"Ooooof! Uhhhggg! Oooooof! VINKY!!! I need you!"

Vinky groaned. She stuck her head out the owlbox door and then gasped, then giggled. She was amazed to see Vobble struggling to set up The Dude's 18 foot ladder against the owl box pole. It looked like he was dancing. He held the ladder by one end in the air above him and moved back and forth trying to keep it balanced and upright.

Vinky flew over and alighted on the top most rung. Vobble grunted.

"Gee, thanks, sis. Do you think you could help a little?"

"What are you trying to do, little bro?"

"Well, as it appears, I'm trying to set up this ladder. What does it LOOK like I'm doing?!"

"I can see that, Vobble! But WHY?!!"

"Well, it's 'cause I'm too little."

"Too little for WHAT?!"

"To carry it when I fly."

"To carry WHAT?!"

"My log."

"Ohhhh—well, that makes everything perfectly clear. NOT!!! Vobble start at the beginning and tell me what's going on."

"Do you mind helping me with the ladder first? I'm kinda struggling here."

Vinky helped Vobble set up the ladder and then he flew to top rung to join her. She said, "Okay, now spill it little bro."

"Well, I heard Vaca telling Mary it was time to get the Yule log and I didn't know what that was so I went and looked it up and found out that it's an important part of Christmas and I love Christmas and we don't have a Yule log so we're missing out and you know how I hate to miss out so I found us a big Yule log but I'm too little to fly with it so I rolled it here but I can't roll it up the pole and into the box so I borrowed The Dude's ladder but I still don't know how to get it in the box and I'm not sure what to do with it when I get it up here and…"

Vobble gasped for breath. "What do we DO with a Yule log, anyway."

Vinky screeched, "You burn it, you little twerp! You are NOT burning a big log in our nice WOODEN owl box!!!"

Vobble beak quivered. "But we'll miss out on Christmas! I want my Christmas!!" He was on the verge of melt-down when Vinky said, "Ok, let me think. We could…

"We could get a Christmas tree instead, we could put lots of twinkly little lights on it and some home-made ornaments and a big starry owl angel at the top," Vinky tilted her pretty little head and smiled.

"It would be so much prettier and safer than an old log that would end up burning our box to ashes," Vinky pondered a moment. "Or maaaybe we could have a fireplace installed in our box, it would look great right here next to the window, oh wait, we'd have to have a window put in too."

"What do you think Vobble? she asked. Vobble scratched his head, and his elbow too, just because it itched, and replied…

"That sounds nice, but what about my LOG??? I want my LOG!!!"

Vinky could see that a tantrum was on the way. "Welllllll," she said, "let me think. Would you get me some thinkin' kinda food?"

Vobble ran to the pantry and came back with a nice fat gopher. He wanted his sister thinking hard!

She thought and thought and thought and then she said…

"I've got it! Let's have a Christmas bonfire in Vaca's backyard. HE can carry that silly Yule stump of yours."

"Sis! You're great! Let's invite a bunch of our friends. The Dude can't say, 'No,' to all of us. We should tell him…uh…ASK him…to start the log early."

"When should we do this?" Vobble asked.

Vinky said, "Before Christmas Eve, duh! Please, oh please, don't invite…"

"Oh never mind that. The Christmas Yule log is a nice idea. I remember now that I read about people having them in Scandinavian countries. In fact, their name Yule is like "Jul" the Swedish word for Christmas. But I think the idea of having a Yule log outside as a bonfire is a really good one. Let's more people come that way!

"But, as to who to invite, I think we should invite ALL our friends and relatives. I can't think of anyone I'd want to leave out. Now then, let's start making a list…Oh, WAIT!! I guess we'd better get The Dude's permission first. Let's go over right now and…

see about getting the Dude's permission. They made their way over to the window sill at John's office and started beaking on the glass window. They could see him inside working on his compute, but he was ignoring them. They pecked again and again, and kept looking at each other with those puzzled looks.

"Why is he ignoring us?"

Then all of a sudden, John took off his headset and saw them waiting for him on the window sill. He went over and opened the window and asked what they wanted.

