"Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, Oh my!"

 

Mr. Baby Sir, local heartthrob! 

❤️

 
            It was a lazy hot afternoon, but the girls were TeleMrrrping™ anyhow, because there is always something to Mrrrp about, rain or shine!

❤️

            “So, Suzy, where’s your boyfriend? You haven’t mentioned him lately,” said Toots, from her HeatHibernation™ station.
            “He’s not my boyfriend!” yelled Suzy.
            “Where is he?” coaxed Toots.
            “If you mean the Fluffbag, he's visiting the Grand Daughter’s cats. What a hobo!” miffed Suzy.
            “Miss him, do ya? Well, I don’t blame you. He makes the rounds, like a pro of some kind!” said Toots admiringly.
            “He could just as well be your boyfriend, Toots,” giggled Suzy. “I think you admire him!”
            “Pffft!” hissed Toots. “I don’t need another one! I can’t get rid of Murphy, out in the yard all the time!”
            “So, what do you think of those cats in the alley in NYC, Toots?” said Suzy, deftly changing the subject.
            “What a bunch of rubes! I thought Big Apple cats would be wily and cagey. But no! They fell for the silliest game in the books. A fake pirate map by someone called Chucky Cheese? Come on!” said Toots.
            “I bet the Bengal Brats would go for it too! Tail chasers. They get on my last nerve! I’m not a toy,” said Suzy. “I’m a dignified, mature lady cat, fer Pete’s sake!”
            “No doubt!” Toots laughed.
                        “So. See anything out the window last night? I mean, besides Murphy? Anything suspicious?” said Suzy, eyes squinted, and fangs exposed, anticipatorily.
            “Shhhh!, Honey! I don’t like to say much. I can’t say I did or didn’t see anything, since, well, I was in my redoubt. But. I heard things. Weird things. Night birds calling! Owls! Fell harbingers, I say, Suzy!
            “I think I  heard that woman down at the creek, the one that yells at night. I don’t know what she’s got to yell about,” said Toots.
            “Maybe she dropped her phone in the creek!” said Suzy. “That would make any woman yell!”
            “Suzy. I see why she calls you Snoozy. Good grief, girl,” said Toots.
            “Who told?” said Suzy. “Was it Mr. Baby?”
            “TTYS!” said Toots, laughing again.
            “Just wait until he shows up again!” said Suzy.
            “No doubt,” said Toots, yawning and dropping off to sleep. It was so warm both out and in.
            “I wonder why the title of this thing mentions bears?” thought Suzy. “Maybe Toots heard a bear down by the creek!”

🍁💚🍁

The Next Day Was Completely Different

 

