You probably remember the ‘possums that live at our house. We only see them at night – Dad says they’re “octurnal” or something like that; I wasn’t paying attention because Scout was trying to get my ball. But anyway, they come out at night and eat cat food with our cats. Mom says that’s OK because they also like to eat fleas and roaches and other yucky bugs, so she says it’s a good swap.

I’m not sure whether I like them or not- they do look kinda like Bunny the kitten, except for that pointy nose and those beady little eyes and that naked tail. Something just isn’t right about that…

But I would like to at least get the chance to talk to one of them, at least one time. Every time we go out at night, I rush out, thinking this time I’m going to be able to talk to them, but no- they go rushing off the end of the porch before I can get their attention. So then I have to run around the house trying to catch up with them.   I try following them to the end of the porch, but every time they just jump off, so then I have to run around the house really fast 2 or 3 times. But it doesn’t do any good. Every time they disappear.

Every night when I run to the end of the porch, Mom says, “Hope be careful! You’re going to fall off!”  And each night, I think, “Nah, I can stop before the edge.”

Except for last night…. because I didn’t stop at the edge. I just sailed right off into the bushes.  Of course, I jumped up and ran off around the house- I told Mom that I meant to do that. (It only scratched me a little. I’m a big girl- it didn’t hurt.) It did actually get me a little closer to where the ‘possums are.

But I don’t think I want to do that anymore.

I think next time I’ll take the steps.