LITMIR.BIZ

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They expect the forests and rivers to continue giving to them, yet they leave more and more trash wherever they go. And some of it is very foul. It used to be that I would wander my woods route and find a few interesting things. I have quite a collection of alphabet letters from boxes and cans. We have made a game of them.

      "Strings and ribbons are useful, and some of the toys and sparkly things have been enjoyed by the children, but we have found no use for the things which spoil the water and soil. I speak to most of you nature spirits every day to make sure your needs are met, but sometimes your entire habitat has been destroyed. I just don't know what to do."

      "Keep trying to get their attention, EC," said Sycamore. Some of the humans are awakening to us as living beings."

      "I remember the old days. George and I would meet up on the hill, bring baskets of nuts, berries and wild vegetables, our harmonicas, the picnic cloth I made from someone's lost scarf and Juanita's hand-carved bowls and utensils. We would spread everything in the sun to receive Sun's blessing and summon a few friends with a tune.

      "But last year, our favorite spot was gone. I can barely talk about it. Robin lost his home. The owl family left. No need to go on. You know the story. George and I were just sick with sadness. I gathered my alphabet letters and tried to leave a note, but I just couldn't make the right words come out.

      "George comforted me by saying he would wander closer to town, play his harmonica and see if he could get anyone to follow him. He figured if they could hear his tune even though he was invisible to them, he could lure them to the hilltop, and being persons of exceptional sensitivity, they would be shocked at the devastation of our holy ground."

      "Tonight, EC, we have been visited by two humans who sat a long while listening to Shemaya. They might be the people you are looking for. Raccoon says they will be back. We will send him to fetch you when they return."

      EC thanked Sycamore for his thoughtfulness, gave Raccoon a pat, nodded to Shemaya and headed for her home in the old Oak. She could sleep a little better knowing that someone might be alive in the human realm who could talk sense into their kind. She cuddled up to George in the way only the Little People do, bringing his tunes to mind and letting them guide her dreams.

      Receiving the Call

      "Let's return to the river, Yaro. You could fish while I forage. If we are lucky, we will find plenty, and then we shall have friends over for a feast."

      "It is a fine day, Saffi. Yes."

      They gathered their gear without thinking, for thoughts often spoiled a great idea. They packed snacks and bug repellant and fishing tackle, a basket, a bucket, a blanket, a towel, muck boots, crackers and cheese, water, a journal, a pen, a small bag of corn meal and two hats. They threw all of this in the back seat of their old Honda and took off.

      Humming. Touching now and then. Watching shadows and sunlight cross the road. Smelling the fields. Feeling the wind. "Yaro, something special is going to happen today, I feel it. Some magic thing. I am so happy."

      Yaro smiled, glancing her way. He had never expected when they met that she would totally love him. My God, he thought, how lucky I am. We live together in our small home. We do reasonable work for decent pay and have plenty of time to enjoy each other.

      They pulled off the road not too far from Shemaya's shore, decided what to actually bring down to the riverside and began their hike. When they found their spot, Saffi took out the bag of cornmeal, and sprinkling a small handful into the river and shaking some near the Sycamore, she prayed, "Thank you, our friends, for being here. We honor you and seek permission to fish and forage for our supper."

      Sycamore shook his leaves. Shemaya rippled a little louder. Raccoon was not around. Saffi decided to sit awhile and just journal. Maybe a poem would come. Yaro searched intuitively for the fishing spot.

      Sycamore told Cardinal to find Raccoon and notify EC and George that the two humans we spoke of were here. Cardinal said, "No use waking Raccoon. I will fly over myself and deliver the message."

      The Little People

      EC began her day checking on all the forest creatures to make sure everyone had what they needed. She always brought her basket because sometimes, Squirrel had extra nuts or Blue Jay wanted to dispose of a ribbon that did not go with her nest. And, she liked to collect dandelion fuzz in season because Mouse liked it in her pillow.

      George was busy digging little gullies aimed at the plants who needed water. He was an outdoorsman, whereas, some of the Little People were crafters. Juanita, for instance, could do just about anything with pieces of wood. Carl was a weaver. Grass, thread, old rope ends. He was even known to snip pieces of aluminum cans and weave them into his tapestries. Bonjockay fancied himself an artist. He preferred working with flower petals and often enjoyed fabricating outlandish costumes for his partner, Fred. Fred cooked. Mostly wild foods, of course. But, he had a way with them. Nutcakes. Nettle tea over honeycomb. Burdock root soup with floating marigold blossoms. Very tasty.

      Saffi's Walk

      There are many realms of life, Saffi thought as she began her herb walk. She had forgotten her herb identification book, but thought it was just as well. She would use her intuition and request that the plants who wanted to be part of her celebration or those who had healing properties would make themselves known to her.

      A bee began to buzz near her beckoning her to follow. She picked up the pace and went along with her guide. A family of deer trotted by ahead, quickly disappearing. "Oh, how I wish I understood all these creatures," she thought. "They must have so much to teach me. They seem to live in harmony, following their natural design, needing only food and shelter."

      "Oh!" she stumbled, catching herself on a tree limb. "Thank you Miss Branch for stopping my fall. Perhaps this is where I am meant to find my plant. A Turtle looked up at her, tried to send a message, but to no avail. Turtle always took these things in her stride. Few humans have ever listened, though she has heard that there are some who care.

      "Turtle, hello," said Saffi. "I bet you know something. I wish I could hear you. You are quite interesting, very ancient I am told, though I really don't know much about you."

      "Oh," said Turtle. "Oh!" Perhaps if I stare at her, she will get the message. "Fern heard you singing and would like to hear more. She is just now unfurling her fronds and will let you pluck some for your dinner in exchange for a song. Long ago, Fern says, the humans always chanted in the forest each spring. This was the annual en-chant-ment time and let the forest beings know that they were invited and encouraged to put on their best for the season."

      Saffi was noticing the delicate green spirals on the tips of the fiddlehead ferns. "How perfect these are," she thought. And, just then, a poem came to mind. She began to sing:

      "Secrets of life can be easily found

      in the spirals of fern fronds curling around.

      All that is living travels this way

      spiraling round in this intricate way.

      Ferns and flowers, I could gaze at for hours.

      When I ingest you, I feel your powers."

      Turtle thought, "Hmmm," and walked on. Saffi picked a basket of fern frond spirals and resumed her walk as well.

      The Bond

      Cardinal found EC, delivered Sycamore's message to her and quickly turned back to spend the day as usual responding to the call of her loved one. EC headed back toward home to tell George about the two humans showing up and devise a plan.

      "Look," said Roan, "Two cardinals outside our window. I love to see them. They remind me of friendship and loyalty. You know, it has been too long since I have seen Yaro. We would often sit together in meditation, then share a salad and bread. He always felt like the brother I never had.

      "Growing up I felt isolated, living so far from the city. And

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