General Fiction posted January 25, 2020 | Chapters: | ...20 21 -22- 23... |
Bea and Sweet Puppy grieve the loss of Scruffles...
A chapter in the book Be Wee With Bea Part2
The Final Stroll
by Liz O'Neill
Background We have followed Bea and her two friends Sweet Puppy and Scruffles throughout two books. Now one is leaving. Bea does have a bright realization from this deep loss. |
Bea thought maybe he would come back one last time, as she placed a bowl of Scruffles' favorite fish in his spot. Leaving this painful moment, she recalled how long ago, Scruffles came back the morning she had thrown him out. An unnatural bone-chilling yowl had rudely awakened her. This time he would not return.
She set another bowl out the next night. And the next. No raccoon cat pushing a bowl of tuna, was heard at all. Only silence. Bea's bittersweet memories echoed, sounding along the cave walls in the sad, sad silence.
What a lovely last strolling exercise they had had. Bea noticed that Scruffles had been growing weaker and thin as when she first met him. With no appetite, he hadn't been able to enjoy his "be good to himself" treat.
Bea knew something was wrong. Her fears were growing and she felt an urgency to do her talk to the Maker of raccoon cats. Because he had not ventured away from his warm spot in days they invited Scruffles to get some fresh air. He hesitantly announced it was time for his journey to the bridge of rainbows.
All three decided to do a strolling exercise appreciating the music which came from their surroundings. Even though Scruffles loved chasing the crickets and grasshoppers, he admitted that they were his favorite sources of music.
For one moment, Bea looked in the direction of Sweet Puppy sniffing out the fresh trail of an unknowing chipmunk. Turning back around, Scruffles was gone.
As the two shuffled home, bittersweet thoughts danced through Bea's memories. She would cherish them. Lagging a little behind, Sweet Puppy was uncharacteristically silent. He must have already been missing some of the same things.
Bea and Sweet Puppy woke to sounds of rain at the mouth of their cave home where Scruffles used to sit. As it struck the ground, music of deep sadness was created. They both sensed it. Not too much later in the morning, the rain slowed to a drizzle and ceased with dark clouds beginning to clear.
It was time she and Sweet Puppy left the darkest, dreariest den of her cave home. There was no purpose in staying just being sad and angry. They agreed it was time to do a strolling exercise even if three was now two. As they deliberately moved one foot in front of the other, they left the spot open where the large raccoon cat would walk.
The mist was clearing over the land and the sun burning through. There it was. The answer. Bea had been waiting. The reassurance. Scruffles had found his way. In front of them were beautiful colors arching the bright broad blue. Bea thought that must be how Scruffles reached the bridge her mom had told her about.
She fondly thought of how Scruffles had discovered a hidden way of crossing the swamp. Maybe it was like a bridge to the side closest to where the creature of the mist crossed the blurred horizon. She laughed to think of their twisted speculations about what the creature was, where it came from, disappeared to and why it crossed the same path nearly every morning at the same time.
How bittersweet with good memories coming to her, rather than bad. All of the Scruffles adventures were flooding out. If we make new memories which are happy, they might help to replace our bad memories. She didn't think it would show wisdom to cover them over, they would still be buried in the memory dumpsters.
Those bad memories were just whispers since Scruffles, Sweet Puppy, Benny, Zoe, Annie, and courageous indomitable Maddie came into her life. Then there was dear kind Doolie who was caring and understanding.
Bea did not want to make her sad. Doolie had already suffered a great loss when she'd watched her beloved friend Allie head off to the same bridge. Bea worried that telling Doolie would bring back sad memories. So she decided she wouldn't say anything just yet. She felt so lost. Maybe Willow or Timothy could help her to find her way.
She set another bowl out the next night. And the next. No raccoon cat pushing a bowl of tuna, was heard at all. Only silence. Bea's bittersweet memories echoed, sounding along the cave walls in the sad, sad silence.
What a lovely last strolling exercise they had had. Bea noticed that Scruffles had been growing weaker and thin as when she first met him. With no appetite, he hadn't been able to enjoy his "be good to himself" treat.
