The Woods was full of families enjoying Memorial Day picnics. The shelter that I customarily relaxed from my walk-in was full of happy eaters. I love the idea of picnics. It is replete with family friends and happy times. I do not enjoy the experience of eating at an open-air picnic table as my fly friends will not stay off the potato salad.

During my halcyon days in Eldorado, we picnicked often at Karel Park. There was Aunt Vema Guelda and Wanda…the three sisters of Neva J. They admonished me to eat up and I have taken that sage advice up until and including today. Uncle Bill would smile broadly and run his tongue between a gap in his front teeth. Cousin Brenda was her usual lovely self and often talked with me with her slow drawl of pleasant words. Grandma A was the center of the family the matriarch. A good-natured woman who listened more than she spoke. Cousin Billy was talking about his favorite monsters and science-fiction movies. Uncle Ed sat back with the air of contentment that a retired farmer with a lot of money emanates.

Neva J brought her Roast Beast and Christmas Coffee Cake her specialties. We spoke of the Vietnam War and the

possibility that Billy would soon be drafted. Church was a ready topic of discussion. Some scandal had hit the church that many of my family were members of and Billy told me that the lead minister of the movement who had the initials TM stood for ‘Tit Masher.’ He laughed and I wondered why he would want to mash tits.

Chet came along to some of the family picnics and loved the big family affair. Chet had been adopted and had no family outside of his mother as his dad had passed away suddenly. We enjoyed exploring Karel Park which seemed humongous to me. There was a large pond in the Park. Uncle Bill fished there after the Picnic Feast.

‘Did you see him,’ Chet asked? ‘He is about six inches tall and is under that oak tree over by the pond,’ he continued. ‘He said for you to come over and that he would introduce himself,’ Chet smiled.

‘Hello Billy B are you enjoying the picnic,’ the Gnome asked? ‘My family and I have enjoyed so many picnics at the Park and we rarely have to bring anything as we follow the faith of The Borrowers,’ he said matter of factly. ‘My wife is Earline and I am Edgar, the children are Eskek and Euripedes,’ he informed.

‘My goodness you are a bit small do you have any trouble with the giants among you,’ Billy B asked.

‘No they have no knowledge of us they have decided to focus on their jobs and their human concerns while we while away our days in Gnome Bliss, Edgar answered with a wink. ‘We see much and reveal little but we savvy we understand the ways of humans,’ he said.

‘What will happen with the Vietnam War,’ Chet asked?

‘The United States went into Vietnam slowly but will exit quickly,’ Edgar said.

‘Will RFK become president in 1968,’ Billy B asked?

‘Haters will prevent this from happening our leaders tell us that you humans will not leave war until you learn of our ways of peace,’ Edgar sadly noted.

‘Will church become a safe place for all people,’ Chet asked?

‘Only when they decide to follow the message of Christ,’ Edgar answered with tears in his eyes.

‘Ask the humans if there is any potato salad left that the flies have not sat on and hamburgers and some Oscar Mayer Weiners,’ Earline said.

‘Come to the table and dine and let me introduce you to the family,’ Billy B said with a happy dance.

‘Come and sit by me and fill your little plates until they are overflowing do I have a story to tell you,’ Neva J said with verve!

‘Do I have some special Merlot Wine for you pretty lady made by my family,’ Edgar said with a wink and a smile…