"Dancing in the Snow"
Or "Jeanne Rose Hedgehog and Jill Susan Squirrel Burn up the Snow with Some Amazing Paw Work."
Jeanne
I need to go home. My brother is cold, wet and getting VERY grumpy.
Jill
Ah, poor mister grumpy-pants. Come on, it's the first snow of the season. The first snow only comes like, what? Once a season?
I need to go home. My brother is cold, wet and getting VERY grumpy.
Jill
Ah, poor mister grumpy-pants. Come on, it's the first snow of the season. The first snow only comes like, what? Once a season?
Jeanne
Ah, yeah…that's, yeah. You're kind of the Goldie Hawn of squirrels, aren't you?
Ah, yeah…that's, yeah. You're kind of the Goldie Hawn of squirrels, aren't you?
Jill
No…no… Hayley Mills. I'm Splendiferous! And so are you. We've got to jump up and down and stick our tongues out. This is sugar from the sky. Let's taste it and kick up our tails.
No…no… Hayley Mills. I'm Splendiferous! And so are you. We've got to jump up and down and stick our tongues out. This is sugar from the sky. Let's taste it and kick up our tails.
Jill
Oh, you're lucky. I wish mine looked like that. And, yes… we should.
Oh, you're lucky. I wish mine looked like that. And, yes… we should.
Jill Susan Squirrel began to twirl. Ice crystals flew off her fluffy tail like smoke and glitter. It blinded Jeanne. She rubbed her eyes and looked to see if anyone was watching before twirling too. Well, she did a half turn and tumbled into a snow bank with a dull hedgehog thud. Hedgehogs have very tiny feet that don't do well on ice. She had corrective tennis shoes and wires in her right paw. Long story… don't ask.
Jeanne
I…I…no. I'm a little over weight for a hedgehog my height. The deer over there are watching. I'd look silly.
I…I…no. I'm a little over weight for a hedgehog my height. The deer over there are watching. I'd look silly.
Jill
If you're not acting silly
You're not doing it right
Come dancing in the snow
So fluffy and bright.
If you're not acting silly
You're not doing it right
Come dancing in the snow
So fluffy and bright.
Jeanne
Well… okay. If you're gonna twist my paw.
Well… okay. If you're gonna twist my paw.
Jill
Go -go boots?
Jeanne
Check!
Go -go boots?
Jeanne
Check!
Jill
Silly Alpine Hat?
Silly Alpine Hat?
Jeanne
Already got it on!
Already got it on!
Jill
Then come on… let's show those deer how hedgehogs and squirrels have fun!
Then come on… let's show those deer how hedgehogs and squirrels have fun!
Jeanne
Do the Mash Potato!
Do the Mash Potato!
Jill
Baking it, baking it… with Gravy on top.
Baking it, baking it… with Gravy on top.
Jeanne
Do the chatty Monkey.
Do the chatty Monkey.
Jill
I don't want this to stop.
Ride the Pony and then do the Swim,
Do the Watusi wearing bear feet in the gym.
Do the Hully Gully and then Frug across the floor.
Bam Bam…wala…wala…wala
Bam Bam…wala…wala…wala
Stroll…Twist…MADISOOOOOON!
I don't want this to stop.
Ride the Pony and then do the Swim,
Do the Watusi wearing bear feet in the gym.
Do the Hully Gully and then Frug across the floor.
Bam Bam…wala…wala…wala
Bam Bam…wala…wala…wala
Stroll…Twist…MADISOOOOOON!
Jeanne
Well, bust my buttons. Where do you get the energy?!
Well, bust my buttons. Where do you get the energy?!
Jill
Nuts! Texas Two-step, baby, watch me twitch this tail.
And my Salsa would make the Titanic sail.
And last…
But not least…
Drum roll, Bambi, please!
A Peppermint twist
That Chubby Checker
Couldn't resist!
Man… when I finish that lad would be skinny and striped.
Nuts! Texas Two-step, baby, watch me twitch this tail.
And my Salsa would make the Titanic sail.
And last…
But not least…
Drum roll, Bambi, please!
A Peppermint twist
That Chubby Checker
Couldn't resist!
Man… when I finish that lad would be skinny and striped.
Jeanne
Oh Gosh, you are my plush hero!
Jill
You think that's good? Watch this!
Tell your grumpy brother
To take his wet mittens
And go back inside.
I will buy him a card:
"Dear Dan, Sorry to hear
Your inner child died.
Hugs and Kisses."
You think that's good? Watch this!
Tell your grumpy brother
To take his wet mittens
And go back inside.
I will buy him a card:
"Dear Dan, Sorry to hear
Your inner child died.
Hugs and Kisses."
Jeanne
From the Misses!
Jill
We're the coolest dancing rodents on two continents. Scoot…scoot…scoot…
From the Misses!
Jill
We're the coolest dancing rodents on two continents. Scoot…scoot…scoot…
Jeanne
It's okay...I remember… But I'm…I'm not a rodent.
It's okay...I remember… But I'm…I'm not a rodent.
Jill
It's okay…we don't judge.
It's okay…we don't judge.
They danced all night until all the snow on the driveway melted under their happy paws and Jeanne's grumpy-pants brother fell asleep listening to his Rush CD… which smart squirrels really don't like. The owner of the house was happy (but confused) that she didn't have to plow before going to work. If there were more dancing squirrels the world would be a less slippery place.
If you're not acting silly
You're not doing it right
Come dancing in the snow
So fluffy and bright.
You're not doing it right
Come dancing in the snow
So fluffy and bright.
Origin:
I've known Jeanne for ages and have always loved her child like enthusiasm. Someone once told her to never lose it and I was so happy to see her recently post online a poem celebrating the first snow. Her brother told her to grow up.
I hope she won't! When Jeanne and I saw Jill a few years ago, Jill had so much energy (like a squirrel) and kept jumping and skipping as we chatted by her van. She was like a little girl wanting to dance. It was a natural having Jill's Brooklyn mouth get back at Jeanne's brother for being such a grump pants (Jill's much loved phrase.) I really like the energy in this. It feels like a burst of pure joy and I could hear the music as I wrote it.
I was just going to do it as a solo song by Jeanne but when I wrote the duet this morning ("Leaf in the Wind") the energy between Jill Squirrel and Jeanne Hedgehog was just wonderful. You can't plan that kind of chemistry. Some plush have it. Some don't.
© Gruesome2some 2013
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