            One of the neat things about a Great Forest Music Festival is the relative lack of any sign that there had even been a festival on the “grounds.” Forest Keepers don’t leave trash, even if they had any to leave, and their human friends had taken the Coke cans back with themselves when they went home. Only some wax paper from the ham on rye sandwiches lay on the ground, with the wind moving it around a little.
            The next day dawned gray and there was a ghost of a chill in the air, when Aunt Suzy got up early to feed the fire. She picked up the sandwich wrappers and added them to the fire. Then all was as before, except for the change in weather.
            It had rained a little before dawn. Ralph’s dark blue cloud and little lights had disappeared during the night, to be replaced by normal light gray haze up high.
            Uncle Bob was still sleeping, after his big day.
            Nobody wondered where Maurice was.
            Down at her own fire, Ramona was also up and starting her day. Bob and Berry woke when she did and were out hunting somewhere. Cherry and Blue, and Ralph slept on.
            Ramona was noticing the change in the weather too. She knew the sun would shine again, but that fall was really coming. It started raining. Little puffs of steam fizzed up from the coals of her fire. It seemed like an oatmeal kind of day. She had no leftover meat, or soup.
            While she was planning, a familiar presence made herself known. It was Maeve, of course. She drifted silently down out of the rainy sky, and landed beside the fire on one of those logs.
            “Looks like fall is coming,” said Ramona, almost to herself.
            “Soon,” agreed Maeve.
            “I guess I’ll make oatmeal,” said Ramona, still thinking.
            “I need to talk to Ralph, Ramona. Something isn’t right,” said Maeve.
            “What did you see? What kind of not right? Are you sure?” said that lady.
            “It’s weird and hard to explain. Maurice is outside his old farmhouse playing his tunes, but something is there with him. It’s not a person, or an animal, or any of you all, in fact I don’t know what it is, and it’s singing the songs from the concert yesterday,” said Maeve, looking worried.
            “That doesn’t sound too bad,” said Ramona. “I’ve been humming the songs too!”
            “Oh, I know, but you oughta see this whatever,” said Maeve. “OK, listen. It has wings, gray wings, and it’s not a bird! It has long grey hair and it’s not a woman or a man! It’s nearly as tall as Ralph, Honey, and Maurice looks scared out of his hairy mind!” insisted Maeve. “I better talk to Ralph.”
            “You’re right,” but just as she turned to go wake him, he appeared, yawning.
            “What’s up out here? Something is not right, I know it,” said Ralph, looking from Ramona to Maeve and back to Ramona.
            So, Maeve filed her report with Ralph, mentioning a few other details, such as the fact that Maurice seemed to be under some kind of compulsion to stand out in the rain and make music for this creature to sing to, and that it had burning green eyes like little green fires.
            “That’s not good,” said Ralph. “Fire eyes are never good! Maybe I better go see who goes there!”
            When Ralph and Maeve arrived at Maurice’s hideaway, they found that all she had said was true. The small abandoned farmhouse stood forlorn in the rain. Its door hung open. Overgrown fruit trees crowded close around. No light shone in the window; no smoke rose from the crooked small chimney.
            Maurice stood in front playing his tunes with desperation in his eyes, and rain running down his snout onto his beloved harmonica. His bag lay on the ground, empty.
            The ghastly creature cavorted, spreading its wings, and singing horrible distortions of yesterday’s songs to Maurice’s own tunes. Her, for it was some sort of femme thing, green eyes glowed in the dim morning light.
 
            You’ll All Fall In!
            I’ll make sure you do!
            But it won’t be a picnic!
            Not for you!
            Etc, etc..
 
            “Ew,” said Ralph, “This thing is no poet!”    
            “Make it stop, Boss!” cried Maeve.
           
            You’re Ugly And Your Mom Hated You! The witch sang in a voice like a choir of Banshees. She was waving Maurice’s red Allegory book around as she whirled, laughing and making up rude rhymes.
 
            “Stop witch,” said Ralph. “Say your name!”
            “Make me!” sang the witch, mid-cavort.
            “Say it, or I will say it, and you don’t want that!” said Ralph. Maurice played on as if  he  couldn’t stop or help himself.
            “You don’t know my name, Pigface!” laughed the dancing witch.
            “Dwollop Leer!” said Ralph, loudly.
            She stopped and looked at him with hate filled burning eyes.
            “What is the nature of your power over Maurice?” said Ralph.
            “I won’t tell you, Pig-arse!” Dwollop Leer screamed.
            “Give him back his book, or I’ll say your name again,” said Ralph.
            The witch seemed to become insubstantial, standing in the rain, wings folded, bitterly hissing, but she gave the book to Maurice, handing it over with a hand no more solid than heavy fog.
            Maurice was instantly released, and weeping, he put his book and his harmonica back in his bag, and put it on his waist again.
            “No devil or witch can live here, Dwollop Leer!” said Ralph, and it was so, because he said it was so, and she was no more. Not even a flash of green or a smokey wing remained.
            “Maurice why don’t you come home with me and Maeve and dry your things? Mona is making a bunch of oatmeal, and you  look like a Howler who needs some hot food,” said Ralph.
            Maurice wiped the tears from his eyes and nodded.
            “How did she get your book?”
            “She just walked into the old house, singing those awful verses, rifled through my bag and took it! I wasn’t wearing it, I was sleeping,” said Maurice.
            “She must have sensed the value that it has to you,” said Ralph.
            “How did you know her name?” asked Maurice, in wonder.
            “Oh, I didn’t! I named her right then and there, and since I have the gift, it became her name! There wasn’t a thing she could do about it!” laughed Ralph. “Pretty neat trick, huh?
            “You amaze me,” murmured Maurice, as they all set off to have some oatmeal for breakfast. “Thank you, Ralph.”
            “Of course,” said Ralph, cheerfully.
            “Nothing really surprises me,” said Maeve, from her perch on his shoulder, “But that was one for the books.”
            It wasn’t a really lasting rain storm, after all. The sun came back out, and it was like late summer again. Steam was in the air as everything dried off, and the clouds blew off toward the Sound.

