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Celia Downey: Fence Row Possum By Celia Downey A whispered voice awakened me in the wee hours of the morning at about 0200. I could hear the urgency in his voice. Alerting from a sound sleep, I instantly knew the little voice from the dark was that of Jack, Jack Russell Terrier. Turning to check Jack, I saw him in the shadows, at full attention, poised on the floor, staring up at me with head cocked to the right. Our eyes locked. Jack laid back his ears, I laid back my ears. A 911 situation in the making. "GOOD GRIEF and what is your problem at this time of morning?" I grimaced through thin lips. In response, Jack stepped up to the microphone and let it rip, barking at about 20,000 decibels. A bark is amplified in the dark. Concerned! Was Jack sick, did Jack recognize a problem, an intruder, what? After all Jack is a trained guard dog and cruises the house all night long, sniffing the perimeters, watching for a bird to fly over, or hear a creak of anything. Jack was ok, he yelled, "This way", and rocketed away. So after successfully blasting me out of sleep at 0200, Jack decided it was The Time to reveal his most prized findings during his latest nocturnal house prowl. Barking, leaping, and panting, I knew his drill, so off we went into the unknown black night of the house. Sliding around the corners, Jack sped to the back porch window, perched and panting while peering out onto the back porch. "Jack, you big pig! It is Willow the Cat, quit harassing her. Go to sleep." Jack did not quit, rather he escalated his yapping, panting, and hopping around. It was now 0210 and this was ridiculous! Peeking through the curtains I saw something laying beside Willow the Cat's Cat Food Bowl. Hmmm. The spot light revealed a tiny body, furry black and white. Not a kitten or a puppy. It had a long snout and was curled into a ball on the cold concrete. Strangely I remembered the Possum who shyly stared at me from the fence row several days ago. One late afternoon she sat smiling, watching us and the next day she just was not there. I wondered if she had babies, never knew. Now this? Quietly screeching open the door, I stepped into the cold fall morning, at 0215 by now. Tiny animal by bowl did not move. Oh me, a baby possum, and small as a child's hand. Wrapping the baby in a towel I gave her warm milk with a syringe. Where does one find possum milk at this time of day or any time or anywhere? Cow's milk had to do plus what better to do at 0220 on a fall morning? Jack, as we hoped for, announced the intruder in the towel with his most mighty yelps, bark, growls, and acting a general fool. Jack's Showing of his displeasure was a Gold Medal Winner. I put Jack in Timeout. The baby possum took about 6 drops of the milk, then slept snugly wrapped in its' own white towel. Tiny Baby was full, warm, and safe. Jack calmed down and slept after a serious conversation to shut his mouth. That baby Possum was wrecking my life and Jack's life. I worried about her and I committed to her. Somehow I knew that Possum staring at me from the fence row knew she could not care for her offspring. The Fence Row Possum somehow analyzed who would care for her surviving baby and where her baby could receive best care. She saw Willow the Cat eat all the cat food she wanted and in a safe place. So Fence Row Possum left her Tiny Baby in the best place she knew, with Willow the Cat on the porch. All was good. During the wee hours of that morning, Jack found a Baby Possum who now eats Willow the Cat's cat food. Actually Jack saved Baby Possum's life. Jack and I buy more cat food at the Cat Food Store and Jack barks more at night, since possums are nocturnal creatures and he sees her and starts his horrible charade of the announcement of her arrival. I feel myself turning into a nocturnal creature from exhausted pleas for quietness and the threats of "I'll get the fly swat after you." This tactical maneuver is rewarded with a brief period of silence. The Baby Possum is growing and sleeps in the white towel on the porch chair with Willow the Cat, they are friends. We don't know what to name the Baby Possum. The name will come. Jack thought possibly the name "Wee" might be fitting as He likes her too. We are glad the Mother, Fence Row Possum, chose us to care for her Baby. I am glad when Jack yaps, dances, and slides on the floors at 0200 alerting the house the Baby Possum is eating Willow the Cat's Cat food. What a Blessing for all! Lessons Learned: It matters not from where you came. Yap and Dance around if you have a Big Announcement. It matters if someone in your life cares enough to provide food, shelter, and warmth. Give Thanks for the Bless, no matter how large or small. Always have extra Cat Food and a Fly Swatter ready to roll. Addendum: The Fly Swatter may be substituted with a newspaper roll. No harm either way. This story was posted on 2018-10-15 21:19:03
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Adair Co Republican Party regular meeting Thu 18 Oct Economic Development meets Tuesday, 16 Oct 2018 at 8amCT Downtown Days: Thanks to everyone from the City of Columbia Saloma Baptist adopts and honors CU Bass Fishing team Sad word of the passing of young Michael Lindsey Adair County Alcoholic Beverage Commission report Little Cake Christian Church Revival was scheduled for Sun 4 Nov Fish Fry at Christie's Chapel UMC Sat 20 Oct 2018 Winning Squarecrow 2018 is Bloomington Chapel Church Revival at Second Christian Church Wed-Fri 17-19 OCT 2018 View even more articles in topic News |
 
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