It was the middle of January. Outside the window, beautiful snowflakes danced through the air as if alive, whilst the bright sun shone in the sky. The day was so marvellous that even the biting, nose-nipping frost couldn't spoil it.
Little Liam put on his favourite grey beanie, mittens and warm scarf—also grey. The little boy looked just like a fluffy grey kitten.
Liam opened the door, stepped onto the threshold, and exclaimed:
This is beautiful! I've only seen this in pictures in the book that Grandad reads to me in the evenings. Can it really be this beautiful outside? I reckon magical things happen on marvellous days like this.
Liam rushed off running through the snow, which crunched so melodiously under his feet. The boy decided to go into the bush for a walk—there, the trees would probably be dressed in white coats, and the snowdrifts would surely be taller than Liam himself.
The boy walked through the bush and suddenly heard someone squeaking in a thin, delicate voice.
I wonder who that could be?
The boy thought.
Slowing his pace, Liam peered ahead and saw a little ginger mouse. She was lying on her back, not moving. Liam rushed over to her in bewilderment:
Mouse, mouuuse, are you alive?
The mouse didn't react.
The poor thing must have frozen. Suddenly the little ginger mouse opened one eye and immediately jumped up.
Crikey!
She squeaked.
This is amazing! Can animals really talk?
Then Liam remembered how Grandad told him interesting stories where different magical things happened during the winter months. This must be one of those magical moments.
So you're not a cat?
Asked the squeaky mouse.
No, what made you think that?
The boy was surprised.
Well, I was running along quietly, and suddenly I turned my head, and there you were on the horizon, all grey, fluffy and round. I thought you were a cat and decided to pretend I'd frozen in this cold.
But why?
The boy continued to be surprised.
So that you wouldn't eat me.
Liam and the mouse laughed loudly. Then the mouse asked:
Would you like to come visit me?
I'd love to. I've never visited real animals that can talk before. But how will I find your home?
How about this—I'll run home slowly and my paw prints will be left in the snow. You can follow them to my house.
And so it was decided. The mouse scurried along the path, and Liam followed her tracks.
The boy walked along the track, not turning anywhere. Suddenly a snowball appeared in his path, and right in front of Liam's nose, the ball turned into a wild boar.
Oi! Who's blocking my path?
Unbelievable! You can talk too? Is this even possible?
Liam said, falling onto his bottom in amazement.
Of course, we animals talk too, and we understand you humans perfectly well.
The boar replied.
I never would have thought you understood us!
The boy said.
You know what? Come visit me. I'll feed you, and you can warm up before heading home.
The boar called out with a smile.
The new mates agreed on the same arrangement as with the mouse. The boar would leave tracks, and Liam would follow them to his home.
The boy walked along the track, humming a tune.
Before he knew it, the ginger mouse jumped out in front of him and shouted:
Here's my home! And these are my mates!
Next to the mouse, other ginger mice were stamping their feet.
Now we'll feed you the most delicious treat.
The mouse handed Liam a small tuft of hay.
Liam thought that if the mice could talk, then the hay must be magical—edible for humans. The boy tried the tuft and was delighted.
It turned out this haystack was one the boy and his grandfather had prepared last summer for their horses, which lived in the stable near the house. Grandad had been breeding stallions and snow-white horses for ages, and they stored the cut hay for their animals right here, in the bush.
Whilst Liam was thinking and rejoicing, the wild boar crept up behind him.
Aha, you're already here! Brilliant! Now I'll treat you to something tasty.
The tusked creature handed the boy the same tuft of hay.
Liam couldn't believe his eyes. Turning around, he saw that the mice had vanished.
Do you live here together with the mice?
The boy asked the boar.
What mice? I live here all alone.
The boar replied.
This haystack must be enormous if so many little creatures have settled in it.
Liam thought.
At that moment, a loud creak sounded nearby, and from behind the haystack appeared Liam's grandfather, who had come to the bush on a sleigh to collect hay.
Before Liam could turn around, all the animals had disappeared, scattering in all directions.
Liam told Grandad what had happened to him. Grandad wasn't surprised at all—he'd lived longer and seen many wonders in his life.
Well then, Liam. Let's leave a small haystack for these bush animals. Of course, we prepared all this for our horses, but the bush animals need somewhere to winter and somewhere to live too. We'll be doing a good deed!
And so it was decided. When Liam and Grandad left, the boar and mice returned home. They had a home for the winter, and food as well.
