Mr. Grindwell is a professional busy engaged in work always. He lives at the foothill residence located amidst lots of greenery and vegetation, in a serene location away from the hubbub of city life. It was his obsession often to keep watching and enjoying the chirping birds, colorful butterflies and small creatures like squirrels, snails, grass hopers playing around across his window. His profession called for working on computer and conversation with people now and then. Whenever he gets exhausted in his work he would sit in the garden watching the cuckoo stealthily sitting in the crow’s nest to lay her eggs amidst the ones the crow has laid. It was fun to see her get caught by the crow furiously chasing her all around Friends and colleagues who visited Mr Grind once in a way to join him for a week end dinner would warmly address him as “Grind” for short.
Mr Squirrel who lived as a neighbor of Mr. Grind, in his garden shelter burrow was quite mischievous, fond of nuts that Mr. Grind kept to munch while doing work on laptop, unmindful of what is happening in the surroundings. He found it very convenient to sneak on to Mr Grind’s table to steal a pack or two from the bowl of nut packets! It’s but natural, Squirrels being fond of nuts, he would try to reach out for nuts by any means!
With the onset of fruit season, the tree in the neighbor’s garden would bear loads of persimmon fruit, bunches sagging down with its weight. The deep yellow fruit bunches would cover the leaves fully; Entire tree would appear like a yellow heap of fruits.
Mr. Squirrel with his big eyes, rotund body, long furry tail, sitting on
hind legs, holding a fruit in hand, looking all around anxiously with fast moving head in all direction was a familiar sight to Mr. Grind. During short breaks in work, he would watch Mr. Squirrel carrying larger than his body size persimmon fruit all the way from the tree slowly along the wooden fence to his burrow. Many a time the fruit would slip off Mr. Squirrel’s hand on the way but undeterred he would continue his effort again and again to fetch the fruits. Mr. Grind was very much inspired on Mr. Squirrel’s determination in the pursuit of fetching the fruits with patience and perseverance.
Miss Myna who lived around Mr. Grind’s residence was another neighbor like the squirrel. Mr. Grind was fond of her melodious voice, singing with pride perching on the garden trees. Her brown body with black hooded head, bare yellow patch behind the eye gave her an attractive look. Wing lining and white patch, a white belly underside, yellow beak, legs and paws were typical of her attire. Her fluffing feathers and bobbing of head while singing added further beauty attraction to any on looker’s eyes.
Miss Myna and a large flock of her clan would gather every evening all around Mr. Grind’s house and the gardens. But she preferred to stay in the cavities under the roof of Mr. Grind’s residence overnight along with her boyfriend Mr. Myna! Their sweet wiles and squeaks from an invisible cavity in roof used to attract Mr. Grind’s attention and provide amusement amidst his serious work tensions. He would love to hum along in chorus for fun when they sing their community twilight songs melodiously before disbursing to their respective nests.
It was a fine sunny bright morning the Mr. and Miss Mynas were overwhelmed with excitement to see a large number in a flock of their clan pecking crickets, grasshoppers and snails, playing on the lawns in Mr. Grind’s Garden. The dew drops on the grass were shining with a variety of colors reflecting sunrays around. They too joined the flock for fun.
Mr. Squirrel was looking out of his burrow carefully to make sure his enemy predators are not around and it is safe to stir out. Slowly he crawls out in confidence as he sees his friends, the Mynas hopping on the lawns to catch the grasshoppers for their breakfast.
“Good Morning friends” he wished the Myna couple in his gruff voice.
“Good Morning, dear” the Mynas wished him in reply.
“How come you are out in the lawns so early?. Don’t you think the lawn is too wet with dewdrops?”
“Yes I too feel it quite wet” Mr. Squirrel nodded as he jumped on to the wooden compound wall.
“You guys continue your hunt for insects, I will go to Persimmon tree to fetch a fruit or two” said Mr. Squirrel as he walked along the top of the wooden fencing wall. It is a usual scene to watch him crawl along the fence to the persimmon tree to fetch fruit, carry them to its burrow on the other end. It was a tough task for him to carry the fruit bigger in size than its hand could hold, that too for a long way on the narrow top edge of the fence wall. Quite often the fruit slipped from his hand and fell off. But he would not lose heart, would resume the task again and again to succeed at least once in a way. He thus was successful collecting many fruits for his offspring at the burrow. Thus he exhibited tremendous perseverance and patience!
Once a black monster cat coming its way stealthily to pounce on its prey, a fierce face with red ice, getting ready to jump on. Sensing danger, Mr. Squirrel immediately makes loud screeching alarm calls beating up and down its furry tail to warn his fellow Squirrels nearby. Mr Grind hears a sudden commotion all around. The flock of Mynas start sqeaking in chorus and fly off in a bang. Mr Squirrel with all his herd continues alarming cries to alert all others about an imminent threat.
Mr. Grind comes out to find the reason, spots the dark fat cat below the persimmon tree trying to pounce on his prey. Squirrels were running for life helter skelter to avert the danger of becoming a prey to the monster cat. A few minutes later it was all empty and unbearable silence as all the birds and squirrels had run off from the spot.
Sad Mr. Grind drowns back in to his busy work, unaware of his surroundings!
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