Raphaella Serfaty Eddie’s Feast

Eddie’sFeast

Raphaella Serfaty

Illustrations: Nurit Serfaty

Deep in a forest far away,Eddie the Elf is busy today.He’s cleaning and scrubbing as hard as he can,To make the whole house spic and span.He doesn’t have time to rest or play,His friends are coming for dinner today

What should he make? Pudding or pie?What will they drink if their throats are dry?There are things he can gather and pick all around,There is lots of delicious food to be found. Seeds and stems and leaves and roots,Berries and all sorts of different fruits.He makes a list, and smiling wide,

He takes his basket and hurries outside.To the kitchen garden he goes,To choose from all the things he grows.Lettuce, parsley, dill, and thyme,Quickly now, there’s not much time.“I’ll make a salad for every guest!”Says Eddie, choosing the very best.Skipping along he starts to sing:

“Salad’s a treat. It’s just the thing!

Now what else?”

Look at the flowers,So pretty and pink!“Nectar! That’s what my guests will drink!I’ll give the flowers a gentle squeeze,And fill up a pitcher as quick as you please.”Into the pitcher the nectar flows,And merrily Eddie the little elf goes:

“Salad’s a treat,Nectar is sweet!

Now what else?”

He looks around and what does he see?Dozens of mushrooms under a tree.Big ones, small ones, brown and white,Mushrooms galore to his delight.“Splendid,” says Eddie with a happy heart,“I’ll make my friends a mushroom tart!”

“Salad’s a treat,Nectar is sweet,Mushrooms are super!

Now what else?”

A bush ahead makes Eddie stop,It’s covered with berries from bottom to top.“They’re gorgeous,” he says with a gleam in his eye,“And just what I need for a blueberry pie.”

He chooses the fattest juiciest one,And knows his work is almost done.

“Salad’s a treat,Nectar is sweet,Mushrooms are super,Pie super-duper!

Now what else?”

A chestnut tree is right near by,Eddie looks and gives a sigh.Leaves are lying all around,Can he find enough chestnuts on the ground?The prickly spines give him a scare,He has to handle them with care.“It’s worth it,” says Eddie, “what a thrill – Chestnuts roasted on the grill!”

“Salad’s a treat,Nectar is sweet,Mushrooms are super,Pie super-duper,Chestnuts I’ll roast!

Now what else?”

He’s almost done, but not quite yet,There’s one more thing he has to get.“The corn is ripe, that’s swell for me,“I’ll make my cornbread recipe!”He skips to the field in a cheery mood,Then home he goes to make the food.

“Salad’s a treat,Nectar is sweet,Mushrooms are super,Pie super-duper,Chestnuts I’ll roast,And cornbread I’ll toast!

Now my menu is just right,I’ll serve my guests a feast tonight!”

Eddie chops and blends and slices,Stirs and mixes, adds the spices,He’s working at a rapid pace,And there’s a smile on his face.

The sun has set, it’s getting late,The meal is ready, the table looks great.“I’ve been working hard since the crack of dawn,”Says Eddie with a giant yawn. Onto a chair he falls in a heap, And soon the elf is fast asleep.

“Knock – knock, can we come in?”Lizard asks with a friendly grin.He pushes the door and it opens wide,He calls to his friends, “Let’s go inside.”In come Squirrel and Porcupine,Birdie and Groundhog are right behind.“Good to see you.” - “How do you do.” -“What’s up?” - “What’s new?” - “And how are you?”

But someone’s missing, without a doubt.Where is Eddie? Did he go out?Under the table Porcupine looks,Squirrel goes to check behind the books.They search on the left and search on the right,But Eddie the Elf is nowhere in sight.“He made the dinner and we’re all here.It’s not like Eddie to disappear!”

Then from the corner they hear a sound,Sort of a mumble – they turn around.“You’re here,” says Eddie with a bashful cough,I sat down for a minute. I guess I dozed off.Are you all hungry? Do you want to eat?Dinner is ready. Take a seat.”

“Wow!” – “Yummy!” – “Fit for a king!”“It’s all delicious! Everything!”“Any more salad?” – “Help yourself.“And have some more cornbread,” says the elf.Eddie’s food is all so good,They eat even more than they thought they could.

Then Groundhog begins a merry song,And all the others sing along:

“Salad’s a treat,Nectar is sweet,Mushrooms are super,Pie super-duper,Chestnuts he roasted,And cornbread he toasted.”

“Thank you, Eddie, we had a great time,”Cry Birdie and Lizard, Squirrel, Porcupine.“Yes,” says Eddie when the evening ends,“Food always tastes better when you eat it with friends.”