The young Otters had found a new game, it was brilliant! They loved it, that is when they could stop laughing long enough to play it!
Great-Gran, watching them from the river bank, had laughed so much her sides were aching.
The Game had actually been Larry's idea and at first the Otters had thought it a crazy idea but then, after lots of encouragement from the other animals who could see how hilarious it could be, the Otters had also come round to thinking it could be quite a good game. The idea was that the five Lizards would run across the water to where the Otters were lined up at the starting point,and then take a huge leap and land on the Otters. The Otters would then race to the finishing point which happened to be another willow a short distance away. It sounds easy BUT!!!!
So Great Gran again watched as the five young Otters lined up at the starting tree - a willow whose branches almost fell into the water - and the five Basilisk Lizards, Lily, Lenny, Laurie, Larry and Lucy, waited for the signal to begin.
'Are you ready?' squeaked Ollie, the tiniest Otter. 'Yes' called the Lizards. Then when I say 'GO' you start running. 'GO' he called, and off set the Lizards immediately. All the Lizards' cousins were there lots of Frogs were watching two Kingfishers were almost falling out of their tree with laughing the Squirrels were dancing up and down in excitement, and many other animals and birds lined the river bank and looked down from the trees.
'Come on, Lenny' shouted Zeb, 'Larry is already on Rema's back.'
'It's easy for you' gasped Lenny as he surfaced once again. 'I just wish you weren't so slippery!'
A burst of applause greeted Larry as he stood up on Rema's back, so he decided to take a bow, BUT as he bowed, he lost his balance, slid down Rema's back and plopped into the water! How everyone laughed.
It really was the best game ever.
Across the water then sped Laurie at a great speed, up he leaped, landed on Oscar, skidded right across his back, down his side and back into the water in a matter of seconds! It was great fun!
'Do they ever manage to climb up and stay there?' asked Mum who had just arrived in time to see the latest antics.
'Yes' laughed Great-Gran, 'Eventually, they do, and the race is just as funny.'
So Mum and the older Otters all stayed to watch.
The Lizards ran, leaped, skidded, slid and plopped time and again but, as Great-Gran had said, 'eventually' they were all on the Otters' backs and ready for the race.
'Are you all ready?' squeaked Ollie the tiniest Otter.
'Yes' whispered the Lizards who didn't dare shout in case they fell off again.
'Then when I say GO, you, Oscar, Rema, Oriela, Lois and Zeb, swim as fast as you can to the next willow tree and back again.

Loud cheers of encouragement broke out from the trees, the bank and the sides of the river. Off they shot with the Lizards desperately trying to cling on to the spiky hairs of the Otters' coats but they were so oily it was very difficult. One Lizard crouched down, one lay flat, two stood up, and the fifth Lizard just slid straight off! By the time they reached the willow tree only one Lizard was still clinging on. It was Lily who was riding on Oriela. Carefully Oriela turned to swim back whilst the others tried to climb back up again. And it was Lily and Oriela who won the race. When they were all back everyone cheered, clapped and laughed.
'Are you going to have another race?' asked one of the Kingfishers.
'No, not yet' panted Larry who had fallen off more times than he could count!
'No' agreed the Otters. 'We think it's time to hear the next part of Great-Gran's story.
'You aren't too tired, Great-Gran are you?' asked Rema who had seen Great-Gran laughing until she was almost exhausted.
'Oh no' Great-Gran answered. 'It was such fun watching you I feel almost young again myself' and she smiled at them all.
'You know, Great-Gran, you never told us yesterday which was your favourite.' Zeb said.
Great-Gran looked at all her family, and at the happy sweet faces of her great-grandchildren and a lump came into her throat as she said 'Otters! Yes, of all God's creatures, I love YOU best of all.'
'The children didn't say a word, just looked at their dear Great-Gran with eyes full of love, so she coughed, swallowed hard, and asked 'Shall I begin?'
'Yes, please' they answered, and this is the second part of her story:-

