The Letter to Sneaky Sue

 

 Maurice locked the front door on the farmhouse for the very first time that night.
            Then he sat down on the floor of the front room on his pile of folded blankets. But he was drowsy. The song was very much in his mind; he played the tune again.
            Then he thought of writing to Sue, but he fell asleep while thinking of what to say. It had been a long time, and a lot had happened to him.
            He fell asleep thinking about wildness, and then it was morning and bright sunlight was coming in the windows. He took his book and the pen out to the kitchen counter, because the window faced east and the light was brightest in there. He would write standing in the light there at the counter.

 

🌲

    

Dear Sneaky:
        I have been thinking of you and Joseph, and wondering how you are doing? I know it’s been a long time. I’m still alive and I am near Ralph in his Forest. I have been sleeping in an old farmhouse where no one lives.
        A lot has happened to me. I don’t wear clothes anymore because I got fleas in them, so I buried them in the forest. Now, I just wear my fur and a nice bag for my red book, pen, and harmonica. I don’t know what I will do about that if I ever decide to visit you in Branson. But if I do I will figure it out.
        Well, Ralph will probably figure it out. Not me.
        A strange thing happened to me two nights ago. Me and Uncle Bob gave a concert from the top of his Stump House to the Forest. Some people came, Ranger Rick and his helpers, and the lady who writes for the paper in town. Two families of Forest People, a bear lady, and Ralph with his Ramona and little Cherry, and their animals. Twigg and his family came too, and the baby did kind of a light show. But the most surprising guest of all was that guy from space. Mak. He came in his ship!

        It was fun. Just like we used to do in parks and stuff. They really liked it, and I loved doing it. Bob writes good songs. Some of them are a little weird. But, he’s Bob. He used to be a heavy smoker. More about songs in a minute.
        After the show, I came out here and went to sleep. In the night something came in and took my book and read it. In the morning while it was raining real hard this thing like a witch made me play music for her and I couldn’t stop! Oh, Sneaky it was horrible.
        Ralph found me and set me free and made the mean thing disappear. All my stuff was wet, but Ralph made her give my book back. We went down to his place and ate and dried all my stuff. I finally decided I needed to come back here, so I did.
        I walked home through the night. I played a new song about going home alone, to make myself braver. I was walking in the moonlight, and I heard a voice singing a song to my tune. It was beautiful, but I don’t know who it was!
        Someday I will find out. I didn’t feel alone after the song I heard.
        How is Folkie Joe? Does he have any new hits?
        I will tear this page out of my book and find a way to send it to you.
        From your friend, Maurice, A True Howler
        Thank you for being so nice to me when you were a little kitten.

 🍂

 
            After Maurice wrote the letter, he loped over to Thaga’s house and knocked on the door. Soon she opened it, and was surprised to see Maurice standing on her porch in the morning sunshine.
            “Mrs., will you help me mail a letter to my friend Sue in Branson? I’ve never sent a letter before. I don’t have an envelope or a stamp,” said Maurice.
            “Of course I will. I hope you know the address, but we can probably figure something out. Come in,” said Thaga. “Why don’t you go sit in the kitchen with Ooog and I will get an envelope and a stamp for you.”
            He found Ooog sitting at the end of the big wooden table drinking some coffee and eating fried potatoes and onions, and some eggs.
            “Have a seat,” said Ooog, then he went to the stove and got a plateful for Maurice, and also a mug of coffee. “I heard you talking to Thaga. I’m sure she’ll figure out how to send your letter.”
Maurice said thanks and sat down around the corner from Ooog and started on his nice surprise breakfast.
            Thaga came back with a long plain white envelope and a stamp. She sat down at her place around the other corner from Ooog across from Maurice.
            Maurice explained that if she wrote the address like they were sending it to the ice cream shop that it would probably get to her, because there was only one Howler frozen custard shop in Branson MO. So, this is what she wrote:
            To S. Sue
            CO Howler Frozen Custard
            Branson, MO
 
            “I don’t know the zip code, Maurice, but it’s a small city, I believe and the post office will find it, I am pretty sure,” said Thaga.
            So Maurice carefully tore the page he had written from his red book and folded it up  to fit in the envelope. Thaga put it in and stamped it. She put her own address on it too for in case of return.
            “Now, if you go put it in our mailbox, and turn the little red flag up, when the mailman comes by, he will pick it up and take it to the post office,” said Thaga. “I hope she get’s your letter. I bet she does, and will be very surprised to see the return address and wonder who in the world is sending a letter from out here. Then she will read it and be very happy to hear from you!”
            “Thank you!” said Maurice. “The breakfast was very good too!”
            He ran out to the dirt road, crossing the little river first, found the Neanderthal’s mailbox and sent the letter on its way, hoping it got to Sneaky, his old friend.
            After that, he went to catch up with Uncle Bob and teach him the song he had heard the night before, in the moonlight.

💚

🍂🍁🍂It's Almost September! 🍂🍁🍂

 Hang in there!

Fall is coming!

Suzday Blessings to you!

Photo is of garden gifts from my son last year.

