no time to dither - Cooper, Keeper of the Gardens

How fabulous to be 62 & have a bounty of things to get done, things that matter more than anything I've worked on before.  The universe has totally cracked open, like a glorious pinata.  Took lots of whacks, by lots of people.  Now, it's up to me to scoop up the awaiting goodies.

Get goosebumps from the spectrum of things awaiting my attention, from little kids to wonderful elders.  My hope is that Cooper's story will appeal to that full range of readers.  It would be such a lovely book to have in the cathedral book room.  Ideal to do it through Fountain Publishing, but self-publish if need be.  A fun way to introduce children to the cathedral gardens!  Have to find the just-right illustrator - who can capture the beauty of the flowers, keeping Cooper & the church in the background.  (To Cooper, the cathedral is just a backdrop for his gardens.)  

For the first time since I started writing it, back in 2008, know that it WILL happen. 

Below is a preliminary draft.  I am not a gardener, so need to get input from Danielle O or Mary T for particulars.  The series will include each of the seasons & introduce siblings who live at Glencairn & Cairnwood, plus their parents at the sweet little house by the itty bitty pond.  
  

Cooper, Keeper of the Gardens

by Deev                       

(2nd draft)

Cooper slowly opened one eye, then the other. 

He had slept well into the light, snugged back into a sound slumber by the warmth of the morning sun and the soft zoom of bees buzzing among the flowers that surrounded and covered him.  He had only meant to take a quick cat nap, but could tell by the fall of the sun’s rays that it was later than he’d planned. 

Getting up slowly, Cooper arched his back so high, he looked like a furry, upside-down U!  Streeetching out his front paws toward the bright morning sun, he peeked out from his hiding place in his favorite garden.  Most people could pass right by without spotting him, his golden stripes hidden by the bushy leaves of his beloved _________________.

Cooper was happy.  It was his favorite day of the entire week.  There was no time to dilly dally - he was late getting ready for the very best 2-legs in his whole wide world! 

Cautiously putting one paw onto the sandstone pathway, almost as if testing a woodland stream, then another, Cooper carefully emerged from the sanctuary of ____________ and _______________.

He moved over to a nice patch of pathway partially covered by green stalks, bent low with the weight of their ___________ blossoms.  Although he was late, Cooper took time to carefully and thoroughly made sure that every strand of fur that could reached by his scratchy tongue was groomed and glistening.  

Time might be short, but Cooper wanted to look his best when his 2-legs arrived with their sturdy gloves, sharp diggers and soft voices. 

He looked over to the tall building with soaring spires.  It was, Cooper admitted, beautiful, although he thought its lovely stonework and pretty colored windows were nowhere near as wonderful as the gardens he cared for throughout the year, even in the very cold months when his 2-legs stopped coming every week. 

Cooper admitted that it was soothing in pleasant weather to curl up on a wooden bench under the ___________ trees and soak in the music that poured out from a small open door, or hear the muffled refrains when all the doors were closed against rain or chilling weather. He enjoyed singing along with the voices that raised themselves every week.  

Still, to Cooper everything – the tall building with soaring spires, the beautiful music, the 2-legs who came and went every day – was there to serve as a backdrop for his gardens. 

With no scent of his friends yet on the light breeze, Cooper took a brisk inspection tour of his gardens.  Each was so different, each offering a special delight to his eyes, nose and even his body.  Always, he was leaving his most beloved garden for last.

Cooper started with the woodland garden, an enchanting crisscross of narrow paths overhung with great looming bushes and trees that seem to reach to the sky.  He loved the feel of the soft dirt under his paws, the gentle birdsong from the ____________ that made the garden their home, the strong low-laying bush branches that seemed to invite long, leisurely rubs against their bark.   

Emerging from the semi-darkness of the garden, he skirted his way around the small plant-edged lawn and across to the ________ garden nestled between the driveway and the tall building with the soaring spires.     

Suddenly, Cooper froze.  He heard the sound of little 2-legs running around on the lush green lawn.  

