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A TWEET SO SWEET

 A TWEET SO SWEET

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

23/II/2023

 

What a way to start a day with a ‘tweet’. For me a tweet is not at all related to social media. I have no idea how to use it, though people ask me for my ‘twitter handle’. I have one, but haven’t been able to handle it. I fear I could mis-handle it instead. Life without such tweets is sweet as sweet could be.

 

Body gives a signal that its time to ‘wakey-wakey’. Somehow, as the ‘real birds’ start to ‘tweet’, one has to throw away the sheet and rush to the cool air outside to meet and greet my feathery ‘friends’.

 

A quick glance at the garden and there was much to do. Pots needed a little shuffle. Bird feeder needed a refill. Water container for birds needed topping up. Some pots needed watering. Fish had to be fed. Dead leaves had to be plucked off before the sun rose above the buildings across the street.

 

As I bent down on a bush, a creature clambered onto my T-shirt. A couple of days back TikTok the Chameleon came under the wheels of my car and this morning his brother probably appeared out of the blue. I looked to the sky and thanked the Almighty. All these days he was missed. I just couldn’t help smiling and feeling happy from within.

 

My day was made, when he refused to go back to the bush. He just clung to my chest holding on to the fabric. TikTok wasn’t afraid at all. As I gently rubbed on his head, he closed his eyes as if he was enjoying it. Just to check on it, I stopped. He opened his eyes wide open & wanted more.

 

The anxiety to click a photo with him was so high, but before this guy felt uncomfortable and scooted, one stayed as still as one could. I lost count of the time. My wife showed up with a cup of tea. Her movements had to be discreet, lest he felt threatened. TikTok posed like a professional. He then crawled down to the floor and then to a pot.

 

Before this fleeting encounter finished, the real ‘twitterati’ appeared. They were everywhere. They acknowledged our presence but were not afraid. The early birds were trying to catch a worm.

 

Folds of the pots, in between creeper leaves, insects trapped in spider webs, all became their morning snack. Plants must be feeling relieved. There could be no better insecticide than our tweeting friends.

 

Time just flew. From the Champa tree the birds tweeted and gave us permission to bid them ‘twit bye’. From behind the hibiscus bush TikTok made an appearance to snap a moth and wink at us. We considered it a bye from him and moved inside.

 

Which tweet is sweet to hear? One which comes from nature, or one which comes from the phone. I wonder!!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

©® NOEL ELLIS


 






















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