Breakfast For Three

This morning Jay and I were breakfasting on butterscotch muffins on my balcony. One of the railings of the balcony is a popular thoroughfare for squirrels as they make their way from my roof to the giant old maple tree in back. As often happens, a little fuzzy fellow (or gal) popped his head around the edge of the roof and saw us. I expected he would skitter back up the roof, like the nervous little creatures tend to do. But this was clearly a Gryffindor squirrel.

We munched our tasty, fragrant muffins, and he watched us with a look and posture that was determined and defiant, for a squirrel. It was not that beseeching look that dogs so masterfully display. He was definitely going to have some muffin: he just needed to figure out how.

I made it easy for him and tossed a chunk of muffin on the floor in his direction. Boldly, he made his way down over the wicker couch, picked up the sweet muffin in his tiny squirrel hands, and nibbled. We tossed some more to him. He was only a few feet from Jay, picking up pieces of muffin and eating, moving from the floor to on/under the wicker couch, even nosing for crumbs between the floor board cracks. We ate along with our little guest. It was easily the cutest thing I've seen not on cuteoverload.com.

When he'd had his fill, he took his time leaving. I expected him to say "Thank ya, neighbors! That was some fine eatin'!" Finally he ran the length of the side railing and took a spread-eagle leap off the end, as they always do, landing in the leafy brances of the maple tree and heading off on his day's agenda.

If that happened more often, I wouldn't complain. :-)