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A Christmas Car(oink)ol
Inspired by Charles Dickens
Once upon a time in the little village of Goonez, in a land
far, far away, there lived a lovely herd of hard working pigs. It was
not a rich area; food was hard to come by.
All day long one could hear the loud oinks of the older pigs
trying to provide for their families. The younger pigs were made to help
keep the family huts clean, as cleanliness was considered a virtue amongst
all Goonezian pigs.
Tiny Pim was one of those younger pigs helping out his dear
folks. His was a big family as he was the youngest of seven siblings. Both
of Tiny Pim's parents worked hard to feed their offspring.
Mother went out day and night exchanging potato scraps from
their fields for all possible vegetable leftovers. Father worked with books
and numbers at the offices of the head-pig, also known as the major-pig.
They worried a lot, especially over Tiny Pim's health.
Although fine in the summer, Tiny Pim would suffer from his
bad constitution once winter set in. Winters brought the cold and rains to
all Goonezians. Bad rainstorms would flood their roads and, worst of all,
their huts.
It was early morning the day before Christmas when Tiny’s
family tried to clean their hut after another disastrous bout of rain. Dirt
was stuck on the few pieces of furniture; the beds of hay were wet through
and through.
While wading through vile smelling mud, Tiny Pim coughed and
sneezed and huffed and puffed, as he said: “Father, it will all be fine, we
will clean up here, please go to work, for the head-pig might just fire
you."
Father pig’s heart broke as he looked at
his sick child. Upon his arrival at work he immediately addressed the
head-pig about the Goonezian floods. “No dis-respect Gov’ner,” he said, “but
the whole bloody village is suffering and my youngest is acquiring another
case of pneumonia.” “Bah, humbug,” the head-pig replied, and went back to
assorted important matters.
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The head-pig did not think much of it until he fell asleep
that night. In his dreams he was visited by a huge monstrous swine who
called himself the ghost of piggy-future. Although the head-pig struggled
and fought the ogre he was taken to a place where he saw himself drowning in
a giant mud-slide. As he was taking his lasts gasps of dirt- filled air he
noticed a tombstone:
“After surviving a muddy wave
Still taken early to his grave,
Cause pneumonia took care o’ him
Here rests the soul of Tiny Pim ”.
Christmas morning the village was woken up early by the
sounds of big machines. All Goonezians went out and in full amazement saw
hundreds of big worker pigs in overalls building roads and bridges and
tunnels.
“Look,” they screamed in joy, “they’re fixing our village,
hurray, hurray!”
The head-pig looked around and his heart warmed as he saw his
herd so happy. He slowly walked up to Tiny Pim and whispered: “You will grow
into a fine proud healthy pig, dear boy, and I’m glad to be a part of that."
And all lived happily ever after.
Merry Christmas.
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