Tree Squirrel jumps from the branch of an oak tree and lands firm on the trunk of the walnut tree several feet away.  His gray fluffy tail twitches in the cold morning air.  Autumn is here.  It’s time to begin the task of storing food for the long winter.  Squirrel doesn’t hibernate.  He does not sleep through the winter like some mammals do, so he will need to have plenty of food stashed away.  He doesn’t want to go hungry when the snow covers the ground and food is sparse.

Squirrel climbs nimbly down the side of the walnut tree and searches around until he finds a nice round nut.  He peels off the green and black skin, down to the hard wavy gray shell.  Squirrel then uses his sharp teeth to pry open the hard shell until he can remove the tasty nut.  Once the nut is free, he licks it.  This is not only to clean it, but also to mark it with his scent.  With his now clean nut held tightly in his mouth, Squirrel finds a safe place to dig a hole, and buries it in the ground.  The scent he put on it will help him find it in the cold winter.  He will be able to sniff it out, even under a foot of snow.  Squirrel hunts for roots, leaves, seed, and other plants to stash away.  If he is lucky, he’ll come across a fat caterpillar or other plump insect to eat right away. 

“God gave you two ears and one mouth.  That means you should listen twice as much as you talk.”

One of Gran’s favourite little gems that Mum is always saying, and sometimes it drives me nuts.

 “I’d forgotten all about this Sally.  Your Gran left it for you.  She said to give it to you when you were grown up because it wouldn’t make sense before.”

Yesterday Mum Spring cleaned the attic and handed me a box she’d found up there.

It was heavy.  A large, old Lipton’s Tea tin in the shape of a caddy, thick with 23 years of dust and a rope of cobweb draped over it like a necklace.

For once the kitchen table was clear of my little brother’s homework because I’d made him do it before the weekend.  So with a cup of tea in one hand and the tin in the other, I sat in the late Sunday afternoon light and opened it. 

On top of the small pile of treasures, all carefully folded and neatly placed inside, was a brown envelope.  In it was an engagement ring with tiny sapphires and diamonds in a fine gold setting, which barely fitted on my little finger.  It was beautiful, perfect and opened the door to another world.  I looked at it and watched it twinkle.

“Well look at you, little scrap.” Mr Mathews said to the ball of grey fluff sitting on the palm of his hand.

Gently he stroked the tiny long ears and peered at its quivering nose.  The baby hare seemed to know that the vet’s hand was a safe place to be, so it sat very still.

“And you say that Aunt Nelly found it?”  Mr Mathews turned to me.

“Yes, I got quite a surprise when I came home earlier.  I was making a cup of tea and chatting to Nelly.  When I looked over at her in her box, and in with all her tabby and black and white kittens was a little grey blob.”

“And you don’t know where it came from?”

“I’ve no idea.  But she seemed to want to look after it like her own. She was grooming it and swatting one of the kittens that thought it was something to play with.   Aunt Nelly’s such a protective cat.  Perhaps it’s an orphan.”

Brief Encounter.

Miranda looked at Gregor. 

“OK then,” she said, tapping her pen on the notepad on her knee, “shaving cream and razor blades, soap, peanuts and your prescription.  Are you sure that’s all?”

“Unsalted peanuts please.  Doctor say zey are better for blood pressure.  But I cannot imagine how somesing as inert as good old NaCl makes so much difference.”

“All too complicated for me Gregor, leave it to the experts.”  Miranda closed her notebook and stood up to leave.  “I think it’s a roast and Yorkshires for supper tonight.  I’ll see you later shall I, with everyone else?  Oh, one other thing, the harvest fair’s on Saturday.  I do the books and my usual helper’s away this year – you couldn’t give me a hand could you?  No lifting or anything, just a bit of sorting and taking the money?”

There was no refusing - her cheeks glowed in the warm room and her eyes twinkled. Gregor nodded slowly and smiled again. 

“Of course, if it would help you my dear.”

“Great, thanks Gregor, I appreciate it.  I’ll knock on your door and we’ll go in my car.”