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This is Fruitycake. I’m starting to feel a little better lately. I’m still not sure where I fit in exactly yet. Or what my new job is since Brickle hasn’t been here. Although he has been training me for many years to take over, it’s quite different when you actually are on the job.

Yesterday, we had some visitors. Well. Quite a few visitors for up here. Girl Person wrote about it on her blog too.

There we were. Me and Girl Person sitting on the path, trying to get cell service. And all of a sudden, up the path, were two men persons. They simply said, “buon giorno” and kept walking. Like it was totally normal for them to be there. Like it was totally normal for us to be there.

Girl Person was able to ask them what they were doing. And they said clearing vines and the path. And she was so confused. She told them she lived at the top of the path. And they said ok. And kept walking up there. Now, you know me. I have smiles for days and years after that. I was just happy to see someone. And I didn’t bark. I just greeted them in my fruity way. Girl Person said Brickle would have had them for breakfast.

We had been alarmed. But went about our day again. Girl Person still needed to write and to work. So we went back to the part of the path where we could get service. And we heard voices again. We thought we were hearing things. But then a boy and girl person were there. They spoke English this time. And they told us they were from Austria. And that they were just exploring. I was happy to see them too. And I gave them a very big welcome to our path. Girl Person just was befuddled. I don’t know what that means. The word befuddled befuddled me. But we were confused. And even more confused when two more persons came at dinner time to say hello and welcome. What. Was. Going. On.

In one day, we had many visitors. And it was an odd feeling. I know I’m supposed to be protective. Brickle taught me that. But I also love everyone. And I have a hard time being anything other than fruity. Girl Person told me though that it was ok. She said she trusted that Brickle taught me well. And that also she trusted me to know when I needed to be protective. She said she trusted me to be who I was. And not to be anything else. She said the day would come when I needed to protect her. And to remember what Brickle had taught me.

I’m still new to this job. And just learning everything. Some things you have to learn on the job. Some things you’ll find are easy. Some things will seem impossible. Going on without Brickle does seem impossible. But he trained me for this moment. And Brickle? I’ve got this.

–Fruitycake

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