How many children are playing in the garden?' Grandpa asked.
'Six' answered Grandma.
'Never!' said Grandpa in pretend disbelief. 'Don't you mean sixty?'
'I'm going to take out some biscuits and lemonade for them now, that should bring a little quietness to the garden for a while' said Grandma and they both laughed.
The children saw Grandma carrying the tray and ran to meet her. They were very hot, and took their lemonade and biscuits into the shade of the large sycamore tree.
'Tell us one of your Grandpa's stories whilst we are sitting here' William said to Thomas and Bethan.
So they told their friends Grandpa's Squirrel story, seeing they were sitting under a sycamore tree.
It gave Thomas an idea!
'Let's play Zacchaeus' he said. 'I'll be Squirrel; you can be Zacchaeus, William; and you can be Jesus, Stephen.'
'What a super idea' William said, and, putting his empty glass down, he immediately began to climb the tree.
'Let me go first' Thomas shouted up to William. 'I'm the Squirrel, so I have to climb higher.'
The girls, Bethan, Ruth and Sharon looked at each other.
'I think it's a silly idea' said Bethan. 'You could fall.'
'We won't fall' said the boys scornfully. 'And you girls have to be the crowd which followed Jesus.'
'Don't go too high' called Sharon as she peered up into the branches.
And .. 'It's dangerous' added Ruth. 'The branches are too thin. You WILL fall'.
The boys took no notice and went on climbing, higher and higher.
'Silly boys, I'm going to tell Grandpa' said Bethan, and the three girls turned away and started to walk towards the house.
They hadn't gone far when what they feared, happened!
There was a 'Crack' a loud shout, and an awful thud. Thomas lay still on the ground!
'Tell Grandpa and Grandma' Bethan screamed to the girls as she ran back to her brother.
Grandpa and Grandma both ran out into the garden when the girls told them what had happened. Grandpa felt to see if there were any broken bones, then very gently picked up Thomas and took him into the house.
The Dr. was called and, after examining Thomas, said 'He will be fine in a day or two. Keep him in bed tomorrow.' Then, with a smile at Thomas' rather disgusted face at having to stay in bed, he left.
The next day Thomas was feeling much better.
'What a scare you gave us all' Grandma said as she took up his breakfast tray the following morning. 'I hope you wont climb any more trees.'
'Only little ones' Thomas said mischievously. 'Can I see Grandpa please?'
Grandma shook her head at him. 'What a boy' she muttered as she left the room and called Grandpa.
'Can I have two stories today please?' Thomas asked Grandpa. 'Seeing I have to stay in bed?'
Grandpa thought it was a good idea, and said 'I have the very stories as one follows on from the other. I'll just call Bethan.'
Bethan came up and sat on her brother's bed, and after asking how he was feeling, turned to Grandpa and asked 'Who is telling the story this morning Grandpa?'
A very solemn, wise, Owl' answered Grandpa.'Let us hear what he has to say.'

It was late, and the evening was casting long shadows across the stable when Donkey turned to Owl and said 'It's your turn to tell the story, tonight, Owl, I believe.'
Immediately the animals roused themselves. It had been a very hot day and the heat had made them very weary. However, now that it was story-time they began to brighten up, and they looked at Owl expectantly.
'Yes, it's my turn to be storyteller tonight' he agreed. 'And I hope I can tell my story as interestingly as you told yours' he added courteously.
Just then in flew Crow 'Wait for me' he said as he flew up to the rafters and deliberately knocked off one sparrow after the other as he walked along. He thought this a great joke and cawed loudly with delight.
Owl looked up at Crow, his large eyes flashing angrily. 'This is too wonderful a story for your nonsense' he said.
'You may stay, Crow, on one condition' brayed Donkey loudly. 'And that is that you quieten down and behave yourself. Otherwise I shall ask you to leave.'
'Throw him out now' growled Mr. Cat.
Crow muttered to himself but sat quietly not wishing to be asked to leave.
Satisfied that they were now all ready and comfortable, Owl cleared his throat and began.
'My story, of course, takes place at night. I was swooping around the Mount of Olives one evening when I saw a number of people coming towards me. I wondered what they were going to do as not many people go there at night, so I decided to have a rest, and settled myself comfortably on a branch to watch. They all sat down, very wearily, I thought, except one man who walked a short distance away, then knelt down to pray.'
He coughed. 'As you know' he continued, I have perfect hearing as well as perfect eyesight, so I could hear what He said.'
'There's nothing like being proud of oneself' squeaked a little mouse in the corner of the stable.
The Owl turned his great eyes towards the mouse. 'I should watch what I said, if I were you' he growled.
The mouse understood!!
Seeing that all was quiet again, the Owl continued his story.
'I had realised by now that the man was Jesus, so I took particular notice of what was happening. I saw Him return to His Disciples, who, by now, were fast asleep.
His face was full of sorrow as He looked at them and said 'Come, get up, look the one who will betray me is here.'
The animals were horrified. Someone was going to betray their beloved Master?
'No! This couldn't be' they thought. Anxiously they listened to hear what happened next.
'I could hear the sound of a great crowd coming' Owl said. 'And the Garden began to fill with light from their lanterns. I could see the weapons in their hands.'
A shocked 'NO' was heard. 'OH, NO!'
The animals couldn't believe it.
'A man stepped out from the crowd' went on Owl. 'And he kissed Jesus on the cheek. I then heard Jesus say "Judas, how can you do this - betray the Messiah with a kiss?"
'The disciples were now getting angry and upset, and they asked "Master, shall we fight? We brought along the swords."
'What happened? What happened?' asked one of the pigeons flying round the stable in his distress.
'One of Jesus' disciples drew his sword, and cut off the ear of the High Priest's servant' answered the Owl.
'Good!' cawed the Crow.
'Did that start a battle?' twittered the sparrows hopefully, hopping from one foot to the other.
The Owl looked thoughtful and rather sad as he said 'No. I saw Jesus stretch out His hand and heal the servant's ear. A Miracle at a time like this!' and he shook his head in amazement.
'There was no battle?' asked Mr. Cat in astonishment.
'No battle' agreed Owl softly.
All went quiet in the stable, then the silence was broken by Donkey.
'What happened to my Master then?' he asked softly.
'They took Him away' sighed Owl. 'He had to finish the work He came to do.'
The animals nodded, but there was a sadness in the stable.
'I saw Jesus after He left the Garden' said hedgehog quietly.
'Shall I tell you my story tomorrow night? It's sad at first, but happy afterwards.'
'Oh, please do' squeaked the mice. 'We do like stories with happy endings.'
'Then I shall see you tomorrow evening' hedgehog said as he stood up and shook his spines.
'Good-night everyone' and he walked into the dusk of evening thinking of Jesus, and the great sacrifice He had made to give others eternal life.
E.Aynsley. ©

Luke CH.22 Vs.39 to 54