It was the best part of a roasty toasty April afternoon. Sunbeams trickled over Emma’s favorite rock spot at the woods edge. The rock summit offered a pleasant view of the bass pond. The cattails at the water’s edge were just sending up the first green stalks of the season. Robins mingled with doves and sparrows to peck through the short green grass of the field next to the pond. The dogwood along the border of the woods were sprinkled with off-white blossoms in full bloom waiting to be overtaken by heartshaped leaves. Emma and Kitty reclined on the rock which was warm from the sun and watched the lacy clouds slither by.
Kitty loved the rock almost as much as Emma, but mostly she loved the walk from the house to it. Emma would always walk to the rock with Kitty tucked tightly in the crook of her arm. As they walked down the back porch stairs the dogs, Meelie and Belle, would come running over to greet them. Kitty would delight in looking down from her perch at the dogs jumping and running about Emma’s knees. Kitty could see them looking up at her, tongues dangling and dripping. Kitty would meet their doggy gaze with a confident glare of her big blue plastic eyes. The corner of her whiskerless Kitty mouth would tilt up just slightly more than usual in delight at her safety from their Kitty-chomping dog jaws. She could allow herself that gourmet tuna-morsel of a grin because she knew that Emma would never allow her to drop within their canine reach. Teasing Meelie and Belle made the walk to the rock a Kitty treat.
Now that they were settled on the top of Emma’s rock the dogs had wandered off to threaten squirrels and birds. As they sat in peace Emma said to Kitty, “You know I think one of my best parts is that I am happy just lying on this rock watching the clouds.”
“Sure,” answered Kitty thoughtfully. “That is a very good part of you, I suppose. There are, of course, many other great parts.”
“Well,” said Emma with true modesty, “I guess I am a good reader.”
“Certainly,” agreed Kitty, “And you read a lot. I love to hear your reading.”
“Also,” continued Emma, “I suppose I do draw pretty well and I work hard to play my violin. I am sure those are some more of my best parts.”
“Absolutely,” said Kitty. “And by all means you cannot leave out your good manners.”
Emma paused a thoughtful moment and then replied, “Although I have read the book on manners that Grammy has given me, I do not feel that I can properly include manners as one of my best parts. I do often still forget to put my napkin in my lap, you know.”
“Yes, of course I know. But I am often sitting in your lap during dinner,” said Kitty, “So I feel strongly that the absence of a napkin which results in more cheesy crumbs dropping into my mouth is a definite best part.”
“I see your point,” countered Emma, “But that would be a best part for you and not for me.”
“Well,” conceded Kitty, “You have so many best parts, my Emma, that it is hard to keep them all straight. I would, however, certainly include your smile and love for all the animals and your thoughtfulness for other people in the list. Perhaps your very best part of all is your willingness to accumulate.”
Emma thought that over for a moment with her left hand propped against her lips and her brow wrinkled. “Kitty,” she finally said, “I’m sure it is a compliment and, in one of my best parts of gratefulness, I will say thank you, but I never thought of accumulation as a really good thing. Daddy trips over all of my toy horses at night and Mama is always trying to help collect my treasures and put them away. I often feel that my room is overfull with treasures I have accumulated.”
“Still,” said Kitty, “Those of us like birthing bear and Ginger Puppy and Walter the Wart Hog and me are all still together after these many years because of your dedication to accumulation.”
Emma rolled her golden head over to look at Kitty and snuggled Kitty up extra close to her on the rocky perch. “Thank you, Kitty,” she whispered, “For seeing only my best parts.”