Vinky told him they would like to burn a Yule log and have a little holiday party, and could they used the Dude's backyard cause the Yule log would probably burn down their owl box. The Dude laughed at that vision, and told them of course he would be happy to host their party.

"Oh, that would be great," they said. While Dude went…

out into the woods to find the perfect tree for a Yule log (Vobble's was a little small), the owlets began the invites. Fortunately, the Dude left his window open, so they flew in and found Zorro and Zale in the kitchen, slicing up some pepper jack cheese.

"We are having a Yule Log Bonfire and you're both invited!" Vobble squawked excitedly.

"What's a Yule log?" asked Zale.

"It's a Christmas tradition for many, usually toasting of cheezemallows is the highlight of the event", responded Zorro, smacking his lips at the thought.

"Huh? I didn't know that." Vobble was somewhat puzzled but went back into the Dude's office to invite the rest of the gang.

As they made some calls, Zorro came in. "Who's in charge of food for this shindig?"

Without looking up, Vinky said, "You are."

Zorro said, "Oh goody. Zale were headed to CC's."

When they got to CC's they told her about the party and asked for food ideas. Zorro said any food was good as long as it had cheese in it.

She had lots of ideas. They decided on some French Cheese Dip, some M&M (for Molly and McGee) Hot Chocolate, some Peanut Butter S'mores, some Bacon Wrapped Bananas and a big pot of Chili.

Zorro got very excited about the food and waited patiently for CC to prepare it all and to get it back to Dude's backyard.

After the food was ready, Zorro, Vinky and Vobble had it packed up into baskets with handles, and Vinky and Vobble each had a basket in their beak to fly back to Dude's. They were very heavy and the headwinds on the way home were giving them some trouble, but they managed to get back to Dude's and dropped off the treats.

Dude had found a great log or the fire. Mrs. Dude had set the treats out on the yard for everyone to enjoy, and before they knew it, they had this beautiful log burning, everyone was squawking with delight, and the party was on!

"Oh, this is wonderful!" said Vinky. "I didn't know Christmas could be this much fun. What other kind of things do two-leggers do to celebrate?"

Dude and Mrs. Dude were there enjoying the festivities when all of a sudden…

there was a sweet low beautiful sound. It was music, but not the music you hear all the time. Then Mrs. Dude said, "Two-leggers also like to do what is called Caroling—Christmas Caroling. Folks get together and sing pretty music.

Vinky said, "It's beautiful," and then she told Vobble to please not try to sing. Some folks string popcorn—just all kinds of fun stuff. The Dude mentioned roasting nuts over a fire and then Tauntz showed up with…

his whole family. He was carrying a big bag of candied carrots, which he said were great toasted over a fire.

By this time the Yule log was burning low, and the marshmallows and peanut butter for the peanut butter s'mores were brought out. Some other goodies were also available for guests who wanted to create-their-own-s'mores.

The guest gathered around the coals and embers and had a great time making (and eating) a huge variety of create-your-own toasted treats and delicacies. Some of the original treats became treasured recipes. And then, when everyone was about ready to head for their homes…

Vinky turned to Vobble and said, "You know, for a twerp who tried to burn down the owl box, you're all right, little bro. It all worked out great."

Everyone agreed that this was a terrific tradition. They all sat and watched the last of the Yule log burn. As the log burned down to just a few warm embers, VacaDude began to hum. The Dudette joined in, offering a soprano counter melody. Soon the whole group was humming along, harmonies and new melodies popping up here and there. There was such a feeling of joy and peace throughout the group.

Then the Dudette started singing in her beautiful high soprano voice. She made the words up as she went along. She sang,

This is the time of Christmas joy.
The time of love and peace.
A time for every girl and boy
To find some hope that will not cease.

This is the time for friends to come
And join in celebration.
The Yuletide log is burning bright
And hearts are full of exaltation.

This is the time for everyone,
No matter their color or creed,
To join in spreading cheer around
And joining hearts indeed.

This is the time that every man—
Every woman and child, too—
Can join in making memories
To last the whole year through.

As the last spark from the Yule log popped and died, the group sighed in awe. No one spoke as they headed home, except for The Dude as he gave The Dudette a kiss on the cheek and said, "I'm glad I've got you in my life."


The End