STRANGERS MEET

<> <>

Huggles

<> <>

Curly

   




   

Early in the morning the sun was just peeking over the horizon and it was time for my imagination to take flight.  I heard birds singing as a chorus.  Sometimes the woodpecker would keep the rhythm for the birds' melodies.  As the sun covered the landscape one could see the flower buds open into a gorgeous assortment of colors. 

    I looked out of my window and saw a beautiful white rabbit with ears perked up like antennas monitoring the sounds around.  Nearby, perched on his hind feet, was a furry brown squirrel nibbling on an acorn held in his front paws.  He too, with his head bobbing quickly from side to side was sensitive listening and watching carefully.  When a leaf rustled he was quick to notice if anything was about to move.  
    For reasons still unexplained these two little creatures appeared in my yard almost every morning.  I became fascinated by their presence and decided to earn their friendship.  Ever since I was a little boy I knew that rabbits like carrots and squirrels like nuts.  So I began gathering this food for them and every morning before they arrived I placed some nuts and carrots on the grass a few feet apart and waited by my window.  Sure enough they arrived. 
     At first, for a few days, they would come by scurrying about but not touch the food.  They had minds of their own and I was in no way going to influence them to my bidding.  But I realize I would not let my patience run out.  Enjoying their visits, I gave them a name.  The rabbit looked so soft and cuddly I called Huggles.  The squirrel with his bushy tail often moved it up and down whipping it rapidly from side to side even into a twirl.   So, his name became Curly.  It was so much fun just to see how they bobbed and hopped.  The second week something very interesting was happening.  Huggles and Curly began to partake of the nourishment.  But, Huggles only tasted the carrots and Curly the nuts.  That was okay with me.  After all, don't we humans have our preferences? 

    After a few more weeks I noticed that they seemed to take time to sit for a few moments and just look at each other.  It seems that their curiosities were aroused and before you could wink an eye, Curly jumped for a carrot and Huggles for a nut.  After munching the sample of each other's food they looked at each other again and their noses began to wiggle as if they were trying to say something to one another.  

    Every day for a week each would sample then their noses would wiggle.  I think they were talking to each other with their noses.  As the next weeks moved along they began to rub each other's noses and after sharing their food would cuddle.  One morning after a month passed by, I noticed a third little creature about the size of a mouse appeared sitting between them.  It had Curly's tail and Huggles' ears with light brown fur and a nose like theirs.  Wow!   They had sired an heir named Rascal.  So I believe animals like people, strangers at first, can meet and fall in love.