“I'll never get to sleep!” Gracie Groundhog said. She tossed and turned in her bed. She threw the covers off and pulled them back on. She counted the roots on the ceiling. She counted her blessings. She closed her eyes tightly, but it seemed hopeless! She couldn't get it off her mind.

The Groundhog Day Celebration was only a few hours away. Gracie giggled.

“I can't believe that everyone in Amazing Grace Acres is coming. And out of all the groundhogs on the whole mountainside, I'll be the one to step out and predict spring's arrival!”

Gracie hoped for a sunny day to play outside. But she couldn't bear the thought of seeing her shadow and hunkering down for six more weeks of winter.

“I want spring to come,” she whispered. Gracie imagined getting out of her burrow, running and exploring, playing hide-and-seek and drinking cool water from the stream.

“Oh, Lord,” she prayed. “Please let there be clouds at least for that short moment.” Gracie finally went to sleep dreaming of her big appearance.

In the burrow next to Gracie's, her brother, Grover, was still awake.

“It's just not fair!” he grumbled. “Gracie gets to do everything. What makes her so special? I want to be the special groundhog tomorrow.”

Grover thought and thought to come up with a plan to be the groundhog in the spotlight. Hmmm, he thought. Maybe I could trick Gracie by closing off the opening of her burrow and routing the tunnel to the house next door.

He jumped out of bed.

“I better get busy,” he said to himself.

Grover worked quietly. He blocked the first opening and quickly dug a new passage. It took him most of the night. Exhausted, he fell asleep right at the new doorway.

Gracie woke up with a start.

“My big day!” she exclaimed. She quickly put her favorite pink ribbon in her hair and headed for the door. Something felt strange. Had her door moved? She dashed to the opening where she saw Grover sound asleep.

“Wake up, Grover!” she said, kissing him on the cheek. “It's Groundhog Day! Come with me!”

As she peeked her head out of the burrow, she realized something was terribly wrong.

“Where are we?” she cried. “Where is everyone?”

Grover got a sick feeling in his tummy. Somehow his plan didn't seem so great any more. He knew that he could run and steal the show, but the look in Gracie's eyes stopped him. He knew what he had to do.

“Come on, Gracie!” he said. “I'll explain later.”

Grover led her through the newly dug tunnel and pushed through the blocked passageway. They made their way to the front of their home.

“It's your big day, Gracie. Step out.”

She giggled. “Here I go!”

Gracie stuck her head out of the opening just as a puffy white cloud moved toward the sun. She whispered, “Thank you, God. Just what I prayed for.”

As Gracie stepped out, she looked down at the ground. No shadow!

The animals cheered, “Hip, hip, hooray! Spring is on its way!”

All the animals ran to join Gracie. They hugged and danced. But Gracie noticed that Grover had stayed in the burrow. He seemed very sad.

“What's wrong?” Gracie asked.

A tear rolled down Grover's furry face.

“Oh, Gracie. I'm so sorry. I wanted to be the one to forecast spring. I tried to trick you. I dug a new tunnel so you would go the wrong way.”

“What?!” Gracie exclaimed. “How could you?” She stomped to her burrow and flopped on her bed.

Grover slowly followed. He knelt by his sister's bed. “I did a terrible thing, Gracie.”

“I can't believe you would even think of trying to steal the show,” Gracie interrupted.

“But I changed my mind. I saw how much it meant to you, so I didn't go through with my plan. Please forgive me.”

“You really hurt my feelings, Grover.”

“I know,” Grover said, dropping his head. “I'm sorry.”

Gracie turned to her brother. “Grover, I love you,” she said. “Of course, I forgive you.”

“Oh, thank you,” Grover said, smiling ear to ear. “Thank you for forgiving me. I love you, too.”

Gracie giggled. “Now let's get back outside. I think the sun is about to come out.”