2 November 2012
It had been a while since Webster Spider had helped rescue Sally Squirrel from the hole in the ground and in that time Webster and the young squirrel had become good friends. They used to meet on the way home from school in an old pine tree. They would chat about this and that whilst Sally practised her climbing and jumping and Webster practised making even more weird and wonderful webs, with a break now an then for a bit of dangling and climbing. Webster was doing better with his web-making at school now and had got the hang of making webs that at least kept Old Spidey the teacher, happy. On his own though, he still loved to make webs in what he called ''A more original and post-modern style.'' Sally didn't know what he was talking about, but she didn't mind because most of the time Webster was good fun.
Anyway, one day they were up in the tree and were chatting away when Sally said ''Speaking of strange, what is it with you and your webs? Why are yours so different to all the other spiders? Not that I'm bothered you understand.'' She went on ''I think they're quite good but some of the other creatures think it's all a bit odd. Interesting but definitely odd. After all, it's not as if they are any more useful than ordinary webs. In fact, with all those extra holes in, I would be surprised if you caught any flies at all.'' Webster looked a bit hurt. ''Well, it's not all about catching flies,'' he said. ''I don't see why everything has to be done in the same old way. I think they look more interesting and pretty my way.'' Sally noticed that Webster seemed to be getting into a bit of a huff (his legs were getting tangled in one of his loops) so not wishing to upset her friend anymore she thought she'd better change the subject.
She said ''It's my Mum's birthday next week and I'd really like to do something special for her. I've been a bit naughty lately and what with all the worry I caused falling down that hole I think I need to make it up to her.'' ''Well, what does she like?'' asked Webster, regaining control of the loop and swirling it into a spiral with his back legs. ''She likes flowers, and she'd like to have a garden,'' replied Sally ''but it's Autumn now and I don't know where there are any flowers to pick and as for a garden, well, it's too dark around our oak trees for a garden to grow very well.''
The two friends chatted some more without coming up with any ideas for Sally's Mum and then, seeing the sun getting low in the sky, they said goodnight and set off home for their teas and bed.
After Webster had finished his milk and was all tucked up in bed, as he was just dropping off to sleep, he couldn't help thinking about Sally's Mum and her birthday and wished there was some way he could help his friend.
When he woke up the next morning he had the feeling he'd dreamt about something quite important but he couldn't remember what it was. He tried hard to remember, but it was no good. As soon as he thought he was getting closer to whatever it was, it seemed to drift away again. He gave up, got dressed, had his breakfast, said goodbye to his Mum and Dad and set off to school as usual without thinking anymore about it.
Webster enjoyed being at school and loved learning about things, but occasionally Old Spidey could be a bit boring, particularly when he was talking about climbing and dangling. All the little spiders thought they were very good at this and didn't think an old fuddy-duddy like Old Spidey could teach them anything they didn't already know. It was during these sessions, where Old Spidey was going on about something to do with wind, snow and trees without leaves, that it suddenly came back to Webster what he had been dreaming about. Suddenly he was so excited by the idea that he couldn't wait for school to end and tell Sally all about it. He just about managed to pay attention for the rest of the day, but as soon as the bell went, he dashed off to meet Sally up the pine tree.
Sally was as excited by the idea as Webster and eagerly offered to help. They spent the time before going home planning what they were going to do and how they could do it without anyone finding out.
So it was, that late at night a few days later, once everyone was asleep, Webster sneaked out of the house and met up with Sally just beneath the oak tree where the squirrel family lived and they both set to work.
They were lucky in that there was a full moon that night and no clouds so they could see what they were doing, although this did make things chilly. However they didn't notice the cold as they were both working so hard. The little squirrel was following Webster's orders, placing sticks in the ground in the right places whilst Webster spun away as fast as all his legs could go.
It was an hour or so before dawn when they finished. They stepped back to take a look at their work. Sally said ''Well, I think it looks pretty good.'' After a pause she added ''Thanks Webster. My Mum will be so surprised.'' ''Well,'' said Webster ''I couldn't have done it without your help. I just hope she likes it.'' With that, the little spider said goodnight, or rather, good morning, to Sally. He promised to be back an hour after sunrise, the time they had agreed Sally would surprise her Mum. Webster went home but couldn't get any sleep. He was too excited and a little nervous. He hoped Sally's Mum would like her surprise.
It wasn't a day when Webster had to be at s hook, so his Mum and Dad were quite surprised to see him up so early for breakfast and not looking as if he had had any sleep. ''Webster,'' Mum said ''Are you right, Webster? You look as if you've been up all night.'' ''No I'm fine.'' said Webster as he gulped down his cereal, before quickly saying ''Got to go, meeting Sally. Bye.'' ''That's very odd.'' said his Dad ''he must be up to something. I wonder what it is?'' ''I'm sure he'll tell us when he's ready,'' replied his Mum ''He's a good little spider.'' ''Except when it comes to his weird and wonderful webs. I don't know where he gets that from.'' said Webster's Dad looking over his paper at Webster's Mum.
Webster arrived at Sally's house and knocked on the door. Y opened it and asked her friend in. Like Webster's mum, Sally's Mum was surprised to see Sally up so early and even more surprised when Webster came in. ''What's going on?'' she asked Sally ''Well,'' said Sally ''I think it's time to show you.'' With that, Sally led her mum to the door, with her Dad following a bit sleepily behind, together with all Sally's little brothers and sisters. Sally told her Mum and the rest of the family, to keep their eyes shut until she was ready, and then she and Webster led them to the front step which looked out over Sally and Webster's night's work. Once they were all ready Sally said ''Ok, you can all look now. Happy Birthday Mum!'' Sally's Mum opened her eyes and was amazed at the sight before her.
It was a magic garden.
Small sticks in the ground were flower stems, and larger sticks were bushes, and around them and hanging down from them, Webster had woven the most beautiful webs to look like flowers and leaves, all decorated with spirally loops, circles, squares and zig-zags. There had been a frost towards the end of the night and now with the sun coming up through the trees Webster and Sally's work lay there glistening, gleaming and sparkling in the sun. The frost made it look as if it was decorated with diamonds.
Sally's Mum was speechless. So was her Dad. And her brothers and sisters. ''Do you like it?'' Sally asked her Mum nervously. ''Sally, it's lovely.'' she said. ''It's the most beautiful garden I've ever seen. Thank you for a lovely birthday surprise.'' ''It was Webster's idea,'' said Say ''I only helped with the heavy stuff.'' ''No, no'' said Webster ''you had some good ideas during the building. It was a joint effort.''
Anyway, after a whole, Sally and Webster went inside leaving her Mum and the rest of the family outside still captivated by the shimmering and sparkling garden. They both flopped down on the sofa. ''I think it's gone down well.'' said Webster. ''it's great'' replied Sally. ''I hope you'll forget those daft comments I made about your webs not being any use. They've made a beautiful surprise. Thanks very much.'' Webster didn't reply. His eyes were shut and, exhausted by the nights work he had fallen fast asleep, happy that it had all worked out. Sally shut her eyes and was also fast asleep.
In the meantime, word had spread thought the wood about the sparkling garden. As a result, during the rest of the day, the garden was visited by all the woodland creatures who all had to agree that it was the most splendid and sparkly garden they had ever seen. They also all agreed that Sally had given her Mum a wonderful birthday present. And, of course, what a different sort of spider Webster was.
Webster The Spider Part 2/4 • Opuss № I