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,
The finding of Moon.
Hello there,
Lovely listener.
Can you smell that?
Crisp leaves,
Cool air,
And the tiniest scent of warm nuts in the trees.
That's right,
Today in Little World,
It's autumn.
There were crunchy leaves scattered all over the forest floor,
And all kinds of nuts plopping down from the trees.
Hazel the squirrel was out for a walk,
Singing to herself and dancing around,
And doing her usual squirrelly shuffle.
As she danced,
She gave a big twirl,
And just as she landed,
Something odd caught her eye.
What's that?
She said,
Putting her paws on her hips.
There's so much litter in this park,
It's no good.
There,
On the edge of the woods,
Caught in a piece of old barbed wire,
Was a carrier bag.
It was moving.
Hazel stepped forward slowly,
Carefully,
Whispering.
Is someone in there?
As she got closer,
She gasped.
Oh no,
An owl!
Are you stuck,
Little owl?
From the fence came a grumbly reply.
Well,
I don't usually hang around in fences for fun,
So yes,
I'm stuck.
Hazel blinked.
Oh,
Grumpy!
She leaned back,
Paws on her hips.
Let's see if my little squirrelly hands can help you out.
Hazel tugged and pulled,
But oh dear.
The owl was really tangled up.
I can't do this alone,
She said.
Don't move.
Bear with,
Moon Eyes.
No chance of me moving,
Muttered the owl.
Hazel turned and ran,
And bam!
Straight into the tree.
She bounced off with a squeak.
Oh,
Did you see that?
She asked.
Unfortunately,
Yes,
Came the owl's dry reply.
Hazel scurried all the way back to the camp where Pea,
Mabel,
The dog,
And Bob,
The hedgehog,
Were all waiting.
Help,
Help!
She shouted.
There's an owl!
He's stuck,
And his eyes are all there as big as Moon's.
Pea's eyes widened.
Quick,
Everyone,
Follow Hazel!
Pea hopped on Mabel's back.
Yeah!
And off they all ran,
As fast as the wind,
All the way to the fence.
Oh,
Little owl,
What a tangle,
Said Pea gently.
Don't worry,
We're here now.
As Pea worked on the wires,
Hazel tried to comfort the owl.
As I look into your great big center of the universe eyes,
They remind me of the moon.
I can even see Pluto in thems.
Thems is not a word,
Little squirrel,
Said the owl.
Actually,
It's hazel,
Like the nut.
Hazel,
Thems is not a word in the dictionary.
What on earth is a dictionary?
Hazel asked.
Oh,
Dear Hazel,
The owl sighed.
Oh,
Dear.
Pea pulled one last wire,
And the owl tumbled free.
There you go,
Little owl,
You're free.
Can you fly?
The owl tried,
But ouch,
His wing was so sore.
It's not broken,
Just ruffled feathers,
He said.
I'll be fine,
Bye.
He turned to walk away,
But Hazel called after him.
Aren't you going to say thank you,
Moon Eyes?
We've just rescued you.
I don't say thank you.
I don't even like other people.
Still grumpy then,
Said Hazel with a smirk.
The owl sat down,
Completely exhausted.
Maple gently nudged him,
Then scooped him up onto her back and carried him back to the campfire.
Pea found a straight stick and some reeds.
I'll make a splint for the owl's wing,
She said,
Winking.
Help his ruffled feathers unruffle.
By the time they reached the fire,
The owl was fast asleep.
They kept him warm in a soft old blanket,
And Pea sat quietly beside him,
Stroking his feathers under the moonlight.
In the morning,
The others were already awake,
Collecting breakfast.
The owl stirred and opened his eyes.
Hazel noticed first.
Oh,
Good morning.
I was wondering when I'd fall back into those galaxy eyes again.
The owl blinked.
Oh dear,
I think I've overstayed my welcome.
Everyone's welcome here,
Said Pea.
How's your wing,
Moon Eyes?
The owl looked down and gasped.
What's this?
It's just a splint,
Said Pea.
It'll help your feathers feel more like,
Hmm,
Feathers.
The owl looked around at the group.
They were smiling,
Laughing gently.
Hazel was trying to balance a walnut on her head.
And for the first time,
The owl smiled.
A really small,
Shy smile.
Hazel stepped forward.
What's your name then,
Moon Eyes?
I don't have one,
Said the owl.
I left the nest when I was very young.
My parents never gave me a name.
Hazel's eyes softened.
Ah,
Same with me.
And,
Well,
All of us,
Really.
We're kinda like family,
Aren't we,
Pea?
We are,
Hazel,
We are.
Pea sat next to the owl,
Wrapped her arm around him,
And said,
Moon,
That's your name now,
Hazel nodded.
Perfect.
Well,
Moon,
We're your friends and family now.
Everyone giggled,
Even Moon.
Then just as the giggles faded,
He looked around at them all and said,
Thank you.
Hazel grinned.
No problem.
You weren't going anywhere until you said thank you anyway.
Pea smiled.
You're welcome,
Moon.
You're welcome to stay.
Hazel nodded.
Just don't be too grumpy,
Moon eyes.
Everyone laughed and toasted nuts and ate berries as they watched the sun rise over Little World.
And that,
My dear listener,
Is the story of how a grumpy little owl got a name and found a family.