🐈‍⬛🍁💚🍁🐈‍⬛

🍁Going Home Alone🍂

 

            Eventually, Maurice’s things dried beside the fire. He had eaten with Ralph and family, both breakfast and dinner, and it seemed like the only thing left to do was return to the scene. It was time to go home. It was just like getting back up on the horse. Best to be done before he got a chance to let fear set in.
            The problem was solved; he told himself. “Right!” he thought.
            When he put his book back in the bag,  it made him think of Sleeky Sue, and suddenly he missed her very much. He thought about writing her a letter, while remembering their meeting in the freight car, and how kind the tiny creature had been to him. Another tear fell down his long nose.
            He thought that was pretty wet for a tough guy like himself, so to settle his nerves he started working on a tune. But it came out sounding like train music. Maybe this tune was for Sneaky herself.
            “Firekeeper, Ramona, do you have an old pen or pencil I could use?” said Maurice, since he hadn’t been able to find his for a few days.
            “I do! And it won’t do me any good. I can’t write, Maurice. Just keep it,” said Ramona, coming back from the shelf in the cave where she kept a few things that came her way. It was an old yellow Bic pen.
            “Thanks,” he said, still thinking about writing a letter and wondering how to send it.
            “Time for me to go home, and tonight I will lock the door,” he added.
            “Oh, good idea,” said Ralph. “You don’t want to wake up with the place full of nosy rabbits or turkeys!”
            “Yeah, I don’t really expect anybody,” said Maurice.
            But Maurice was still a little nervous. He remembered it all too well, and the awful feeling of helplessness. A True Howler really doesn’t like feeling helpless. He felt a growl coming up from his heart.
            Nevertheless, he started the evening walk to the old farmhouse where no one had lived for many years, and he now thought of as home. He trotted past Ralph’s big log and up into the big meadow. He wasn’t that familiar with the old stump where Twigg and Marge had met, but pass it  he did. He kept going, noting the Alder Tree House as he passed. The farmhouse was closer to town on an old unused dirt road.
            Fall was coming and the days were getting shorter. Soon he saw the moon rising, and a few stars even though there was a sheer layer of cloud way up high  over the forest and the meadow. He, with his fantastically sharp hearing, heard a few exhausted leaves fall on to the grass and settle there. The wind came by, shaking a few more of them down.
            It was dark, and he felt alone suddenly. A new sensation. It was the last in a long series of revelations. He’d never noticed it before. Maurice shivered.
            To cheer himself along he began playing a song he called Going Home Alone In The Dark. He wondered what kind of lyrics Bob might put to it, and had to laugh. You never knew with Bob. He was a true natural, and knew nothing of convention. His sweet heart was as pure and simple as sunlight on flowers.
            Just as he was thinking about lyrics, Maurice heard a voice in the distance. A beautiful voice. He was so astounded that he stopped his tune to listen. The voice stopped too!
            “What!” Maurice said aloud, standing there under the moon. No one answered. So he started up again, walking and playing the going home song.
            She began to sing with him again. He began to discern words! She was singing lyrics with him, totally off the cuff! It was dreamlike. Unbelievable. Miraculous!
            Her soprano was clear as a bell and very carrying. It came to him under the moon, and over the meadow. Straight as an arrow.
 
            You’re not alone.
            Not alone.
            In the night, in the dark.
            Your heart is  heard,
            loudly, clearly.
            Come be a warm night.
            I will be the moon…
           
            To say that he was intrigued is to mince words. To say that he was smitten it to state the obvious.
            “Who are you? Where are you?” he called, but got no answer.
            He found the old dirt road and followed it to the old farmhouse. He didn’t even especially note the scene of the incident with the grey witch. Moonlight shone over everything and a couple of stars blinked through the haze.
            “We’ll meet, I know it,” he told the night, and went on indoors.   

   

  🍁🌔🍁

Morning Greetings From SuzieQ, August 28, 2026

             She was really sticking close today, so I figured that she had something to say.

            So, I asked her, "What's on your mind today, Suzie?"

            "I was resting under your desk today, and both of them were out there! Looking at me. It makes me nervous," she said.

            "You know, if you don't run, they won't chase. You're a cat too. You should know that," I said.

            "I have a hard time remembering that with all those eyes looking at me. I know what it feels like to chase, and it's a pretty compelling urge," she admitted. "Anyhow, that's a photo of me five years ago. I was more orange then!"

            "Orange and green are a pretty good color combination. You should be proud to be orange with green eyes. I think a lot of people would like to be so pretty!" I said.

            "Aw, thanks. Really I just wanted to tell the readers 'Good Morning!' and say 'Prrrrt!' to my cat friends. It's been wonderful getting to know Toots, Sammie, Buddy, Serena, if she would talk more! I even miss the Fluffbag, even though he's not my Boyfren! I even miss Ms. Charley, but I know she doesn't miss me! Funny kid!" said Suzie.

            "What about Booker and Sweetie," I urged. 

            "How can I miss them? They're right here, all of the time! But yeah, them too."

            "Anything else?" I asked her.

            "I notice that the days are getting shorter. Soon it will be fall and pumpkin flavored everything!" she said.

