Chapter One
The fateful night
The harsh December wind blew the limbs of the trees back and forth casting strange shadows in the twilight. Soon the darkness of night would ascend. The small fuzzy opossum lumbered down the tree in which he had spent the better part of the day and scurried about to make his nightly rounds.
Each night he would leave the thick wood and climb up the hill, to the narrow road. Crossing the road with great caution, he would then wander around the people houses in search of food.
On this particular night, upon reaching the top of the hill he was startled by a screeching “Caw!Caw!”.
It was K. Row, the wiry old crow that acted as a lookout for this section of the thick wood.
“Caw! Where are you going, little Poe-Sam? Are you looking for your brother? Caw –Ha-Ha Haw Haw!”.
The little opossum acted as if he did not hear him. K.Row was a mischievous sort and Poe-Sam had learned long ago that it was better to just ignore him. The ugly old bird loved to make fun of other animals. When Poe-Sam would pay him no mind, he would seem to quickly tire of his games.
On this night, however, he was especially persistent.
“Poe-Sam, I think I saw your little brother yesterday…”
Poe-Sam’s ears perked up and for the first time he acknowledged the old crow. “Y-you did?” he meekly inquired.
“Sure, he was hanging around in a tree!” K.Row gave a rye smile, “he seemed so peaceful, I thought he was sleeping.”
“Where? What tree? When was that?! Is he still there – ” Poe-Sam was getting hopeful so K. Row cut in. “-Yeah but I was mistaken…it was just an old wasp nest…hee-hee... haw!HAW!Caw!Caw!”
The greasy black bird was still laughing as he flew away. Poe-Sam’s eyes got blurry as they filled with tears. How he missed his little brother.
It was here, near the road that he had lost him long ago.
Sadly, Poe-Sam called to mind that fateful night:
It had been a blustery night and so dark… there was hardly any moonlight. Poe-Sam and his brother, Cedric were going up to the people houses to find food and to watch in the windows as the people sang and laughed around their warm fireplaces. Cedric was very excited and full of questions. “Do you think the people will sing tonight, Poe-Sam?”... “Why do they laugh so?”... “What do you think they will sing?”.
On that particular night, Poe-Sam had not been listening instead he was watching the dark gray clouds churning above him. It looked like a storm was brewing.
As they climbed the hill a soft slush began to fall from the sky. It grew colder and ice began to form on Poe-Sam’s whiskers. The situation became more desperate, as they carefully crossed the road. Cedric’s questions stopped. They both were very concerned about the situation. “Poe-Sam… I’m frightened,” he said, “let’s go back.”
Poe-Sam agreed but as they turned back, the slush and snow had accumulated on the ground and hampered their travels. In fact, a couple of times, little Cedric completely disappeared in the drifts of snow.
Then it happened. Poe-Sam would never forget.
As they finally reached the road, they were so concerned with their struggles that they never heard the roar of the oncoming car – that is not until they found themselves momentarily blinded by the bright headlights.
In their confusion, the two fuzzy little animals scurried in opposite directions. The huge machine tried to stop but only skidded on the solid ice that now encrusted the road.
The automobile lurched sideways and barreled toward them! Poe-Sam tried to reach out to his frightened little brother but he was too far away!
He saw the huge shining wheel as it passed between he and his brother. Then he heard the deafening thunder of the engine as the automobile slid over the top of him.
And he was unhurt.
Fortunately, he had been so near the ground that the machine had not hit him.
Cedric, however, was nowhere to be found.
The automobile had rumbled off the road and down the hill. The people emerged, excited but unharmed.
Poe-Sam had quickly scurried away to hide under some dry leaves until the people finally went away. Then he searched all night for his brother.
He never found him.
That is the reason K. Row’s little trick had seemed so cruel.
Mr. Poe-Sam swallowed back his tears and pressed on.
He lumbered across the road and up the path to his favorite people-house.
Each night he would leave the thick wood and climb up the hill, to the narrow road. Crossing the road with great caution, he would then wander around the people houses in search of food.
On this particular night, upon reaching the top of the hill he was startled by a screeching “Caw!Caw!”.
It was K. Row, the wiry old crow that acted as a lookout for this section of the thick wood.
“Caw! Where are you going, little Poe-Sam? Are you looking for your brother? Caw –Ha-Ha Haw Haw!”.
The little opossum acted as if he did not hear him. K.Row was a mischievous sort and Poe-Sam had learned long ago that it was better to just ignore him. The ugly old bird loved to make fun of other animals. When Poe-Sam would pay him no mind, he would seem to quickly tire of his games.
On this night, however, he was especially persistent.
“Poe-Sam, I think I saw your little brother yesterday…”
Poe-Sam’s ears perked up and for the first time he acknowledged the old crow. “Y-you did?” he meekly inquired.
“Sure, he was hanging around in a tree!” K.Row gave a rye smile, “he seemed so peaceful, I thought he was sleeping.”
“Where? What tree? When was that?! Is he still there – ” Poe-Sam was getting hopeful so K. Row cut in. “-Yeah but I was mistaken…it was just an old wasp nest…hee-hee... haw!HAW!Caw!Caw!”
The greasy black bird was still laughing as he flew away. Poe-Sam’s eyes got blurry as they filled with tears. How he missed his little brother.
It was here, near the road that he had lost him long ago.
Sadly, Poe-Sam called to mind that fateful night:
It had been a blustery night and so dark… there was hardly any moonlight. Poe-Sam and his brother, Cedric were going up to the people houses to find food and to watch in the windows as the people sang and laughed around their warm fireplaces. Cedric was very excited and full of questions. “Do you think the people will sing tonight, Poe-Sam?”... “Why do they laugh so?”... “What do you think they will sing?”.
On that particular night, Poe-Sam had not been listening instead he was watching the dark gray clouds churning above him. It looked like a storm was brewing.
As they climbed the hill a soft slush began to fall from the sky. It grew colder and ice began to form on Poe-Sam’s whiskers. The situation became more desperate, as they carefully crossed the road. Cedric’s questions stopped. They both were very concerned about the situation. “Poe-Sam… I’m frightened,” he said, “let’s go back.”
Poe-Sam agreed but as they turned back, the slush and snow had accumulated on the ground and hampered their travels. In fact, a couple of times, little Cedric completely disappeared in the drifts of snow.
Then it happened. Poe-Sam would never forget.
As they finally reached the road, they were so concerned with their struggles that they never heard the roar of the oncoming car – that is not until they found themselves momentarily blinded by the bright headlights.
In their confusion, the two fuzzy little animals scurried in opposite directions. The huge machine tried to stop but only skidded on the solid ice that now encrusted the road.
The automobile lurched sideways and barreled toward them! Poe-Sam tried to reach out to his frightened little brother but he was too far away!
He saw the huge shining wheel as it passed between he and his brother. Then he heard the deafening thunder of the engine as the automobile slid over the top of him.
And he was unhurt.
Fortunately, he had been so near the ground that the machine had not hit him.
Cedric, however, was nowhere to be found.
The automobile had rumbled off the road and down the hill. The people emerged, excited but unharmed.
Poe-Sam had quickly scurried away to hide under some dry leaves until the people finally went away. Then he searched all night for his brother.
He never found him.
That is the reason K. Row’s little trick had seemed so cruel.
Mr. Poe-Sam swallowed back his tears and pressed on.
He lumbered across the road and up the path to his favorite people-house.
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