as of late I have been observing a skulk of juvenile foxes near my house, sitting out, putting some goodies (berries and nuts) out on this big hunk of rock that sits on my lawn (removed when the foundation of the house had to be built), there were three of them, at once they all seemed identical but as the days (or nights) have worn on they have certainly grown at different rates, and now it seems, after abundant encounters observing them, I am down to one, when night after night I could make a simple call they would come out of the woodwork to check out my offerings, a short span, maybe just a few odd weeks, but time is such a devil, such a tease, things like these seem like they will stretch out forever, but never do, so now, last night, after many a night of not seeing any of my local crew, just one appeared after I waited a bit, from a direction I was not expecting, the last remnant I suppose, the most tiny and scrawny of the bunch, a cautious gate, as if walking not to break tissue paper, each paw light as a feather following the other, foxes have a subtle dance like they are ashamed but of course that is just my human projection on many years of evolution, but just the same, I can only report what my eyes record, the scrawny one grabs up a blackberry and I can hear the merry chomping along, perhaps it has only been a few days long since I saw one, or the three, but pause always feels like an eternity compared to these moments of realized reality, a simple lesson really, about patience, and perspective, and the nature of things, and well, the nature of nature, so I wonder how long this might last, this new resident and this old one, well I suppose then I can only wait until the next setting sun, and see if my friend once more comes, and if so, be grateful for that.