The Long Awaited Day, Part 3

 

            The little crowd of well-wishers, and Twigg and Leely hushed immediately and faced little Mak. Behind them the Alder Tree House also stood waiting. Its leafy dome fluttered in the breeze. Its trunks stood together, the red door was closed so that everyone could see its fine construction.
            Ramona still held Koba as if her arms could never relinquish him.
            Mak, small but kingly, smiled at the group, then he said, “In remembrance of this day let us have a feast to honor Twigg and Leely, and the Star Child! My sons are here, ready to spring forth with all the necessary! Behold!”
            And spring forth they did. All four of his sons set to work with seating and table first. There was a large sturdy bench on each side of the table. There was seating for ten, if needed. Then somehow, magically, the dishes appeared, prepared by the palace cooks, and brought to Earth still fresh and delicious.
            The dishes were fantastic, but also done with a rustic flair, as befitted a meadow picnic supper. It was all finger food, for simplicity. There were fruits, and berries from Mak’s grounds, and the table was set with flowers from the same. There were delicate rolled savories, of unfamiliar green leaves wrapping bits of spicy meats, there were large toasted nuts and there were rich small cakes filled with fruit fillings. There was a light fizzy amber wine, full of bubbles. So mild that even Cherry was allowed to have a little. Ramona held Koba in her left arm, and used her right hand to choose some of the delicacies. Ralph sat beside her making good work of all the good food. It was a grand success as a rustic picnic.
            Mak sat with the guests, so to speak, and his sons continued to replenish the platters until everyone was pleasantly stuffed.
            At that point, Twigg stood and in the Old Language, learned perfectly at Ramona’s knee, thanked Mak for all his kindness and hospitality, making mention of all of the pleasures and learning that he had received in the palace, and the wonders of wandering the beautiful city. Leely said it in her own way too.
            Mak insisted that the pleasure had been all of his and his queen and sons too. He presented gifts, many fantastically wrapped large parcels, and asked Twigg and Leely to wait to open them at a later more convenient time. Everyone cheered, since it was such a kind surprise.
            Ralph thanked Mak for everything he had done for Twigg and his family.
            Mak said that he and Ralph should take another ride around the galaxy sometime soon, and Ralph agreed cheerfully.
            Then the four sons, who appeared to all be the same age, gathered up the remains of the feast, just dirty dishes really, and then the table and the benches. One of the sons boxed up leftovers from the feast for Twigg and Leely to have later.
            Mak said, “Mission accomplished,” grinned at everyone and stepped back through the hatch in the side of his silvery vessel. The hatch slid shut as if it had never existed. There was a whisper of sound, the greenish haze enclosed the ship once more, and then it vanished entirely. Maybe Mak was showing off a little, some thought, because the arrival had proceeded in a more stately manner. Ooog thought that maybe the manner of arrival had been done dramatically for effect. Thaga said, “You’re probably right.”
            Ralph really wanted to show his son the Alder Tree House, so he said to the small gathering of souls, “Why don’t we show Twigg and Leely their new house? Ooog, I need you here. Show them everything you made!”
            So, everyone, including Blue and the Pumas and Maeve all crowded into the Alder Tree House. Leely loved the slate floor and the cast iron stove. Twigg admired the ceiling Ooog had built inside so that no errant rain drops could ever reach them inside. Everyone loved the clever red door he had made also.
            Ooog had also made some cabinets and platform beds. It was almost ready to live in.
            Just then Koba woke. He didn’t cry, but he made some small questioning sounds as if looking for his mother. Ramona brought him to Leely.
            Ralph and Ramona and Cherry, and Ooog and Thaga gathered around to meet him, commenting on his shining blue eyes, his ready smile, and his beautiful light brown hair. Ramona announced that Koba looked remarkably much like Twigg had as an infant, but not exactly the same.
            Twigg brought Mak’s gifts into the house and opened them one by one. There was beautiful, sturdy bedding. A small basket bed was included for Koba. There were some simple dishes and some cookware, and etc, etc. All had been carefully chosen and wrapped by Mak’s wife, the queen. She had included clothing for Leely, and some small bedding for Koba.
            Twigg laid out the bedding. Leely gave Koba back to Ramona and set up the dishes and pans and towels and so on. By the time it was done it was a fantastically beautiful, tasteful and colorful sight, perfectly right for Twigg and Leely and Koba.
            Mak’s last gift was a creamy white globe, to provide a soft light inside the house. It was quite magical, and yet it seemed so normal, just floating in midair, quietly.
            Ralph invited Twigg to go hunting with himself and Bob and Berry the very next morning, as they had always done before and he was eager to do so.
            Maeve strutted importantly around inspecting everything, and pronounced it good.
            Ramona reluctantly handed Koba back to Leely, and said, “We should go now, and let you rest.” Ralph agreed. Thaga blessed the child, placing her hand on his head, while he gazed at her wisely. Cherry kissed Koba, and that was blessing too.
            Twigg thanked Ralph and Ooog for the wonderful Alder Tree House, with a few tears in his sweet eyes. Ralph said it had been a lot of fun to imagine and put together, Ooog agreed.
            Leely said that they would walk over to see Enid soon, but not today, and everyone laughed. Then they all went outside and said their goodnights, preparing to walk back to the Home Clearing and the Stone Cottage.
            Just then a formation of B’s appeared. They flew inside the Alder Tree House, making an inspection and found it good. They circled Twigg. A Beulah landed on his hand; she told him that all the B’s had waited eagerly for his return. Bernadette the queen sent her greetings and congratulations.
            Beulah flew to the Star Child, Koba. She landed on his tiny hand and blessed him in a secret B blessing. A faint scent of blossoms and honey hung in the air for a few moments and then drifted away.
            The wind came too, just looking around, a warm wind. Then it passed on by, satisfied.
            Ralph and Ramona and Cherry with Blue and the Pumas set off for the Home Clearing at last, waving and shouting loving farewells, Thaga and Ooog did also.
            When they were all gone, Twigg closed the red door. He and Leely and Koba were home at last.

