Fernando Ficus

Another friend of Fernando is Pepi Peperomia. Peperomia caperata is a member of the Piperaceae family originating in tropical South America. It produces numerous dark green heart-shaped puckered leaves. Leaf stalks are pink and the leaves are purplish in the corrugations. Peperomia produces white flowers in long spikes in late spring to early winter. It is primarily used as an indoor plant in a well-lit area. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, but mist the leaves in hot weather to create humidity.

“Mom! Help! The cat has me trapped,” whimpered Duncan. “Please save me.”

“Poor Duncan,” Mom said. “Did that mean old cat corner you again? Nicky, go away and leave poor Duncan alone, “ said Mom as she shooed the cat away. Nicky, a big black cat, smiled and squinted his eyes at Duncan. “Scaredy cat. Duncan’s a scaredy cat,” he laughed as he jumped onto the chair.

Duncan breathed a sign of relief and scampered into the office to spy out the window. Boy, he thought, that was a close one. That cat is going to get me one of these times.

Suddenly, he heard something and barked. He perked his ears up and barked again. It’s Lucy. “Look Dad it’s Lucy,” Duncan announced.

“Duncan, I’m on the phone. Be quiet,” Dad said firmly.

I can’t believe he’s not interested, mumbled Duncan to himself. Oh well, I’ll just lay here by the window and bask in the sun while I watch her play. But the longer he lay in the sun the sleepier he got, and soon Duncan was starting to dream.

In his favorite dream, Duncan and Lucy were running in her backyard with her boys. The boys would throw the ball, and Duncan and Lucy would take turns catching it. He was just getting ready to jump on the ball, when he heard a knock at the door.

He was up in an instant, rushing to the door and barking like mad. “How dare you wake me up!” he said indignantly to the person standing there. The person turned around and there stood Lucy’s mother! Wow! “Mom, look who’s here,” yipped Duncan. “It’s Lucy’s mom! Come let her in!”