Soggy Bottom

Suppose to be Summer with sunshine and heat but Mother Nature changed her mind. Every day I catch meself singing, “rain, rain, go away, come again another day”. Though the landscape is lush, gardens are suffering. Begonias molding, Lantanas fading, Maples rotting and aphids thrive. Ugggghhh.

As I puttered about in the garden between showers I spotted o so familiar footie prints in the damp soil. Tracking them thru wavering ferns, around large leafed hostas, I finally found their owner. He was curled up on a bed of moss, soft and plump from the rain sheltered under the ole Lilac.

Not wanting to disturb him I stepped back and huddled in amongst the Princes Feather. I sat what seemed like an eternity and waited watching his chest rising and falling with every breath. The poor wee soul was tired. His trousers worn, shirt was torn as if he had run for his life thru a raspberry patch. Scratches on his arms and face showed he did his best defending himself from whatever the hunter was. But now he was safe and I believed he knew it.

I became occupied swatting at skidders. Those blood sucking monsters that thrive in this climate even though I remind the froggies daily it is their duty to invite them to supper. Note to self: follow up with a memo. Me eyes may be failing but these ears will never and they perked as a faint ummmm reached them.

Glancing around to focus on the wee creature I smiled. He was stretching and sitting straight up, his eyes soaking in the surroundings.

“Well hello there” I softly spoke.

He blinked, his weathered face furrowing deeper.

“Tis ok, you’re safe here, there’s no need to worry”

Still looking about he mumbled something I’m not quite sure of but I did understand the affection. He was confused, scared and abit out of sorts. His eyes darted from me to the trees, back to me and then to the garden growth.

“Hmmmm, you haven’t a name we both understand but I shall call you Soggy Bottom. You’ve been lying on the damp moss long enough you’re quite soaked thru and needless to say your bottom is rather soggy.”

Did he agree ? That I don’t know for as soon as the words were out of me mouth he was up, and running. Droplets flying from his clothes as he scurried thru the Monarda, grabbing onto the Honeysuckle vine and up and over the fence.

I sighed but after a wee bit of pondering it grew into a smile. Soggy Bottom will return and he will meet Twinkle Bottom who no doubt will show him how to sparkle. After all two bottoms are better then none :)