By Kathleen Myers

As I remember, it was a bright and sunny Monday morning. White swans were peacefully swimming in the lake, as sunbeams danced across the sparkling blue waters. The baby swans stopped to watch the frogs leap from lily pad to lily pad. Fuzzy gray squirrels ran up and down the big oak trees that grew by the edge of a lake. A big brown beaver was taking a nap in the beautiful purple, pink, and blue flowers that grew nearby. Slowly raising his head he frowned, as he looked towards the woods. All that laughter and singing was definitely disturbing his sleep. He knew it was coming from the village located in the middle of the woods. Everyone always talked about this cheerful, little village, but to him it was just a problem. A big problem, because it was made up -- not of people, not of dogs, not of cats, but of pigs. Small, happy pigs with potbellies. Today, it seemed they were especially loud because they were all joyfully singing, "Happy Birthday to Sadie, Happy Birthday to you." The beaver thought to himself, as he closed his sleepy eyes, "Those pigs are always interrupting my nap. But today they are way too noisy because of the Royal Birthday Party. Boy, I'm sure am glad this only happens once a year." From the top branches of the Oak Tree, Father Robin spotted an excellent twig for his nest just on the other side of the Village. Flying high above the woods, he headed towards the twig. Looking down, he saw a very long table. The Grand Table was located right in the middle of the Village Square. Seated at the head of this Grand Table, in front of the most amazing carrot Birthday Cake he had ever seen was Sadie a rather plump, black potbelly pig. Sadie wore a billowing yellow taffeta dress and a rainbow jeweled crown on her head. As the last chorus of "Happy Birthday" rang out, Sadie looked up with a smile. Her smile filled the air with sunlight. Slowly, she stood up and raised her deep round voice above the cheers. She said, "Thank you, thank you, all my loving friends. How thoughtful you all are to remember my birthday. We are so terribly happy to have you join us, today. Today on my very special day, today of all days!"

With great joy the pigs began to clap. Soon, the pigs were not only clapping, but also they were also singing and dancing. Their tails flew off behind, their noses were high in the air, and their feet were going in all directions at once. Sadie looked up and said to a pig named Simon, who just happened to be standing close by her, "Here take this drum and strike a good thump. All of us need you to help us keep the rhythm going." With that, Sadie whirled off in a bright yellow blur. Simon struck a good thump as he too began to dance.

The singing and dancing lasted for quite a long time, but no one seemed the least bit tired. When the music stopped, they hurried back to the table where they found cake and ice cream and many icy pitchers. Each pitcher was plainly marked. Red is for apple, blue is for blueberry, yellow is for lemonade and pink is for watermelon. A most gorgeous black and white pig named Ruth walked up to the table with the red pitcher. Turning to a very young piglet, she asked, "Would you like some apples?" "How did you know I like apples best of all?" responded Loolie, the chubby little piglet. "It was easy," said Ruth, "you just look like an apple piglet." Ruth filled Loolie's glass and sat down beside her.

All eyes turned to a beaming Sadie. As she raised her glass, she chanted in her low clear voice, "To one and to all, I bid you clean hay, to one and to all I bid you good food, and to one and to all I bid you good day." "What a funny song," whispered Loolie, "Yes, it is, isn't it?" replied Ruth. "It is very ancient. Back in the old days, before we moved into houses, we used hay for our beds. Of course, now we have beds and piglet schools and even Birthday parties. As a matter of fact, many things have changed. Would you like to hear the story?" "Oh, yes," said Loolie, "please, I want to hear."

"Where should I begin? I guess at the beginning," thought Ruth. "It all started in these very woods. We lived among the trees, we slept on grass and leaves, and bathed in the nearby rivers and ponds. We roamed from place to place, and of course, we ate as we went. Don't tell anyone, but we love to eat, you know. Everything was quite pleasant, but there was one terrible problem. We had to be on constant alert because, you see, there were Creatures Who Like to Eat Pigs. Can you believe that anything would find something as wonderful as we are could be pleasant to eat? Well, let me tell you, there were. It was very scary at times. We all lived separate lives. No one looked after their neighbor. It didn't take us long to figure out that there was more safety in numbers. Coming together and watching out for each other was much better. And, besides that, we all enjoyed each other's company. We shared all the chores. We tended to the piglets, made the beds, found the best munches to eat and the coolest water to drink. But, most importantly, we all watched for The Creatures Who Like to Eat Pigs!"

Everything went well until one day there was a squabble. Two pigs wanted the same ripe blueberry. Personally, I think that was quite silly, because I am sure there was more than one blueberry on that bush. I am sure that there were enough blueberries for everyone. As the two pigs grew louder and louder, the whole herd turned to watch. They forgot their own chores. Especially the most important one, watching for The Creatures! Should I say more? As you might have already guessed, the Creatures Who Like to Eat Pigs were slyly waiting for just the right time. While the two selfish pigs were fighting, The Creatures very, very slowly crept forward in the dark shade of the leaves and trees. Our ancestors didn't even notice when one of the younger girls was snatched. It wasn't until much later, after everything quieted down, someone realized that Rosey just wasn't there anymore. They looked and looked, but no Rosey. Then it dawned on them. Rosey was really, really gone.

