Across the clearing raced Tumbletwig with a tray of teacups. Then bump! A root jolted the tray, and the cups jumped. Clink-clink-clink!
Tumbletwig froze. Eyes wide. Paws still. The saucers wobbled and wobbled while mint tea floated through the air from the hollow tree.
Down dropped Tumbletwig to the moss. One saucer landed in a paw. A spoon rolled away, but Tumbletwig nudged it before it slipped under a fern.
"Whew," said Tumbletwig in a shaky little voice. But bump went one cup against the snack plate, and the acorn cookies skittered toward the edge.
Tumbletwig grabbed the snack plate. "Hold the table!"
Inside the great hollow tree, every forest animal moved at once. Chairs slid. Cups were steadied. A drooping tablecloth was lifted just in time.
Tumbletwig saw jam gleam on a biscuit. Then plop! One cookie landed in the empty sugar bowl. A few surprised giggles popped out.
Up hopped Tumbletwig onto a stool. Cup by cup, plate by plate, everything began to find its place.
Paw to paw, the plates were passed around the table. One by one, each wobble stopped.
At last, the very last teacup settled with one tiny ting. Tumbletwig grinned.
The warm tree glowed gold around the ready table. Everything was still. Everything was waiting.
Tumbletwig lifted a cup. The forest animals lifted theirs too. Clink-clink-clink! At last, the cozy tea party began.
