I didn't have time to get to the cameras. I grabbed the phone but even then, too late. It had been the perfect photo-op. My family at breakfast!
The rain? Stopped. The sun not out either. Several doe had jumped the fence and were munching on the fallen acorns. The wild squirrels and the birds were up at arms. Squawking. Screeching.
I could hear them from the kitchen where my coffee was dripping, egg boiling, muffin toasting. I've learned in these four years to recognize the racket caused by the deer and to differentiate it from the mild chatter which only means rabbits munching blackberries.
So out to the porch I go with plate and cup filled to the brim. Telephone in pocket. One more trip to bring out Squirrel's salad and bath water. Belle eats in the house. She gets her bowl early, while I am fixing everything else.
The three of us were watching the deer. The wild squirrel who has a nest in the closest tree was on the outside of the screen, watching too. He wants so badly to come inside and live the good life. Yet, he's like the black and white kitten who visits. A dear friend; not family.
I put the bowls in place and reached to the screen to pat the wild squirrel's belly. Suddenly, Squirrel was out her door and up on the cat rest from which Belle was watching the deer. The does can jump over the fence with no running start at all and that's what they did. Belle turned to look at me.
Suddenly, Squirrel was up there with her, looking her in the eye. The kiss happened so quickly. Belle was amazed. Those two always touch noses in the morning through the cage screening. But this!!!
A squirrel kissing a house cat good morning? With a wild squirrel looking on, wishing it was him?
Things are back to normal. Belle is sleeping on "her" chair. Squirrel has had a bath and has covered her leftovers with a child's cloth ABC building block. You know the ones. The deer are deep into the copse by now, full of acorns. Wild squirrel is digging around in the flower bed, peevish it seems to me.
I drank more coffee than necessary. 100% Kona. Perfect for a morning like this. I love my family. Never think of me and wonder how I can be so happy living here alone. There's no such thing as alone. Not here, anyway.
