A Surprise For Nibbles

It was a bright and sunny day in Calico Valley.  Chester-Cheddar Norwood has moved in the little town a few weeks earlier.  He opened a bakery shop and was very busy making sure there would be plenty of baked good for the town folks.

His daughter Nibbles was helping him set up the pastry to-go-box and the cake display.  All the students were off from school for a whole two weeks for the Christmas holidays.  Nibbles could be outside playing but she knew her father had much to do so she wanted to help out.

Knock. Knock.

Outside the door was Candy Mulberry, a friend of Nibbles.

"Do you want to come outside and skate with me?" she asked the mouse.

"Thanks Candy but I can't right now!  There is too much work to do!  I like your coat! It's really pretty!" Nibbles replied, looking at her friend's coat with shiny eyes.

Nibbles liked Candy's bright red coat very much.  She didn't complain to her parents that her old winter coat didn't keep her very warm anymore with all its holes and tears.    But the family had spent so much to move and open a new bakery that she didn't want to bother her parents with something as trivial as a coat.

Next to the bakery was the general store which belonged to Candy's parents, the Mulberry Raccoons.  Mae Mulberry was talking to Brie Norwood.  The mother mouse was buying apples and jams for her husband's bakery.  They had so many apple pies and pastry orders.

"How is everything going dear?" asked Mae.

"It's such a lovely place here!  It's quite busy now with the Christmas orders coming in.  Do you sell fabrics?" Brie enquired.

Mae showed her a stack of bright colored fabric stacked on the floor. 

"This is just was I was looking for!  My little Nibbles needs a new coat!  Her old one is in tatters!"

A few days later, at the Norwood home, Brie and her husband told Nibbles to open a red box.

"But it's not Christmas yet!" the little mouse exclaimed.

"Yes dear but we would like you to open your present early so you can enjoy it now!" her father told her.

It was a beautiful red cape that Mrs. Brie Norwood made for Nibbles!

"Your mom noticed how old your coat was so she made you a new one!"

Nibbles hugged her mom tightly.

"Now go out there and enjoy your winter vacation!" the mother mouse told her daughter.

"But what about the bakery and the Christmas orders?"

"Don't worry sweetie pie.  We can handle it. You helped us enough!"

Nibbles ran to the park.  Her little brother Colby and Candy's brother, Ike,  were already playing on the snowy hills.

Nibbles was finally able to skate with her friend Candy on the icy pond.