Elke avond, nadat de laatste tonen van de laatste band zijn weggestorven, heeft Selena een verhaaltje voor het slapen gaan voorgelezen. Dit verhaal, geschreven door Rianne Werring, speciaal voor deze tiende editie van CaDansa, is hieronder terug te lezen.<\/p>\n
On a weekday in October the Squirrel went out to buy
\nFlags on strings and big balloons; ingredients for pie;
\nsnacks and drinks and everything: whatever caught his eye
\nand dinner! Would he order in? Italian or Thai?<\/p>\n
Walking trough the aisles he got his calculator out
\nwho would be attending? There was Fox, without a doubt,
\nhis neighbors Bee and Octopus would also be about
\nand his best buddy Peacock who he could not do without!<\/p>\n
Friend Otter might be coming, and if Owl could make his way
\nhe would surely be attending, and might bring along a prey!
\nSuch as Mouse or Hedgehog, who would most likely stay
\nand join the celebrations on this very special day.<\/p>\n
If Whale would be attending he would need everything twice
\nfor a Whale cannot be satisfied with just a single slice
\nof pie or cake or pizza; and seafood would be nice
\nto share with buddy Otter (Cockels, to be precise!).<\/p>\n
For each and every friend the Squirrel brought a special threat:
\nthe Peacock preferred insects, the Fox would want some meat,
\nfor the Bee he\u2019d gather flowers, and pollen from each weed
\nhe wanted to provide them with a favourite dish to eat.<\/p>\n
What would he do for drinks? Just water for his friends?
\nHe\u2019d rather serve them tea, or wine, delicious coffee blends
\nthese were his best of buddies, so he\u2019d spare no expense
\nfor a good host must be generous, I\u2019m sure one comprehends.<\/p>\n
The Squirrel carried all his bags towards his treetop house
\non the way he met with Herbert Frog and spoke to Mrs Grouse
\nhe tip-toed past his neighbors \u2013 Bee and Owl and Mouse \u2013
\nwhose curious suspicions he did not wish to arouse<\/p>\n
and began the preparations for what surely would be known
\nas the single greatest party anyone had ever thrown
\nfirst: to write the invitations! A chore no longer to postpone
\nor the Squirrel might end up at his birthday all alone.<\/p>\n
Next: the entertainment! The Squirrel liked to dance
\nHe\u2019d waltz and jig for hours if he only had the chance
\nto have live music at his party fitted perfect in his plans
\nso he took a look on Facebook and arranged himself some bands.<\/div><\/div>\n
He stared with worry at his tea. Had he done something wrong?
\nWhen they all went for coffee, should he have come along
\neven though he felt unwell? Was he just too withdrawn?
\nOr when they discussed politics, did he come on too strong?<\/p>\n
\u2018I can\u2019t abort the party now, the bands have all been booked!\u2019
\nhe whispered softly to himself and tensely tapped his foot.
\nSurely something had gone wrong, he\u2019d been misunderstood!
\nHe should go out and ask his friends who lived inside the wood.<\/p>\n
Thus Squirrel got dressed and went outside, bringing a slice of bread.
\nHe did not have to look for friends: a friend found him instead.
\nHis neighbor Bee was passing by. \u2018Hello, dear Bee!\u2019 Squirrel said,
\n\u2018Tell me: have you got any plans for the weekend up ahead?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Plans?\u2019 said Bee, \u2018I think I don\u2019t, but let me check my phone.\u2019
\nSquirrel oggled him: \u2018Is this a joke?\u2019, he was about to groan
\nbut then it clicked inside his mind: of course, he should have known!
\nThey wanted to surprise him with a party of their own!<\/p>\n
In that case he would play along, he thought, and said: \u2018Oh, well!
\nIt\u2019s fine, I was being polite, you really couldn\u2019t you tell?
\nI probably should move along, you know. No time to dwell!\u2019
\nAnd he took off, leaving Bee be, without saying farewell.<\/p>\n
\u2018Phew, that was close,\u2019 he muttered, as he climbed out of the tree
\nAnd, having been preoccupied, avoiding neighbor Bee,
\nhe walked into another friend, a woodland bird who he
\ndespite his huge and fancy feathers somehow failed to see.<\/p>\n
\u2018Oi, Squirrel!\u2019 said Peacock, \u2018Fancy that! How ever have you been?
\nYou\u2019re looking kinda different: tired, and a little lean
\nis it because you\u2019re working on a brand new dance routine?
\nAlso: ain\u2019t it your birthday, this close to Halloween?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018That\u2019s right,\u2019 Squirrel said, a bit confused, but glad that he remembered
\nespecially since Peacock could be a bit self-centered.
\nHe recognized this small remark for what it represented
\nmore evidence of a surprise! So sweet of him! How splendid!<\/p>\n
\u2018Alright then,\u2019 said Peacock, \u2018that\u2019s mighty good to know.
\nI\u2019m glad I stumbled upon you and got to say hello.
\nBut, as I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll understand, I\u2019ve really got to go.
\nI\u2019d planned to meet with Octopus about an hour ago!\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018In that case, you should hurry,\u2019 the Squirrel said in reply
\nGive all my love to Octopus and tell her I said hi.\u2019
\n\u2018I will,\u2019 said Peacock, \u2018See you soon!\u2019 They hugged and said goodbye.
\nPoor Squirrel still was not aware that things had gone awry!<\/p>\n
Because the invitations to the party he would host
\nwere still sitting in his house and did not join the post.
\nThe Squirrel forgot about them, having been so engrossed
\nin the planning for the party that this went undiagnosed!<\/div><\/div>\n
\u2018Squirrel?\u2019 Octo said, \u2018Not really, no. I have to admit
\nI have this sinking feeling he\u2019s been avoiding me a bit.
