Happy New Year Chester!

Our story opens as heavy snowflakes slowly waft down from the skies over Clarksville, Tennessee. Excitement is in the air as children awake to a ground covered in snow. It wasn’t long before the neighborhoods around town are filled with their screams of delight as snowball fights and snowmen are built. Even parents could be seen racing sleds down the snowy hillsides.
Chester is awake. He yawns and then reaches his front paws up, up over his head, and then stretches each leg one at a time. He is ready to start his day.
What is that? He hears a familiar voice! “Chester, Chester!” His ears twitch as he hurries to the entrance of his home. Waiting there for him is Dart the bluebird.
“Chester! Look! It snowed last night!” Dart said as his head turned from side to side. “It looks like this all over town!”
“Hi Dart! “ Chester took a step out and sniffed the snow with his nose. “Oh it is cold!” he laughed. This wet, white stuff was everywhere. It was on the ground, the trees, the bushes, everything.
Dart watched as Chester explored the snow. Timidly at first Chester took a step, but once he realized there was nothing to be afraid of, he ran around in little circles, and even rolled around in it.
“Can we eat it?” asked Chester.
“If you want to, but it is just frozen water” laughed Dart.
“I’m hungry!” replied Chester. Chester scooped some snow into his mouth. Yes, Dart was right, it was just water. Chester giggled. “Something as neat as snow should somehow taste different, don’t ya think Dart?” Dart nodded as he hopped about in the bush looking for worms.
“Hey, there are some yummy berries over by the lake, want to go get some?” Dart asked.
Chester enjoyed seeing his friend. Since Dart could fly, Chester could always get the latest news from him.
“Sure!” Chester said as he and Dart headed off through the woods. It was a beautiful morning. The sunrays were streaming down between the trees and the snow just sparkled. As the friends walked together they saw lots of berries on bushes.
“Why do you want me to come all the way to the lake if there are plenty of berries here for us to eat?” questioned Chester.
Dart stopped, and cocked his head sideways, “Because I want to show you something,” he said as he flapped his wings and soared into the air. Chester loved to watch Dart fly; it was hypnotizing. Chester stopped, sat on his haunches and watched.
Chester’s tail swished in excitement as he remembered the last time he went to the lake. He had gone with his family this summer. He remembered he had seen ducks and turtles and that there were nuts and berries everywhere.
“Are the ducks going to be there?” Chester asked.
“Most have flown south for the winter, but there may be a few” said Dart. As the pair rounded the corner they saw a new piece of wood sticking out of the ground. Curious, they both stopped.
“What does it say, Dart?”
“It says Dunbar Cave State Park,” replied Dart.
Before the two had time to wonder what that meant they heard a loud “Surprise!” Chester could see ducks, geese, squirrels, and a turtle waving at them. “Surprise Chester!” they repeated.
“Happy New Year!” said yet another familiar voice. Chester turned and there behind Dart was his Mom, Dad and little brother, Boomer!
“Did we surprise you Chester, did we?” asked Boomer running toward him.
“Yes you did!” Chester said as he hugged his family. “Now I know why Dart wanted me to come down here to get berries!”
“See why I wanted you to hurry? Your family wanted to spend New Years Day with you!” laughed Dart.
For the rest of the day Chester ran and played with his friends and his family around the park. He explored new tunnels in the leaves with his friend Turtle, played hide and seek with Boomer, and ate lots of berries with Dart.
What will you do with your family on New Years Day?