The Maples
July Prompt Challenge, Day 6: Maple
Ms. Silver Maple was the type of mouse to never rush. That is, except for today. She was very much in a rush today, and for good reason.
She was late.
She scrambled down the small, unkempt path toward the meeting stump, hoping beyond hope that everyone else was also late. twigs snagged on her trousers, and she groaned as she heard the tell-tale sounds of fabric ripping.
“Of course this would happen today!” she squeaked as she threw her paws in the air. Normally, a small thing like this wouldn’t bother her—she could mend the rip quite easily—but today was not going her way. Between burning her tea cakes, spilling her acorn coffee on her first outfit, and sneezing into the flour bag and getting covered in flour, resulting in another outfit change, Silver was ready for the day to be over. “After the meeting,” she mumbled, removing the twigs from her clothing.
The meeting stump was the center of Thistlefold. Every animal that lived in the little community met here to for everything from daily duties to celebrations to catching up with old friends. Silver had never been so happy to see the stump and its mossy, mushroom-covered exterior. She slipped in through a gap in the bark and took a deep breath. It smelled like dirt and wood and freshly baked treats.
Home, she thought.
“Silver! Over here!” said a high-pitched voice.
Silver whipped around to see a petite, even by mouse standards, brown mouse whose fur was tipped with red. “Oh my whiskers! Red!” She ran to the mouse and enveloped them in a hug. “It’s been too long! I’m so sorry I’m late!”
“Nonsense! I just got here. And you’re right. It has been too long! But we can’t prevent our Silver from her grand adventures. Which, by the way, I expect to hear everything,” they said with a wink.
Silver’s cheeks burned. “Well, I—”
“Oh! Hold that thought”—Red waved at someone over Silver’s shoulder—“Sugar! We’re over here!”
It wasn’t long before Silver was tackled from behind. “I can’t believe you’re back!”
Silver was able to squirm around to face Sugar, a plump mouse covered in gray fur and wearing a floral head scarf. “Better believe it!” she said, returning the hug. They held each other a long while before Sugar broke off too look at Silver.
“I’m so happy. How long are you staying this time?”
A steaming mug of acorn coffee was thrust between the two. “When did you get this?” Silver said, flabbergasted.
“During your reunion,” Red chuckled.
Silver smiled. “You two are the best siblings a mouse could hope for.”
“Answer the question, silly. How long do we get you?”
“A long while.” Silver’s paws, which usually itched for her next adventure the minute she returned to Thistlefold, were obnoxiously silent. “It’s just really good to be home.”
So funny story: I misread yesterday’s prompt. I know! my own prompt! But I misread “mouse” as “mousse.” So today, I wrote a story about a mouse. I adore the Brambly Hedge stories and would, one day, love to write a whole universe like that but for adults. Illustrations included.
Welcome to Thistlefold.
This is so sweet! Also... I just thought it was a fun twist on the word mouse hahaha.