Walking with Elmo; for Joshua, aged 7 years
Elmo is ginger, twice as old as Joshua, and a wise old boy. He used to walk up the hill often, sometime having secret trysts with the wild gods of the land, staying out all night in the tunnels beneath the gorse. Now he sleeps usually, curled in the company of cats in my house. He is old, stiff of limb. But yesterday, Joshua, he came for a walk.
Up the lane, where the shadow of the tree jigsaw patterns the path, dapples the earth. Soon there will be leaves, and the tree will fill with the chatter of sparrows.
The White Cat came too and Rosie and Ivy, and Cathy, who came to my house to look after my creatures, all the way from Australia. She paints too, very beautiful pictures.
Higher up we found daisies in the field, the day’s eye, turned to the sun. It’s said the ones with pink have been touched by the faeries.
We walked to the hawthorn tree, so twisted and tangled by the wind that blows here. And there we watched as a kestrel hunted, strong in the wind, eyes searching for mice.
Such a tangle of branches, so hard to follow each one. Sharp thorns. I love the patterns against the light of the sky.
We walked on the tracks that are made by badgers, those small bears of Britain. They tunnel the pathway, strong limbed, nocturnal. And Elmo did not like the tangles of brambles, so Cathy picked him up and carried him close, over the trip-wire threads of the thorns, to the place where the path is made by the hooves of wild ponies and the footfall of people.
On the way down we went to the field corner where a gorse bush grows and foxgloves are starting to push up their leaves. It was warm, sheltered. Once we found a woodcock here, incredible dappled bird that stays put, safe in its camouflage, almost until your foot finds it, then shoots like an arrow into the air and away.
Then home. So lovely to see the sunlight on Elmo’s fur. He’s a beautiful, wise old boy. I hope he comes again. Meanwhile the cats curl together, warm in each other’s company, patterned in beauty, dreaming of things only a cat can know.
Once, I wrote a book about the dreamings of Elmo. Another about his walks with cats I have known.
Thanks for coming with us Joshua. Maybe you could see if you could draw a picture? For Elmo?
With love, Jackie.
dear jackie i drew a picture mummy will send it to you on her phone . thank you for the story about elmo i loved it so much it was the best ive ever read thank you love joshua.
What a beautiful story and stunning photos. Here I am, feeling trapped by buildings and this has provided a lovely distraction. Thank you.
Elmo! So often in my thoughts now that we have a young ginger(with white boots) cat.
Lovely to see you on the hill again.
My old man takes dainty wanders around his garden and does his best lion roar. He’s also a ginger; my fire cat. He’s the best company in these quiet times.
Oh, I’ve missed Elmo so much. How wonderful to see him out on a walk again. I love that Cathy carried him through the brambles – well he is an older gentleman now! And what a fabulous cat curl picture to end with. This post has so uplifted me today – please can we have more Elmo – not that I don’t love your other cats, I just have a very soft spot for Elmo. Thank you, Jackie 🙂