Trixie shuffled into the kitchen, the early morning light casting blue shadows around the room. Grabbing a mug from the cabinet, she made herself a cup of tea. After adding generous amounts of cream and sugar, Trixie carried the hot mug into the family room where she sat in her favorite chair by the window. Grabbing the blanket from the behind her, Trixie settled in to enjoy her tea. A tapping sound at the window startled her. Spinning around, she found herself face to face with a chipmunk, who was staring at her through the window. Intrigued, Trixie turned her chair around and watched as the chipmunk scurried across the outside of the window and up a post where an attached birdfeeder swung gently. Every time the chipmunk made the leap onto the feeder, the seed openings would close and the chipmunk would fall to the ground. Trixie went into the kitchen and made a second cup of tea. She grabbed a bag of pretzels as she made her way back to the family room. Tucking her pajama clad legs under her, she watched in fascination as the chipmunk continued to try to get the birdseed. As Trixie munched, she noticed that another chipmunk and a squirrel had joined in the quest for the birdseed. However, their assistance did not change the outcome. Trixie made numerous trips back and forth to the kitchen, getting more tea, grabbing some cookies, and a handful of cheese. As the sun moved through the sky, Trixie marveled at the determination of the chipmunks and squirrel to get the birdfeeder open. She was still watching the critters when she heard the back door shut.

“Trixie,” called out Tad. “Where are you?”

Tad stepped into the family room and saw Trixie sitting in the chair by the window, still wearing her pajamas, her hair tousled and a bag of pretzels in her lap. Beside her on the floor was an empty package of cookies.

“Are you okay?”

“Sure. Why?”

“Because you’re not dressed. In fact, you like you did when you got out of bed this morning.”

“Uh.... I just got caught up in something.”

“What? I thought you were going to the gym today and then run a bunch of errands.”

“Um, something else came up that required my attention.”

“What?”

Trixie pointed out the window. “See those chipmunks. Let’s just say that the birdseed in the feeder was in jeopardy and I made sure that it was safe.”

Tad walking across the room, stood behind Trixie and looked out the window at the birdfeeder. “Ah yes, I see what you mean. Glad to know ‘Birdseed Belden’ is on the job.” Shaking his head in disbelief, Tad left the room and went in search of dinner.