Gardeners Rest #18 (2023)

[Snoop Puss]

'I'll show you how it's done.'

And with that he picked up all the mince pies (and there were quite a few) and strode to the front, opened the door and just whistled as loudly as he could, and the elephant upped and walked out.

'Looks like you didn't need bagpipes after all', said the fairy. 'I never thought any of you would be able to whistle as loudly as that.'

The elephant started to pick up speed...

[Nicos]

….you’d never guess what he’s spotted down by the duck pond!…..

[Snoop Puss]

Gus the Grief! Hard to credit, but yes. Frolicking about and having a great time.

Rary dived to one side to avoid being trampled by the elephant charging past him and, as he did so, he could see sliding through the GR door a huge grey mass... Not another elephant, but a liquid like mercury or something like that.

'Get inside!', shouted the giant. 'And shut the door!'

'Not till I've got Gus', said NtG.

'Might he come for a ham sandwich if you whistle, NTG?', asked Flo...

[Snoop Puss]

NtG whistled with all the power his lungs could muster but everyone later agreed that it was probably the smell of the ham sandwich that brought Gus running back as fast as his legs could go, ears flapping, tail wagging, drooling from his grinning chops, unaware of what was going on behind him.

The giant ran onwards, the elephant charging after him, the grey metal slurping its way along behind, burning everything it passed over.

The giant leapt over the pond but the elephant could not and got stuck in the mud. The grey mass slid in behind it. The water steamed and hissed, bubbled and boiled.

The door to the GR was slammed shut fast by NtG as soon as Gus got in. Gus was rewarded with the sandwich and fusses and cuddles from everyone but especially NtG, who was relieved he wasn't going to have to tell his wife he'd lost the dog down the pub.

When silence reigned outside, they cautiously opened the door. Just a puddle remained where the pond had once been. No sign of the giant, the elephant or the grey metal.

'Phew!', they all thought. 'What about the giant?', Nicos asked the fairy.

'Oh, he'll be all right. He'll find his way back to his proper home, where he should have gone last year. But thank goodness the other two are gone. They've been playing havoc with the floor and the lights all year.'

'Well', Nicos continued. 'What an amazing festive season. To be honest, I'm glad it's over. Too much excitement by half.'
'Better finish the buffet before Gus does', said Flo.
'Who's a good boy', said NtG, still in a state of shock.
'Better put those bottles away for next year, the ones that will last anyway', said Rary, with an eye on a few that really did need drinking up.
'Better get those decorations put away for next year too', said GF.
'Better get the floor swept and the glasses washed ready for next year as well', said Snoop.

They set to, making sure everything was as shipshape as the GR was ever going to be, though Snoop drew the line at cleaning the windows seeing as they'd only need doing again next season.

[Nicos]

And with that, everyone was stood there happily grinning at each other.
”Time to lock up then” sighed Nicos, lifting up the heavy key.
”Until next Christmas then” she grinned….realising she’d been the first person to mention the C word in 2024

”Happy New Year everyone and may all your dreams come true” called Snoop as the group of friends reluctantly parted.