Page Four

I’m basically a chicken. I hate to admit it, but I am a real scaredy-cat when it comes to taking action. That could be why I love Shangri-la as much as I do. It is so lovely here; the flowers are forever in bloom, the sun always shines, people are always smiling, the ladies are beautiful…though none as beautiful as Naomi. It’s not like I don’t get any offers, the ladies really like me. I can’t remember the last time I said yes to any of them, but that’s not the point, the offers are the point. Don’t hold me to it, but if I recall correctly I had an offer from Victoria just last week, though it could have been last month…maybe even last year, come to think of it. Like I said before, it’s not the timing, it’s the fact that I have gotten the offers that counts.
I wonder what she is doing right now? I’m carving a little birch bark box for her, or whoever wants it. Creating an intricate work like a birch box is a time-consuming task that takes a lot of concentration. It’s accomplished by layering a very thin birch bark veneer onto a darker and thicker wood (I usually use cedar). Using a lighter wood against a darker wood creates a two-tone effect that is really quite beautiful. I’ve been practicing the art for over 200 years now, and I must say that many of my pieces find their way into some of the most elaborate Shangri-la caches. This is the third or fourth box I’ve made just for Naomi. I wonder if she thinks about me. The other day I walked to the edge of the forest. Something from within the trees there was beckoning me. As I drew closer, I felt a strong urge to run. I wanted to break through the foliage, discover what was beyond the world that was so familiar. I think Naomi was there, waiting for me. I reached the forest’s edge and stopped. I glanced over my shoulder but did not see anyone watching me. I started to lift my foot, but froze as I heard a whisper, don’t go. I looked around again, but still did not see anyone. I stood in that frozen state as moments passed me by. Slowly, I lowered my foot to the ground and turned back to Shangri-la. The sun did not shine quite as brightly as it had just moments before.