            "That's true. Do you want a pumpkin this year. You'd match almost!" I said.

            "Yeah, I think so. But hey, Toots, where do you want to go next?" she laughed.

            "I'm sure she'll let you know," I said, before she wandered off to sit on the back of the recliner.

            So, good morning, all! Best of F'linedays to you! 

🎃

            

Just Rollin' and Tumblin' in the Upper Atmosphere!

             Since nothing else was going on, the girls decided to take a little fieldtrip. 

            "Toots!" said Suzie, "How about a little jaunt?"

            "Whatcha got in mind, SuzieQ?" quoth Toots agreeably.

            "Oh, just bouncing around the upper atmosphere!" said Suzie. "It's just an open thread day, and a Purrsday™! I think we should!"

            "Oooo! The Lionosphere! What a spiffy idea!" said Toots. "Let's go!"

So!

That's what they did!

            "What a nice way to spend Purrsday, Suzie. Just bouncing here and there through the upper air. I wish everybody who reads about us was up here too!" said Toots.

            "I do too! Can you imagine everyone dodging satellites, getting a really good look at our planet!" said Suzie. 

            "I'm sure they'd get a kick out of it!" said Toots.

The best of Purrsday™ to you!

May it be a day of lightness and happiness!

Fall is coming!

💙

A Little Back Story

 

            For a while the family, and Maurice, just ate their oatmeal silently, letting the morning come on in its own time. Ramona felt especially sad for Maurice. She thought he could use a while to settle his mind after the morning’s ordeal.
            He had laid his bag, his harmonica, and his book out on a log by the fire to dry. It had all gotten soaked while he was standing in the rain that early morning. A tear still ran down his shaggy snout from time to time. It embarrassed him, but it happened a few times.
            Finally, Ralph said, “Why you, Maurice? Why not Uncle Bob, or anybody else?”
            “I’ve been trying to figure that out, Ralph. I’m looking for a connection,” said Maurice.
            “I don’t believe there is a connection,” said Ramona. “This is what I think. Evil is very jealous. Evil hates beauty. We know that.
            “The witch was attracted to the music in the meadow. She must have noticed you, I mean there you were up on top of the Stump House playing your beautiful blues! She kept watching. I don’t know how they do that, but they seem to be watching.
            “Now, everyone else went home with someone else. Every last one of them, even Bob was with Suzy. But you were alone,” said Ramona. “I think that’s all it was. Somewhere it says a twofold cord is not easily broken, or something like that.”
            “When did you first sense that something was wrong?” Ramona continued.
            “I woke because I knew someone was in the room with me. I saw the ugly thing crouched on her heels like a gargoyle reading my book!” cried Maurice.
            “Oh!! There you go! She was feasting on your heart! That’s it,,” said Ralph, sitting up straight suddenly.
            “She said she owned me and I  had to obey her now,” said Maurice. “Because she read my book and she knew me!”
            “Oh, that’s a lie! Evil always lies!’ said Ramona. “You must have believed her, or she couldn’t have made you do anything!”
            “Well, she woke me up and scared me! I thought she might eat me!” said Maurice. “I thought playing some music might save my life, maybe? I didn’t know what was going on, Firekeeper Ramona!”
            “I’m not sure what I would have done either, Maurice. What a horrible experience. I’m pretty sure you won’t see her again,” said Ramona, and she laughed a little.
            For the first time that morning, Maurice laughed too. “Hey, Ralph, when did you figure out that naming thing?”
            Ramona stood up to collect the bowls and spoons, and got the three of them a cup of coffee for dessert. Cherry sat by listening carefully to the conversation sipping on some warm water with some berries floating in it, a favorite of hers.
            “That’s an old story. I was very young, but out on my own. I didn’t know any human people yet, and really had only heard some of their language while I was kind of listening to them talk. When they didn’t know I was around, right? I had fun repeating what I heard and some of it stuck.
            “I didn’t start naming on purpose. I discovered it this way.
            “I found a small naked child alone in the forest. It was a girl. Using our language I tried asking where her parents were. She didn’t answer. I thought maybe I better try the local human speech. I tried it, not very well, I’m sure. She didn’t answer. In fact I don’t think she had ever spoken. But she was human, though I’d never seen a kid so dirty and uncared for. She had never had a haircut, her nails were long and broken, she was too skinny, and smelled like she was starving. There is a smell to that.
            “I didn’t know what to do. But I was still trying out words on her. So I said “apple,” and she lit up like a star and said, “apple” back at me. She kept saying “apple.” Finally I realized that I had named her.
            “I took her to the ranger station, way before Rick worked there, of course. I put her on the step in front of the door, knocked real loud, and vanished of course. The old ranger opened the door and the kid said “Apple,” nice and loud.
            “There was some excitement with police and whoever gets called in a case like that, but through it all the kid kept saying “Apple.”
            “I hope somebody gave her an apple,” said Maurice.
            “Oh, I think so,” said Ralph, “but somewhere there is woman named Apple who probably had to pick her own last name and doesn’t remember her parents.
            “It was the strangest thing. She became Apple right in front of my eyes,” said Ralph.

💚

"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!”

🍁💚🍁