Cricket201909

We’d become a team during annual

summer hikes in these Idaho mountains,

Granddad’s artistic eye turning an observed

wild animal into a whimsical sketch. Around

alpine campfires we’d spin possible story-

line and illustration ideas based upon that

sketch. Before week’s end, a new, very rough

but humorous picture book would emerge.

The popular Wildlife Whimsey series?His.

“GRANDDAD?” I KEYED the

hand-held radio, facing away from a blustery

wind. “Weather’s turning. I’m heading down.

The bear rub’s all I’ve got.” I released the

talk button. I’d hoped to relay some creative

story idea—or maybe, for old-time’s sake,

a cool wildlife sighting Granddad might

sketch. But a measly black bear rub on a

ponderosa pine wasn’t likely to inspire either.

I sighed. Normally, Granddad’s need to

observe wildlife permeated our every moment

together. But normal ended last fall.

Patsy Pika’s Party came from our hike when I

was ten. Markie Marmot’s Mystery and other

books followed. A writer and illustrator with

decades of success, Granddad had included

me on those research hikes as soon as I was

old enough to shoulder a daypack. I treasured

them, naively assuming they’d never end.

And then an eye disease left him blind

last fall. Which hadn’t changed my grand-

father’s independent core, just compelled him

to adopt a different sketching style. Bold,

blocky, impressionistic. Whimsical? Not any-

more. So, no current Whimsey book contract.

Worse, no dual hikes during this summer

visit. Instead, Granddad—still very much a

writer at heart—announced that each day I’d

reconnoiter, solo, out of his rented summer

cabin, looking for story ideas. For this first

hike, he sent me up the insanely steep hill

behind the cabin while he waited below. We

communicated by two-way radio since cell

Illustrated by Alan Marks

text © 2019 by Diane L. Burns, art © 2019 by Alan Marks

Cliff hanger

by Diane L. Burns

A BEARRUB IS WHERE A

BEAR RUBS AGAINST A

TREE TRUNK TO REMOVE ITS

WINTER COAT AND LEAVE

SCENT FOR OTHER BEARS.

RECONNOITER MEANS TO SCOUT

AROUND FOR INFORMATION.

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