What was up with this green light?

I knew for sure it wasn’t there the night before. I would have noticed it. Him had come by, not long, but long enough to have a sit together on the porch. I would have seen it clearly.

I knew the mysterious light came from Him’s house, since there was no neighbour between our two homes. Just a steep enough slope to stop anyone who would have considered getting established there. Hadn’t it been of the dense forest, I’d have had a direct view on the lake.

I went back inside, and started gathering all the colorful pieces of declined colors carton, and the pieces of cloth used to decorate my cushions… But the green light was always catching my attention when I turned my head one way or another. It didn’t look like a decoration, and Him wasn’t much into electric lighting anyway.

He preferred fire, and his house was always lighted with dozens of candles. I think he liked the way the different flames, each dancing their own dance, made crooked shadows on his canvass as he painted. I’m pretty sure that’s why his work was all perfectly, intently and artistically blurry.

It wasn’t that late, and I had some cookies left from a batch I had cooked earlier, so I decided to trot my way downhill to know what this was about.

Him was by the fire, obviously waiting for some company.

• Did you see the light? I put it this morning, so you’d know when I am home and free for a chat!

I smiled and sat beside Him.

• What’s going on with that fox of yours?

I had indeed a young fox that had been visiting my backyard for a while, coming closer to the house every time it left the woods. It was always alone, maybe had it lost track of its herd. With time, I had managed to tame it a little, and it now came every now and then to snack on leftovers I kept for it.

• I told you about foxes young lady! They look all nice and furry, but they are mischievous animals that will bite the hand that feeds them eventually. I’ve seen you petting it in your house… I’m worried.

I was stunned… Was that a pinch of jealousy I could sense in his voice? Him turned his eyes to the stars when I asked, then looked back at me and denied with a loud laugh, and finally changed the subject.

When the fire was about to die, Him poured a bucket of the lake’s water on the embers to call it a day, kissed my forehead and entered his house, leaving me wondering. Not long after, the green halo coming from the back of the house vanished, telling me it was time to go home too.