'Hello Otters' called a family of Chaffinches who were perched on the branches of the Willow tree. 'Is it story-time yet?'
'Hello Chaffinches' the Otters called back. 'It isn't time yet, not until Great-Gran has had her afternoon nap.' The Chaffinches nodded.
'Then are you going to have a race again?' asked a group of Raccoons who were washing their paws in the river after finishing lunch. 'We heard all about it yesterday, and it sounded such fun we thought we would come along to see it.'
'And listen to Great-Gran's story ' added the eldest.
'When the Lizards come we will start the races' Oscar told them,
'Great!' shouted an Octopus who was swimming towards them, his arms and legs seeming to go in all directions.
Zeb giggled. 'Don't you find it awkward having so many arms and legs?' he asked.
'They are not arms and legs they are tentacles the Octopus replied huffily. 'And no, they don't get in the way, they are very useful' and to prove his point he reached out and caught hold of Lucy who had just skidded to a stop beside him, and then caught Lenny, then a Blueheaded Wrasse fish, and two little crabs. 'See what I mean?' he asked.
'That's great!' said Zeb. 'I wouldn't mind being an Octopus.'
'I thought you wanted to be a Flashlight fish' teased Oriela.
'And wouldn't you like to be us?' called a Paradise bird who was hanging upside down from a nearby tree and showing all his shimmering blue and green feathers.
'Oh!' Zeb gasped. 'What is it like to hang upside down?'
'Great fun' was the answer.
'I wish I could have one month with my own Flashlight; one month with lots of arms and ... sorry ... tentacles; and one month to hang upside down.'
All the creatures roared with laughter, especially when the tiny voice of a Ladybird asked 'And a month as me?'
Zeb had to peer hard to find her. 'You are very beautiful' he said 'And do good work, but I think, perhaps, I had better just stay as I am!'
'Good' agreed Lily. 'Now may we start the races?'
'You're only keen because you won yesterday' said Rema.
'Of course, and we are going to win today too, aren't we Oriela?'
'Yes, we certainly are' Oriela agreed.
And so the fun began again - run; leap; skid; slide; and Plop into the water. The creatures who hadn't seen the race before were curled up with laughter. The dogs were barking and jumping about, and the kittens were dabbing their eyes with their paws as tears of laughter ran down their faces. Then when all the Lizards had climbed up and were trying to balance, a Flying Frog, who had just arrived, shouted 'Can I join in?' and, not knowing what the game was about, or waiting for an answer, he gave a great leap, landed on Oscar's back, and sent Laurie flying!
Oscar got such a fright that he rolled over and knocked Lenny off Zeb's back!
Lucy turned round to see what was happening, lost her balance, and whoosh! into the water she, too, slid.
'What's happening?' asked Rema turning quickly, and Larry didn't have a chance, over Rema's head and down her nose he plunged, landing with a great splash in front of her.
This made Rema sneeze and nudge Oriela, and Lily, the last of the Lizards, fell head first into the water.
The river bank shook with laughter.
'Hello everyone, I'm Freddy the Flying Frog' he introduced himself as they were all swimming in the water. 'This is a great game, I like it!'
'It's not exactly meant to be like this' growled Zeb. 'The Lizards are meant to STAY ON!'
'Oh! I say! But it's much more fun this way don't you think?' asked Freddy.
The animals appeared to agree with him, although not one of them could speak for laughing.
Some of Freddy's brothers and sisters had joined him by this time shouting Look out! as they leaped from the trees.
'Why don't we all climb aboard?' suggested Freddy. 'A Lizard and a Frog to each Otter.'
'It wont work' argued Lois. 'It's hard enough trying to keep one of you on!'
'Oh do try' called the Peacock. 'You have no idea how much fun it is watching you.'
The Otters looked at each other, then at the Lizards, then nodded 'O.K. let's try.'
'We had better go first' decided the Frogs, 'As we leap from the trees.'
The Lizards definitely agreed!
But the Frogs found it was not so easy after they had missed the Otters altogether a few times, and skidded off a few more times. They were panting and hot and weary when at last they croaked 'Right, Lizards, up you come.'
Then it was the turn of the Lizards to leap and knock both the Frogs and themselves into the water. Such antics had never been seen before, and the laughter brought even more animals to watch the fun.
