To the Squirrel in my Basement

Hello in there. How are you this fine winter morning?

You look lonely in that cage, hiding beneath that huge bushy tail with nothing to accompany you but a half-eaten, dried corn cob. (Perhaps, it's only another form of hibernation?) At least you aren't outside with the snow and ice and coldness. Well, until you're set free again.

It was the snow that chased you down our chimney, wasn't it? Or maybe you were frolicking along our roof and out of curiosity decided to peek into that tall brick thing up there.

It took a while for us to catch you, to leer you into this squirrel trap. I didn't like the idea of you starving in a dark forgotten corner among spiders and cockroaches and broken appliances and things we just didn't know what to do with.

So, here is a song to cheer you up...

Rock a bye baby in the treetops,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock...

***************

3 hours later:

Mom: The officer from Animal Control came to pick up the squirrel.
Me: What?! Why?!!!
Mom:(with some hesitation) Apparently, the squirrel hung itself. On the string attached to the corn cob. It got wrapped around the squirrel's head somehow.
Me: Noooooooo!!!!!

I'm really sad right now.