don't have to worry at all, because even if the cafe is closed, Santa will make sure we don't go hungry.
This idea cheered the mice up no end, and happy voices squeaked their approval.
But grumpy old Grandpa was having none of it.
That's nonsense, little mouse.
Santa only brings presents for the human children, not for us mice.
I'm afraid there won't be any presents.
There won't be any food and there won't be any heating.
We're all going to shiver and go hungry.
And so it was a sad collection of mice that went to bed that night.
Grandpa Mouse did not sleep easily.
He kept tossing and turning in his straw bed and thinking Young mice these days think the world owes them free presents and free food.
But in the morning he felt sorry that he had not tried to think of a way to give everyone a happy Christmas.
Then he brightened up as he thought.
Young Jimmy Mouse, he's the fellow for this.
At least he's got a bit of pluck.
When Jimmy heard his name being called by Grandpa... Jimmy, Jimmy, where are you, laddie?
He knew that a dangerous mission was in store for him.
Oh, bother, he thought.
Why is it always me?
Can't I take Christmas off from dangerous missions?
But no, he couldn't, because Grandpa needed a brave volunteer.
That was Jimmy, to venture into the town.
He must gather up as much food and as many presents as he could muster.
And then, when all the mice were nestled in their straw beds and not a creature was stirring throughout the cafe, he must leave gifts for every little mouse.
And don't let me down, Jimmy.
The success of this entire Christmas rests on your shoulders.
We expect you to do your duty.
It was Christmas Day and everything was quiet around town.
Only one little mouse was stirring.
But fortunately litter bins and alleyways behind the restaurants offered up tasty pickings.
He gathered up all the titbits into an old sock.
Meanwhile, back in the cafe, Judith Mouse had found some red napkins and was busy making them into a Santa costume.
When Jimmy returned, the little mice were asleep because there was nothing else to do that Christmas.
Judith proudly placed the hat she had made on Jimmy's head.
Oh, Jimmy, you look just like Santa does on the Christmas cards.
But Grandpa shook his head.
He doesn't?
You know, Jimmy, I think you're a little bit young to be Santa.
This is a job for an old fella like me.
And Jimmy and Judith had to agree that Grandpa would make a better Santa, especially with his white beard.
Grandpa dressed up in the scarlet costume and took the old sock full of presents up and down the floorboards, leaving little gifts for the sleeping mice.
Not all the mice were fast asleep.
Henry Mouse was only pretending to snooze.
So Rodina was right, he thought.
Santa does get round to visiting us mice eventually.
And when grandpa had finished his job, henry crept out of his straw bed and ate his present, some rather nice cashew nuts.
But as you may have heard, henry is an extremely greedy mouse.
True to his nature, he could not help eating some of the other delicious presents.
More nuts and raisins and some rather sharp salt and vinegar chips chocolate, biscuit crumbs and some mouldy cheese.
It was a huge feast for such a little stomach.
And Henry fell asleep, content.
Towards evening, the little mice started to wake up.
Well, are you all happy now that Santa has visited you after all?
Called out Grandpa Mouse.
But nobody was happy because nearly all the presents had been eaten by somebody.
Judith Mouse, who is rather smart, soon realised that somebody was Henry Mouse.
Oh Henry, how could you eat everyone's presents? she demanded.
But Henry's only reply was a groan because his stomach was too full.
And so it seemed that all was lost.
The mice really would be cold and hungry that Christmas.
But the feast of Christmas is not just one night.
It carries on for 12 nights.
And that night Judith Mouse, who is the only mouse in the family who has been to school, dipped a claw in some ink from the shop's printer and wrote a letter.
It went...
Dear Santa, I know you must be tired after delivering all those presents.
But please don't think it's rude of me if I point out that there is a family of mice that are missing out this Christmas.
Could you be so kind as to visit us?
And leave some presents.
Kind regards, your biggest fan, Judith Mouse.
It was one thing to write a letter.
It was another to send it.
Mice don't have email or WhatsApp or any of those things.
So posting it was another mission for Jimmy.
He had to take the letter, climb up a postbox and pop it into the slot.
They didn't have a stamp or an envelope and the post wasn't working that day because it was still Christmas.
However...
Letters to Santa go by magic, and therefore, none of that mattered.
Now I expect you can guess what happened next.
But first, here's a message from our friends at Wink, the bedtime-friendly podcast.
Each Wink Story is designed to help children slow down, settle their bodies and share a calm moment of connection with the grown-ups who love them.
The stories are 15 minutes or less, with no ads or interruptions, and they're thoughtfully made to be sensory aware, perfect for winding down restless evenings.
And they're fun too.
Think friendly monsters, funny animals and gentle little adventures you can enjoy together.
For example, take the story Too Many Owls.
It's a story about a well-meaning wizard who just wants some peace and quiet.
But every spell brings even more hooting owls.
Wink even offers simple bedtime gratitude ideas like sharing one good thing from your day or practicing a slow owl breath together.
Subscribe to Wink Stories for Better Bedtimes wherever you listen to podcasts.
Find the link to Wink in the description to this show.
Santa received the letter!
Oh, bother.
I suppose I'd better drop some things off for those hungry mice.
Now, Dasha, now, Dancer.
Now, Prancer and Vixen.
One more round before you can snuggle down in the hay.
Fortunately, santa can make himself into a tiny elf, because he has to sneak into all sorts of tight places, just like mice do.
Unfortunately, this time, henry mouse slept through it all.
You see, santa has some magic just to make sure that everyone is asleep and nobody ever sees him.
He's an invisible hero, which is unusual these days, because people are eager to take all the credit, not to mention fame and fortune.
In the morning, which was the day after Boxing Day, the hungry mice woke up to a wonderful Christmas breakfast and loads of presents like little hats and socks, Tiny mirrors and bits of paper with bad jokes on them.
Judith had to read all the jokes out loud for the others to laugh or groan at.
But every mouse had a wonderful, if slightly late, Christmas feast.
And there were enough Christmas leftovers to last until the new year.
And that was the answer to the great question.
Does Santa really visit everyone, including little mice?
And I want to wish everyone a very happy Christmas.
And I would also like to send our special greetings to Nina, six years old from Strasbourg, France.
She loves the Jimmy Mouse and Birdie stories.
Thank you, Nina, for supporting us on Patreon.
And have a very happy Christmas.
From me, Jana, at StoryNori.com.
Bye for now.
