Pippin And Tog

                               PIPPIN AND TOG.

          Pippin the thrush and Tog a red squirrel, decided to visit Henry and Sarah at Mill Cottage. When they arrived, Sarah was hanging out the washing. Tog decided to throw acorns at the sheets. While Pippin flew around the garden. Sarah decided to chase Pippin and Tog into the woods, falling other a tree root. Her shriek of terror could be heard through the woods.

      Henry, had decided to build a tree house at the opening of the woods overlooking Mill Cottage. There were four wooden posts with a wooden plat form. His placed the tree house in the Oak tree amongst its branches, attaching a rope ladder to the tree. Pippin wants the wood shavings to build a nest, for his partner Dora.

      Last Spring, the gardener disturbed their nest while cutting the hedge of Mill Cottage. He had deserved the pecking he got to his the woods they watch Joey wood pecker pecking at the bark of an Elm tree. Noticing blue belles and buttercups in bloom. “Soon people will be picnicking by the

stream, leaving behind tasty food, ham, cheese, smoked salmon, and crusty bread.”

Remarks Tog. Leaving the woods, the pair head towards Rookery Lodge. As they approached the Lodge, they see Hetty hedgehog. She needs milk for her family. Thomas the Tabby cat sits guarding the milk on the steps of Rookery Lodge. Pippin flies over the milk bottles. Thomas knocks over the bottles, watching the milk spilling

over steps. The Lodge keeper shrieks. Thomas walks away, his tail between his legs. Heading towards the garden shed for solitude, hoping that Miranda the Lodge Keeper will still offer him fish for tea and a hug.

Pippin remarks, “I am always too quick for him.” Hetty and her sons Joel and Piper approach the lodge steps drinking the split milk. Pippin and Tog decide to head back towards the woods before dusk.

         At the stroke of midnight, Horace hare, Bill badger, Daffy Duck, Renard Fox and Oswald owl, gather to sing. In the tree house. Oswald takes great pleasure in conducting the mini orchestra with a tree branch. The light from the tree house casts a shadow over the lawn of Mill cottage. The bedroom windows of Mill cottage open. Henry and Sarah shake their fists at the noisy chorus.

Wondering how stupid of Henry to build a tree house in the woods so close to Mill Cottage. At the time idea had seemed so romantic to go there to read books or spread a bit of romance into their life. Maybe the odd bottle of wine and a candle light dinner to watch the stars.

        Those woodland creatures had a lot to answer for with their shrieking voices, who in their right mind would expect this to happen? Animals coming alive and behaving like humans. At the stroke of midnight with an owl conducting an orchestra of unruly beasts. Was this the magic of the woods? Or just a sheer nightmare? Henry put his arm around Sarah poor love, she had, had a bad day with washing ruined by those beasts Pippin and Tog. Were they behind this latest incident, gathering these creatures together? To humiliate and sing out of tune with loud rasping voices.

   Henry and Sarah snuggled under the duvet of their double bed, hoping that all would end when dawn light shone through the tree tops. Maybe it was nature playing tricks? All would be resolved at daybreak if not a magical wood full of unwelcome surprizes. This was some thing that did not bare thinking about. Slowly Henry closed his weary eyes. His late mother’s inheritance, a beautiful cottage of horrors. He hoped not. Oswald Owl and his orchestra strummed their last song. A field mouse ran through the woods as a barn owl swopped carrying of his prey.

      Night owls, dark shadows approaching before dawn, shrieks cries of the night folk. While mother and baby sleep peaceful in their sleep. Not knowing what the day will bring. Man must pay for cutting down woodland trees and destroying the peace and tranquillity of the woods. Litter scattered; tin cans polluted waters. Mans humanity and vanity, a need for progress so many unanswered questions.

  The future of our woodlands where woodland folk lead their lives? The sheer magic of bringing these imaginary characters to life. A child’s tale for adults bringing out the inner child or memories of childhood Cinderella, Jack, and the Bean stork. Pantomime time Toad of Toad Hall. Imaginary Creatures in a wood playing tricks, to gain the attention of the reader. A docile cat who cannot compete against a squirrel and bird. The joy and pleasure of putting these characters together.

 So, beware walking through the woods after midnight think when you hear a bird sing, the rustle of footsteps could be Pippin or Tog. Oswald owl playing tricks, a hungry fox, do not drop litter and tin cans to course harm. Let nature develop in our woods undisturbed. I did think of writing about a woman haunted at the stroke of midnight, my pen took a different direction, let us see what happens, with beauty of a wood land, people and humans who need to respect that sometimes nature can fight back. Life being a ticking clock of hope and uncertainty magic and wisdom gained through writing insight and learning from others.

      A night owl I have become gathering words to put together at midnight. Call it progress or a blend of character. Wistful thinking or a mixture of mingled thoughts speculation I will reach those thousand words. At least you can say my efforts are different.

Picture painting, rambling, purely innocent, the sort of thing that children’s books are made of. Nature and a magic world free from

violence, or threats to nature and its inhabitants. Progress towards peace and tranquility drawing man and the universe together away from pollution through lack of understanding and insight. Knowing

how to reach those goals for a better life style for man and nature to be safe.