Henry Cole - A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home

T he first rat, Illianna, had small, narrow-set eyes like a pair of black pepper-corns and a tongue like a lancet.

Honestly, Celeste, another of your precious baskets? she hissed. Dont you have anything better to do than this silly pastime? She brushed the remaining grasses off the table, then slumped in a chair.

The other rat, Trixie, began pilfering Celestes food stores, searching through her baskets, helping herself. Celeste felt defenseless against the two marauders, who frequently bullied their way into her nook, ransacking and filching.

Hmmbread crustmore bread crusts Trixie said, her raspy voice wheezing between bites. This bread is moldy! Wherere the good bits, missy?

Umwhat good bits, Trixie?

What good bits, Trixie? In an instant the rat whirled around and nipped Celeste on the back. Celeste squealed. The pain was sudden and intense.

You know what good bits! Trixie screeched. The really tasty bitsthe bacon scraps and the sausage bits and the biscuit pieces. Youve hidden them from us, havent you?

N-n-no, honestly, Celeste stammered.

Try looking in her bed. Illianna squinted at her.

Trixie yanked the oily scrap of rag off Celestes bed.

Nothing! she hollered. Theres nothing here! Well, then, youd better get to it, missy. Take one of those baskets to the dining room and bring back something good. And mind you. No eating along the way! Ill smell your breath when you get back just to make sure.

But I hear humans in the dining room. Its still early yet.

Well, Im hungry! Trixie snapped, and she made a sudden move, as though she were about to bite Celeste again.

Me, too, Illianna chimed in. Just keep to the shadows. Keep track of where the food is falling. And watch out for the cat.

Celeste obeyed the two rats. She knew if she didnt, the shoving and biting and insults and bullying would only increase. She skittered down the dark passage.

C eleste sat in the shadows beneath the sideboard, listening and watching. She was worried about being seen, even a glimpse. Once she had clumsily let her tail protrude from the shadows, and a lady had screamed and dropped a dish. She wouldnt let that happen again.

She watched for the cat, a silent mass of gray fur that roamed the dining room. She saw five sets of shoes around the dining-room table. This meant that there were guests dining.

Two pairs belonged to the ladies of the house; she had seen them before and knew them well, remembering their silk shoes beneath the rustling skirts and petticoats.

Another pair of shoes at the head of the table belonged to the master of the house. Celeste had seen him before, too. He had a fuzzy set of graying whiskers on each cheek and a red nose. Celeste noticed a napkin fall as he scooted his chair back and stood up.

And now, Mr. Audubon, he said. May I formally welcome you and your young assistant to Oakley Plantation and wish you a happy stay here. There was a clinking of glasses.