Lily was worried, in fact she was scared. She, and her family, were in the right hand corner of the wall right up beside the ceiling, and they could see that Haman, the Prime Minister, was angry. In fact he was very angry. Why? Because Mordecai wouldn't bow down to him.
Mordecai's friends were also very worried and Lily had heard them ask him why he wouldn't bow down to Haman. 'You know how nasty he can be' they had said.
'I can't' Mordecai had answered. 'I am a Jew and I only bow down to God.'
And now, here was Haman marching up and down the room in a terrible rage. 'That is no excuse' he had shouted when he heard what Mordecai had said. 'I want everyone to bow down TO ME!!' He was so full of pride that he decided to take his revenge not only on Mordecai but on all the Jews in the whole Kingdom, and he determined to kill them all.
When Lily heard this she ran to the stable "Gecko-o" she called "Gecko-o". Her friends, hearing her distressed call, also ran or flew as quickly as they could to join her.
'What is it?' asked Jeremy worriedly.
'It's that wicked Haman' she gasped. 'He is plotting to kill all the Jews.'
'What!' they all shouted, and the sound of their voices echoed round and round the yard.
'It's because Mordecai wont bow down to him' Lily explained.
'Of course not' agreed Jeremy. 'He should only bow down to God.'
'That's exactly what Mordecai says' Lily said.
'What can we do?'
'The King would never let him kill all the Jews'
'Who does Haman think he is?'
'We must stop him'
Everyone was talking at once.
'I wish I was an Eagle' said Lydia as the noise died down. 'I'd pick him up and drop him on the highest mountain and keep him there' and she stamped her tiny foot.
They all laughed at her angry little face, and this seemed to calm them down a little.
'I think we should pray to our Heavenly Father, and tell Him how worried we are' said Jeremy. They all agreed, and little heads were bowed, little paws came over their eyes, and little wings hid their faces. Jeremy prayed, and then said 'Now we must wait to see what God will do.'
'Yes' they said, and they went home feeling very much happier.
Only Patch, the stable dog, stayed with Jeremy and they quietly talked over what they had just heard.
Over the next few weeks Lily told them everything that was happening - how sly Haman had been when he talked to the King, and how letters had been sent to every Governor telling them to kill all the Jewish people on the 28th February. The animals couldn't believe it.
'But we prayed' said Lydia, wiping away a tear.
'I know it sounds dreadful' agreed Jeremy. 'But trust our Heavenly Father. He knows best - just you wait and see.'
And Patch barked loudly in agreement.
Some time later as all the animals were chatting in Jeremy’s stable the pigeons flew in and Peter told them 'Mordecai is very upset.'
'I know he has given a copy of Haman's letter to Esther' said Paul, another pigeon - 'I saw him.'
'He wants Esther to ask the King to save her people' added Moony, a little mouse - I was there.'
'Yes, he believes God has led Esther to the Palace to be Queen for this very purpose - to save her people, and herself, of course' added Peter.
‘What did Esther say?’ asked a rabbit with a scared look on her face.
‘At first she reminded Mordecai that anyone who went into the King’s inner court without being invited, was put to death’ said Peter.
‘That is correct’ agreed Jeremy. ‘Everyone knows that.’
‘Oh, dear’ whispered the rabbit. ‘That means Esther wont be able to see him. What can be done now?’
Lily laughed ‘Esther has found the answer’ she said triumphantly. 'She has asked all her people to pray for her, and I think we should too.'
So that is exactly what they did.
'I'll be back as soon as I hear any more news' Lily assured them as the friends all left the stable, and Jeremy and Patch watched them until they were out of sight.
"Gecko-o, Gecko-o" came a very excited call a few days later as Lily hurried into the stable.
‘I must tell you what has been happening’ and she went on to explain how Esther had dressed in her royal robes, and had stood in the King’s inner court. ‘And the King was so pleased to see her’ said Lily almost falling off the wall in her excitement.
‘What happened? What happened? almost shouted the mice and the rabbits.
Lily took a deep breath. ‘Esther invited the King and Haman to a Banquet!’
A Banquet? For wicked Haman? There was a shocked silence in the stable.
‘And I’m going to be there’ Lily assured them. ‘I want to see what God and Esther are planning. ‘I’ll see you later!’ and with that she quickly ran down the wall, across the stable and disappeared from view.
Elizabeth Aynsley ©