It even woke Great-Gran who yawned and stretched, and decided she would swim along and watch too. But by this time everyone was ready for her story, they just couldn't laugh any more!
'We are ready for your story, Great-Gran' they told her as she joined them. 'Our game will have to wait until another time.'
Looking at their hot and weary faces, Great-Gran agreed. 'I'll carry on with my story then' she said, and this is what she told them:-

'Your laughter and happiness reminds me of the Garden' Great-Gran began. Then she caught sight of the Raccoons. 'I remember when you were created' she said.
'You do?' The Raccoons pushed and nudged each other in delight. 'Who made us?' they asked.
'Jesus, God's Son. First of all He painted you a sort of white and grey, then He shook His head. He wasn't satisfied, He wanted you to be special.
The Raccoons could barely sit still - special they were special.
'So Jesus went over to all the colours in their pots and stood looking at them, and then at the little Raccoon in His arms, then He decided. Jesus picked up the black paint pot and He gave you your lovely black face mask, and He smiled. He thought you were lovely.'
The Raccoons looked at each other, they were speechless with joy.
'After a while Jesus painted the rings on your tails, and then He added your white eyebrows.' Look He called to the others 'Wont everyone love them? Heavenly Father smiled at you, and the Holy Spirit said They are very appealing. And then off you scampered.
'What about us?' asked one of the little dogs.
'Yes, I remember when you were created too' said Great-Gran.
Now it was their turn to be pleased.
'The Holy Spirit created you, and made so many different kinds I lost count! And then He said ...'
'Yes?' they interrupted, their tails flattening the grass in their delight.
Great-Gran chuckled. 'He thought you were all very lovable, and the other Holy Ones agreed, and He said You will be a great friend to men, women and children. You will be greatly loved.'
The dogs looked at the Raccoons and the Raccoons looked at the dogs, and the smiles on their faces and the joy in their eyes brought a lump into many throats.
'And us please, what about us?' came many voices.
For the first time Great-Gran looked rather sad. 'I'm sorry I can't remember what was said about all of you. I'm getting old now, and my memory isn't as good as it used to be. But' and she began to look happier, 'I'm sure I shall remember in time and when I do I shall certainly tell you.'
The others all smiled, they loved Great-Gran and were content to wait.
Thank-you roared the Lion.
'Oh, I remember what Heavenly Father said when you were created' Great-Gran said.
The Lion roared again, but no-one was frightened. It was a happy friendly roar, and everyone was pleased for him.
'When Heavenly Father gave you your magnificent mane He combed it until it shone. What do you think of this fine fellow? He asked the others. Is he not the King of the jungle? Jesus and the Holy Spirit were most impressed. He is indeed they agreed.'
The Lion roared again and kept on roaring.
'All right, all right' laughed Great-Gran. 'We get the message - you are happy!'
So the Lion quietened down, but still kept a big smile on his face.
'What a happy day this is' thought Great-Gran as she looked at all their faces. Even those she hadn't mentioned were happy for those who had been.
'When Jesus had made the Raccoons He then painted you' said Great-Gran pointing to the Zebras.
'Out of the same paint pot?' asked one of them.
And a roar of laughter was heard as Great-Gran nodded 'Yes'.
'Hello, brothers and sisters' giggled the smallest Zebra as he looked at the Raccoons. 'Hello to you too' they giggled.
Yes, it was turning out to be the happiest day ever!
At that moment all the Meerkats stood up and listened. 'Someone is coming' they announced. No-one else could hear anything so whilst they waited to see who was coming Great-Gran said to them 'The Holy Spirit made you, and He was so proud of the way you stand so smartly.'
The Meerkats put their shoulders back, tucked their tummies in, and marched around to show the others how right the Holy Spirit had been!!
Then the ground began to shake as a herd of Elephants tramped to the river bank.
'May we join you' they trumpeted. 'We heard you were having a great game with story-time afterwards, and we love stories.'
'Can we join in your game too?' asked one of the smaller Elephants.
'Not this one' said Oscar hurriedly, horrified at the thought of an Elephant landing on his back!
The animals giggled.
'Wait until you see it before you ask' suggested one of the dogs rolling on his back and kicking his feet in the air in merriment.
