Speak of the devil. Yesterday I lamented the disappearance of the sparrows and Pu Shi.

This morning I noticed the sparrows had reduced their favorite feeder’s contents by two inches. Then I looked out the back door and saw squirrels prancing across the lawn and branches. That cheered me enough to go outside to peanut-butter the corn and brandish a few nuts. Everyone scattered. A ghost town. No takers.

Then, when I came down for my noon snack, I noticed a chickadee picking at the peanut butter. So I had to go outside to replenish its supply. A squirrel was sniffing the patio within one yard of the back door.

I nudged the door open slowly, expecting the squirrel to evacuate. Instead, she rushed the door. I slammed the door closed and dropped two nuts. Pu Shi grabbed one of the porch and scampered away. She was happy. And so was I.