Читать книгу Kentucky Tails - Betsy Byrne - Страница 8

The sun had gone partially down, so it cooled quite a bit. The air was still warm enough that everyone felt comfortable. Mr. Bumpus headed the meeting. His throat cleared, ‘Hello fellow friends. We have a visitor here that we want to welcome to our humble hill. Instead of me introducing her to you, I will ask her to come up and do the honors.’

Penny was so nervous; she backed up and stumbled on a small rock that was right behind her. Chet came over quickly, and curled his tail around Penny’s. ‘Can I come up there with her; I’d like to add a few things after she says everything she wants to’ ‘Sure, Chet, come on up handsome.’ Mr. Bumpus stepped back to allow Penny & Chet to stand where he was.

Penny’s voice quivered, as she nervously laughed to the anxious crowd. ‘It’s really silly how this all came about. I live in the Grand Canyon, and hadn’t eaten in a very long time. The man, who was sharing the gorgeous view with me, kept taking food from his duffel bag. Not that I knew him at all, but he looked so kind, I thought that maybe he wouldn’t notice me hop in to get something to nibble on.’

‘Of course, right when I jumped in, he decided that it was time to leave. I was so hungry; I didn’t notice that he had zipped me inside.

I had eaten so much, that’s how I got so drowsy then I eventually fell asleep. When I awoke, we had already come back to where he lives. This is the first time that I heard that we’re in Kentucky.’

‘It’s very beautiful here. Where I came from was breathtaking, but it’s just as spectacular here in its own unique way. Well, now I don’t have to wonder about where I am anymore. She brought her warm smile to a more serious thought provoking look. It really is beautiful here on the hill.

I was ousted by my family, so I had no one there who would be missing me or worried about where I was.’ ‘My first chance to escape came yesterday, and that’s when I was terribly beaten by Dexter. Miss Netta was gracious enough to take me into her home and nurse me till I felt better. Little Chet here, has been telling me about how much he loves living here, and honestly, I have never heard so many say that they love where they live and who they live with so much. It’s really quite refreshing.’

Chet stepped forward, ‘My Mother, brother and I got to spend a lot of the night talking with Penny, and we have so much that we want to show her of our special place here on the hill.’ ‘Penny spoke of trying to make the long journey home, but we’re hoping that soon, she’ll feel that this is her home, and she’ll join us.’ He looked bashfully at Penny, and made the whole group chuckle from his sweet little expression. Mr. Bumpus came back up, along with Netta. Once again, Mr. Bumpus cleared his throat. ‘Miss Netta here has offered to have Penny stay with her.

She will help Penny to find a living area, to call her own, whether it is up in the trees or under the ground.’

The majority of squirrels here in Kentucky looked to be tree dwellers. Penny had also been a tree dweller in the past. ‘She’s the same species of squirrel as I, and I think that right there, is enough reason for me to be able to show her our ways, if it’s o.k. with her. I would feel honored to show her our ways out here in the country.’

‘I’m sure that it’s a different culture than where she came from and it’s important for her to know what predators to watch out for.’ There was a rustle in the crowd, and Penny recognized Fern come forward. ‘Excuse me everyone, but I have something to say.’ She was wringing her hands on her apron that she wore, as she must always be cooking and cleaning, what with all of her little one’s running around their den. Her nose twitched so much, that it made her glasses look like they had a mind of their own, and couldn’t find a comfortable spot to rest.

‘My children and I would love to be able to help show Penny around also. With so many of us wanting to help her, I’m sure that she’ll find her way around the hill in no time at all. I think there won’t be a shortage of any of us that would love to help her. Would that be o.k., Penny?’

Again, Penny stepped forward, ‘I am happy that there are so many of you that are willing to help me to feel at home, and I’m sure that there is much for me to learn, at least while I am here.’ ‘I feel very welcomed from all, err, most of you, and I thank you so much’ the air had cooled even more, and the darkness had rapidly taken over. Netta quickly spoke as soon as there was a pause of silence. ‘For tonight, once again, Penny, would you please stay with me and my boys?’

‘I’d love to, and I must say I am overwhelmed by the kindness and helpfulness that all of you have shown.’ Penny cleared her throat, as her eyes got very watery.

