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There is nothing quite like a good story |
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Dennison Story Tellers |
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The only thing better than reading a good story is writing a good story |
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Anne’s Opossum Story |
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“Lisa, Frank, stop fighting,” Mother scolded. “Sammy, have you brushed your teeth?” “No, but George didn’t either!,” Sammy returned. “You, you, you, you said that you wouldn’t tell Mom that me and Eddy didn’t brush our teeth!,” snorted George. “It’s Eddy and I,” Kate said, looking up from her book. “Who cares,” said George, “me and Eddy, Eddy and I, it’s all the same.” “Yeah, it’s all the same,” Eddy repeated.
“Now settle down children, Grandma will be here soon,” Mother said sternly. “Goodie,” shouted Lisa. “When, when,” cooed Frank. “We finally get to show he our leaf collection,” Sammy and Kate said together. “Let’s raise a fuss!!,” screamed George over them all. George was so loud he made them all go silent. Which made Eddy’s “Yeah!” a little louder than he wanted. Eddy’s white face went bright red with embarrassment. To change the subject Mother said, “why don’t you all go and wait for Grandma by the mailbox.” So, all six opossums ran out to the mailbox to wait for Grandma. |
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When they came back with Grandma, fresh eggshell cookies were on the table. Grandma took off her hat and scarf and sat down; followed by George, Lisa, Frank, Sammy, Eddy, Kate and finally Mother. “Grandma,” Eddy said shyly, “you goin’a tell us a story?” “Yes,” Grandma said, picking Eddy up on her lap. Eddy turned red. “I’m going to tell you a story.” That made him even redder. “What about,” asked Sammy? “You,” Grandma replied. With that Eddy got so nervous, that Grandma might talk about him, he excused himself to the bathroom. After another eggshell cookie Grandma started her story.
“Not to long ago your Mother and Father met each other between January and April.” “Is that when Mother’s name changed,” Lisa asked? “Yes, that’s when Mother’s name changed from Tina Sleats to Tina Gorgester. That’s your father’s last name.” “Where’s our father now,” Frank asked quickly. “Off in the woods where he belongs,” Grandmother replied, “the father doesn’t help raise the young. So your mother and father were married and pretty soon before you know it, you came into the world. You were only the size of an acorn.” “Really,” George said, looking down at his rather oversized belly. “Yep,” said Grandmother. “What happened next,” asked Sammy? “Well, next you had to crawl into your mother’s pouch.” Why do we have pouches?” “Well Kate, first only girl opossums have them and second opossums have them because we are marsupials. That means the babies, like you aren’t fully grown when they are born so they crawl into the pouch and start to drink milk for eight weeks and grow bigger.” “Is that where Mother hides the cookies from us,” George cut in? “And has so many crumbs in her bed because she sneaks food into her bed,” Lisa asked? Grandma laughed, “maybe, but lets get back to the story. For four more weeks you live with your mother before you’ll go off on your own. You’ll learn to catch worms, insects, get eggs, grain and garbage so you can have a happy healthy life.” “Why don’t we all go outside and get some fresh air,” Mother suggested. So, all eight opossums scampered out.
Grandma was about to start her story when she noticed Eddy was back. She smiled and went on., “You’ll go all over lower Michigan and maybe into the U.P. Most of you won’t build a nest because you won’t need one. Your mother lived with your neighbor Stella the skunk in the same den. Always remember though to stay near the forest and water and to watch out for dogs, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, hawks and owls.”
“Look at this Grandma,” Eddy said. Grandma came over and found Eddy making tracks in the sand. “Yes, very nice”, said Grandma, “and during the winter you will be less active and probably sleep like your mother did with Stella. But, now you will roam at night and sleep at day.” With that Grandma left with egg shell cookies in her pouch.
Anne 15 January 2009 |