If you sat on a star,
What could you see?
The whole world,
Actually.
You could see the green of the grass and the blue of the ocean.
You could see clouds looking like they're whipping up magical potions.
You could see the moon rise and the sun when it sets.
But the best bit of all is to be told to you yet.
Just hold out your hand and wrap it around.
The world is there,
Safe and sound.
Use your hand like a telescope.
What can you see?
The whole world is there,
Full of possibility.
So let's fly to the Earth where I'll show you,
My friends,
Where their love for each other never,
Ever ends.
You're welcome in Little World.
Come take a seat,
Where kindness and laughter and adventure all meet.
Every story we share holds the truth,
Soft and bright,
That everything special is already inside.
Now meet the gang,
The best there could be.
There's Hazel the squirrel,
Who's wild and free.
A gentle night owl is Moon,
Calm and wise.
And Pea the fairy,
With shimmering eyes.
There's Mabel the dog,
Loyal and strong.
And Bob the sweet hedgehog,
Who always hums along.
His wife and their boblets complete their warm nest.
They think Auntie Hazel is the absolute best.
My name is Charlotte,
Your voice in the trees.
So come join the fun whenever you please.
Welcome to Little World.
Let's begin our tale with wonder,
With heart,
And a warm fairy trail.
Today in Little World,
A pea in a pod.
Hello,
My friend.
I'm so happy that you are here.
Today,
We're going back in time,
To before Pea joined the gang in Little World.
Back when the trees were golden and autumn was in full flow.
Hazel the squirrel was bouncing through piles of crunchy leaves,
Searching for snacks.
She was on a very serious nut mission.
She was sniffing and rustling and poking about under every pile of leaves.
Then while on her mission,
She spotted something unusual.
A tiny little nest,
Made from twigs and laurel leaves.
Hazel tilted her head.
Oh,
What's this?
And then something moved.
She leaned closer and her eyes grew as wide as walnuts.
There,
Nestled under the leaves,
Was a tiny baby fairy.
No bigger than a conker.
She had yellow autumn-leaf colored hair and was wrapped in a blanket.
Her little fingers were curled up like frozen flower petals.
Next to her was a note.
Hazel squinted at it.
Oh,
Acorns.
I can't read.
What does it say?
Hazel gently touched the baby fairy's cheek.
Oh no,
This baby fairy is freezing.
She scooped the tiny fairy into her arms.
And Hazel's eyes turned into heart shapes as she let out a huge squishy sigh.
Let's get you home and warm,
Little one.
Hazel carried the fairy up into her home,
High into the tree.
It was full of feathers and straw and dry lavender.
It was always warm,
Cozy and safe.
But suddenly,
The baby began to cry.
Hazel's tail puffed up in a panic.
What does that mean?
Are you hungry?
Cold?
What the baby fairy is even eat?
She tapped her chin and stared off.
Into space,
Hoping that something would pop into her head.
But nothing did.
Then she raced outside and spotted Bob.
Bob!
Bob!
Fortunately,
He lived at the bottom of Hazel's tree with Mrs.
Bob and their boblets.
Bob,
Come up here!
Bob shuffled up the tree with a worried little wobble.
Hazel held the fairy out.
Look what I found,
Bob!
A baby!
I don't know what to do with it and it's crying.
And look at this note,
Bob.
This was left with her.
Bob carefully took the note from Hazel's paws.
He pushed his glasses up his little nose and read softly.
Please look after my fairy.
She's small but full of magic.
Love her,
Keep her warm and let her grow.
Hazel stared at the baby,
Her eyes going all wobbly.
Well,
Don't you worry,
Little fairy.
I will look after you.
But I am scared,
You know,
Bob,
Because I've never had a baby fairy before.
I've never even had a squirrel baby.
And I don't know what to do,
Bob.
Bob blinked and smiled kindly and said,
Everything's going to be okay,
Hazel.
No one knows what they do when they find a baby.
You just learn on the job.
But I think she's hungry.
A short while later,
Hazel heard a loud shout from below.
Hazel!
Hazel!
Come look!
She peeked down and gasped.
Ah!
At the bottom of the tree were dozens of woodland animals.
Foxes,
Owls,
Deer,
Pigeons,
Squirrels,
Even a mole.
All holding little gifts.
We brought you things for the baby,
Said Bob.
There was warm milk,
Mashed berries,
Soft moss for bedding,
Knitted socks,
Soup for Hazel,
And even a poppy seed rattle.
Hazel's heart almost burst and her eyes started filling up with happy tears.
You guys,
That's so nice!
Everyone came in one by one and helped Hazel set up her home so that it was fit for a perfect fairy baby to live.
A bed was made,
Cupboards were filled,
Pictures were painted,
And Hazel's home had never felt more cozy.
As the day faded into evening and the fairy and Hazel settled down for the night,
Hazel cuddled the fairy and stroked her silky soft hair.
Then a very quiet and gentle knock appeared at the door.
It was Bob the Hedgehog holding a tiny green sewing bag.
Hazel smiled.
Thank you,
Bob,
For getting everyone to help me.
Bob shrugged,
Blushing.
Hazel,
You've made everyone feel happy in this forest.
With your mad tree dancing and your giant heart.
We wanted to help.
He opened his little bag and inside was a tiny green outfit.
A dress with wing holes,
Knitted tights,
A soft blanket,
Little booties and a hat.
Each piece had a tag,
Knitted with love.
Hazel's eyes filled with tears.
Bob's little nose wobbled.
The fairy wriggled and smiled in her sleep.
That could be a burp,
Bob said.
And Hazel cuddled her close.
Well,
Don't you look just like a little pea in a pod.
Hazel laughed softly.
That's it.
That's your name.
Pea.
My little pea in my little nesty pod.
As time passed,
Pea grew.
The forest helped raise her.
Every creature took turns teaching her,
Playing with her and taking her on her very first adventures.
Pea grew up to be everyone's friend.
There were so many precious moments in that time that became Pea's memories.
On Pea's first birthday,
The forest had never seen anything like it.
Balloons,
Fairy lights,
Glitter,
Party hats,
Banners,
Presents and enough jam tarts to float a canoe.
Everyone came,
Everyone sang and everyone knew that Pea belonged here.
Now,
Back at the campfire is Pea's birthday again.
Today,
She is eight.
And the gang is all here.
The ones that were at the base of the tree that day Hazel brought her home.
They sit around the flames of the fire,
Warm and close.
Hazel smiles,
Remembering.
We've had some great times,
Haven't we guys?
And even though you look different to me,
You were my Pea.
I loved you and I always will,
With the whole of my squirrelly heart.
You'll always be my little Pea,
Who was meant to come into my little pod.
Everyone was sniffing and smiling at the same time.
I think I'm melting,
Said Moon.
I'm genuinely impressed you raised Pea,
Hazel.
I thought you were about four years old yourself.
And I thought you were about 590,
Moon,
Replied Hazel.
Everyone laughs and Bob clears his throat.
Hazel,
I am so proud of you.
In your own,
Very random way,
You raised the most brilliant little girl.
One who helps others.
One who's brave.
One who's loved by all of us.
Who would have thought that the most unlevel-headed squirrel could be the best mum?
I guess what I'm saying is,
Anyone can love anyone.
Love is universal.
And Hazel,
I love you.
For showing courage when you didn't know how.
And love when you'd never done it before.
And so ends the story of how Pea found her way into Hazel's pod.
And how a squirrel with a wild heart became the most unlikely hero of all.
So,
Next time you see someone who looks lost or alone,
Remember what Hazel did.
She followed her heart.
And somehow,
It led to love.