'Great-Gran is telling us who created us' said one of the Raccoons who had a particularly cheeky little face.
'Oh!' said the largest Elephant. 'Can you remember....?'
'Yes, I can' replied Great-Gran. 'Heavenly Father created you, and he gave you those lovely big ears, and your cousins were given smaller ones. You are my Gentle Giants Heavenly Father said and He patted your trunk. '
The Elephants stood quietly, just thinking of how much they loved their Heavenly Father and knowing how much He loved them.
Then a little Lamb wandered close to the water's edge and whispered 'Who made me, please? '
Great-Gran looked at the Lamb, her fleecy white coat, and her sweet face, and gently said 'The Holy Spirit, He made you, and you are special too.'
The little Lamb knelt down - 'Why?' she whispered.
'I don't fully understand 'why' but I heard the Holy Spirit say quietly Jesus, the Lamb of God who will one day take away all the sin of the world. And He looked at Jesus in a very loving way and smiled gently at Him. Heavenly Father smiled too as He looked at His Son and said My Lamb.
There was silence on the river bank. They didn't really understand, but they knew that one day Heavenly Father would tell the world what was meant by The Lamb of God.
'What a day that will be' they thought.
The little Lamb was delighted, and she skipped happily back into the shade of the tree.
But the river bank wasn't silent for long as the Howler Monkeys had arrived!
'You must remember us' they shouted.
'Oh, yes, I remember you' laughed Great-Gran.
'We thought you would' they shouted back and they howled with delight.
The animals covered their ears, the birds flew further away and the water creatures swam under the water. They all knew the Howlers could be heard for up to l6 km. their noise was so deafening.
When the Monkeys saw their friends disappear or cover their ears they stopped their noise - 'Sorry' they shouted,so the birds came out of hiding, the fishes surfaced, and the animals uncovered their ears.
'We promise not to do that again' they laughed as they swung merrily from branch to branch.
'Who made us?' they asked.
'Jesus' Great-Gran replied. 'He was in a merry mood, and when He saw the Holy Spirit's Kangeroo Jesus said Just wait until you see what I create next - and it was YOU!!'
'Ha ha' they laughed. They were well pleased.
'We are Jesus' Merry Ones' and they gave an amazing acrobatic display that had all the creatures laughing. They had well-named themselves 'Jesus' Merry Ones!'
The Donkey, who had been sitting in the shade with the Lamb then ambled forward.
'I don't suppose you can remember me' he said humbly.
Great-Gran looked tenderly at him. 'But I do' she told him. 'I remember you very specially.'
The Donkey pricked up his ears. 'Me?' he asked?' 'You really remember me?'
'Jesus was just finishing a little Harvest Mouse as Heavenly Father created you' she told him. 'Then with his finger He drew a Cross on your back, and it was then that a strange silence fell on the Garden. I looked at Heavenly Father and His eyes were filled with tears, and there was a deep pain in his eyes. Holy Spirit looked up and when He saw the Cross He just said one word 'Oh!' and there was a sob in His voice. Jesus put the little Harvest Mouse down, and as it ran away to play, the three Holy Ones gazed at each other. It's necessary I heard Heavenly Father say, and Jesus nodded, I know He whispered. Then Heavenly Father went over to Jesus and put His arms around Him, and the Holy Spirit joined them. For a long moment they stood there, they seemed to be comforting each other.
I don't know what this means either' said Great-Gran, 'But the Cross seems to mean pain and suffering, and yet .....' Great-Gran thought for a moment 'And yet as they stroked the Donkey the Garden seemed to fill with God's Glory, there was a happiness there too as if Glory and Happiness were to triumph over sorrow and suffering.
You have been specially chosen Heavenly Father said quietly to the Donkey.
'So you see' Great-Gran looked at the humble Donkey 'You, too, are very special to the Holy Ones.'
After a while the Octopus asked 'What is the most wonderful thing you can remember about the Garden, Great-Gran?'
'Oh, there is no doubt about that' she answered. 'It is the Glory and Radiance, the Holiness and Happiness which filled the whole Garden, and the Love, the likes of which you have never seen nor can imagine until you look into the eyes of the Holy Ones.
Elizabeth Aynsley 1995©