🍁📕🍁

💮 Break Day Open Thread!💮

             It was August 25, 2022. It's a view of Port Gardner Bay, Everett, WA. 

            I like this photograph because of the reflections on the nearly completely flat water. Look at the smoke rising out of the Amazon warehouse down there. 

            What you see across the water is Tulalip, and the passage out to the Pacific Ocean at large.

            You just know that one gull who is all hunched up is probably making a lot of noise!

            It was just a quiet summer day.

            Likewise, I hope anyone who sees this has a perfect late summer day, and that fall comes quickly, with its cooler weather.

           🍁 💙🍁

The Day Dawned Bright and Breezy

 

 
            The guests began arriving long before noon.
            Some of them, such as Benny and Lily, and the two boys had a long way to come. Ferdy and Constance, and their children arrived right behind Benny and family. They all set up camp on the third row of logs in the back. Uncle Bob saw them out there, so he went to say hi, and visit for a while, sitting on one of the logs he and Ralph had pulled over near the Stump House.
            Lily and Constance brought baskets lined in maple leaves, filled with cooked meats, wrapped in nice green leaves. A typical Forest Man picnic dish.
            All of nature seemed to be in a festive mood. Trees bowed and nodded. Grass was tossed in the breeze. Even an extended family of crows came by to see what new thing was happening in their world.
            And it was a new thing! Never before had there been a musical concert in the Great Forest!
            It was hours early, and there was already music in the air!
            “Listen,” said Constance, who had not been busy talking, and they all did stop and listen. On the breeze coming their direction was a jolly instrumental harmonica piece, called by its originator, Maurice, Manchurian Lunch Counter.
            Now, Maurice, that wily showman, really knew how to make an entrance. He’d done it before in other places and at other times. He’d arrive already making music. It had a wonderful way of drawing a crowd, and drawing a crowd together.
            When Maurice got there, he went around greeting the early arrivals just like he’d known them all his life. Nobody seemed to mind meeting a Howler, especially since he was one of the performers.
            The humans, having received written invitations, began arriving later, closer to noon. Some of them, such as Milly and Colin needed a map. Ralph had lowered the bars, so that people with maps could actually just walk right into the upper meadow where Uncle Bob lived.
            Rick showed up with two buckets of Kentucky Fried. He figure chicken would suit everyone. Then Milly with Colin, came and introductions had to start up. Rick hadn’t met Milly.
            “Oh! You’re that very interesting writer for the paper!” he said.
            “That’s me,” she said, laughing.
            Dexter and Hannah brought as much Coke as they could carry. He couldn’t figure out how to get a hand truck out there, through all the rough ground, so he didn’t. His idea was to truck a lot of pop out there, but alas.
            A blue orb of incredible brightness flashed over the head of the crowd. All eyes were on it wondering if it was a warm up for the show. It settled down of the grass right in the very front of the crowd. There was a hush of expectation, then Twigg and Leely appeared, Twigg carrying a big basket full of home made rolls, and Leely with butter and a knife. A flock of B’s accompanied Twigg, of course.
            Those two picked their way to the front row, and Koba, of course, revealed himself as a perfectly normal Forest child, giggling, because he loved to be in star form.
            The sun was just about directly overhead, when Ralph appeared, with wife and child, and wolf and cats, of course. Mother Bear came too, but didn’t say much, sitting mostly by herself.
            “It’s awfully bright out here, Baby,” said Ramona. “Can you do anything about that?”
            “I think I can, watch this, Mona!” he said, as the crowd watched waited to see what was next.
            Though Ralph was not on the ticket, he started singing in that almost inaudibly low voice of his. As he sang, an ultramarine blue cloud began to form over the whole group of onlookers and the Stump House, causing a pleasant partial shade.
            Then, he thought he could improve it. So singing some more, he caused bright little white points of light, like stars, to decorate the underside of the blue cloud.
