A Thirsty Meadow Vole (first draft)

from Busy in the Sun: Big Old Garden book #3

Beside a big old house, on the sunny side of a Big Old Garden, a very, very old vole sat in his favorite spot beside a gravel path, watched his neighbors going about their business, and let the summer sunshine bake him all the way to his old bones.

The old vole, Reuben by name, felt ever so relaxed. His joints felt loose and supple. His thinning fur was glossy and undisturbed by passing breezes. After hours of sitting (and perhaps napping) in his favorite, south-facing spot, he felt cozy and well-rested. After hours of sitting in his favorite, sun-facing spot, he felt thirsty.

Across the garden, Archie the chipmunk had just clambered up the stone bird bath and was lapping at the water’s edge. Across the garden in another direction, Casper the catbird waded along the edge of the little moon-shaped pond, splashing water over himself and dipping his beak to drink.

Reuben, however, was a meadow vole, and meadow voles rarely drink, if at all. For their moisture they depend mostly on the water stored in juicy roots and tubers.

By John J. Mosesso - [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7291506

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