The whole herd was not only sad by the loss of Rosey, but they were frightened that the same thing might happen to them, too. They all knew The Creatures Who Like to Eat Pigs were always waiting for their chance. The pigs gathered together to discuss how to make sure this terrible thing never happened again. They talked and talked way into the night. Finally, they decided the main reason poor Rosey was no longer with them was because two selfish little pigs had squabbled over a blueberry. The entire herd had forgotten to do their most important job. They all were to blame -- poor, poor Rosey.

A very wise boar named Alexus rose to his feet and said, "Since we all are responsible for poor Rosey's death, because we forgot our duty to the herd as a whole. We must do something to honor her sacrifice. Her death has taught us a very important lesson. We have learned that it takes all of us to be safe." "Yes, yes, Alexus is right," remarked amazingly beautiful gilt named Zara. "He has spoken wisely. We must find a way to never squabble among ourselves again. We must find a way to always remember Rosey and what her sacrifice has taught us."

As the other pigs began to think about the truths that Alexus and Zara had spoken, a deep emerald mist drifted from the trees. Out of this mist there appeared the very handsome fairy king, Fernwood. He was dressed in emerald velvet and on his head was a gold and emerald crown, shinning in the sun. At his right arm was a most lovely sight, his wife and queen, Lily. She had long silver hair that almost touched the hem of her shimmering white gown. All the pigs bowed their heads as King Fernwood began to speak, "We have come here to answer your plea. Queen Lily and I are aware of your sorrow and your deep regret for your most recent tragedy. We have come to help you, if you like." "Oh, yes, oh yes," the pigs all cried.

"First, to be a constant reminder of your need for each other we shall make you different from all other pigs," Fernwood continued. As the fairy king finished speaking, Lily pulled out her bag of fairy dust and threw it in the air. The clearing immediately filled with glistening silvery specks. All the pigs closed their eyes. When they opened them again, they had been changed forever. Each of them had lovely round tummies and attractive straight tails. In their joy their tails began to swing and their tummies began to tickle. They had never felt such happiness or such kinship before. They would always remember their most important task, to take care of each other.

"To ensure that you will never again squabble among yourselves, we do hereby appoint your wisest pigs as Emperor and Empress of your land. It is their responsibility to settle all arguments and to offer you their wisdom and truth. To you Alexus and to you Zara we bid you kneel and be touched," commanded King Fernwood. Alexus and Zara slowly walked forward and knelt before the fairy couple. When King Fernwood lifted his staff and touched Alexus and Zara on their bowed heads, they were immediately changed. Alexus stood strong and noble in his suit of red and tall ruby crown. Zara was dressed in sunshine yellow and her head was crowned with rainbow jewels. "Now, there is just one more thing," stated Fernwood, "you will move from the woods and build a town on this very spot. From this day forward, you will no longer be simply called pigs. You will be forever referred to as Pots."

"So, Loolie, that is how we came to live in this village and to celebrate Empress Sadie's birthday." Ruth filled her glass with watermelon from the pink pitcher and took a long sip. She smiled at Loolie as she refilled Loolie's glass with apples. "So that is how we got to be such good friends with the fairies," Loolie said, "Hey, I thought the fairies were coming to help us celebrate Empress Sadie's birthday. I wonder why they are not here." "Oh, Fairies are always a little late, you know," said Ruth, "but they will most certainly be here very soon." No sooner had Ruth finished speaking there appeared before the gathering a most beautiful, tiny fairy. Loolie just couldn't believe her eyes because this was the first fairy she had seen up close. Fairies tend to keep their distance, unless they are really needed or have something special to do.

As the fairy straightened her blue dress, brushed back her long red hair, and walked right up to Sadie, she said, "I bid you good day, Empress Sadie. My name is Periwinkle. I have been sent here by King Fernwood and Queen Lily to wish you a most warm and affectionate Happy Birthday." Periwinkle began to smile. Her smile turned into laughter. The laughter started slowly at first, but quickly filled the party with a warm rosy glow and the sound of tinkling bells. She took her bag of fairy dust off of her sapphire studded belt and threw it in the air. Millions of silvery specks floated all around in the bright, sunny, morning air. As the glistening specks disappeared, a most glorious Birthday Present took their place. With great affection Sadie bent down and gave Periwinkle a gentle kiss. I am so happy they chose you, Periwinkle, to came to my party." As Sadie walked back to her throne and sat down with great ease, especially for a Pot of her size, she said, "Now I must see what they sent me!" Very carefully she untied the ribbon made of rainbows and unwrapped her sunshine yellow package. Quickly she lifted the lid. There nestled in the soft green moss was a most gorgeous golden whistle. It was studded with diamonds. "Oh, how wonderful! A new whistle for my Birthday games," Sadie exclaimed. Turning to Periwinkle, she said, "Do express to King Fernwood and Queen Lily my deep appreciation for this most wonderful present. I will use it this afternoon when the Potbellied Pig Tournament begins."

Copyright © 1996. Kathleen Myers. All rights reserved worldwide