            Everyone clapped in amazement!
            While they were clapping, Bob and Maurice climbed up to the top of the Stump House. Eyes turned toward them, when Maurice began playing, and Bob began to sing: Don’t Worry, Baby, the gist of which seemed to be he’s just going hunting, and will be back in time for dinner, so, don’t cry like that! Just stop! Already!
            “Oh!” said the gathered listeners! They got it. They could feel it.
            “Hi, everybody,” said Maurice, after the song. “Feel free to picnic while we fool around up here!”
            Just about then Ooog and Thaga appeared with a great big backpack full of ham on rye sandwiches wrapped in wax paper. This caused a sensation because Forest Giants don’t get many ham on rye sandwiches.
            While they were down there lunching, Uncle Bob sang one of his most heartfelt songs, I Used to Smoke a Lot, But I Quit. Maurice’s accompaniment was tender and soft, sentimental even.
            It’s nice to have a memory.
            Very useful stuff.
            Now, I can find what I put, where it is!
            Etc, etc.
            Some of the Hairy People had to have the song explained to them.
            Cherry and Koba decided to go up and play in the blue cloud among the little stars.
            Ramona assured the crowd that they were perfectly safe, that they do this all the time at home, to a general sigh of relief.
            Eyes went back to the top of the Stump, where Suzie sang, We All Fall In Sometimes. The sense of it seemed to be that water, running especially over rocks, on a hot day, is darn attractive, and anyone might just fall in, suddenly. She had a strong contralto voice, and no one doubted her! Maurice was playing the blues.
            But then, a guitar picked up the tune. There was a young guy in the audience that no one knew, but heck he could play, and soon no one cared that they hadn’t met him.
                        After the song, he said his name was Ted, and that he had noticed all the music and crowd noise while hiking in the park, and just followed his nose to the concert. Everybody clapped and he bowed. He said, yes, he did hike with his guitar!
            Maurice sang in his husky, drawling voice, Why’d You Name Me That, Mama. It was a comic song, in which he inquired why they couldn’t have named him Russell or something instead of Maurice, a sissy name for a True Howler.
            Next Bob and Suzie sang, You’re My Friend, Even If You Don’t Like It! It seemed to have something to do with dealing with fame. The music was appealing, though most of the crowd knew nothing about fame or its pitfalls.
            Mother Bear decided to ramble on home about then, full of sandwiches. For her the party was over.
            While Suzie and Bob climbed down to have a bit of lunch, and Maurice stayed up there playing one of his favorite blues compositions, a completely unexpected guest arrived.
            A cigar shaped silver ship lowered itself slowly and gracefully out of the sky, and scooted in under the edge of the blue cloud. The hatch on the side slid open and a small ramp appeared. Onto that ramp strolled a small, but stately person, Mak, himself.
            “I couldn’t stay away!” he said. “I brought a few things to share. Boys!” he said loudly. And like once before, his four sons set up a lovely rustic table full of desserts of the finger food sort, and lots and lots of that pale yellow, very mild wine in beautiful glass jugs. There were many cups of course.
            Twigg introduced Mak to those who didn’t know him, and while everybody enjoyed Mak’s dessert table, Mak and Ralph had a long conversation by themselves.
            Finally, Maurice came down off of the stump to have some lunch too. In between bites, he played his harmonica some more. Then he got back up on the Stump, and called out, “Come on back up here, Bob.”  There were a couple more sort of country style tunes, such as If I Wasn’t In Love, You’d Know It, and a possibly plagiarized piece called I Found The Hat.
            And that’s pretty much what happened at the First Great Forest, Howler and Uncle Bob Concert in The Meadow.
            Milly swore to write it up without disclosing the location.
            Ted said that he had learned some new material.
            It was getting dark before everyone went home, full and happy.
            Mak and his boys took off, last of all.

