“… what was once here then gone is here again.”

“Good night, Gord,” said Cherie the thrasher.  The sun had long since set on the day that had been, and it was time for this thrasher to retire to her home underneath the bushes that lined the back wall of her friend’s home.

“Why, good night, Cherie,” said Gord the polar bear.  And with that, Cherie went to sleep.

At least for a minute or two.

Cherie awoke.  She wasn’t sure why, but something had caused her to wake up.  She peered out as best she could in the dim light of the zoo’s illuminated pathways to see the shape of Gord sitting perfectly still, his face turned toward the night sky.

Cherie knew what this meant.  Gord was listening to the night whispers, the voices of those who were no longer here.  Cherie had never heard the voices, nor did she know of anyone else who had heard them.  Or for that matter heard of them.  Yet Gord said he heard them, and if she knew anything about her friend it was he would never lie about such a thing.  Therefore, even though they were unknown to her Cherie believed in the night whispers.

In a way she was jealous that Gord could hear then while she could not.  However, this was quickly dismissed as she knew from Gord that hearing the night whispers was a great responsibility.  One very few could bear.  In fact, only the one she called a silly polar bear could — pardon the pun, she thought — bear it.

Cherie remained as still as Gord.  She knew better than to disturb him during this time.  She also knew her friend usually had something to share once he had finished listening.  And so she waited patiently, doing her best to keep her eyes open and wondering what Gord might have to share this time.

After a long while Gord lowered her head.  Cherie knew this meant the night whispers had said what they had come to say and were now gone until the next time.  Despite her curiosity, she was always reluctant to ask Gord about them.  However, curiosity won out as she herself whispered, “Gord.  The night whispers?”

The only time Gord didn’t look Cherie in the eye, smiling, whenever he talked to her was immediately after the night whispers.  This was such a time.  He continued to look away as he said, “Yes, Cherie.  The night whispers.”

There was a pause before she nervously continued.  “Can you tell me what they said?”

The silence that followed made Cherie even more nervous.  She was just about to apologize for having asked when Gord softly replied, “Why, yes.  Although I must confess it was quite puzzling.”

“In what way?”

“Why, it was something of a riddle.  Not spoken like a riddle.  But a riddle all the same.”  Gord took a deep breath before continuing.  “The voices said, ‘What was once old is new again; what was here then gone is here again.’”

“That is something of a riddle,” replied Cherie.  “I wonder what it might mean.”

“Why, I don’t know.  And just before they left, the voices said something equally puzzling if not more so.”

“What was that?”

“They said, ‘That which was once your restrictor is now your own.’”  Gord sighed as he continued, “I thought I might have heard it wrong and the voices were saying ‘constrictor.’  But the snakes here and I get along very well.  No, it was definitely ‘restrictor.’  Then they repeated, ‘What was once old is new again; what was here then gone is here again.’  And with that they left.”

Cherie shook her head, “I wish I could help you, Gord.  But I have no idea what the voices meant.”

“Why, neither do I, Cherie.  And yet even with that, while the voices were saying these things I had a wonderful, safe feeling inside.  It was like… why, it was like being home.”

“That’s an odd feeling to have when hearing such puzzling things.”

“Why, yes it is.  But that’s what I felt.”  With that Gord turned to his friend and smiled.  “I also feel it’s high time I let you get some sleep.  And do the same myself.”

“Without figuring out what the voices meant?”

“I will in time, I believe.  But for now, I’d rather think about that wonderful feeling.  It’s good when you’re home.  Don’t you think?”

Cherie chuckled.  “Yes, silly polar bear.”

Gord chuckled in reply.  “Why, yes, crazy thrasher.”  And with that Gord went into his small cave as Cherie closed her eyes and went to sleep, thinking about what the voices had said to her friend.