\nOr maybe I\u2019ve been busy, you know, that could be it!\u2019
\nshe said, drinking tea, ironing, and working on a mitt.<\/p>\n
\u2018You have been rather busy. I do not understand
\nyou always have a chore to do, or a job at hand!\u2019
\n\u2018I know that,\u2019 Octo said bemused, \u2018it\u2019s not like I had planned
\nto add another hobby as a drummer in a band!\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018You drum? But that\u2019s so awesome!\u2019 Peacock shouted out,
\n\u2018You\u2019ve dreamed of drumming ever since your tentacles came out!\u2019
\nI\u2019m happy for you, truly. Would I be allowed
\nto join your next performance as a member of the crowd?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018We don\u2019t do such big venues yet,\u2019 said Octo, with a laugh
\n\u2018but if we ever do, you would be welcome on our staff.
\nWe have a gig this weekend, I could, on your behalf
\nask if you could come along, then you could help Giraffe\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n
She paused, and then fell silent. The Peacock asked: \u2018What\u2019s wrong?\u2019
\n\u2018I have to check a little something,\u2019 Octo said. \u2018Hang on.\u2019
\nShe grabbed her laptop. While she searched, she hummed a little song.
\n\u2018It seems that Squirrel has planned a party for his birthday all along!<\/p>\n
It\u2019s in my mail. He booked my band!\u2019 The Octopus exclaimed.
\n\u2018But we didn\u2019t get an invite,\u2019 Peacock bitterly complained.
\n\u2018None of us did, \u2018cause Squirrel forgot!\u2019 Octopus explained.
\n\u2018You know come autumn Squirrel becomes extremely scatter-brained.\u2019<\/p>\n
The Peacock sighed out heavily. \u2018Very well, what can we do?\u2019
\n\u2018We should go inform our friends: we both could call few
\nto inform them of what has been up, and then if they do too
\nthen all will be resolved before the birthday party\u2019s due.\u2019<\/p>\n
So Peacock called on Fox and Bee, who in turn told Otter
\nwhich lead to her taking a swim towards the deeper water.
\nShe wasn\u2019t at all upset that Squirrel had forgot her:
\nfor all his brilliant qualities he was a rotten plotter.<\/p>\n
After a little searching Otter came upon a trail,
\nfollowed it towards the shore and to her buddy Whale
\n\u2018Hey Whale,\u2019 said she, \u2018how have you been? Have you received my mail?\u2019
\n\u2018What? No mail, I haven\u2019t,\u2019 said the big guy and turned pale.<\/p>\n
\u2018Oh, I can see it on your face! Why don\u2019t you wanna come?\u2019
\nThe Whale muttered: \u2018I cannot go.\u2019 He sounded very glum.
\n\u2018If I stay out of water I will shrivel and go numb!\u2019
\n\u2018Don\u2019t worry so,\u2019 said Otter. \u2018We\u2019ll think of something, chum!\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Oh no!\u2019 said Whale, \u2018for I recall last time I was invited
\nand I really didn\u2019t like the solution you provided!
\nIt was nice of you to try, but the party was divided
\nbetween you guys and the aquarium, I felt really off-sided.\u2019<\/div><\/div>\n
As the autumn moon climbed towards velvet, starry dark,
\nOctopus arrived with Giraffe, Warthog and Lark
\nthey set up their instruments, then waited for the mark.
\nSoft music started playing all around the woodland park.<\/p>\n
Squirrel in his treetop house was feeling torn asunder
\nwhat should have been his anniversary had turned into a blunder.
\nHe was about to drown his sorrow when the music came from yonder.
\nHe paused to put his glass down and he looked up in wonder.<\/p>\n
What was going on outside? He went to have a look.
\nThe incredible display of joy had the poor Squirrel shook.
\nParty lights were strung from every branch and every nook
\nand a dance was going on in which each animal partook.<\/p>\n
The Owl landed on his porch, with Mouse between his jaws
\nwho held a tiny party hat between his tiny paws.
\nThe Hedgehog on the Owl\u2019s back had a bullhorn in his claws.
\nhe shouted: \u2018Happy birthday, Squirrel!\u2019 A deafening applause<\/p>\n
could be heard around his tree, followed by loud cheers
\nof \u2018Happy anniversary!\u2019 and \u2018To ten amazing years!\u2019
\nNext, a song sung in his honour landed on his ears.
\nIt was all so overwhelming that the Squirrel burst into tears.<\/p>\n
\u2018I can\u2019t believe you all still came!\u2019 the Squirrel muttered, crying.
\n\u2018It took a bit of planning,\u2019 Owl laughed, \u2018there\u2019s no denying!
\nBut our love for dance and friendship will always be undying!
\nNow come on down and dance with us!\u2019 he said, and went down flying.<\/p>\n
And so the woodland animals all danced for days on end
\nspend hours listening to music or talking to a friend
\nor partaking in workshops \u2013 there were so many to attend! –
\nin which learn the tarantella or how to play an instrument.<\/p>\n
The Squirrel had the best of times, despite the initial stress
\nof all the party planning and his wishing to impress
\nwith balloons and garlands, cakes and pies and more excess
\nwhen all he needed were his friends to make the party a success.<\/p>\n
And I know you are still wondering: did Whale come along?
\nHe did, he had a ton of fun and he too danced till dawn!
\nHow did they get him to attend? That didn\u2019t take to long
\nonce they promised him that they would keep all of the sprinklers on.<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Elke avond, nadat de laatste tonen van de laatste band zijn weggestorven, heeft Selena een verhaaltje voor het slapen gaan voorgelezen. Dit verhaal, geschreven door Rianne Werring, speciaal voor deze tiende editie van CaDansa, is hieronder terug te lezen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3937","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n