🌟🚀🌟

Sympurrsium: Causes of Caution™ In Cats

 

            “Everyone, the question on the table in general is how do Cautious™ cats end up the way we are, and specifically what the heck is bugging Ms. Charley? Our human friends are mystified as to why she is so hostile in the home where she was succored as a dying foundling,” said Toots, setting the table, so to speak.
            “She is uncommonly rude, but just there,” said Mr. Baby, who was not there presently. “Actually she is rather rude to me too, whenever we meet.”
            “It seems to me that we who were raised by our mothers have an easier time,” said Sammie.
            “Apparently our minds are formed at a time when we should have a mother present,” said Suzy. “I don’t even remember my mother, even though I must have had one. I mean I am a regular mammal!”
            “True, true,” said Buddy thoughtfully. “My mother was very sharp in the matter of manners, and gratitude, in fact.
            “I have no idea what my mother thought,” said Suzy. “I just about can’t help jumping and running when anything at all happens. Everything scares me!”
            “I get that,” said Toots.
            “This is what I think about Charley and her behavior. She didn’t have a mother except in the most basic biological sense. She was bottle fed by a young man and his girlfriend. They didn’t know how to educate a kitten!
            “Charley must have experienced sorrow there, even though the kids did their best for her. I can’t help but think that it’s subconscious with her. The place of her rescue was also the place of her kittenhood sorrow,” said Sammie.
            “A kitten needs a mother to teach her how to be a cat,” said Buddy. “Look at those two Bengal Scouts. They stayed with their mother for nearly three months, and that was long enough. They are cheerful, agreeable, and kind. Though I hear they have a few things to learn!”
            “Poor Charley didn’t know her mother at all. We have no idea how she ended up dying, dirty and soaking wet on that sidewalk. It might be even a more tragic story than it appears to be on the outside,” said Toots.
            “That’s really horrible to think about! No wonder she’s confused and grumpy. Why she actually punched P really hard!” said Suzy. “I saw her do it!”
            “Well, we can’t go back into  her story and fix it. All we can do is remember to Purr™ for her to have peace in her heart, wherever she is,” said Toots. “In fact, those of us who were nearly orphans could use some of that too!”
            “It wouldn’t hurt at all if she learned gratitude, and to count her blessings,” said Sammie. “Gratitude overcomes many fears, and much groundless anxiety!” 
            “I guess we all know what’s next,” said Toots.
            So, all present closed their eyes and Purred™ for peace, for themselves in general, and for Charley in particular, and that the Lord of All Cats would be among them and teach them!
            Then the meeting broke up as usual, and each went about his or her own business, as all cats do, wherever they find themselves.  

🐈‍⬛❤️🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛

Meanwhile, Back At The Home Clearing

 

