One weekend, I decided that I wanted to take Gus to the park. Near my house is a river with an adjacent park and hiking trail, which snakes through the landscape past my house and goes towards the city. It felt like a small refuge of tranquility within the claustrophobic urban environment I lived.
I took Gus to the kitchen and placed him in a basket on the counter. He watched me excitedly as I went about gathering stuff for a picnic. He happily chirped and squeaked as I came by him, holding out his little arms and jumping at me. I could only chuckle and give him a pet on the head as I continued. He was such an exuberant little thing; I could hardly keep up with him sometimes. Every day I came home he ran about in front of me, crossing in between my legs, and laughing as he greeted me. I had to put a little bell on him in order to keep track of him, as one night I thought I lost him before discovering the little smurf. He had played a trick on me and had hid in a corner with his cap over his face. Such a little jokester, I couldn't help but laugh it off.
I brought all the stuff for our lunch and shoved them into the back of the car. I took Gus and placed him into my shirt pocket and we drove off. My little smurf sat warmly in my pocket, his little head poking out over the hem with his big blue round nose, the size of a small grape, sticking out as he watched me drive. He spent most of his time inside his room while I was at work. When I was home, he preferred to stay with me, preferably within eyesight. It was a shock the first time I left him alone while I cooked diner and heard him cry loudly as I attempted to leave. He had thrown himself on the ground and began to sob as he lay in the fetal position. I quickly decided not to do that again.
Arriving at the river, we exited the car and left down a dirt path. Not that many people came today, so we were alone except a for a few stragglers here and there. We walked down the path and took in the bird song and the sound of the rustling leaves. There was no clouds and the sun shone brightly overhead. I knew it was going to be hot so I had already rubbed Gus with a smurf safe sunscreen. He made a face as I put it on him but eventually, he got used to the smell. To be honest I think he was just in it for the massage. He moved about in my shirt pocket as I walked, taking in the sights and craning his little head to try to see everything.
We came past a crop of trees and to the riverside, the shade of some oaks providing us with some much-appreciated shade. I spread out a blanket and made a set up for me and Gus. I had made a travel carrier for him, which allowed me to have a secure place to have him sit with me. He babbled happily as I took him gently from my pocket and them lay him amongst the little pillows and blankets I had set up for him. I took his little cap off and gave him a quick pat on the head as I sat down. He happily looked up at me and held onto my finger as I replaced his hat.
I made for us a nice little lunch this evening. For myself I made a starter of a couple beef samosas and a glass of cranberry juice. My main course was a chicken sandwich with homemade fries and a cold soda. Dessert was a simple chocolate bar. Gus had a smaller meal than me, simply a salad with smurf berries and then some water with fresh strawberries. Smurfs had a delicate stomach and had to adhere to a strict diet. It was simple enough to buy the supplies but it did bore me to make the same thing over for him. Gus didn't seem to mind though, as he happily munched his food.
After we ate, I packed up the picnic back into the car and then we walked around for a bit near the water. The dark water lapped at the shoreline as we came forward, a slight breeze disturbing the surface as we walked. Gus had made a face at me and had began to way his arms as I came to it. Looking down at him, he pointed to the ground and then looked back at me. Taking this as a sign, I set the carrier down and let him walk around. I was weary at first, both for birds and because he was quick, but there was enough space that I could confidently run after him if need be. Besides, it is not like he was fast, he was just a little guy and knew how to hide. He clambered over the rim of his carrier and gingerly placed a little foot onto the sand. His little boot that I clothed him with sunk a millimeter into the sand as he slowly stood. He tapped around, feeling how his weight shifted in the sand. I moved over him so as to block the sun from his eyes. I then began to guide him towards the water.
We came closer to the shore and Gus began to squeak. I turned quickly to find him and saw he was cowering near my legs. His eyes were focused on the water as he shook slightly. I bent down and rubbed his back, trying my best to comfort him. I knew it probably wasn't safe in nature for such a small creature like a smurf to come so close to water, yet I left that I could handle anything if need be. He came out from my legs and held my finger as I led him to the water. He flinched a bit as we got close and refused to walk at a certain distance. I then showed him with my hand how you could play with the water and not die. His faced brightened as he then came closer, reaching out a hand and letting the water come over his fingers. He looked at me happily as I gave him a warm smile. He was a naïve little thing yet his innocence warmed my heart. I helped him out of his overalls and allowed him to play in the very shallow water next to me. I made sure to stand in between him and deeper water just in came some fish decided to want eat smurf. Gus's little swimsuit reflected the sun in my eyes as he played, catching my attention. He lay there in the river, clapping away at the water as he laughed. Such a picture of peace, I wish I could have frozen time and lived in the moment for eternity. He was such an odd thing, Gus. What amounted to a diminutive blue creature was a little life which had stolen my heart. I reached down held out my hand to him. He stood up and walked awkwardly through the sand to me. I caught him as he fell before me and brought him to a gentle hug. As stupid as it seemed, I truly did love this creature.
I drove us back home and gave Gus a warm bath. The sand had followed both of us home and we longed to be rid of it. He cooed and purred as I rubbed him down with a warm towel and gave him some back scratches. He squealed in delight as I went down his back with the dulled nail of my index finger. I prepared some smurf berry milk for him and gave him his bottle as I rocked him to sleep. After a while he dozed off and I could place him in his sleeping cage. I sat his little head on his pillow and kissed him good night. I gave him a final look and then closed his curtain before quietly walking out.
Such a little thing yet so much had changed because of him. He will never know how much I love him but maybe that's why I show it so much.