The Day With Dukee And Mia

Carrie the cardinal visits

Mia was in the front living room talking and playing with her favorite toy, Lamb Chop. She picked her toy up with her mouth and carried it over to the side table. Mia stepped up onto the bottom shelf of the table and turned around. Mia gently dropped Lamb Chop down onto the shelf and then pushed it down to the floor. I’m going to get you, she thought as she plopped down and reached toward the floor. Mia softly meowed at her toy and grabbed it with her claws. Mia has played with her Lamb Chop toy since she was a tiny kitten.

Outside on the back screened porch, Dukee enjoyed the warm fresh air. He glanced around at the screen first with hopes of seeing a lizard. He found one but it was on the outside of the screen. Darn it, he thought. Dukee then jumped up onto the board that Auntie set up for him and looked out into the yard. He watched a squirrel as it scampered along the top of the fence. He quietly followed the squirrel with his eyes and saw how high it can jump. The squirrel jumped up about five feet and grabbed onto the trunk of the tree. It then scurried up to the next branch and looked around.

Dukee then heard a familiar chirp and looked around. On the top of the fence just behind the small tree, he saw a red cardinal bird. He looked around and wondered if that was Carrie’s husband Harold. After the red cardinal flew up to the pine tree branch, he heard another chirp. Suddenly, a female cardinal flew down and landed on top of the fence.

“Carrie, is that you?” Dukee called out.

The female cardinal looked toward the screened porch and then flew over.

“Hello Dukee, it’s good to see you,” Carrie fluttered by the screen.

She could only flutter like that for a few seconds before needing to land. So she turned and landed on the grass. Dukee heard Harold chirp again so Carrie looked back at him and responded. Then, Carrie hopped closer to the screen to talk to Dukee.

“As you can see, Harold is up there in the tree. He instructed me to not take too long. But don’t worry, his bark so to speak is much bigger than his bite,” Carrie giggled.

“Why doesn’t he like it when you visit too long?” Dukee asked.

“Well, he seems to think that we have a million things to do in a day which we don’t. Yes, our days can be cut shorter due to weather, but we manage to get mostly everything done,” Carrie said and then fluffed her feather’s.

“Oh. Well, how is everyone in your family doing?” Dukee asked and then glanced at Harold.

“Everyone is doing great. My two eldest daughters have a couple more children and they are great,” Carrie said.

“Oh, so you’re a grandmother again,” Dukee said.

“Yes I am. They are always so cute when they’re little. So, how about you and Mia. Is everything going good for you both?” Carrie asked.

“Yes, we both had birthdays recently,” Dukee said and then licked his right leg.

“Well happy birthday. How old are you now?” Carrie asked.

“I’m eleven and Mia just turned four, I think. And we are doing good. Our mom’s try to keep us happy, fed, and entertained,” Dukee said.

“Oh that’s good, family is important. Please tell Mia that I wish her happy birthday,” Carrie said.

“I will and thank you,” Dukee said.

Carrie and Dukee suddenly heard Harold chirp a few times.

Dukee snickered, “I guess we’ll see you again another time.”

Carrie chirped and then said “yes, I must be going now. It does look like we might get some rain soon. You take care Dukee, and stay happy. Give Mia my love also,” Carrie said and waved her wing.

“I will… Take care Carrie and Harold,” Dukee called out as Carrie flew up to the pine tree near Harold.

Dukee watched them as they flew up and over the house. After about a minute, Dukee hopped down and walked over to the sliding glass door. He meowed a couple of times and waited to be let inside. Before his mom or Auntie R came to the door though, Mia walked up to it. She stuck her tongue out at him as he sat there.

“Hey, guess who I was just talking to?” Dukee said.

“Who?” Mia asked.

“Carrie. She’s doing good and she wished us both a happy birthday,” Dukee said.

“But our birthday’s were awhile ago,” Mia said.

“I know, but that’s what I told her and how old we are,” Dukee explained.

“Oh, so you told her that you are old?” Mia giggled.

“Hey, I’m not old, I’m experienced,” Dukee said.

Mia giggled again and whispered near the glass, “you’re old.”

“You’re just lucky that I’m out here and not in there,” Dukee said.

Dukee loudly meowed a couple more times. It was only a minute when Mia glanced back and saw her Auntie coming to the door, so she hurried around the chaise. When Auntie opened the door, Dukee slowly stepped inside. He looked around for Mia so he wouldn't be startled if she jump out at him. Mia hurried to her bedroom and hid behind the bedroom door. Dukee then followed Auntie to their bedroom. Dukee was happy that he got to talk to Carrie again. She is such a nice bird after all.

Of course you know that a good portion of these stories are fiction, but Mia and Dukee do get to see all these critters that I mention. It's so nice to still see wildlife here since they have torn down so many trees around us. Anyway, Mia and Dukee want to wish all the mom's out there a Happy Mother's Day.

Please join us again next week for more of: The Day With Dukee And Mia.