Monday, November 24, 2008

Seasons Out of Turn


It was a couple days after Halloween, and Hula, Beatrix and Bunnie went to the drugstore to buy ingredients for Bunnie’s new “Nighttime Fur Revitalizing Formula.” As they were wandering the aisles, it was impossible for Hula not to notice the Christmas decorations that were already out. Her brow furrowed deeply as she surveyed all the blinking lights, Christmas merchandise and piped-in holiday music.

“Oh dear,” she kept saying in a quiet voice as they perused the aisles. “Oh my!” she exclaimed as she went down one particular row full of holiday decorations, Christmas wrap and what-not.

In consternation, Hula trotted back outside and double-checked the weather. Just as she remembered, it was a clear, crisp November day with bright blue skies. The leaves of a nearby maple were just beginning to turn red.

As she rejoined Bunnie and Beatrix in line at the register, Hula could restrain herself no longer: “Well I think it’s just a travesty.”

“What is?” responded Beatrix.

“All the Christmas decorations,” said Hula. “I don’t approve. It isn’t even Thanksgiving!”

“Well, merchants only have a small window of opportunity to sell their holiday wares, “said Beatrix. “Six-eight weeks at the most. And when you think of how much of the health of a retail business depends on holiday shopping, can you really blame them?”

“Well, I don’t approve,” said Hula. “Where’s the joy of each season? Thanksgiving is fall, Christmas is winter. We’re skipping over one perfectly lovely holiday to get the sales of another. As a Professional Muse, I don’t approve.”

Beatrix shifted uncomfortably and nervously tugged at her tutu. “Ah… oh… you don't?’

“Of course not,” declared Hula. “Shilling Christmas in November is just not Muse Worthy!

“Mmmm. Ah. Well,” said Beatrix, self consciously looking down at her toes. “…I see…”

What Beatrix couldn’t bring herself to tell Hula is that the Rabbit Run online store has four new Christmas designs available for your holiday shopping. As always, you can have them printed on shirts, caps, book bags or just about anything else your heart desires (and Stamp La Jolla has tons of rubber stamps with holiday designs for all your card-making needs).

Just don’t tell Hula till December, please. At the moment she’s writing a formal letter of complaint to the drugstore urging Holiday Restraint and Autumnal Recognition.

COMING NEXT: A Visit from Charles Wallace (in which Harry's small cousin comes to Rabbit Run for Thanksgiving)