Chet came over, and once again, slipped his little paw into hers. ‘Let’s go, Penny, I’m glad that you’re gonna stay with us again.’ Everyone clapped (the bunnies thumped their little hocks), what a sight it all was!

Mr. and Mrs. Bumpus started a little waltz, and soon, Fern and her many children, started doing a little ‘jig’ of their own. Everyone was very pleasant and happy. There was a sudden crackling in the bushes, and a handsome squirrel came out with wild eyes and a stance that he was ready to fight. Netta let out a cry, dropped the paws of her two boys, and ran over shouting ‘Peter, Peter.’ His expression quickly changed to a very happy, weary smile, as he held his love and closed his eyes tight.

‘I missed you so much Netta. Where are my boys?’ Chet and little Zachery were right behind their Mama, jumping up and down, clapping and laughing. ‘Hurray, Daddy’s home. Tell us some stories Papa,’ they cried.

‘In due time lads, I’m just glad to be with you again. What’s been going on while I’ve been gone?’ ‘It’s getting dark, Peter, let’s tell our friends good night to our friends and I’ll tell you on our way home, said Netta. After everyone greeted Peter, and gave the ole ‘slap on the back’,

‘Glad you’re home’ Peter, Netta, and their boys hugged as they chattered down the road. Penny felt out of place, and walked behind, making sure to leave enough room for privacy out of respect to the family.

In all the excitement, Netta turned to look behind her, and saw Penny. ‘Oh, I’m sorry Penny; there’s been so much excitement. Peter, I have someone very special for you to meet.’ Chet shouted out, ‘She’s our lucky Penny, Papa!’ ‘I guess there have been changes here too while I was gone.’

Peter turned around to entwine tails with Penny in a ‘how do you do’ fashion. ‘It’s getting rather dark and the air is getting brisk. Let’s compare notes when we get home, shall we?’ Penny was very taken with how much she could tell that the family genuinely cared about each other. Very tired, but not a one of them could stop talking and hugging.

There was so much to say to each other as they all began talking at once, excitedly trying to update the changes while they were absent from one another. Netta and Peter couldn’t take their eyes off one another. The boys giggled so much that even Peter had to ‘shush’ them. ‘So you’re the famous Penny that everyone has so much to say about, huh?’ Penny put her eyes down in embarrassment, and gave a coy smile.

‘How did you find our little paradise, Penny?’ ‘I really felt like I was brought here for a reason. It all happened so fast. I lived in the Grand Canyon all my life. To answer my hunger pangs, I leapt inside of a kind looking visitor’s backpack, to nibble on a few crumbs and the man zipped up the bag, with me inside.’

‘I was so hungry; I wasn’t worried about it, till I had my belly full. That’s when I fell asleep, and awoke here in Kentucky. I chewed my way out of the bag.’ ‘I didn’t hear any sounds and thought I was alone. Of course it turned out that I wasn’t, but the lady opened the window in the room, and I escaped out of it.

I have met Dexter, who has told me that under no circumstances am I to EVER go near his tree. That’s how I met your kind mate, Netta, and she nursed me back to health, with the help of your boys. I’m finding it very intriguing here, that I’m not sure if I’ll leave. I just feel that I was meant to always be here, I really do feel I’m ‘home.’ Peter smiled, as he sat back on one of the many tree knots above the surface of the branches.

‘Don’t worry about Dexter. We’re working on trying to find a way to strong arm him into leaving. He’s about the meanest cuss I’ve met in my life, and he has no right to try to control everyone. I’ve been on an excursion, trying to pick up any volunteers that would want to live here in peace, but help rid us of Dexter and his likes.’ ‘I’ve found more than a few, so I’m hoping that there won’t be any problems in trying to filter through the ones who are on their way back here.’

Most of them have bedded down in thick brush or high up in the trees. They said that they’d feel safer attempting to come up the hill in the daylight. Netta pointed over to where the boys were, and a warm smile came on Peter’s face. ‘I’ve missed my family so much. Let’s get some sleep before the boys wake up.’

Oh, that sounded nice, to relax and watch the stars, while the wind rocked the trees slowly in Mother Earth’s gentle wind.