Bea knew something was wrong. Her fears were growing and she felt an urgency to do her talk to the Maker of raccoon cats. Because he had not ventured away from his warm spot in days they invited Scruffles to get some fresh air. He hesitantly announced it was time for his journey to the bridge of rainbows.
All three decided to do a strolling exercise appreciating the music which came from their surroundings. Even though Scruffles loved chasing the crickets and grasshoppers, he admitted that they were his favorite sources of music.
For one moment, Bea looked in the direction of Sweet Puppy sniffing out the fresh trail of an unknowing chipmunk. Turning back around, Scruffles was gone.
As the two shuffled home, bittersweet thoughts danced through Bea's memories. She would cherish them. Lagging a little behind, Sweet Puppy was uncharacteristically silent. He must have already been missing some of the same things.
Bea and Sweet Puppy woke to sounds of rain at the mouth of their cave home where Scruffles used to sit. As it struck the ground, music of deep sadness was created. They both sensed it. Not too much later in the morning, the rain slowed to a drizzle and ceased with dark clouds beginning to clear.
It was time she and Sweet Puppy left the darkest, dreariest den of her cave home. There was no purpose in staying just being sad and angry. They agreed it was time to do a strolling exercise even if three was now two. As they deliberately moved one foot in front of the other, they left the spot open where the large raccoon cat would walk.
The mist was clearing over the land and the sun burning through. There it was. The answer. Bea had been waiting. The reassurance. Scruffles had found his way. In front of them were beautiful colors arching the bright broad blue. Bea thought that must be how Scruffles reached the bridge her mom had told her about.
She fondly thought of how Scruffles had discovered a hidden way of crossing the swamp. Maybe it was like a bridge to the side closest to where the creature of the mist crossed the blurred horizon. She laughed to think of their twisted speculations about what the creature was, where it came from, disappeared to and why it crossed the same path nearly every morning at the same time.
How bittersweet with good memories coming to her, rather than bad. All of the Scruffles adventures were flooding out. If we make new memories which are happy, they might help to replace our bad memories. She didn't think it would show wisdom to cover them over, they would still be buried in the memory dumpsters.
Those bad memories were just whispers since Scruffles, Sweet Puppy, Benny, Zoe, Annie, and courageous indomitable Maddie came into her life. Then there was dear kind Doolie who was caring and understanding.
Bea did not want to make her sad. Doolie had already suffered a great loss when she'd watched her beloved friend Allie head off to the same bridge. Bea worried that telling Doolie would bring back sad memories. So she decided she wouldn't say anything just yet. She felt so lost. Maybe Willow or Timothy could help her to find her way.
I'd like to acknowledge Joelgraphuchin for their great picture. I rescued Scruffles as my first cat. He passed at age 18. I'm glad he lives on in my books.
This is the 2nd book in the series Be Wee With Bea. Book One is available on Amazon and similar venues and on my webpage, www.beweewithbea.com ...I also have a fb page called be wee with bea. I'd love to have you check it out. You are invited to visit my portfolio on this FanStory site to catch up or sample other chapters. Sadly, everyone in this story with the exception of Tim aka Timothy the beaver and I aka Bea are still here. All of the animals have gone to the Rainbow Bridge or Bridge of Rainbows as Bea calls it. And Doolie, my former partner passed 2 years ago. And Sweet Puppy last January.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. This is the 2nd book in the series Be Wee With Bea. Book One is available on Amazon and similar venues and on my webpage, www.beweewithbea.com ...I also have a fb page called be wee with bea. I'd love to have you check it out. You are invited to visit my portfolio on this FanStory site to catch up or sample other chapters. Sadly, everyone in this story with the exception of Tim aka Timothy the beaver and I aka Bea are still here. All of the animals have gone to the Rainbow Bridge or Bridge of Rainbows as Bea calls it. And Doolie, my former partner passed 2 years ago. And Sweet Puppy last January.
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