⭐

They're Going To The Mewn!

 

            Suzy felt the need of a bit of timely commiseration, so she concentrated  and Purred madly until she thought Toots could hear her…
            “Toots, Sweetie! Are you there? Oh, why did I say that? Toots?” said Suzy.
            “Here, Suzy! What’s up with you?” Toots said kindly.
            “Well, not to put too fine a whisker on it, Sweetie,” said Suzy. “Brrrt!”
            “Yes, Dear. A Tom Kitten. Try to bear up!” mewed Toots. “Someday soon, he will sleep more.”
            “Besides kittens, sigh, they’re all sitting around looking at the square thing. I hear talking about people on a thing with fire under it going to the moon! I ask you!” huffed Suzy.
            “Mewn,” said Toots.
            “What? Isn’t that the same thing?” said Suzy.
            “Every human on Earth spells it wrong!” insisted Toots.
            “Toots, we don’t know anything about spelling. We’re illiterate!” said Suzy.
            “They say it wrong too. It’s not ‘mooooon,’ it’s pronounced ‘mewn.’ See the difference?” said Toots.
            Suzy frowned, “How can I see the difference? Shouldn’t you say hear the difference? I don’t see anything but the back porch and that thing Booker and Sweetie run in.”
            “It’s just a manner of speaking, Suzy. It means can’t you discern the difference between ‘mewn’ and ‘moon’. We have to hold the ground on this one,” said Toots.
            “I can’t hold the ground, I’m in the house,” whispered Suzy.
            “Are you being obtuse on purpose, Dear?” said Toots.
            “OK! OK! Mewn sounds better to me too! You win, Toots,” admitted Suzy. “How could it not?”
            “Right,” Toots nodded.
            “But there’s still a big problem. It doesn’t make sense. Listen, you’ve seen the mewn. It’s not big. It’s only about the size of a large tuna can. That thing with fire under is too big! What if it hits the mewn, and breaks it? Don’t they think about stuff before they send things to the mewn?” said Suzy, looking quizzical.
            (If you could have seen her, you might have thought she was considering having a tummy ache.)
            “Tuna?” said Toots. “What about tuna?”
            “That’s just how big the mewn is,” said Suzy.
            “I really like tuna!” said Toots. “I wish that if you had some you would send it somehow.”
            “I don’t know how to KittyCom™ cans of tuna, Toots. I wish I did. It would solve a lot of problems. I would send you all the tuna in the cupboard here!”
            “What were we talking about, Suz? I forgot,” said Toots. “You started talking about tuna on the mewn or something.”
            “Sometimes I wish Sweetie could ride that wheel on the back porch to the mewn, Toots!” hissed Suzy. “He’s disruptive.”
            “What about the other one, Booker? Doesn’t he ride the wheel too, and act like a Tom Kitten too?” said Toots, still picturing a can of tuna in the sky with a flaming tube aimed at it.
            “Well now, Booker is a negotiator. He’s not into storming citadels like his brother, thank all that’s good and proper!” said Suzy.
            “Have you ever had creamed tuna with peas, on toast, Suzy?” Toots said dreamily.
            “Dang it, Toots. Have I lost you?” said Suzy. “No. I’ve seen it, but it gave me tremors! No way, girl! I don’t eat fish in any form.”
            “You don’t know what you’re missing!” said astonished Toots.
            “Oh, yeah I do. I eat birds. Big dumb birds, all minced up!” said Suzy also dreamily. “I want to miss all the tuna in the world!”
            “Be that as it may, Miss Suzy, I sure hope they don’t break the mewn!” said Toots.
            “Maybe they’ll just go around it and take a bunch of pictures,” said Suzy.
            “We can only hope and Purr™, Dear, only hope and Purr™,” said Toots, fervently.”
            “Amew!” said Suzy.
            “Really they would do well to check with us first,” murmured Toots.
            They were both getting a little sleepy, so they broke off transmission and drifted off to a well earned nap.