Sea Serpent's Birthplace

            Evening was creeping in. Days were getting noticeably shorter now. As Ralph trundled back home, he could see Ramona and Cherry waiting for him at the fire. It’s not far from Bunny Town to the Home Clearing, after all.
            “Mona! You’ll never guess who I saw today!” sang Ralph when he got close.
            “Hm, I can’t guess,” she said, looking up from something she was doing to something on her big square pan.
            He took a seat, exhaled a big breath, and said, “A sea serpent came clear up the  river to see me. Bob saw it too!”
            “Why? Why would a sea serpent come looking for you in that little river, Baby?” said she.
            “He said I saved him when he was little and wanted to thank me! How about that? A grateful sea serpent! He was awful small the last time I saw him. Years ago. At the beach on the Sound. Some boys had him in a bucket, but when I walked up to see what they had, they took off! I remember taking the bucket back to the water and turning him loose. Anybody would do the same!
            “So, pretty wench, what’s for dinner?” said Ralph.
            “Fishes, my dear, fishes. Cooked in Thaga’s butter, and a few of Ooog’s little red potatoes. You bring me fishes, so I cook fishes!
            “Where is your sea serpent now?” said Ramona, getting back to the point.
            “He went back to the sea!” said Ralph. “I wonder if he has a name.”
            Three or four trout and six potatoes later, Ralph had a sudden thought. He had been distracted by Cherry sitting on his left, and Blue, with her muzzle resting on his foot.
            “Oh, Mona! Here’s the real news of the day! Not only did I meet a sea serpent, Bob and me ran into Maurice tootling away up by Bunny Town! What a surprise, huh?
            “Maurice had a heck of a good idea! A concert! For real! Him and Bob have been up there at the Stump House making music. Maurice does the tunes, Bob makes up the lyrics, and sings, and even Suzie sings. Did you know what they were up to? What do you think about that?”
            “Sometime I hear music on the wind. I had to assume it was them. But, oh goodness, where would it be? Who is coming? I guess anything is possible, since Maurice does have some experience performing in public!” said Ramona.
            “At the Stump House, three days from now, at high noon,” said Ralph.
            “It could be a potluck!” said Ramona. “Sort of musical, potluck picnic! Everybody could bring something to eat! I need to talk to Thaga!”
            “Hold up, Mona! I need to talk to Maeve. I think this is going to have to be word of mouth, and Maeve has the mouth with the word in question. Where is she anyhow?”
            And just like she always is, there she was, drifting down, silent and black from the middle of the air.
            “What’s what Boss? You were thinking too hard! I heard you,” said Maeve settling in.
            “I have a proposal, my glamorous feathery friend,” said Ralph. “You have veto, if you want, but I bet you won’t!”
            “Let’s hear it!” said the bird.
            “Maurice and Bob want to give a concert up at Bob’s Stump, three days from now, at noon. Now, none of us can write, so posters are right out! It’s got to be word of beak if it happens. Will you spread the news, Birdy? You know who to talk to. Twigg and Leely, Thaga and Ooog, and Milly of course. I’ll put it on our Forest Keepers underground, so don’t worry about us!
            “What do you think? Anybody else?” said Ralph, thinking.
            “Maybe Rick and his crew,” said Maeve.
            “Yeah, and you might talk to Ma Bear, see if she’s interested. Oh, may as well tell the B’s too!” said Ralph.
            “Tell them to bring picnic food!” said Ramona quickly.
            “Sure, Boss. No problem. Sounds like fun! A first! A Great Forest Concert! You know Milly could print up some cute invitations, and I could just deliver them to the readers,” said Maeve. She was getting excited too. “I’ll tell the crows, jays and robins too! Then the news will spread, you bet!”
            “I’ll go see Milly first thing, and I’m sure she’ll play too, so I will drop off the invitations by noon,” said Maeve.
            “OK, good. I’ll go up and square the whole thing with Bob and Maurice in the morning. That should give everyone lots of time to prepare.”
            “What about seating?” said Ramona.
            “Oh, me and Bob will pull up some logs tomorrow. I can see them kind of arranged in rows in a  half circle facing the Stump! Maybe three rows?”
            A few dreamy moments went by.
            “I made some cookies out of hazelnut flour and raisins! Anybody want a cookie and some coffee?” said Ramona as the conversation slowed down.
            Of course, everyone wanted a couple cookies, including Blue and Bob and Berry. But only Ramona, Ralph and Maeve had coffee. The animal friends and Cherry were water drinkers.
            It looked like tomorrow was going to be a very interesting day!

🎼💚🎼

🐟Well Met, Old Friend 🐟

 

