Yesterday I ran across a silver squirrel.
I saw him on the way home from my walk with Miko, the dog.
We were crossing the parking lot behind the arena
when I came across a man looking up at the back wall of the building.
I saw nothing until I heard the sound.
A cry for help.
I looked toward the sound and found there to be a silver squirrel
caught upon a wire about sixty feet above the ground.
The squirrel was caught high above the pavement,
unable to turn around and make his way down.
He was quite distressed, screaming out for help.
By this time the man had left and I was alone to figure this out.
I wanted to help him down
but I realized that I could be of no comfort with the dog in tow.
I would only cause the squirrel more distress.
So I decided to take Miko home and then come back to help the squirrel.
I brought Miko home and returned to the arena.
On the way back I kept praying to God to keep the silver squirrel safe.
I was wondering what I could do to help the animal
down from such a height.
As I turned the corner of the building I immediately
tried to locate the place where the squirrel was perched high above.
I could no longer hear his cries.
-"Over here", a voice called out.
I thought that perhaps the same man had come back
to help the squirrel and was calling for my help.
But the parking lot was empty.
-"No. Over here by the bins."
I looked over at the two industrial waste disposal bins
but the man was not there.
-"Come closer."
Only as I moved closer towards the bins did I see him.
On top of the far bin sat the silver squirrel,
munching on a french fry recovered from the garbage within.
I looked around again.
It could not be possible.
-"Yes, I'm talking to you."
I moved towards the bins and the squirrel,
never truly believing that he could be talking to me.
I walked around the bins in search of the voice.
-"Ah! Another disbeliever! I thought you'd be different."
There was no-one anywhere around the bins
or in the whole of the parking lot for that matter.
Fact is fact.
The silver squirrel was talking to me.
-"Boy! This could get tired really quickly!"
To which I had no intelligent response.
You see, I was not in the habit of conversing with a squirrel.
I did not know what to say.
What would be appropriate subject matter?
-"Well, let's get down to it. What shall it be?",the squirrel nattered at me.
-"I beg your pardon?"
-"Your wish. What shall your wish be?
You get one wish to repay you for your prayers of protection.
God heard your prayers and helped me find the way down
from that dreadfull height. And now I shall grant you one
wish as a sort of thank-you of my own."
To which my mouth gaped open as if blowing bubbles.
-"Come now. We don't have all day.
I am needed back in the forest relatively soon." he squawked.
I was at a total loss.
What to wish for when only one wish is allowed.
From a magic squirrel.
A magic, silver squirrel.
All that can be given,
can be taken away.
I knew this and so I felt no need
or desire for material things.
All that I could truly keep with me was knowledge.
But I could not make a wish to gain knowledge
when I knew it must be earned.
-"Well, time's up. For what do you wish?" the silver squirrel insisted.
-"Well really I have no desire for things," I replied.
"What I really need is knowledge.
How to get on better in life with what I already have."
-"Amazing", chirped the squirrel.
"Never in all my years....
So what kind of knowledge would that be, specifically.
There are lots of ways to learn to live a better life."
-"Uh!", I was at a loss for specifics.
"I was kind of hoping you would know just what I need."
-"Well, I may be a magic squirrel, but I am no clairvoyant.
Nor am I an expert on all that which pertains to humans.
I can only tell you about what I know: squirrel medecine.
I am not sure that it will improve your quality of human life......
but it certainly will make you a better squirrel!
I decided to wish for squirrel medecine in my life.
I made my request to the silver squirrel
and it seemed to make him quite happy.
-"Squirrel medecine it is then." he informed me
as he rubbed his little paws together.
"Follow me."
For Part II, come and visit my blog soon....
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