😹🌖😺

Celebrating April Fool's Day In A Big Way

 Was it sheer lunacy?

Why today, the prankster's holiday?

Is there a message in this madness?

Come on, guys!

Let us in on the joke.

We can take it.

Where the image came from.

🚀

Can You Hear What I Hear?

 

We hear it all!

 

            Suzy and I were having one of those human/cat debates yesterday. You know the one where the cat wants one thing and you need to do something else? Hint; cats don’t care what you want to do.
            Yesterday, when Booker and Sweetie were otherwise occupied somewhere she wanted me to hold her. I did too! And I tried reasoning with her.
            “Suzy, I can’t sit here and hold you all day!” I implored.
            Snug in my arms, me holding her small toes in support, “Why not? It’s really nice!” she said.
            “I want to write something, and I can’t do it while keeping your toes warm,” I said.
            “I assume you’re talking about that thing you keep poking with your fingers,” she said. “Seems like a waste of time. What does it get you?” she said.
            “It’s how I talk to people who aren’t here,” I said, expecting trouble.
            “Ghosts?” she inquired, looking ready to run for it.
            “No. Living people,” I said.
            “How do you know?” she said, still tucked up in my arms.
            “They talk back,” I said weakly.
            “Oh ho, Lady! That shows what you don’t know. Ghosts do talk. I’ve heard them, mumbling away, hissing, and rattling things!” she said, darkly.
            “You’re kidding,” I said. “You hear that? Disgusting. No wonder you’re jumpy.”
            “Not all the time. I hear other stuff too. Like water moving through pipes. And all of these machines you have. They all buzz! To a cat, there is no such thing as silence. They say that if a Forest Giant is around that it gets really quiet. They’d have to prove it to me. I’ve never heard silence,” she said. “In fact, I don’t believe in it.”
            “Even I always hear something. Right now, it’s the fridge. If I think about it, I also hear cars, and an airplane. Normally, humans don’t attend to all of that background sound,” I said.
            “I’m not wired that way. I don’t shut it off. Hunters can’t afford to not pay attention,” she said. “So, where are these not-ghost invisible people you talk to by poking at that thing and watching little marks appear on that thing in front of your face?”
            “Oh, here and there, scattered around the country,” I said breezily. “Several live pretty near Toots, as you know, or should, Suzy.”
            In a bid to delay the inevitable, when she would have to get out of my arms, she said, “Say. Did you ever smell a Plaidie, one of those Fae folk who sneak around outside?”
            “I don’t know. What do they smell like, pray tell?” I said.
            “Grubby gold. It has a smell! And, something like the smell in a crawlspace, dank. Garlic. They eat it raw,” she said, eyes wide and staring.
            “I think you’re pulling my leg,” I laughed.
            “No! Really! Toots and I both smelled one last night. She said she did!” Suzy insisted.
            “Are you sure you didn’t just dream that?” I said.
            “But, Toots wouldn’t have the same dream!” she said.
            “I’m not sure about you two,” I said. “You might have the same dream! Now, skedaddle, Suzy, I need to poke at that thing, or it’ll be another bubble thread!
            So, she wandered off agreeably enough, leaving me to ponder a couple of things.

