Large Fierce Mammal

A Strange Encounter at the crossroads … (Photo credit: Mrs. LFM)

Not a “girl power” story as our meagre age has come to know it. Think of it as, if they squint their eyes, they can imagine she’s a scaled down version of their Mother, and the kind of sister they would have ended up with.

A Strange Encounter at the Crossroads

By LFM

The Spring morn grass still bore the dew
As off to buy a thing or two
My Goode Wyfe sent our Sons all three —
The big, the middle, and the wee.

Before the sun full warmed the day,
With speed to keep the flies away,
And Mother’s wish as their command,
Our lads set off with list in hand.

Now, just past range of Mother’s call
There lay a crossroads used by all,
Where errands played out, fair and foul
Beneath the eyes of Hawk and Owl.

‘Twas there upon that thoroughfare
A looming scent oppressed the air,
As though the biggest, wettest dog
Had doused its coat in Eau de Bog.

They knew a Bear could smell that way,
And even on the driest day,
Yet subtle difference, hard to name,
Gave hint this was no Bear to blame.

Where most may look but never see,
In deepest hole or highest tree,
There is no stealth that can deny
Our Lukas with his Hunter’s Eye.

So moving on, each eye apeel,
The source of stench now feared reveal!
With hailing voice of tones benign
It moved beneath the crossroad sign.

“What ho!” it said, “Well met withal!
“Sweet Nature’s surely heard my call!
“A stout, strong lad be just the key,
“I pray for one, She sends me three!”

“What is this need of which you speak?”
Demanded Viktor, never meek,
“How is it lads may serve such need
“That you would pray for Nature’s heed?”

This heard, the creature looked about
And spied what Viktor’s ne’er without —
A long straight staff that never fails,
Whatever slippery game prevails.

Now sensing Viktor’s doubting tone,
It made a change unto its own,
“My good young sir, I mean no harm,
“My need is nought to cause alarm!”

“I am but a peaceful Squirrel,
“Less harmless even than a girl!
“I beg your aid to help conceal
“What brigands on these roads may steal!”

It then rolled forth beneath a paw
The biggest nut they ever saw!
The size of a molasses keg,
It stood as high as Maksim’s leg.

Though Maksim is the youngest one,
Of all he wields the sharpest tongue,
“No Squirrel’d be seen in such a hat,
“And nuts don’t grow as big as that!”

Said Lukas, “Who’s this ‘harmless’ girl?
“Your story’s weave presents a burl!
“Our Mother dearest once was one,
“Go tell her that, we’ll watch the fun!”

About that time a muffled noise
Reached the hearing of the boys,
Soon followed by a double thud
That rolled the nut across the mud!

“Oh dear!” exclaimed the grinning thing,
“My treasure’s gone and taken wing!”
But staff on high and loud, “Stay back!”
Viktor gave the nut a wack!

Then two and three, just like the first,
When hi-de-ho! The nut had burst!
Then as a demon straight from Hell,
A girl burst forth from in the shell!

Ere Viktor’s staff could lend its aid,
They saw the creature’s fate was laid,
Yelled Maksim, “Jane from down the way!
“She disappeared just yesterday!”

Before her captor’s hungry leer,
Jane cut its throat from ear to ear,
And seeing what had come to be,
Lukas pointed saying, “See?”