text: [Themes: Fantasy, animal protagonist, fanfic, Christmas, nonhuman protagonist, fan fiction, cute, kid-friendly]
  
  'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, the
  only creature stirring was a hippo the size of a mouse.
  
  This year you're going to stay awake long enough to see Santa Claws. You have set up a temporary nest in the living room closet, and it
  just needs a few final touches. You intend to venture out to have a snack and look at the tree one more time, and then you will go hide in the closet and wait.
  
  an interactive holiday tale by Adri ("Erin Gigglecreek")
  
  quick introduction on how to play.
  
  There is a tree here, decorated with ornaments and surrounded by piles of presents. There is also a table off to one side. The closet is to the southeast.
  
  [Author's Note: 'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, the only creature stirring was a hippo the size of a mouse. This is based in the world of the House Hippo, a PSA by the Concerned Children's Advertisers.]
  
  > examine table
  There is a table off to one side, draped in a bright blue tablecloth.
  
  > examine the tree
  It's a rather lovely Christmas tree, covered with rainbow lights, a silver garland and colorful, shiny ornaments. There is a collection of presents underneath the tree.
  
  > look at the presents
  There are piles of presents surrounding the tree. There is one rather tall pile of presents in a neat stack.
  
  > look at the pile
  A pile of presents stacked neatly under the tree, with the largest package on the bottom and the smallest at the top.
  
  > look at the largest package
  This present is wrapped in shiny blue paper, tied with a big red bow.
  
  > read it
  This present is wrapped in shiny green paper, tied with a big yellow bow.
  
  > look at the largest package
  This present is wrapped in shiny green paper, tied with a big blue
  bow.
  
  > About yourself
  You are a very fine specimen of Hippopotamus domestica.
  
  > look at the lights
  The tree is covered with tiny rainbow lights. The string of lights trails down from the lower branches to the power outlet. The wire is emitting quite a bit of heat.
  
  You are feeling very thirsty.
  
  > unplug the lights
  If you do that, the pretty lights will go out!
  
  > examine the ornaments
  The tree is adorned with colorful, mismatched ornaments, many of which have been made by the small humans of the house.
  
  > go southeast
  This is the closet where you will be spending the night. It is full of things that you don't need to think about right now.
  
  You can see your nest and a mitten here.
  
  > examine the mitten
  It's a small mitten. It is sopping wet, and the mate is nowhere to be seen.
  
  > Chew mitten
  You give the mitten a lick. Bleh! That doesn't appear to be food.
  
  > look at the nest
  It is a warm, comfortable mass of dryer lint and bits of string. It's not as nice as your nest in the bedroom closet, but it will do for tonight. It's still looking a little sparse, though. Perhaps you could find just one or two more items before you settle in for the night.
  
  > put the mitten in the nest
  It's all wet! Maybe you can find a way to dry it first.
  
  > take the mitten
  You pick up the wet mitten. Ick. Soggy mittens don't make good bedding material.
  
  > Go northwest
  There is a tree here, decorated with ornaments and surrounded by piles of presents. There is also a table, about the same height as the stack of presents under the tree. The closet is to the southeast.
  
  > put the mitten on the wire
  You lay the mitten across the string of lights where it nearly touches the floor.
  
  You are feeling very thirsty.
  
  > suck mitten
  Surely you can find a more sanitary source of water.
  
  > open the package
  You pick out the prettiest present in the pile and tug on the ribbon with your teeth. The ribbon slips ever so slightly, and you feel a sudden burst of shame.
  
  > take the ribbon
  You pick out the prettiest present in the pile and tug on the ribbon with your teeth. The ribbon slips ever so slightly, and you feel a sudden burst of shame.
  
  The mitten starts to smoke. You'd better go get it before you burn
  down the house.
  
  > take the mitten
  You quickly retrieve the mitten. It is now dry, and warm to the touch.
  
  > pull the ribbon
  You try with all your might, but it barely moves.
  
  > Go southeast
  This is the closet where you will be spending the night. It is full of things that you don't need to think about right now.
  
  You can see your nest here.
  
  > put the mitten in the nest
  You put the mitten on the nest.
  
  > examine the prettiest present
  This present is wrapped in shiny red paper, tied with a big yellow
  bow.
  
  > take the bow
  You pick out the prettiest present in the pile and tug on the ribbon with your teeth. The ribbon slips ever so slightly, and you feel a sudden burst of shame.
  
  You are feeling very thirsty.
  
  > look at the bow
  It's a length of shiny green ribbon, tied into a fancy bow.
  
  > Open present
  You pick out the prettiest present in the pile and tug on the ribbon with your teeth. The ribbon slips ever so slightly, and you feel a sudden burst of shame.
  
  > examine the tree
  It's a rather lovely Christmas tree, covered with rainbow lights, a silver garland and colorful, shiny ornaments. There is a collection of presents underneath the tree.
  
  > examine the garland
  The tree has been wrapped in a long strand of puffy blue garland. It looks very soft.
  
  The tree has been wrapped in a long strand of puffy blue garland. It looks very soft.
  
  > take the garland
  You tug on a dangling bit of garland with your teeth. A piece breaks off, about as long as you are.
  
  > Go southeast
  This is the closet where you will be spending the night. It is full of things that you don't need to think about right now.
  
  You can see your nest (on which is a mitten) here.
  
  > look at the garland
  It's a short length of blue garland, very soft to the touch.
  
  > touch it
  The garland is extremely soft to the touch.
  
  > smell it
  You smell nothing unexpected.
  
  You are feeling very thirsty.
  
  > put it in the nest
  You put the piece of garland on the nest.
  
  > climb the tree
  You briefly eye the tree, wondering how long it would take to climb
  it. Maybe you'll try it tomorrow.
  
  > climb it
  You attempt to scale the tablecloth, gripping tightly with your teeth and feet, but it's not an easy task. After just a few inches, you let go and drop back down to the floor. Ouch!
  
  > climb presents
  You climb to the top of the presents. You seem to be about level with the table, on which stands a glass of milk and a plate of cookies. The pile starts to wobble, and you quickly make your way back down to the...
  
  There is a tree here, decorated with ornaments and surrounded by piles of presents. There is also a table, about the same height as the stack of presents under the tree. The closet is to the southeast.
  
  > Climb pile
  You scramble up the pile of presents onto the table top.
  
  You are standing on top of the table.
  
  You can see a plate of cookies and a glass of milk here.
  
  > eat the cookies
  Don't be greedy! You should save the rest of the cookies for Santa.
  
  Visions of raisins dance in your head.
  
  > eat the cookie
  You nibble hungrily at the cookie.
  
  You are feeling very thirsty.
  
  > drink milk
  Little known fact: house hippos are lactose intolerant.