🙀

The Long Awaited Day, Part 2

 

⭐

            On that very same morning, Thaga awoke because the sun was shining in the bedroom window, which faced east, of course. Her first thought was to arise and let Harold the tomcat out of the house for the morning. Ooog lay beside her on the door side of the bed, snoring, with his long white braid lying out across the pillow. It took more than a little sunshine to wake Ooog.
            Thaga dressed quickly. She may have had an inkling about the day, because she put on her newest floral print dress, and a nice pink striped apron. It felt warm in the room, no sweater today. She slid into her knitted slippers and went out to locate Harold.
            He was waiting patiently by the door, as always. She opened the door and watched Harold stroll out, tail in the air, then she stepped out herself, to get a breath of morning air. As she usually did, she looked to the sky, to assess the weather and to take some time to plan her day. It was a fine deep blue morning sky. But wait, there was something up there. It was hard to see because of the light conditions. Just a speck of something, very high.
            Thaga squinted up at it. It wasn’t a bird, not even Maeve, not a normal human aircraft either. It was silver and rather cigar shaped. It was still very small, but was descending, growing just a bit larger moment by moment. It looked an awful lot like Mak’s ship, the one she had seen at Cherry’s birth party years ago. Then she remembered Mak’s promise to bring Twigg and Leely home when summer came.
            This could only mean one thing! She headed straight back into the bedroom as fast as she could go.
            “Ooog! Wake up, they’re back!” Thaga called, breathlessly.
            Ooog’s eyes flew open, and he said, “Wah? Who’s back?”
            “Mak! I saw his ship returning! He’s got Twigg and Leely! Put your pants on, Man!” she added, running around the room finding him an outfit.
            “How do you know it’s his ship?” said Ooog. “It might be something else.” He was a bit reluctant to wake up just yet.
            “I saw Mak’s ship way up in the sky! If it isn’t, there are two just like it! We need to get over there!” Thaga pleaded. “Ramona said he would bring them back this summer!”
            So, Thaga got her shoes and socks on, and Ooog dressed too, then they ran through the kitchen, grabbed a bite of leftover biscuit, gulped some cold tea, and left the cottage, heading for the general area of the Home Clearing. Harold watched them go without comment. His mind was taken up by some small squeaky voices, and scratchings somewhere under the floor.
            When Ooog and Thaga tumbled into the Home Clearing, breathing heavily, no one was there. A most unusual sight! A thin column of white smoke curled and ascended from the ashes of Ramona’s morning fire. Not even the wind was there. A batch of unwashed bowls and cups lay in Ramona’s five gallon bucket.
            “He must be landing by the Alder Tree House!” said Ooog. “That’s where everyone will be!”
            “You’re right!” said Thaga, and off they trotted to the meadow, as fast as they could manage to trot.
            Now then, just as Mak’s silver vessel, with a bit of a greenish halo about it, settled silently onto the grass of the meadow, Ooog and Thaga bustled up to join the waiting group. Ramona turned her head when she heard them, startled.
            “Oh, I didn’t even think,” Ramona said. “Of course, you must be  here!”
            “All is well. We got ourselves here as quickly as we could, when I saw the ship,” said gentle Thaga. Ramona put her arm around Thaga, and they all watched together.
            The greenish nimbus around the vessel evaporated. The morning sun glinted off of its curves. For a moment all was still, except for some crows flying low overhead. Impossibly exotic, lay superimposed on the familiar scene of the meadow and the waiting Alder Tree House. The fantastic scene would remain in all of their memories for the rest of their days.
            An opening formed in the ship’s side as naturally as an eye opening, as the silver vessel lay at rest. This hatch seemed impossibly inadequate for a person of Twigg’s stature to step through, but somehow he did. First he appeared quite distant and even small, matching the interior of the ship, but when his feet touched the meadow grass he stood before them, even taller than before he and Leely had gone. He had grown in presence. He smiled at the waiting group, glanced around at his beloved meadow, and then turned back to the hatch, holding out his hand.
            Leely took his hand, and stepped out onto the grass of home. She was beautiful, standing in the sunshine. Stately, and serene, with her long dark hair pinned up and woven full of the flowers of Mak’s home planet, she wore a gown of shifting shining colors. She smiled at Ramona and Ralph, with Maeve on his shoulder, then Cherry and Blue, then Berry and Bob, and Thaga and Ooog. She greeted each one with her smile. Leely had grown in presence too. Little Marge was transformed.
            In Leely’s right arm, cradled against her body, was a child. Just a wee tiny child, wrapped in a fine white blanket.
            Leely went to Ramona, offering her the child. Ramona held out her arms, both were silent as Ramona took him into her bosom. She studied him carefully, noting every feature, except his eyes, as he was sleeping.
            “Mother, we named him Koba. It means star in the language of the Old Book,” said Leely, simply.
            “How can this be, Leely?” said Ramona, in wonder. Ralph attended to the conversation, but was silent.
            “In the Maker, all good things are possible, is it not so, Mother Ramona?” said Leely.
            “I do believe it must be so,” whispered Ramona, cradling Koba near her heart.
            Right then, Mak himself stepped out onto the meadow, saying, “May I have your attention, please!” He was grinning, and his blue eyes were twinkling…

