Gus and Trudy Meet the Gargoyle

Gus and Trudy were feeling slow and lazy because of the heat. They really did not want to leave the garden and travel about because it was so hot and humid.

Trudy thought it might be a nice idea just to take a walking tour of the yard surrounding the garden.

"I don't know", Gus said "Elaine waters the garden but the grass is all dead in the yard. How much fun would we have?"

"Gus, I think you would be surprised at what else is in the yard besides grass" Trudy said.

So they decided to start their walk earlier in the morning so when the heat of the day came they would not be out in the sun. They went out of the garden by the sunflowers and went in to the front yard.

"Look Gus", Trudy sighed, "there are pink roses in the front yard and hostas lots of hostas!"

Gus kind of mumbled and grumbled at the pink roses but he clearly enjoyed the hostas. He enjoyed the shade that their broad leaves provided. He was pleasantly surprised at the soft green moss that grew, protected from the harsh sun, under the hosta leaves.

Gus and Trudy spent some time stretched out under the hostas and on the soft green moss. They talked about this and that. Gus decided tha they should stay away from the sewer because he knew that without the rain to keep him happy, the sewer troll was in a horrible no good mood. And nobody would want to be around a sewer troll in a horrible no good mood , if they knew what was good for them!

Gus decided they should walk down the side of the house where the shed was. They turned the corner of the house and surprise! There was net row of hosta planted against the side of the house!

"So that is what Elaine was doing the other day," Gus said,"she was digging around with a shovel and had the wheelbarrow going like crazy. She was planting hosta here."

Trudy smiled at him and nodded. She knew that Gus enjoyed seeing new plants in the yard.

They turned and looked at the shed. Then they looked at each other. Each knew what the other was thinking. They would stay away from the shed and the opossum and groundhog war that was going on over who should own the cool den underneath it.

Gus and Trudy saw the bird bath filled with cool clean water. They knew Elaine changed the water every day. Trudy told Gus to climb on her back and they flew up to the bird bath. They took the opportunity to cool off. They splashed and laughed and spent a whole glorious hour sitting in the cool water.

When they had enough of the water, Trudy flew Gus up to the deck and they laid out in the sun until their clothes were dry and warm. Elaine happened to look out the door and saw Gus and Trudy. She popped her head out the door and asked them if they would like some blackberry ice tea and a scone. Gus, Trudy and Elaine sat on the deck enjoying the cold ice tea and the sweet scone. Elaine told them to walk down the steps instead of flying. She said they would find someone interesting on the step.

Gus and Trudy tiptoed own the stairs and who did they see? The Gargoyle! The Gargoyle had been missing for some time but now he was back! The Gargoyle laughed as Gus and Trudy danced around him. Gus and Trudy spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with the Gargoyle. It was the best part of their day - to see an old friend back at home.

Evening finally arrived and Gus and Trudy were very sleepy from their exciting day. They hugged Gargoyle good night and left for home. They had a glass of milk and a peanut butter sandwich. They sat up and watched the fireflies flitting around the garden. They played a game of checkers. Gus was yawning and Trudy's eyes were starting to close. Gus shook Trudy awake and helped her into her bed. Then he went into his room, said his prayers, and climbed into his bed. Very quickly he fell asleep in his tiny bed in his little house in the orderly garden on Bloomfield Avenue.