Beady Brown Eyes
The street I grew up on in Bethlehem was very similar to the street we’re living on now. While Bethlehem was, obviously, much smaller than Chicago, they’re both old cities, with tree-lined streets and urban flora and fauna.
In Bethlehem, the fauna included a bunch of rabbits (including several babies that my sister, Rachel, decided to bring into the house one summer evening), birds, spiders, bats, and, especially, squirrels.
There was one very friendly squirrel that lived around our house that my sister named “Peanut”. Peanut was a gentle soul, who would often come up on our porch and munch on granola and other goodies that we left out for him (or her… we never did get a good look at the animal’s private area).
Peanut hung around for years, and when my sister headed off to West Chester University, the squirrel hitched a ride down Route 309 and lived in her dorm room. True story.
I never had the same type of relationship with wild creatures that my sister did. That is evidenced by the squirrel that has taken up residence in the area near our building who we have affectionately dubbed “Brazen Squirrel”.
(Brazen is a great word, one that is usually only uttered by 80-year-olds from a rocking chair on their porch. “You brazen kids, get off my lawn!”)
But brazen is a great descriptor of this squirrel. He eats out of the trash cans. He sits on the back fence, and stares at you, daring to walk through the gate. He runs around you and even between your legs as you sit down in one of the patio chairs. He jumps off the side of the building as you’re walking up the stairs, mocking you. Mocking you! With his beady little eyes!
He has yet to attack any of us, but we’re waiting. One day, he will come up to us, snarl his evil snarl, and then take my wallet. I will get mugged by a squirrel.
At first, I was worried he was rabid, but he’s been around for a few years now, and rabid animals don’t live that long. No, he’s just a meany.
Henry seems uninterested in the nasty creature. If the squirrel comes skulking around him, he ignores him or yells at him (“No!”), the same as he does to the cats when he feels that they’re doing something wrong.
I’ve realized there is only one way to make this squirrel walk the straight and narrow: I’m getting my sister to come out here and do her Dr. Dolittle impersonation and turn this rodent zero into a hero.
July 21st, 2010 at 3:40 pm
I remember the baby bunnies very well – but have no recollection on the squirrel, Peanut. Not a lasting memory, I guess….
I remember running over a squirell going to Nicky’s house – he was completely flat except for his bushy tail that was sticking up like nothing had ever happened. sigh, poor relative of Peanut.
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:06 am
I, too, will use the word “brazen.” Brazen is favored by the very old, both mentally and chronologically. I fall into the former category. My Latin teacher also would say it, as she would chide a student in class by saying, “Our youngest is our most brazen.” I have said that to Alex in regards to Sebastian. So to answer your question, Raphe, “what are you, 80,” the answer is, “yes.”
July 24th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
All squirrels are brazen.