The days were getting shorter, but the air was still being warmed by the autumn sun. An Indian summer, I suppose.  Marley was feeling a little lonely up in her tree, so she invited her new pal Pat The Cat over for some tea and entertaining conversation.

 

Pat was a bit skeptical about getting to Marley’s but was extremely delighted to have gotten the invite.  Although her ego was unable to admit it, she was a bit scared of heights.

 

She decided the tea party was worth the climb, and Marley’s company would make her forget all about her fears.

 

As she climbed higher and higher she saw her friend waiting on the veranda of her nest, and decided climbing trees wasn’t all that scary after all.  In fact, she decided to go to the very top to pick some lush, but bitter, berries to take as a gift for the host.

 

As they entered the neat and tidy nest, she could feel the warmth of the fireplace and smell the aroma of the mint tea, her favorite.

 

“What a dazzling place you have here,” she told Marley. The décor was that of wildlife, and the head of a deer hung over the neatly made bed. She felt as though she was actually in the woods. Or maybe she was.

Pat heard a slight chirp in the background. “What is that sound?” she asked.

 

“Oh, that is just my pet bird. She is an Indigo Bunting. I named her Heather, like a feather,” replied Marley.

 

“A bird!” thought Pat.