            Before Ralph and Bob made it to the Fire Circle and Ramona, they began to hear some bluesy harmonica notes from somewhere ahead of them and down the path.
            “I bet that’s Maurice,” said Uncle Bob.
            “You amaze me, Bob,” said Ralph.
            “I think he’s got the only harmonica in the whole Great Forest, Ralphie! It’s gotta be him!” insisted good old Uncle Bob.
            “Correct, as always, Bob!” said Ralph. “He’s the only bluesman in the whole Forest!”
            They found him at Bunny Town, though no bunnies were in evidence at the moment. Maybe they didn’t like Maurice’s Howler looks? In any case, he was stretched out on the grass beside the path with his eyes closed just blowing away. The forest rang with the music.
            “Maurice! What are you doing here at Bunny Town?” said Ralph.
            Maurice sat up quickly. The harmonica landed in his lap.
            “Bunny Town? What bunnies? I was looking for you two. Ramona said you were over here somewhere,” said Maurice, looking around like he could conjure up bunnies if he stared hard enough.
            “That was a nice tune,” said Ralph.
            “It’s called ‘I’ll be Back, Baby’ said Uncle Bob proudly. “I made the words. It’s about going hunting!”
            “You still amaze me, Bob,” said Ralph, eyebrows up in his hairline. “Whatcha got in mind Maurice?”
            “Listen, Ralph, you know how me and Folkie Joe, and Sleeky Sue used to go around making music on park benches and stuff?” said Maurice, earnestly.
            “Sure do! But I never heard you guys do it,” said Ralph.
            “I don’t want to make money anymore, Ralph. What would I do with it, and nobody out here has money anyhow. I just want to play the songs for the people, whatever kind of people they are! I wanna have a show, Ralph! It’s killin’ me making music and nobody much hears it.”
            “I hear you!” said Bob. “I made up the words!”
            “I know, Bob! But, don’t you want to have a show too, man?” said Maurice. "Think about your ‘Wind in the Forest’ touching the hearts of a crowd!”
            “How many songs do you have ready?” said Ralph.
            “At least ten, man! I have them all written down in my book!” said Maurice quite eagerly, reaching into his bag and pulling out his dog eared Allegory book, and waving it around.
            “That ought to be enough,” agreed Ralph, grinning at the boys. “Would you like to do it in the Home Clearing?”
            “I’ve been thinking about that,” said Maurice.
            “The Bees Did It All,” is another one,” mused Uncle Bob, to himself.
            “How about if Bob and me get up on top of his Stump House and do it there. We’d be up where people could see us good and the sound would project well!” said Maurice. “What do you think, Bob, that OK with you?”
            “Um, OK. Who do you think will come to hear us?” said Bob.
            “Well, I don’t know. We can’t put up signs. None of you guys in the forest read. We have to spread the word somehow. I didn’t think about that! What will we do, Ralph?” said Maurice.
            Uncle Bob was still talking to himself quietly, “There's ‘We All Fall in Sometimes. And ‘I Used to Smoke A lot, But I Quit’.”
            “I think me and Maeve can work something out. She’s pretty good at spreading the word, whatever it is. Just pick a day,” said Ralph. “I’ll talk to her when I see her.”
            “You know, Suzie knows all my songs,” said Bob. “She could help! She helps me remember the words. In fact, she kind of made up ‘Tree Knockin’ Boogie’!”
            “Aw, Bob! You know I love it when Suzie sings with us!” said Maurice.
            “Aw, thanks, Maurice,” said Uncle Bob. “She loves it too!”
            “Pick a day! I  have to know when and where before I set Maeve loose on the population, you know,” Ralph reminded the boys.
            “No calendars. So we gotta do this old style,” said Maurice looking very thoughtful. “How about at Bob’s place, three days from now, when the sun is straight up? I don’t know how to say when, Ralph.”
            “I think that will work OK,” said Ralph. “Done, unless Maeve refuses, and I’ve never seen her refuse to be the bringer of news yet!”
            “Oh, I better take these fish to Suzie!” said Bob, remembering that he had a bunch of trout on a little branch lying at his feet all of a sudden.
            “We better run through all ten songs, Bob, a couple times,” Maurice told him. “Can we get started tonight?”
            “Sure, four fish each ought to be enough, come on,” said Bob, and they split together, talking excitedly as they wandered off to present the fish to Bob’s Firekeeper and get started practicing for the show.
            Ralph watched them go with a grin. He couldn’t wait to see how it all worked out, but now he was getting really hungry. It had been a long time since morning. He was eager to see what Ramona had done with her fish, and tell her the news. Maybe there would be coffee, and some kind of dessert too! His steps quickened.

💚🐦‍⬛🍁

*Photo by R. A. Bird, Oct. 6, 2013.