by Sandra Gillhouse

Created on: July 08, 2009

FROM MY KITCHEN WINDOW

Buster and Benevolence are an odd couple. Buster is an adult-sized ground squirrel and Benevolence; Benny for short, is a young orphaned rabbit that Buster seems to have adopted this summer.

I've been watching Buster from my kitchen window while I do dishes, for the last four years. He grew from a striped brown speck to the robust little guy he is today. The rest of his family moved away when Sam; our five year old dachshund moved in with us. But something about the torn bread and popcorn; left over from movie night, which we threw out for the birds, delighted Buster. He stayed.

Buster is a feisty little thing. I call him feisty because he came into the kitchen one day when I was sweeping leaves out the porch door. He jumped onto our counter and helped himself to an open box of cheerios. Sam rushed in after him but Buster just climbed up higher into the window sill and dropped cheerios on Sam's head. While Sam was busy gobbling up the cheerios Buster scampered down behind him and back out the door. Now thats what I call feisty.

Benevolence was born early April under our deck. His mother has not been seen since. So she either died or left Benny behind and moved on for some reason. I first noticed Benny when Buster was busy running in and out between the steps of the deck with his cheeks full of bread and popcorn. It seemed odd to me that he was storing up food in the spring, so I watched. Suddenly a tiny pointed-eared head stuck out behind Buster. I could tell it wasn't a ground squirrel but Buster seemed unconcerned. He ran into the Coralberry bushes, and then I saw it was a baby rabbit. The tiny rabbit shyly hopped after him, weaving in and out between the branches of the bush. It seemed Buster was giving a tour. It wasn't too long the pair of them were racing all around the yard first Benny hopping after Buster then Buster chasing Benny.

It made my mornings just to watch to two of them. I often found myself looking for them while I did the breakfast dishes. Then one day someone let Sam out early.

He caught sight of Benny; who was nosing around in some dandelions, and chased him into the bushes. Poor Benny was stuck between a fence, a stack of wood and Sam's pointy nose inches from his face. Sam wiggled and scratched the ground trying to get closer. I wiped my hands on a dish towel and was about to run out to scold Sam when suddenly I see Buster. He flew off the top step and onto Sam's rear end. Sam jerked around yelping. By then Buster had scampered off towards the twisted sisters; an elm and pine tree that had somehow gotten twisted together over the years. Sam was fast on his tail but Buster had a good ten feet head start. He jumped into the dark part of pine past the middle section of the elm and was out of sight before Sam could reach him. Meanwhile Benny scooted out from the bush and dashed back to his safe space under the deck. Sam stood guard under the trees, barking and sniffing around the ground unaware that Buster had snuck behind him, along the fence line, through the Lilly of Valleys, and back to his friend under the deck.

Yes Buster is a feisty little rascal but I notice that Benevolence has been living up to his name more since the incident. He's taken to humoring Buster by letting him lead in the games and pick first from the feast of bread and popcorn. They are certainly an odd, but perfect couple of friends. Now if only I could get those breakfast dishes done.

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