One Job For Another

On this day, the third tree falls before lunch. I get to work on the fourth tree to make sure I have food for tomorrow and I am still one day behind. On day five, the fourth tree falls. On day six Madam Odette has me switch paws again but the fifth tree falls early in the day. I push myself harder after lunch to get the sixth to fall. With the extra push, it falls and I am now on schedule but I can't relax yet. I follow my pattern, switching hands at Madam Odette's order. On day 10 I drop two trees. On day 12 the last one falls before me.

When the last tree fell Madam Odette came to me, "Excellent work. The moles will remove the stumps while you cut 15-foot sections out of the trees." She hands me a tape measure with a smile, "This time you get a saw. I'll have one of the badgers bring it to you." She goes to walk off but stops, "Tomorrow. I think you earned the rest of the day to relax."

"Yes, Madam Odette."

She gave me the rest of the day off. It's late afternoon so I have a few hours of daylight to do a lot of nothing now that I think about it. We're miles away from other people and I'm not allowed into the house. I'm forced to do nothing which isn't bad but I'd like to let loose a little bit. For now, I'll stay in my overhang area and sit at the table.

I space out for a couple of hours letting my mind wander before I notice it's getting dark. Snapping myself back I stretch in my chair. I can hear my joints popping and clicking. I sigh and re-sink back into my chair when I am approached by Anne. She tried to avoid eye contact and puts a small box on my table. She quickly scurries off without saying a word. She's weird but I can get why.

I open the box and inside is a bottle of shampoo. I stop to think about it but realize that for almost two weeks I've been just getting myself wet, not clean. I'm a little worried actually. I'm certain it was Madam Odette who sent it but after the last week when she teased me about washing in the fountain. I'll admit though, I feel grungy. A proper scrub will be nice but it's going to be a late night.

The sun sets, the workers around the house disappear, and I begin to feel like the only person around. I need to sleep but I'm waiting for one light to go out so I can go clean up. It takes a couple of hours before it goes dark across the house. I make it quick, in and out, and dry before grabbing new clothes. I kept my eyes fixed on the windows almost the whole time making sure no one was around and nothing moved. I think I cleared it this time.

The sun came up and I cracked and snapped as I stretched. I didn't do that before but now it's a routine in the mornings. Madam Odette is as bright-eyed as she always is. "Ok, Red, two 15-foot sections on each tree. Make sure you flatten the edge where you cut the tree, then measure. Everything is ready for you. Every tree you finish is a meal. Get to work."

"Yes, Madam Odette."

"Oh, and Red." I stop and turn, "You need to pay better attention to your surroundings instead of one spot."

The main door closed but she stood behind the glass looking at the fountain with a smile. I try to ignore the very blunt hint that she saw me but I can't. She got me on this one. I walk off to the trees trying to let it go but just can't. Best to just work it off.

The saw is propped against the first tree with the measuring tape. It's a long saw that looks like it should have two people to use it. I can tell I'm expected to do it myself. I pick it up and start chewing the bark near the ax cut. I keep fumbling at the start but it gets to where it supports itself.

The moles show up as I'm halfway through smoothing the bottom. The three of them begin tearing into the dirt around the stump cutting roots as they go. Before I could finish my first cut they removed their first stump. One carries it off while the other two start digging on the next one. I let them do their thing until I get to the bottom. I'm starting to get the saw caught in the dirt. I struggle with it, apparently making an ass of myself. I feel a tap on my shoulder. One of the moles is standing behind me, "Oie, lemme show ya somethin' there."

He pulls the saw, knocking the dirt off. With both claws, he rolls the tree partially over, "Now, go to the other side and cut the rest." I follow his directions and finish cutting the jagged edge of the tree. "There ya go, keep at it."

They continue their work while I continue mine. It didn't take long to finish the first tree cut up into sections. I finished two in one day. I managed to get both lunch and dinner. I started a steady pattern. I completed two trees a day and had them all done by the next week. The first couple of days were rough but my legs quit hurting.

Madam Odette approached me after the seven days and trees were cut, "Good work. Rest up, tomorrow you come with me. Make sure you're clean too. I can't have you smelling like sweat and sawdust.

"Yes, Madame Odette."

Dark came and I waited for every light to go out again. In probably record time, I clean myself off. Out of the fountain, I grab my towel to head back to my area but I'm stopped in my tracks. "My, my, Red. You are really bad at this." Madam Odette was watching me the entire time and I never noticed. "That was a quick shower though. Did you properly clean yourself?" She struts closer swaying her hips side to side. "Yes, Madam Odette."

She places her paw on my bare chest ruffling my fur lightly. She sticks her nose to my neck sniffling lightly but enough that I can hear her. She steps back looking at me, "Get some sleep Red. We have things to do tomorrow." She walks off as if nothing happened back to the main house. I'm confused! What just happened? That woman makes no sense to me. Her spying on me is unnerving. How does she do that? This has to be the 12th time she's done this to me. At least she doesn't watch me while I sleep. I hope anyway…