It was an especially cold night when Christmas began rolling into the town of Marmalade. Freezing gales blew across the fields and hedgerows and an early frost crept across the grass. All over the countryside, families were rushing home to celebrate by the fireside with their families, cozy and content. Perhaps one of the coziest homes was the Crabapple Lodge, belonging to the Chocolate family.
The Crabapple Lodge was a small cabin located in Bramble Wood, deep in the thicket. During the autumn, it was surrounded by wild strawberries and ripe blackberries, but now all the brambles were barren and gray. Inside, the lodge was bright and warm. A fire blazed in the living room and the hustle and bustle coming from the kitchen filled the whole cottage with the delicious smells of breads and puddings.
Frasier Chocolate was the primary source for the delicious smells. He was baking with his elder daughter, Freya, while his younger daughter, Creme, played on the floor. Frasier was the village’s patissier and he worked with his wife, Teri, at the Brick Oven Bakery. His sweet treats and delicate sponges were renowned all across the valley.
At the moment, Frasier and Freya were hard at work making the dough for a delicious Yule Log. First, the two rabbits had to combine chocolate, flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, sugar, fat, and vanilla in order to make the chocolate sponge. Freya loved cracking eggs so that was her job.
Creme ate some spare pieces of chocolate her sister passed down from the table as she sat and drew quietly.
All of a sudden, there was a crash by the front door. Two voices could be heard laughing and giggling from outside.
“Oh dear,” Frasier said as he looked up from the table, “that must be your mother!” In an instant, he was at the door.
In a great confusing jumble of activity, Teri and Coco Chocolate pushed through the door. Their faces were flush with activity and they looked as though they had been laughing for a long time. With them they were carrying a beautiful pine tree, just the right size for their living room.
Coco and Frasier pulled at the stump, careful not to disrupt any of the fine china they had on display by the front door.
Teri pushed at the tree from the back. The tree was small but very, very heavy!
The three of them carefully maneuvered the tree about the kitchen and into the living room. They sat it upon the wool christmas tree skirt in the living room.
“Oh how wonderful!” Freya exclaimed as she began to put away the ingredients lying about the kitchen. “It looks absolutely perfect!” The tree was wonderfully proud and it stood upright. It had thick, green needles and lots of space for all the beautiful ornaments they had gathered over the years.
At once, Coco, Creme, and Freya rushed about to start the process of decorating the beautiful tree.
The Chocolates had a length of sparkly silver tinsel which they rushed to spin around the tree.
Then they began to hang some of their favorite toys and sculptures on the tree’s many branches.
Creme cried: “Up!” and let out a little squeak as her mother lifted her to the top of the tree. Creme always wanted to put her teddy on top as an angel.
Once the Christmas tree had been decorated, the children sat back to admire the entire room. Candles shone and flickered on the coffee table and the mantle. A length of pine had been stretched around their fireplace. From it hung several bright red stockings. Festive china was sitting about the room, grinning in the light coming from the fire. The room felt magical.
Frasier, who had stayed behind to finish making their Yule Log, soon called out to his children from the kitchen. “Dinner’s ready!” He said.
The children were hesitant to leave their handiwork behind, but the growling of their stomachs and the delicious smell of the warm food drew them to the dining room. A table had been set up in the nook by the kitchen, with just enough seats for the five of them. Upon it sat an array of delicious Yuletide food from mashed potatoes to Yorkshire pudding.
When the dinner had been eaten completely, the children set out a plate of christmas cookies and a glass of warm milk.
They were then sent off to prepare for bed.
They changed into their pajamas and brushed their teeth. They felt both exhausted and too excited to sleep. They knew that in the morning, a delightful surprise would be waiting for them.
Creme was put in her crib, and soon she was sleeping soundly.
Freya and Coco crept into their bunk beds and wrapped themselves in warm quilts. It took them a little longer to fall asleep.
“What do you think Santa will bring us this year?” Coco asked.
“I have no idea… I just hope it's something goo…” With that, Freya dozed off.
The sweet sound of songbirds chirping at their window awoke Freya and Coco from their slumber.
“Oh boy!” Freya squealed as Coco leaped from the top bunk.
Freya woke her little sister up gently and lifted Creme from her crib.
The two children tumbled and rocked downstairs, rushing into the living room with the speed of a torpedo.
All under the christmas tree was an array of beautifully wrapped presents. They came in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Around the presents was a train set.
Upon the mantle was hung their stockings still. However, now they were bulging with presents and candies. Cards stuck out the top of each stocking clearly labeling one for each child.
Inside each of their stockings were many pieces of delicious chocolates and other scrumptious candies. There were also pears and oranges, special gifts to remind the children to stay healthy. Each stocking also had a bright farthing stuck in the bottom.
Freya received a lovely doll and a set of art supplies.
Coco received a huge teddy bear and a series of books he had been begging for.
Creme didn’t need much because she was a baby, but she still got an adorable drum set and a new blanket.
Once all the presents had been opened, the children sat down at the breakfast table for some food. Teri and Frasier poured some batter into their waffle iron and soon they found themselves digging into the fluffy waffles with a healthy serving of warmed syrup.
Once breakfast was over, the family set out for christmas mass. Marmalade did not have a church, but the nearby town of Stymouth had one with more than enough room. There was a bus which stopped by the Brick Oven Bakery on its way to Stymouth. The Chocolates and several other families would wait there and travel to town in order to attend church.
The bus stop was especially busy that day. The Fieldings were waiting by the bakery as well as the Harveys. Teri chatted with her friends as Frasier watched over the children.
It wasn’t long before the bus arrived and the families were able to step on.
In Stymouth, the Chocolates went to church. Afterwards, they wandered about the more metropolitan region before eating some lunch at a restaurant. Eventually, they met back up with the Fieldings and the Harveys and got back onto the bus home.
The families from Marmalade arrived at night. They were tired and hungry, but very happy. The Chocolates bid farewell to their friends before heading home. Inside, the cottage was cold and dark but soon a fire in the fireplace warmed them to their core.
All five rabbits took a seat around the fire and sat quietly. Christmas, it seemed, had come and gone. It didn’t seem too fast. It seemed just right.
Outside, snow begins to fall. It was the first snow of the year.