           

Just Bubbles Open Thread for March 29

 

Happy Suzday, Everybody!

All the best!

🤍

Things Cats Know, As Told To Me By Suzy

 

Above all things, cats are masters of observation. They know where it’s at, and who done it, because they were watching. She says you have no secrets from your cat, or cats. More observers compile more data. Nothing is forgotten. Not only do they see, they remember.

Their world is more dimensional than yours. That’s what she said. I’m not absolutely sure what she meant by that. I think I can guess though.

I think what she was talking about must have been seeing things with her cat's eyes that our eyes just don’t pick up. I have to take her word on this. Since I’m human I can’t prove it one way or the other.

She says, and she says Toots says too, that they see:

1.      Wild Men and their Fraus and Kinder.

2.      Ghosts, Goblins, Poltergeists, Knockers, and Whatnot of an ethereal nature.

3.      ETs. Both visible and otherwise. They know when the ships are up there.

4.      All Fae. “The little ratlings!” she says. Her general word for prey.

5.      Skinwalkers, shapeshifters, doppelgangers, and various Indian haints. Not deer!

6.      Dogmen, of all filthy things! "As if plain dogs weren’t bad enough!"

 

Additionally, she says that cats are devotees of comfort. This is very close behind observational skills. That patch of sunshine on the floor? It’s a target. Your wool sweater lying on the bed? She will find it and claim it.

She confided to me the meaning of purring. Purring is meant to convince. It speaks of love, healing, petition, dominance, etc. Purring amplifies their wavelength. It is a power source. Do not discount purring as merely a pleasant sound, she insists.

Finally, Suzy says, and she says that all cats will say the same thing, cats, from the greatest lion to the tiniest new house cat kitten are hunters. In an absolute sense they are predators. Play, from a cat’s point of view, is a form of practice or symbolic predation. What do you think would happen to that red laser dot if she ever caught it? Death. That’s all.

Perhaps I should mention one last little thing, which she thought hardly needed mention. Cats are creatures of habit, deeply into timing. They know when it’s bedtime. Nothing fusses up your cat like messing with your schedule on their shift.

Oh, and that whole acting cute bit? It’s related to predation. Go ahead, mess with that tummy and find out!

🐺😸🦁