Cooper, keeper of the gardens
second draft
(working title)
Cooper slowly opened one eye, then the
other. He’d slept well into the light, snugged back into a sound slumber
by the warmth of the spring sun and the soft zoom of bees buzzing among the
flowers that surrounded him. He’d only meant to take a quick cat nap, but
could tell by the fall of the sun’s rays that it was later than he’d planned.
Getting up slowly, arching his back so
that he looked like an inverted furry U, then streeetching out his front paws
in homage to the sun, Cooper looked around from his favorite sunning spot, in
front of the big stone. It didn’t offer
much camouflage in the springtime, not like it would in the summer & fall,
but it was the perfect spot for basking in the springtime sun.
This early in the morning, all was
quiet. The only 2-lets who strolled past
were long-time friends, unfazed to find a regal, well-groomed marmalade tabby
tucked amongst the daffodils and tulips.
Cooper purred to himself - today was his
favorite day of the entire week. It was
a short purr, because he was late getting himself ready for his favorite 2-legs
in his whole world!
Taking his time, in spite of the late hour, Cooper carefully and thoroughly made sure that every strand of fur that could reached by his scratchy tongue was groomed and glistening. Time was short, but he wanted to look his best when his 2-legs arrived with their sturdy gloves, sharp diggers and soft voices.
Cautiously putting one paw onto the
sandstone pathway, then another, almost as if testing a woodland
stream, he slowly moved out of the warm earth & onto the cool stone.
He looked up, up, up at the tall building with
soaring spires. It was, Cooper was ready to admit, beautiful, although he
thought its stonework and pretty colored windows were nowhere near as exquisite
as the gardens he cared for throughout the year.
It was quite wonderful in warm weather to
curl up on a sun-cozied stone corner, soaking in the music that poured out from
a small open door; when it rained or chill winds blew and the big doors to the tall tall building with soaring spires were closed on all sides, he could still catch muffled refrains of music. Cooper especially enjoyed singing along with the voices that raised themselves
every week.
Still, to Cooper all of it – the tall tall building with soaring
spires, the beautiful music, the 2-legs who came and went every day – was there
to serve as a backdrop for his gardens.
With no scent of his friends yet on the
light breeze, Cooper set out on a
quick inspection tour of his
gardens. Each was so different, each offering a special delight to his
eyes, nose and even his body. As always, he would leave his most beloved
garden for last.
Cooper started with the woodland garden,
an enchanting crisscross of narrow paths overhung with great looming bushes and
trees that seem to reach to the sky. He loved the feel of the soft dirt
under his paws, the gentle birdsong from the ____________ that made the garden
their home, the strong low-laying bush branches that seemed to invite long,
leisurely rubs against their bark. Emerging from the semi-darkness
of the garden, he skirted his way around the small plant-edged lawn and across
to the ________ garden nestled between the driveway and the tall building with
the soaring spires.
Suddenly, Cooper froze. He heard
the sound of little 2-legs running around on a lush green lawn. Cooper
slung through the ___________ and _____________ of the next garden. He
did everything he could to go unnoticed. Their hands might be small, but
they were powerful when they grabbed his tail or pulled his tender ears, and
when they tried to pick him up, their big ones would shoo HIM away, like he wanted to be wrapped by little arms that
hugged too tight.
Passing between the ___________ and the
chilly stonewall of the tall building with soaring spires, he moved carefully,
quietly to the space between the big glass door, the welcoming steps, along the
path that led to his favorite view - a long hill dropping away to a small
valley edged with meadows that swooped up to rolling hills. In the
distance, way down at the end of the long hill, he heard the sharp bark of a
dog. When it came to dogs, Cooper and the 2-legs that came and went every
day were in complete agreement – dogs were not permitted anywhere near his
gardens, not even on a leash!
There wasn’t have time to jump up onto
the stone bench nestled into the hillside. Instead, Cooper did a quick
inspection of the ________________ and ______________. It was, he had to
admit, the most dramatic of all the gardens, small but quietly spectacular as
it overlooked the valley and rolling hills beyond.
Cooper seemed to glide down the stone
steps to the path that skirted along the hill top. He walked calmly and
sedately toward a small copse of elegant white-blossomed trees that lead to a
graceful wooden bench. This garden never failed to move Cooper deeply,
whatever the season; whether the trees were heavy with blossoms or spare as
they were now, he never failed to drop his sleek head in reverence as he walked
the path between the rows of trees.
As he reached the end of the trees, a
sound made his head come up and his heart race with happiness.
Cooper leapt along the path, up a short
flight of steps, then suddenly slowed down to a leisurely amble, seeming to not
even notice the two young female 2-legs sitting as they chatted on a nearby
bench, but he knew they’d spotted him by their coos and ahhhs. It took
some convincing (or so he wanted it to seem) for them to lure Cooper over to
where they sat.
Cooper loved spending time with the
2-legs who often wandered over from the schools across the street-with-too-fast
cars. Even the males seemed to welcome his company, especially if they
were there with a soft voice! As he rubbed his warm, soft fur against
their legs, presenting his head for stroking and scratching, Cooper purred his
deepest purr. The 2-legs melted under his attentions.
Just then, a familiar scent reached
Cooper’s velvety nose. His favorites had arrived! And they were at
his most beloved garden of all.
With a final leg rub and swoosh of his
tail, Cooper said his good byes, tore up a long flight of steps and dashed
across the big lawn as fast as he could. He didn’t care if his 2-legs saw
how excited he was; one of the best things about their friendship was that he
could be totally himself with them.
They were gathered at his most beloved
garden, pulling on their sturdy gloves and taking out their sharp
diggers. A chorus of soft voices lifted to greet him. Cooper felt
like he’d swallowed the sun, leaving him warm and glowing both inside and
out. He rubbed his groomed and glistening fur against each pair of legs,
batting with his head the loving hands reaching down to stroke his head,
scritch his ears and rub under his chin.
Greetings made and returned, it was time
to settle down to work. Cooper was a superb gardener. He loved preparing the soil for seedlings, digging out early weeds, even gently spreading
compost to help the garden claim its full glory.
Much as he loved working in all the
gardens, none gave him the endless pleasure as his working in this, his most beloved
spot. Every so often, as he paused to take in look around at the ____________, ____________, and his friends, a
deep sense of pure joy flowed from the tip of his long elegant tail to the
sharp nib of his claws.
Best of all was when everyone put down
their sharp diggers, took off their sturdy gloves, and settled back for a sip
and a nibble. They’d pour a saucer of water just for him and see who could pamper him the most
with succulent morsels - plump nuggets
of grilled chicken and firm flakes of poached fish - seeming to take as much
happiness in bringing him special tidbits as he did savoring
them. Then, it was time to get back to work.
The time always went faster than Cooper could imagine.
All too soon, his favorite 2-legs would
take off their sturdy gloves, put away their sharp diggers, and give him a
farewell scritch behind his ears before making their goodbyes.
Most, but not all. As they did
every week, one or two of them strolled with Cooper to his favorite view, cat
and 2-legs settling down on the bench, basking in the moment, in the valley and rolling hills
stretched out before them, and in
the friendship that connected paws, hands and hearts.
