Band-aids

Camilia noticed Girl Cat.  Before continuing on their walk, the cat stopped routinely to nibble on blades of green grass. When Girl Cat had finished her nibble Camilia asked, "You don't chew on just any blade of grass, do you?"

The cat smacked her lips, her tongue moved a blade that would not go down.  "No, not just any blade will do."

The woods were high, nearly doubled in height since the cold winter warmed to spring the ferns were as tall as Camilia and towered over Girl Cat.  Both girls walked differently with the near-giant greens.  Girl Cat sniffed at every new sprouted green:  the ferns, the berries, the long spears of tough grasses, and the sweet nibbling grasses, too.  Camilia whistled less for some reason, and paused to notice the thin saplings she and Bean had cleared in late winter making it possible to walk the woods.  Bands of color dull green to near orange-yellow streaked the saplings tossed in piles.  As she pondered, Girl Cat waited licking her coat.  The family of saplings were now twice the size they were in March, leafed-out and whorled the branches were now Archways of Alder.  First to grow in any cut forest, they set root and send the scent of calm back into the crying world of trees once-standing tall.

From her waiting spot Girl Cat said, "Band-aids.  Like the sweet grass I nibble.  Alder is the forest Band-aid."

"Hmm," Camilia thought.  Tears were seeping from behind her glasses as she held onto the curved Arches of Alder.  Never quite sure where Girl Cat came up with her vocabulary, she said finally,"I guess they are."  The cat came closer and said, "Yes, they are."

Camelia and Sylvia

"There's something about that car."  The cat watched the wheels disappear down the curvy road.  Girl Cat knew something about that car.  She'd been in it several times, and when Camelia finally released her from that wire box-cave she was somewhere else.  "My people like Else."  Girl Cat preferred walks in the woods, on trails, where her nose and her paws knew what to expect. 

Camelia was not really a car lover, but it did take her to places where friends yet to meet often showed up.  Out of the woods is a town.  Camelia has begun to call the town "Home."  The winter was a cold one, and prayers were her closest company, warming her in places better than hot rocks.  Today, the car had taken her to a place where people help people.  People put seeds into the heaps of dark brown dirt there.  People dig into boxes filled with small red worms there.  People share cans and bags of food there.  Camelia liked that about this place. 

While waiting in the car, a bright gold light caught her eye.  Across the gravel lot where Car was parked, a very tall and ... well, elegant golden tree kept winking at Camelia.  The girl had never seen a Madrona as golden beautiful as this.  "Hello," the girl said looking up, up and further up.  Without thinking much about what she did, Camelia reached her small hand out and pat her palm tenderly, as she greeted the Madrona.  "Sylvia."  "Oh, Sylvia!"  The girl smiled.  "I am Camelia.  We live in the same town."  "I know," said the golden Madrona.  She had seen the girl before.  "I'm glad," they both said.