Tume Estek came home and found Sqwyits curled up in a small brown furry ball on her steps crying softly. Tume Estek could tell Sqwyits had been there on her porch crying for a long time because his eyes were puffy and red and the tears had dripped down onto his chest soaking his fur.
Tume Estek crouched down a safe distance away and said, “my darling dear Sqwyits, what is the matter?”
Sqwyits said, “with the sickness going around and we are having to keep our distance from each other, I miss you.” He sobbed “I have not seen you since June and it is now well into December.”
Tume Estek felt tears welling up in her eyes and she said “Sqwyits I understand you are lonesome, I too am lonesome for you.” She went on to say “why do you think I call you every Friday? I was looking for you at your house and here you are at my house. I went over and dropped off jars of wenec so you will know I want you to eat properly.”
During these times of sickness passing through the land we are all lonesome for each other. We must be patient and believe that this too shall pass.
Tume Estek said, “please Sqwyits no more crying, we are together now and we will make the most of it.”
She told Sqwyits, “I ordered that movie we were talking about. I asked Slletew te Nuxwenc if she could set it up so I can watch the movie at my house and you can watch the same movie at your house. We are not together but it’s the best we can do. I also popped some popcorn and put some in a bag for you.”
Tume Etek said, “I am sad to see you are crying but glad you dropped by. I was going to drop off some masks I made you from those ribbon skirts we made. The masks will match the blue ribbon skirt you made and I made one to match my skirt. Remember I made the skirt out of pink polka dot material?”
Tume Estek looked worriedly at Sqwyits and said “What do you think, too matchy matchy?”
Sqwyits laughed shakily and said, “one can never be too matchy matchy.”
Sqwyits said “oh yeah, before I forget, I brought you a jar full of salad. I threw in some of those spruce tips that you like so much, I also made a jar full of salad for Skllekstem te Nuxwenxw because she finds them kind of sour. I do like the puckering face she makes when she eats them though.”
Sqwyits went on to say, “I better get home and get ready for dinner and a movie.”
He added, “it is different than how we usually do things but until it is safe this how we have to do things.”
Tume Estek said, “hang on and I will get our masks and I will walk you home.” Sqwyits threw back his head and laughed and said “remember we have to stay six muskrats apart. Tume Estek laughed and said “six muskrats I thought it was six moccasins.”
They both put on their masks and walking a safe distance apart they quickly reached Sqwyits’ house.
Sqwyits went up the stairs and stood on the porch and said, “I love you Tume Estek. Today started out sad but now I am excited to have dinner and watch a movie with you.”
Tume Estek said, “I love you too my darling dear Sqwyit. I better hurry home and eat my dinner, I sure am looking forward to eating the salad you brought over. Fresh spruce tips in my salad is my favorite.”
She went on to say, “Skllekstem te Nuxwenxw said put the movie channel on and the movie should start in an hour. Oh yeah, I asked my grandkids to set up our phones so we can see each other and talk to each other over dinner and while the movie is playing.”
She laughed and said, “you know how I like to guess at the bad guys in these mystery shows we like so much.” They both laughed and waved goodbye to each other.
Just as Tume Estek turned to leave, Sqwyits laughed and said, “what will they think of next, virtual visit, I guess we will say.”
Tume Estek hurried back to her cozy little house and worriedly asked Skllekstem te Nuxwenc, “did you make it to set up the movie for tonight?”
Skllekstem te Nuxwenc said “don’t worry, the movie is all set up to play and I put your phone on this little stand so that you can both see each other.
Tume Estek said, “thank you for helping us with this, we miss each other so much, we used to see each other every other day and talk on the phone, but now with this sickness travelling through our land we have to take all these safety measures and social distance from each other.”
She murmured, “It is very hard on the heart when I and Sqwyits are so close and now I can’t just drop by and visit and he can’t stop in.”
Skllekstem te Nuxwenc walked over and gave Tume Estek a hug and said, “this won’t last forever and we have to take all these safety measures because when this bad sickness is gone we can all be together again.
Tume Estek said, “I better sit down and have my dinner, Sqwyits dropped off two mason jars full of salad with fresh spruce tips.”
Skllekstem te Nuxwenc said “I hope he made mine the way I like it.”
Tume Estek said “yes, I told him to add extra spruce tips to your salad.”
Skllekstem te Nuxemc made a sour face and said “really?” Tume Estek laughed and said, “he knows how you like you salad”.
Skllekstem te Nuxwenc said, “I set up the camera right here so you can both talk over dinner and then when the movie starts I will move it into the living room.”
Tume Estek thanked her for being so thoughtful and plated up her fresh green salad with extra spruce tips.