Mr.Squirrel was acting strange as usual. There is always something out of sorts with him. This time the heat had gotten under his craw. Cranky and undignified he kept trying to reach for a breeze somewhere. Maybe if I stick my neck out this far I will feel cooler, he thought. It is my whiskers which make me hot when they are touching my fur. How can I separate my whiskers from my fur. Baby blackbird had just gotten up the gumption to venture out past the view of momma bird. Momma blackbird could never be called an over protective mother, by any means. She lets her fledgelings do just as they please from bedtimes to food. Pop Blackbird runs a tight ship when they get of age to serve under him. So during their formative months mom lets them enjoy whatever freedoms they can think of. They are all usually a very tightknit group, hovering close as they can to mom. They just love her relaxed attitude and although they could be anywhere, they sit at her feet and listen to her every word and peep.
Not today for baby, she was venturing out past the walls of the nest. The heat had her searching for a stray bit of water somewhere. Doesn’t anybody make a birdbath somewhere? She caught sight of Mr. Squirrel sticking his neck out and it was and observable unusual sight for her. She really had never made his acquaintance before. Scared and curious she made her way closer and closer to what looked like a posing squirrel. Do you need help? She peeped from the top of the stair bannister. No, he grunted back. Can’t you see I am catching a breeze? Silly bird, move away from me, you are causing me to use up my valuable energy conversating with you for what? You are of no consequence to me. Why are you bothering me in all this heat? You are just making me hotter than I already am. Get away, get away, I say.
Wow, you are a grumpy paws aren’t you? She had never met a squirrel and so she was under the impression that perhaps all squirrels were of the crankyshanks sort. I simply wanted to know if you needed help. If you are not in pain, I will stay right here and watch you for whatever it is you are posing. It is a free building and I will stay right here thank you very much. I am not at all blocking any air from getting to you at all. What class in aerodynamics did you graduate from anyhow to really believe that I could block air from you all the way over there. I am the baby in my family and I know better than that.
You are a judgmental, little feisty, flighty thing. I’d bet your momma doesn’t even know you strayed away from the nest now shoe, shoe, before I come over there and nip at your wings.
This argument went back and forth for sometime between them. Mr. Squirrel grew a little respectful for the little baby Merula who gave him what for. He had never had a bird take him to task in such a way. He was used to getting his own way with everybody being such a crankyshanks. Not with Merula. She knew how to use her tongue as well as her wings and her ganglion. This was just the beginning of a beautiful friendship between them but now momma blackbird was calling for supper and no water was to be found so she flew off as swiftly as she had appeared. Mr. Squirrel had enjoyed the challenge that she posed and was lonely now that she had excused herself.
It was Mexican American night at the pavilion and the ducks and geese couldn't seem to get into the rhythms that had overtaken the scene. Evvy said that they were all "whitefeathered". A stereotype, but it seemed to fit as they were all huddled on the other side of the lake, as far from the music as possible. Finally, one older couple decided to risk the ostracization that would happen if they went against the crowd. Come on, Harry, lets go down there and cut some ripples on the water. Sally, I am not ready to cut any ripples. Do you remember the last time we went out on the town? I couldn't paddle straight for a week. Do you want to see that happen to me again? Have a heart? Come on Harry, we are still young, lets go down there and dance.
Slowly, very slowly, they broke away from the crowd and went down to where the music was the loudest. Harry was doing the uptown paddle and the electric waddle. They cut, more than a few ripples, they cut waves on the water that night. Sally was pleased and a little embarrassed at what a spectacle he made of himself, but she was ready to nurse his wounds the next day. Their reward was that the children fed them all kinds of different Mexican foods that they had not had before and the other ducks listened intently as they recounted their adventure, the next day to them.
