Meet BIlly

One afternoon Greg came into the house, grinning, with a rusty, dirty, metal squirrel that you could attach to a post.

"Nice, Greg," I said laughing.  "Where did you find that treasure?"

"Across the street - out of K's trash," he said, looking down at the squirrel.  He was obviously delighted with himself over this "find".


"Does K know you have this gem?"  (Both of us laughing by now)

"Oh, yes! She knows. I asked her if she was sure she didn't want it.  K said she inherited it with the house and she was more than positive that she didn't want it."

"Greg... is this a gift for me?"  I said, wiping tears from my eyes.

Greg could hardly talk for laughing.  "You need it, mother."

"Then by all means, son... do your thing with the squirrel - whatever that might be."  All I could do was to shake my head and laugh.  I had no idea what he had planned for the squirrel, but I knew there was a plan.  I loved Greg's spontaneous gifts.

Some time later, he came in to get me.  It was time for the squirrel unveiling.

"Mother... meet Billy.  He's your new guard squirrel.  He will guard your mailbox."

Again... laughing until I cried.. "Billy,  the guard squirrel, eh?"

Greg was petting Billy's head.  "Yup.  He's your new friend.  I sanded him and painted him and now he's all pretty."

"Thanks, Greg.  How I've managed without a guard squirrel, I'll never know.  Come here and let me give you a hug."

You have to admit... Billy's pretty cute.