This is a short story that I wrote in October of 2022. It is important to be observant in life. The main character is based on elements of a person I once interacted with. Life is its own story.
“This is a friendly reminder to check on your friends, Patricia. Leslie was limping last week. She could have gotten eaten by a cat or perhaps swooped up by a hawk!”
Patricia clicked as she ran back up the tree, and into her nest. Patricia had recently just given birth, so she was being fed everyday by Demi.
Demi is frequently called a ‘cooky old woman with a few screws loose.’ Her neighbors that know her, run at the mere sight of her dodging potholes in her rusty blue truck.
When not drag racing the streets of her hometown, Demi walks its blocks in search of new friends. She has noticed that most humans always seem too busy to stop and have a civilized conversation of how important it is to follow an exercise routine religiously. She has also thought it to be weird that Mr. Flemington ran away from her at the slightest mention of a tracheotomy. She finds everything fascinating.
She turned onto Bashing street. There was a slight chance for rain today, so she threw on her reliable yellow rain coat, with holes in the pockets.
She had been unable to repair her coat as the squirrels get very demanding with their feeding schedule. So demanding, that they weasel their way into the holes of her pockets, in which they created in the first place.
Her favorite friends lived on Bashing street, in a beautiful oak tree. The home in which the property resided with, was recently just sold and the new owners of the home- had not been seen yet.
Ms. Fancy who used to live in the home, sold the house. She was one of the few people who would sit with Demi on the bench under the oak tree. Demi would always treasure those talks.
Before Ms. Fancy moved away, she handed Demi an embroidered handkerchief as a thank you for being her friend. “Take this handkerchief and wipe the sweat away from your brow as you walk these streets.”
Demi laughed and mentioned to Ms. Fancy that it seems she could be mistaken for a lady of the night with that description. They both let out a howl at the same time. “Now that can’t be true, Demi! You have not shaven your legs in years!” This left both of them wheezing and gasping for air.
They reached over and hugged while single tears streamed down both of their seasoned faces. “Good-bye my good friend.” Demi walked home that night, clutching the handkerchief over her heart.
She now sat on the bench, remembering her friend. Her squirrel friends were running down the tree to greet her and get peanuts in return.
She sat, and watched the trees sway in the breeze that signaled a storm was approaching. Demi did not care about the droplets that she soon felt dropping onto her raincoat. She stayed at her post, interacting with her friends.
The rain became heavier. Her friends had ditched their efforts in fighting over peanuts to find refuge in the tree. Demi stayed seated. For she had no other place to be.
A car pulled into Ms. Fancy’s driveway. Soon, she found a young girl running towards her. “What are you doing out here? It is raining cats and dogs!” “Oh, I am just remembering is all and visiting my friends.” “What is your name?” Demi soon saw an older woman, presumably the young one’s mother approaching her.” “Are you okay, ma’am? Do you need for me to call someone?” “Oh no, it is just me. I am here visiting my friends.” She pointed to the tree.
The woman looked to the tree and smiled. “You must be Demi.” Demi’s face lit up. Someone she did not know, knew her.
“Why yes, I am Demi. Demi of the Durand’s who built this town. Former librarian and latte aficionado. I can do the paper’s weekly crossword in one-hour tops.”
The woman chuckled. “Well Demi, I am Lucy. I own this home now. Ms. Fancy left me a note saying you would most likely stop by. Also, that you are the reason for all the damn squirrels on the porch. If you would like, please come in and have some tea to warm up.”
“Oh, tea sounds magnificent, darling.” Demi stood up and waved her friends good-bye, calling out to each of them by their name.
Danae Decker 