Cooper slung through the ___________ and _____________ of the next garden.  He did everything he could to go unnoticed.  Their hands might be small, but they were powerful when they grabbed his tail or pulled his tender ears, and when they tried to pick him up, their big ones would shoo HIM away, like he wanted to be wrapped by little arms that hugged too tight. 

Passing between the ___________ and the chilly stonewall of the tall building with soaring spires, he moved carefully, quietly to the space between the big glass door and the welcoming steps, nipped down along the path that led to his favorite view - a long hill dropping away to a small valley edged with meadows that swooped up to rolling hills.  

In the distance, way down at the end of the long hill, he heard the sharp bark of a dog.  (When it came to dogs, Cooper and the 2-legs that came and went every day were in complete agreement – dogs were not permitted anywhere near his gardens, not even on a leash!)

There wasn’t have time to jump up onto the stone bench nestled into the hillside.  Instead, Cooper did a quick inspection of the ________________ and ______________.  It was one of the smallest gardens, but quietly spectacular, overlooking the gracious valley and rolling hills beyond. 

Cooper seemed to glide down the stone steps to the path that skirted along the hill top.  He walked calmly and sedately toward a small copse of elegant white-blossomed trees that lead to a graceful wooden bench.  

This garden never failed to move Cooper deeply, whatever the season.  Whether heavy with springtime blossoms or spare in winter’s chill, he never failed to drop his sleek head in reverence as he walked the path between the rows of  trees.  As he reached the end of the trees, a sound made his head come up and his heart race with happiness. 

Cooper skimmed along the path, leapt up a short flight of steps, then suddenly slowed down to a leisurely amble, trying to look like he had not noticed the two young female 2-legs chatting on a nearby bench, but he knew they’d spotted him by their coos and ahhhs.  

It took some convincing (or so he wanted it to seem) for them to lure Cooper over to where they sat.  He loved spending time with the 2-legs who often wandered over from the schools across the big busy road, especially the ones with gentle hands and soft voices.  As he rubbed his warm, soft fur against their legs, presenting his head for stroking and scratching, Cooper purred his deepest purr.  The 2-legs melted under his attentions.  

Just then, a familiar scent reached Cooper’s velvety nose.  His favorites had arrived!  And they were at his most beloved garden of all. 

With a final leg rub and swoosh of his tail, Cooper said his good byes, tore up a long flight of steps and dashed across the big lawn as fast as he could.  He didn’t care if his 2-legs saw how excited he was; one of the best things about their friendship was that he could be totally himself with them.

They were gathered at his most beloved garden, pulling on their sturdy gloves and taking out their sharp diggers.  A chorus of soft voices lifted to greet him.  

Cooper felt like he’d swallowed the sun, leaving him warm and glowing both inside and out.  He rubbed his groomed and glistening fur against each pair of legs, batting the loving hands reaching down to stroke his head, scritch his ears and rub under his chin. 

Greetings made and returned, it was time to settle down to work.  Cooper was a superb gardener.  He loved helping  dig out weeds, preparing soil for seedlings, even gently spreading compost to help the garden claim its full glory. 

Much as he loved working in all the gardens, none gave him the endless pleasure as his working in his most beloved spot.  Every so often, he paused to take in the heady combination of ____________, ____________, ______________ .  Looking at his friends, soaking it all in, he felt a sense of pure joy flow from the tip of his long elegant tail to the sharp nib of his claws and the velvety softness of his tender ears. 

Best of all was when everyone put down their sharp diggers, took off their sturdy gloves, and settled back for a sip and a nibble.  They’d pour a saucer of water just for him, seeming to take as much happiness in bringing special tidbits for him as he did savoring them.  Then, it was time to get back to work. 

The time always went faster than Cooper wanted. 

All too soon, his beloved 2-legs would take off their sturdy gloves, put away their sharp diggers, and give a farewell scritch behind his ears before making their goodbyes. 

Most, but not all.

As they did every week, one or two strolled with Cooper to his favorite view to settle down on the stone bench.

He basked in the moment, valley and rolling hills stretched out before him, warmed by the late morning sun and the friendship that connected paws, hands and hearts.