Jerry froze, sitting perfectly still, the only movement his fur ruffling in the wind. Lila stood surreptitiously on the patio, also frozen, left paw raised, her slender black body camouflaged behind a small wrought iron table and chair. For a few crackling moments no one moved.
The scenario, however, was not unfamiliar to Jerry, who had a plan. Patiently he waited. By and by a mockingbird fluttered over the house, landing tinnily on the roof peak of a large metal barn which stood next to the house. Lila's attention snapped as she jerked her gaze toward the timely diversion. Jerry quickly scuttled into a large globe of dried flowers in the "bean," as the flower bed was called by the Millers.
The bean was about thirty feet long, ten feet wide, and packed with brownery. Though it was winter, Mr. Miller liked to leave the dried perennials and deciduous shrubs untouched so that birds could eat the seeds and berries. It also provided ample shelter and great hiding places for little furry ground creatures.
Lila looked back to her mark, who had already disappeared. She yawned, her muscular body relaxed, and she turned her attention to the other side of the yard. She trotted away and began sniffing around the "pond," a dry retention basin of large and small rocks, dug out by the Millers for drainage on the property. More plantings and herb gardens surrounded this area in the warmer seasons, and Jerry intended on gathering some dried rosemary for his dinner as well.
Jerry sat under his cozy cover, peering out to the exact location where he had hidden the victuals. Soon Mrs. Miller whistled for Lila to come in. Once the sliding door barreled shut, Jerry crept out of hiding, leapt over to the spot, and began to dig.
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