An Unusual Groundhog Day

"Wake up Phil"

"Why?"

"Have you forgotten?"

"I guess so. Why?"

"Today is the Fersommlinge," said Monax, Phil's wife.

"Oh, yeah. The shadow thing again", groaned Phil

Fersommlinge is an annual festival held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Phil and his wife Monax accepted the task of organizing the celebration. Their charter was to make this day better than any Groundhog Day in history, so they had started early - almost a year ago.

For the most part, Groundhogs don't travel. So getting the most famous to make the trip was a real chore. Phil sent invitations to several hundred. For example General Beauregard Lee from Stone Mountain, Georgia; Sir Thomas Hastings of Nebraska; and Patty Pagoda from Reading.

Those nearby, such as Poor Richard from York, and Susquehanna Sherman out of Mount Wolf, would attend. Those from far off; like Shubenacadie Sam from Nova Scotia, were doubtful.

Phil and Monax made their way to City Hall.

"Oh my," exclaimed Monax, "all our friends are here, and they took our advice and dug their holes in the soft well-manicured grass of the City Hall front lawn. Isn't that a beautiful sight?"

"Oh, there's Queen Charlotte and Sir Walter Wally from North Carolina. I didn't expect them.", said Phil.

"... and there is the New York crowd: Dunkirk Dave, Holtsville Hal, and Malverne Mel", replied Monax.

Nibbles, from Asheville, spotted Phil and Monax and hurried to greet them. "How does this Fersommlinge work? I've never been to one.", Nibbles asked.

"Well," explained Monax, "We will party all day, then when the shadows grow long, we'll have the ceremony."

"What ceremony?" asked Nibbles.

"Oh, that's the best part," said Phil. "After work, when Mayor Richard Alexander, comes out of City Hall, if he sees a Protest, there will be six more weeks of winter."