'After the Holy Ones created all the fishes and creatures of the seas, rivers and ponds, they said "Let us create birds to fill the skies, and all winged creatures to fly around and be happy". And they did.'
'You saw them all Great-Gran?' asked Lois.
'Yes, we couldn't move from the river bank, it was so fascinating. We saw Heavenly Father make an Eagle - of course we didn't know his name at that time, that came later. But what a magnificent bird he was.
'You will be happy amongst the high mountains" Heavenly Father told him. "You are both majestic - mountain, and bird" and the Eagle flew off, quickly followed by others which Heavenly Father created.
Jesus was very busy making lots of big black birds "You have many great things to do in the future" He told them.
'I saw the Ravens look at each other, then at their black coats, then at the soaring Eagles, and the beautiful pink Flamingoes which the Holy Spirit was painting, and they looked sad'.
"Oh, no, you mustn't feel sad, you are beautiful too, see how the sunlight makes your coats shine and glisten - and remember, one day you have a very important task to do for us, you will never be forgotten"
'And Jesus stroked their shiny heads. The Ravens felt happier then, and they flew proudly up into the trees where they chattered amongst themselves.'
'I expect they were wondering what their important task would be' said Oscar.
'Do you know what it is?' asked Lois. 'Not really' Great-Gran replied. 'But I did hear the Holy Ones say something about their feeding a Prophet.'
'What! The Ravens feed someone else, Ha Ha' laughed Zeb. 'They would eat it all themselves, it's impossible!'
Great-Gran looked at Zeb. 'When the Holy Ones call you to do something for them then they give you the strength and ability to do it. With God nothing is impossible.'
Zeb looked uncomfortable. 'Sorry' he said. 'I forgot'.
'That's all right' Great-Gran smiled at him. 'Everyone seems to forget at times. Perhaps that's why some things take such a long time to get done, we forget how Great the Holy Ones are.
Now then' she said as she changed the subject. 'What else can I remember? ..... Oh yes' and she laughed.
I saw Heavenly Father go across to the paint pots, and He looked at Jesus and their eyes sparkled. "Yes" said Jesus, 'Let's use all the bright colours on one bird shall we?'
And Heavenly Father said "We shall make the world a bright and beautiful place, with colours that glow and shine and shimmer."
"Colours as bright as the flowers" agreed Jesus. "You tell me when you have finished painting, Father, and I'll tell you when my bird is finished" and they laughed, they were enjoying themselves so much.
'And what did they paint?' asked Oriela.
'Heavenly Father painted a bright Macaw, all orange and blue and yellow and green. How it sparkled in the sunshine. And Jesus painted a Princess Parrott of light blue, olive green and violet with a purple grey chest and a pink throat, yes, and a very long tail! Oh! how they flashed as they flew around.'
'What about us?' asked two Mandarin Ducks who had quietly flown down to land beside them. 'Aren't we beautiful too?'
'Of course you are' the Otters agreed as they looked at the Ducks bright plumage of orange, white, green and blue and their bright red beaks.
'I don't think I could choose a favourite bird' said Rema as she watched the shimmering colours of the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds as they flew by.
'Who painted the Peacock with its amazing tail?' asked Zeb. 'I think they are my favourites.'
'I can't remember' Great-Gran wrinkled her brows, 'But I do remember when the Holy Spirit created the snowy white Dove, so gentle and so beautiful. Heavenly Father stroked her and said "You, too, have work to do for us. You will show people my Beloved Son one day" and the Dove cooed with pleasure and rubbed her cheek against our Father.
A little sigh, and a soft 'Aah!' was heard as the Otters and the other animals thought of their gentle friend.
Then their silence was broken as a Hoopoe ran along the bank, his head feathers, a crest of brown tipped with black and white, bobbing up and down as he shrieked "Hoopoe, Hoopoe" in an effort to win his race against the Roadrunner! They all laughed.
'The Holy Ones have a sense of humour' observed one of the older Otters.
'Yes, they do' Great-Gran nodded. 'They are happy, and loving, and they care for all of us from the powerful Eagles to the tiniest sparrows and wrens - they are altogether wonderful!'
'Altogether wonderful' everyone agreed as the sun began to set.
'May we all come again tomorrow?' asked a Mountain Bluebird. 'I'd love to hear the rest of your story.'
'Of course you may' said Great-Gran, and the air filled with the radiant colours of Kingfishers, Bluebirds, Swallows and Birds of Paradise as they made their separate ways home.
'Altogether wonderful' murmured Great-Gran as she closed her eyes and in her memory saw again the wonderful Garden, and the Holy Ones she loved.

Elizabeth Aynsley 1995©