The river bank, the trees, and the river itself were all crowded the following afternoon.
Almost every creature was there. They had heard of the "best game ever" but they hadn't come for that. They had heard of the "best story ever" and THAT'S why they were there. Many of them knew the story, but would say 'Tell me the story over and over as I forget so soon' and so Great-Gran would happily tell her story over and over again.
Now, this afternoon, all the creatures were waiting for Great-Gran to arrive.
One of the Monkeys asked 'Are you going to play the Game until Great-Gran comes?' But Oscar answered 'No, I don't think we feel like playing this afternoon' and he turned to the other Otters and the Lizards to see how they felt. They all shook their heads, not even Freddy wanted to play! The glorious story of yesterday still filled their minds, and they were content to wait quietly chatting until Great-Gran arrived.
Zeb looked around and saw a number of new faces. The foxes were there, and a Badger and three Beavers.
Lois looked up into the trees and saw a Green Woodpecker with the flash of red on its head, and a Weaver bird busily making his nest.
The Squirrels were fascinated as they saw how clever he was at weaving the strands of grass into a cosy home. A Superb Fruit Dove flew very close to Lois and she was delighted to see its delicate colouring of pink and blue and green and white. A Fairy Wren landed on a branch, its bright blue colouring contrasting with the Owls and Wagtails. In fact the trees were ablaze with the colours of the birds. 'How beautiful God has created us' she thought.
Oriela was thinking much the same as she talked with the Butterflies, Dragonflies and Damselflies.
'Good afternoon' called a family of Swans as they swam elegantly towards the Otters.
'Good afternoon Swans' they replied, then Rema asked 'Have you come to hear Great-Gran's story?'
'We have indeed' they answered courteously. 'I don't think you noticed us but we have been here every day. We watched your Game from the opposite bank, and then when it was story-time we were just a little way behind you, not far from the Mallards and Moorhens.’
'Do you like Great Gran's story?' Rema asked.
The Swans drew themselves up proudly and said 'It's the most wonderful story in the world' and then they slowly made their way up river to greet and escort Great Gran to her waiting audience.
They all shuffled around so that Great Gran could be near the river bank, but Oscar was captivated by the sight of a flock of Scarlet Ibis and then was startled to hear a voice shout 'Ouch! you are squashing me.'
He looked around but couldn't see anyone.
'I'm here' called a stone!
'It's a stone fish' whispered Lois 'You have to be careful because they can change colour and shape depending on where they are.'
'Oh! I'm sorry' said Oscar. 'I've never seen a stone fish before.'
The stone fish sighed. 'Don't worry' he replied 'It has its good points being able to change, but I do get trodden on rather a lot.'
Zeb was thrilled 'I wouldn't mind being a ......' but the rest of his sentence was drowned in the laughter of the others.
'If Zeb had his way we wouldn't know where he was' giggled Rema.
'Nor WHO he was' added Oriela, and Great Gran joined in the laughter as Zeb with a huge smile said 'Well you must admit, it would be fun!'
Then as the laughter faded away Great Gran said 'Now we have come to the final part’.

And this is the ending to her story:

'There was a lot of discussion between the Holy Ones on the last day of Creation the 6th day. They were excited, and I heard our Heavenly Father say 'Let us make man in our image.'
The creatures who hadn't heard the story before gasped. 'Like the Holy Ones?' their whisper went round the river bank.
' Yes' said Great Gran. 'It is amazing isn't it?'
'How all the people must love them' said a tiny Damselfly.
'They should' shouted Zeb.
But Great Gran said 'Let me finish my story and you will see what happened. The Holy Ones created a man, and he was wonderfully made, and they loved him. They even brought all the creatures to him and asked "What would you like to name this little fellow; or this magnificent beast; or this beautiful bird?" The man named everyone of us, and that's how we got our names.'
They were all pleased, and there was quite a noise at the river bank as they were heard happily repeating their names.
'Then what happened, Great Gran?' asked one of the Beavers.
'Then the Holy Ones saw that the man was lonely, even though Heavenly Father walked in the Garden with him and they talked of many things. So they put the man into a deep, deep sleep, and from one of his ribs they made a beautiful woman. And the man said "She shall be called 'woman' because she is part of me, and I will give her the name Eve"
’And the man was called "Adam" wasn't he?' interrupted Rema.
'That's right, Rema, and Adam and Eve lived in the beautiful Garden, and that was the end of the 6th day. The Holy Ones had created everything and everyone in six days.'
The little Wren's bright eyes were shining as she said 'In six days, Great Gran that was a lot to create in only six days.'
Great Gran chuckled. 'If the Holy Ones had wanted to, they could have created everything in ONE day, they are Almighty; The Glorious Ones, and we must never forget that.'
The Octopus whom everyone knew was intelligent, added 'Yes, they hold back the seas so they can't flood the earth.'
'And send the wind and rain, and this lovely sunshine' the wise old Owl remarked from his tree.
'Indeed' agreed Great Gran, 'And then on the seventh day the Holy Ones rested there was no more work to do!'
'The seventh day is "special" isn't it, Great Gran?' Oriela asked.
'Ah, yes' Great Gran nodded. 'The Holy Ones blessed the seventh day' and here Great Gran searched for the right words ' They set it apart from the other days to remind men and women that they are God’s people, it is a special bond between them. The Lord’s own Day, and they are to keep it Holy.'
We are "special" too, aren't we?' asked Lois.
'Of course we are. Each one of God's creatures is "special" in their own particular way' Great Gran assured them.
'But some are more "special" than others. aren't they?' boasted the Basilisk Lizards. 'Just watch us' and off they skipped across the water.
'But you can't fly as high as us' joined in the Eagles.
'Nor make such clever dams as we can' this came from the Beavers.
'Nor hang upside down... ...'
'STOP!' laughed Great Gran. 'Just be happy that each one of you, the same as men and women, are special and very much loved by the Holy Ones.'
No more was needed to be said. Knowing this, was all that mattered.
‘Is your story finished, Great-Gran?’ asked a beautiful Golden Oriole.
‘Not quite’ she answerd. ‘I’m sorry to say that Adam and Eve did not obey the Holy Ones, they ate of the fruit of the only tree which was forbidden to them.’
‘So they were sent from the beautiful garden for ever.’
‘It’s a sad story, really, isn’t it?’ sniffed a Koala dabbing at her eyes.
’Not all sad’ said Great-Gran. ‘Because the Holy Ones have a plan to put everything right again, and I'm sure there will be an even better Garden created some time in the future, and we shall see it, I know we shall.’
And all God’s creatures smiled, and the Lamb snuggled up to the donkey in the shade of the tree. Then as the animals sat quietly, and the evening shadows began to lengthen a stray shaft of sunlight lit up the Cross on the back of the Donkey which seemed to shimmer and glow with a Glory and meaning yet to unfold.
Elizabeth Aynsley 1945 ©
Genesis Chapter One vs.1-31