Mei Grows Tall

You know, in big cities I thought it would be a rare thing to see animals. For several weeks, the only living things I’ve seen (besides drooling men) are pidgeons, insects, and tiny yapping dogs in purses. Much to my suprise, I had several sightings in our garden several days before we left for here.

The first – I was in my room near the door listening to music. From the corner of my eye, i saw something move under the grate ouside the door, but being without my glasses, i thought it might just have been a plastic bag or wrapping nudged by the breeze. I hunkerd down on my hands and knees and squinted for a moment; then it moved! A critter!

When i went outside and looked closely the poor thing curled into a ball and held still…I thought i was a porcupine but alas, Mum’s friend says it was a hedgehog. Imagine..a cute little hedgehog frolicking in the city. It was in a hard place to get a photo, but i assure you, it was adorable.  I found another one under the next grate about the same size, but when I returned with the camera it had gone. Too bad. They both disapeared the next morning. Mum wanted to feed it rice. haha

The second – a stray cat turned up meowing loud and pitifully on the garden wall. It was white with a black back, and had a thin, leather collar round it’s neck. When I inally made it outside, it bolted somewhere. Perhaps under the fence.

The third – that night I discovered a second spider in my room. As big around as a 50 pence peice, it’s been squatting in a corner by the door. I attempted to catch him with a wine glass and a postcard, but every time I went for it, the little vermin dashed under a gap in the wall. I decided he could live – I’m a wimp and wouldn’t kill him, and i figure he can earn his room and board as long as he catches the flies.