"That monkey loves you Marilla," Rachel commented as the animal wrapped himself around her neck.
"Sometimes a bit too much," replied Marilla grimly unhooking him from her bun.
"How so?" Rachel said settling back into the armchair with a fresh piece of cake.
"He brought me a 'present' last night," Marilla pulled the animal off her shoulders and shook her finger at him. "Didn't you, you little rascal."
"Well are you going to explain," Rachel said a little truculently.
"You didn't hear my scream?" Marilla asked dryly.
The monkey-squirrel war had continued unabated for some time. Their pitched battles may have dulled to a low simmer, but the resident squirrel population continued to taunt Goliath and in turn he bared his teeth and hissed at them whenever he got the chance.
Recently Goliath had taken on the role of guard monkey and it was a responsibility he took even more seriously now that the sad lady had come to live with them. One evening he was out for his usual constitutional. A light drizzle meant that the trees were slippery, and he had to concentrate just that little bit harder as he made his rounds. Where his favourite branch met the trunk Goliath was surprised to find a baby squirrel; damp fur and shiny black eyes shivering up at him. He sniffed it and plucked it from its precarious perch then holding it close to his breast with one hand, he climbed down using his tail perhaps more than he had previously. Making his way though a convenient open window he walked through the dark house. Easily locating the sad lady's room in the dark he climbed onto Marilla's bed. He lay the squirrel down on her pillow, carefully licking it and himself dry before they both settled down to sleep.
It is morning, the sun's rays light up the curtain and more dimly the bedroom. Marilla wakes and lies in the liminal space between sleep and waking taking stock of her situation; the familiar sound of the creaking ship is replaced by birdsong. She misses the ship, but it only takes a moment to recognise where she is, where once it took a while. Stretching luxuriously, she notices a new smell. Damp fur perhaps? The monkey must have been out in the rain before he joined her as he often does these days.
Marilla remembers the day Goliath eschewed Anne's arms for her own. She felt sorry for Anne when the monkey switched allegiance, but truth be told she had missed his company at night. It was a comfort to lie with him at night. When nightmares disturb her, it is his calm breathing that brings her back to reality.
She turns over and snuggles into the pillow before she opens her eyes. But what is that? Goliath seems to have shrunk in the night, like a petticoat in a hot wash. No, it's not the monkey it's a a, what is it? Marilla rises on her elbow to get a better look and realises it's a baby squirrel. Obviously dead. For some simian reason Goliath has brought her a small gift, she's heard of animals doing this. On occasion Rachel has complained about her barn cats depositing mice on the doorstep and even a couple of times in their boots. That's bad enough of course but surely this is worse. A dead animal on your pillow is nothing she has ever woken to before. And where is Goliath? She glances around and sees a lump under the blankets. She used to worry that he'd suffocate under there, but he seems to manage just fine. She reaches out with her toe, he seems to be content.
She looks back at the squirrel. It seems peaceful but it can't stay there. She'll have to get up and dispose of it. Matthew would do the honours for her if she asked but really it's just a tiny little thing, she should be able t…
The squirrel lurches.
The barn was always peaceful this time of day. Dust motes hung in soft golden shafts while the cow chewed its cud in time with the soft hiss of her milk hitting the bucket. Even in the dead of winter this was one of Matthew's favourite times of the day. The cow stamped her feet and swished her tail and he patted her flank with his right hand while his left continued to squeeze the teat.
Matthew's head shot up when he heard a faint scream. He stopped still for a moment honing in on the sound then turned around so quickly he upset the milk. He ran to the house and pounded up the stairs to find Marilla standing on the chair screaming shrilly.
"Marilla?" he asked. "What's up?"
She was beyond speech by this point. With a shaky finger she pointed at the pillow, but the terrified squirrel had long gone, and only Goliath sat there trembling at her in fright.
"Goliath?" said Matthew hoping she had not taken a turn. "We know Goliath, he's our friend. Come now Em, here let me help you down." He took her arm and got her settled back on the bed.
"Not him," she stammered. "'nother thing."
"Take some deep breaths," Matthew told her. "Gently now, just get your breath back." Feeling a little faint Marilla put her head between her knees and tried to steady herself feeling her heart gradually stop pounding. Matthew peered around the room to find the offending object, if there was one and finally found it under the bureau. "Aha, got you!" he said pulling the baby squirrel out wincing when it bit his forefinger. "Is this it?" he asked as blood trickled down his hand.
Marilla looked at the tiny animal and nodded then said, "your hand." She swayed as she got back to her feet and slumped back down on the bed. "Don't worry about it," Matthew said. "It's just a little nick. Its teeth are still too small to inflict much damage." He shook his hand a little feeling the pain radiate down his arm. Marilla looked aghast as tiny red droplets sprayed out. "Get that bandaged, Matthew before you make more of a mess."
Matthew did as she bid but as he clumped down the stairs holding his finger, he smiled to himself, Marilla's assertiveness appeared to be returning. She was right of course the wound was beginning to throb. He returned a few minutes later with a rag in the other hand. "Might need a hand here," he said ruefully. He sat down on the bed next to her while she bound him up. "Hardly worth the fuss."
"Nonsense," she replied. "Don't want to get dirt in."
"Where is it now?" he asked as he looked around the room. "Oh! Looks like Goliath has made a new friend."
Marilla looked at the monkey with the squirrel clutched tight to his chest. "Maybe he's adopted it?"
The little squirrel seemed much more alert now, but Marilla thought it must be hungry. "Do you have a dropper or maybe we can put some milk on a rag for it to drink?"
"The milk!" Matthew said. "That's going to be in short supply today, I reckon," he said remembering the sensation when his heel connected with the bucket on his way out of the barn.
"Well it needs something," Marilla mused. "Maybe I'll pop over to see if John has any to spare."
This was a new development, Matthew thought. Maybe it was just the impetuous Marilla needed? He looked with newfound respect at the tiny animal thinking, you might be just the thing she needs.