"See all the leaves on the ground?" asked the squirrel.

"I do," I said.  "They're everywhere."

"It's getting colder.  The nights are already below freezing.  Soon the...snow...will come."

"That's true."

"You can always tell when the snow is coming.  Things die, fly away and fall asleep."

"Yes."

"I don't like it."

"Neither do I," I said.

"Do you remember where all the nuts you collected, are buried?"

"I don't, but that's because I didn't bury any."

The squirrel was aghast.  "You'll die."

"I won't.  I mean, okay, I will die someday, but it won't have anything to do with not having buried any nuts.  At least I don't think it will."

"It will," said the squirrel, sadly.

"I don't really eat nuts the way you do."

"Why not?"

"You're a squirrel, and I'm a person.  I mean we're both mammals, but we're in different categories, I guess."

"I'm a squirrel?"

"Yes.  I thought you knew."

"Who said I'm a squirrel?"

"No idea."

"Than how do you know it's true?  I never even heard of a squirrel and yet, you say that I am one."

"What do you call yourself?"

"Call myself?  Why would I call myself?"

"I mean, do you have a name?"

"Not that I know of.  Do you?"

She nodded.  "My name is Ivy."

The squirrel looked at her.  "Now what?"

"If we meet again, you can say, hi Ivy.  That way things are personal.  It means we know each other."

"Will you give me a name?"

"Sure," I said, happily.  "How about...Twitch.  I mean you twitch your tail back and forth, all the time."

"I like it," said Twitch.  "Thank you."

"I brought you some nuts," I said, putting them on the ground.  "I've seen you out here before, so I wanted to be prepared."

"Thank you," said Twitch, happily.

"You're welcome."

"Will I see you again, Ivy?"

"I hope so.  I'll come by tomorrow."

"I'll be here."

"It was nice meeting you."

"You too."

"I have to go to work."

"So do I," said Twitch.

"Until tomorrow, then," I said, as I walked away.

 

Photo:  Semyon Borisov
Unsplash