On a brisk summer morning, while the cicadas slept in, the crickets sang a late-summer lament.

Everyone in the garden — Rabbit, as she gathered begonia blossoms; Old Possum, as he sat on his front stoop with a mug of tea; Squirrel, as he lounged in bed; Mama Chipmunk and her grandchildren, as they ate their porridge; and Raccoon, as she sat at her kitchen table, with the window open, sipping coffee and eating hot, buttered toast — thought the crickets were being overly dramatic, as there was still plenty of summer left, but they all greatly enjoyed the crickets’ singing nonetheless.

(Late August 2024)

Story © Jennifer McClain Singleton / Read+Purr

This is another vignette in my ongoing series of Tiny Garden Stories: peaceful 1-minute tales that let you read like a kid again. Click one of the first two buttons below to go to (or back to, if that’s where you fell down the rabbit hole) either the “Public Garden” archive page or (if you’re a Story Club member) to the members-only “Private Garden” page. Or click the third button to learn more about my Tiny Garden Stories.

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