"What? What? Doloria?! She's here again!"
"For goodness sake Sedrick, it's just The Keeper. She's the one who feeds us!"
Kim, the Keeper, sits quietly on a tree stump, watching Sedrick run up and down the tree, all in a twitter, chattering and twitching his tail.
"Doloria, how are you sweet lady?"
"I'm doing fine Keeper. Trying to keep Sedrick in line."
"He is a bit skittish today."
"Did you put something new in the food?"
Kim laughs and replies "Oh, gosh! I did put a little of the fruit mix in with the sunflower seed this time!"
"Well, his antics, they are enough to make one anxious. Just look at him!"
Sedrick, by now completely ignoring Kim and Doloria, races up and down the tree, leaps to the feeder, flings food in the air, jumps, runs across the yard, turns and races back. Taking a wild leap, he lands on the the feeder, making it swing back and forth.
Shaking her head, Doloria groans, "Oh my. He is out of control today and my anxiety is rising."
Chuckling Kim says "He is quite comical to watch. I understand a bit about anxiety Doloria, so I am sorry to hear you are feeling that way."
"Oh, it comes and goes. I've noticed the times when you yourself are filled with tension, rushing out here in to the yard."
"You have, have you?"
"Oh yes, I've noticed. You've gotten better at it you know."
"Better at what?"
"Stopping your rush and breathing."
"Hmm, well. Thank you for noticing."
With a gentle sniff, Doloria clearly says "Off with you now. I've settled, Sedrick seems to be quieting down and you need to take a walk."
Laughing, Kim gets up from the tree stump, wishes Doloria and Sedrick a good afternoon and begins her walk out to the field. Thinking of all of the times that she has walked this same path over the years with Digger by her side. Her walks are different now, but a smile still comes to her face, knowing she was so very blessed for 14 years.
Looking back, she sees Sedrick leap from the feeder and run up the tree while Doloria calmly picks at the food on the ground. All is well in the Keeper's realm for now.