Mrs-Robertson-Glasgow

Mrs.Robertson-GlasgowWehadbeeninEnglandaboutsixmonthswhenoldfarmerCrawfordgavemepermissiontoroamabouthisimmenseproperty.OnespringafternoonIwanderednearwhereIthoughtI’dglimpsedapondtheweekbefore.Iproceededquietly,carefulnottoalarmajayormagpiethatmightloudlywarnothercreaturestohide.PerhapsthisiswhythefrailoldladyInearlyranintowasasstartledasIwas.Shecaughtherbreath,instinctivelytouchingherthroatwithherhand.Then,recoveringquickly,shegaveawelcomingsmilethatinstantlyputmeatease.Apairofpowerful-lookingbinocularsdangledfromherneck.“Hello,youngman,”shesaid,“AreyouAmericanorCanadian?”American,Iexplainedinarush,andIlivedoverthehill,andIwasjustseeingiftherewasapond,andfarmerCrawfordhadsaiditwasokayandanyhow,Iwasonmywayhome,sogood-bye.AsIstartedtoturn,thewomansmiledandasked,“Didyouseethelittleowlinthespinneyovertheretoday?”Shepointedtowardtheedgeofthewood.Sheknewabouttheowls?Iwasamazed.Accordingtosomeunkindschoolmates,only“twitchers”(Britishslangforbird-watchers)likemeknewanythingaboutbirds.“No,”Ireplied,“butI’veseenthembefore.Neverclosethough.Theyalwaysseemefirst.”Thewomanlaughed.“Yes,they’rewary,”shesaid.“Butthen,gamekeepershavebeenshootingthemeversincetheygothere.They’reintroduced,youknow,notnative.”“They’renot?”Iasked,fascinated.“Oh,no!”sheanswered,laughingagain.“AthomeIhavebooksonbirdsthatexplainallaboutthem.Infact,”shesaidsuddenly,“Iwasabouttogobackforteaandjamtart.Wouldyoucaretojoinme?”Ihadbeenwarnedagainstgoingoffwithstrangers,butsomehowIsensedtheoldwomanwasharmless.”Sure,”Isaid.“I’mMrs.Robertson-Glasgow.”Sheintroducedherself,extendingafine,transparenthand.“Michael,”Isaid,takeitclumsilyinmyown.Wesetoff,theoldwomanstridingalongatasurprisinglybriskclip.Soon,Isawasmallbrickcottagethatglowedpinkyinthewesternsun.Mrs.Robertson-Glasgowopenedthedoorandinvitedmein.Igazedaboutinsilentadmirationatallthecollectionoftheinsectsandstuffedbirds–includingaslightlymoth-eaten,glass-eyedeagleowl,tiltingonitswireperch.“Wow!”wasallIcouldsay.Thesunhadset.Timewentbymuchtooswiftly.Mrs.Roberson-Glasgowhadtopracticallypushmeoutthedoorincasemyparentswereworried.Butshesentmehomewithtwolargebooksonbirdsandinsects.Ipromisedtoreturnthemthenextweekendifshedidn’tmindmycomingby.Shesmiledandsaidshe’dlookforwardtothat.Ihadmadethebestfriendintheworld.