The squirrel and the mouse
Birds and animals have an amazing quality of being ‘in the moment’. A glimpse into their life not only delights and rejuvenates us but also inspires and educates.
The truth dawned upon me while I was staying in Birmingham. The windows of my room opened on to the backyard lawn. Squirrels were permanent residents of the area. Their overfed bellies and fearless frolicking testified to their unchallenged dominance.
The squirrels’ haven was open to aerial visitors, including pigeons, parrots, crows and sparrows, who descended from the sky to perch on the eaves and windowsills. They would wait and watch to partake of the bits of bread and biscuits scattered around. There was no fight or contest between the squirrels and the birdies for food. The feathered friends would not eat from the bowl meant for the rodents, and the latter were not scared of the former. Surely, they respected each other, something which is lacking in human society at large.
The ‘VIP visitors’ to the place were the sparrows, whose twittering and chirping filled the backyard with melodious music. Surprisingly, they would arrive at a fixed time and look for food at the windowsill of the kitchen; they would keep tapping till the breadcrumbs reached out to them. They would leisurely eat to their fill and merrily fly off, inspiring us to have a disciplined and delightful way of life.
The contentment and congeniality evoked envy, but the spell was broken by a commotion. A big mouse made an intrusion into the serene world of the squirrels. It teased and troubled them. It would go near the bowl containing food and try to grab a bite. The squirrels would come running to protect the morsels. The rowdy rodent would pounce upon one of them and make it run in fear and panic. Feeling triumphant, the ‘Mighty Mouse’ would march back to its burrow. The intimidator would return after a short while. The worrisome squirrel timidly tried to fight the bully back, but failed again. The mischievous mouse turned it into a game.
I was losing interest in this one-sided game when the situation took a dramatic turn. The desperate squirrel turned the tables on the teaser. It retaliated and ran after the rodent fiercely. The bewildered rat took to its heels. Emboldened and enraged, the squirrel chased the aggressor till it hid itself in its burrow. The victorious one came back to the bowl, inspected it and majestically climbed a tree.
It was impossible not to feel awe and wonder while watching all this. It was a rewarding experience with a message about enjoying the flow of life and also taking the bull by the horns while dealing with oppressive elements.
