Reflet_voeux_2019_12_21

nutcracker. It’s a tool, and tools are for boys.’ “‘That’s not true! Besides, I should get to use it because I’m the oldest.’ “‘No you’re not! Besides, I’m bigger than you.’ “Just as things were about to come to blows, there was a knock on our door. It was Mrs. Claus. She’d heard us arguing through the window. Smiling, she pulled a coin and an hourglass from her apron pocket. “‘I have an idea, children. You can take turns using the nutcracker. This hourglass will keep track of who should use it and for how long. We can toss this coin to decide who goes first. Does that sound fair?’ “‘Yes, Mrs. Claus!’ “Mrs. Claus’ idea worked, and we cracked all the hazelnuts without fighting. And to reward us for our hard work, we got our own jar of hazelnut-chocolate spread.” As her story concludes, Rudolpha gathers a coin, an hourglass and the elf doll Storm and Mistral had been fighting over. Thanks to her childhood memory, the children stopped fi- ghting and both get a turn with the toy.

The nutcracker clash

“When I was a calf,” she says, raising her voice so it can be heard above the din, “I got into a fight with my brother Rudolph over a toy. Do you want to hear the story?” Like magic, the room becomes quiet, and the teacher starts her story. “One day when Rudolph and I were young and hadn’t yet grown our antlers, Mrs. Claus came over to our house carrying a big bag of hazelnuts. “‘I’m making hazelnut-chocolate spread for the elves,’ she told us, ‘and I’m looking for volunteers to crack these nuts. Would you two like to help?’ “‘Yes! You can count on us, Mrs. Claus.’ We were thrilled that Mrs. Claus had asked us instead of the other calves. She thanked us and went outside, leaving behind the ha- zelnuts and something else. Something spe- cial. “You see, we reindeer traditionally open nuts with our hooves, but that day, Mrs. Claus had brought us a surprise. It was a nutcracker shaped like a soldier. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. “‘Rudolph, you can use your hooves. I’ll use the nutcracker to make Mrs. Claus happy,’ I said, trying to look innocent. “‘No way!’ he replied. ‘I’m going to use the

Written by Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard Translated by Cyan Caruso-Comas The students at the North Pole Animal Daycare are bouncing off the walls this mor- ning. Bianca the rabbit jumps on Snowflake the polar bear. Frost the snowy owl draws on the wall. And Mistral the penguin and

Storm the fox are fighting over a new elf doll, each one holding an arm and pulling it until it looks like it’s going to rip in half. Their teacher, Rudolpha the reindeer, sees the kids fighting and frowns. She tries to think of a way to calm everyone down and restore peace to the daycare. She has an idea.

Santé et prospérité pour la nouvelle année. Joyeuses Fêtes à tous!

1738, rue Landry St. Clarence Creek ON K0A 1N0 T: 613 488-3334 E: nlroofing@sympatico.ca Joyeuses Fêtes Happy Holidays - Pièces pour autos, camions et tracteurs - Accessoires pour atelier de débosselage - Réservoirs à essence et radiateurs - Panneaux de remplacement

699, rue Notre-Dame EMBRUN 613 443-5141

H223303_TS

Certifié HACCP certified

4503, ch. Bourgon, St-Isidore

Producteur, classeur, distributeur d’oeufs- Marcel Jr & Pascal Laviolette, prop

localement Achetez locally Buy

T: 613-524-2847 • F: 613-524-2720 • 1-866-524-2847 marcel@falaviolette.com • www.fermeavicolelaviolette.com

EN CE TEMPS DES FÊTES ET TOUT AU LONG DE L’ANNÉE, NOUS VOUS INVITONS À ENCOURAGER VOS MARCHANDS LOCAUX. THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND ALL YEAR ROUND, WE INVITE YOU TO ENCOURAGE YOUR LOCAL MERCHANTS.

Fournier, ON • T 613-524-5453 • 1-855-524-5453 info@dmdpicard.com • www.dmdpicard.com

Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs