SHADOWS TODAY

Today is a blustery cold winters day. The thermometer has dipped to -30 degrees C. That is very cold.

I woke up in my den this morning, underneath the ground. It is usually nice and warm for me here but not today. Everything is a little frosty to the touch.

I grabbed my fur coat from the chair beside my bed and stuffed it under the blankets with me. Soon, I started to feel some warmth come back to me. While still under the blankets, I quickly got dressed.

I put a huge log on the fire and myself a cup of steaming hot chocolate. Soon, I was toasty warm. The warmth was beginning to make me drowsy, however. I started drifting off to sleep.

Suddenly, an invisible alarm clock went off in my head. I sat straight up in my chair and was instantly awake.

"Today is Groundhog Day, and I'm a groundhog!" I shouted.

Well, I had so much to do. I rushed around my den brushing my sleek fur coat.

"There will be reporters everywhere," I said to myself. "I have to look my best."

Soon, my fur coat was as sleek and shiny as I would ever get it. I laid the brush down and stood back looking into the mirror.

"Oh!" I exclaimed. "I sure am a handsome groundhog!"

Then, as I looked more closely into the mirror, I noticed that I had forgotten to brush my teeth.

"There is no way that I can face all those people out there without brushing my teeth," I said. "That would be terrible!"

After my teeth were sparkling white, I knew it was time for me to go outside. I climbed up to ground level. I could see the sun shining. I saw the ground all covered in snow. Then, I saw the cameras and the many faces of the anxiously awaiting reporters. There were thousands of them. Well, maybe not thousands but it sure seemed that way!

Once I peeped my head out of my den, a big black thing was behind me. I was scared. I went back down into my den as fast as I could go. I stayed in my den for the next six weeks, too.

GROUNDHOG DAY STORIES