GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The sign of the season for you could be snow, holiday lights or baked goods. But for one East Grand Rapids street, it’s the mystery of an unexpected visitor.
“It gives us something to talk about and to giggle about," said Cheryl Grant, a resident.
Cheryl herself comes to expect holiday visitors. Living on this street for over 20 years, she never saw this one coming, though.
“During the pandemic, this moose appeared on our front porch," explained Cheryl.
A five-foot tall stuffed moose has now become the center of a mystery in the neighborhood. Beginning this year, the moose got loose — to every porch on Woodlawn Avenue.
“You look for the moose in the morning,” said Cheryl. “She kind of keeps an eye out on the neighborhood.”
The moose has been appearing at new houses every day. Neighbors believe it's somehow moving in the middle of the night, surprising residents on their porch in the morning.
Though she's a night owl, Cheryl said the moose's favorite time of day is 3:30 p.m.
“She kind of sits up straighter on her cute little bench," she explained.
That's the time chaos descends upon the street, in the form of a dozen elementary school kids.
“We know it came from someone, not a ghost could put it there," shrugged Kindergartener Simone Longo.
No one quite knows how the moose is moving. But in this mystery, Simone and her neighbors are the lead investigators. They all have their own theories.
“I thought he was just a new decoration," a neighborhood kid, Esther, said.
"He came from the woods," said Jack.
"I saw him and I was surprised," said Elizabeth, "then I hugged him."
"He was one of Santa's reindeers!" said Owen.
“I think he’s one of Santa’s helpers, too," agreed Simone.
But Cheryl seems to know the truth.
“I think the moose comes from... in our heart during this special season," she said.
She thinks maybe the moose brought a bit of magic of her own.
“When it starts getting cold, a lot of people go into their homes, and they don't see their neighbors and they're busy with everything. This is an excuse for us to get back together, which we love doing," Cheryl said.
“Our little moose just loves to be a part of it," she smiled.
This mystery is perhaps better left unsolved, as the moose on the loose on Woodlawn Avenue becomes more than her stuffing after all.
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