Macky and Frisky Find a New Home

            by Lana Robinson-Sum

 

Every morning, Macky and Frisky woke up in their soft mossy beds on the top of their tall pine tree. They stretched their little squirrel legs, wiggled their little squirrel noses, and shook their big bushy squirrel tails. For breakfast they ate one acorn apiece.

“Delicious,” Macky said.

“Scrumptious,” Frisky said.

 

 

Then the two squirrels were ready to start their day. They scampered along the branches of their pine tree and they jumped onto other trees with their flexible legs. They searched for nuts to eat and to bury so they could dig them up in the winter when nuts were scarce. Most of the time they ate acorns, but every once in a while they found a peanut that the little girl who lived in the big blue house across from the tree hid for them. And when they weren’t thinking about their tummies, Macky and Frisky played lots of games, like tag, hide-and-go-seek, and capture-the-leaf. At night, Macky and Frisky scampered back up to their soft mossy beds on the top of their tall pine tree and fell fast asleep.

One day in the middle of a fun round of capture-the-leaf, Macky and Frisky overheard the humans talking about their pine tree.

            “It’s such a shame,” the woman said.

            “Yes, but if the tree fell onto the house, someone could get hurt,” replied the man. “The gardener said it was getting too sick to be safe.”

            “I guess there’s only one thing to be done.”
            “Yes, there’s only one thing to be done.”

            “Tomorrow I’ll call the tree-cutter and make an appointment.”

            Frisky dropped the leaf she was holding. Macky nearly fell off the branch. Could they have heard right? The humans were calling a tree-cutter? The squirrels climbed up to the top of their pine tree and into the privacy of their nest. There they discussed the situation.

 

 

            “I don’t believe it,” said Macky. “This tree is as healthy as we are.”

            “Humans don’t know anything about natural things,” said Frisky. “All they know how to do is build houses and drive automobiles. It’s not fair!”

            “They know how to do one more thing, and that’s cut down trees. But I never thought it would be our tree!” Macky covered his face with his bushy tail. He did not want Frisky to see that he had tears in his eyes.

“All we can do is hope they forget about the whole thing,” Frisky said. “We just have to calm down and wait.” She paced up and down the branch. Frisky was always the reasonable one and knew the practical answers to everything. But even she was nervous and worried. The two squirrels did not sleep well that night.

            The next morning, they decided to pay a visit to Mr. Owl, who lived three branches below them in a hollowed-out hole in the tree trunk. Mr. Owl was very old and very wise. He knew all the secrets of the neighborhood and was accustomed to giving all sorts of advice to troubled animals.

            Frisky knocked on the side of the hole, to be polite, even though they could plainly see Mr. Owl sleeping inside. He opened first his left eye, then his right.

            “I know why you have come,” he said in his deep owl voice.

            “You do?” asked Macky.

            “Of course. All the residents of the pine tree have come for the same reason. You want to know if the rumors are true.”

            “Yes, that’s exactly why we’ve come,” said Frisky. “So, well, are they?”

            “This pine tree is the oldest tree in the neighborhood. It is older than the big blue house, it is older than the telephone poles, and it is even older than me. It has seen more and heard more than you or I can possibly imagine. And now, it is true, this pine tree is sick. There is nothing we can do to save it. Its time has come.”

 

            “No, I don’t believe you!” Macky screamed. But he did believe the owl. Mr. Owl was always right. Macky sniffled and covered his face with his bushy tail.

            “This news may be upsetting,” Mr. Owl continued, “but it is only the way of nature.”

            Frisky interrupted, “Is it true then that the humans are, are–”

            “Chopping it down?” Mr. Owl said. “I’m afraid so, I’m afraid so.”

            “Then, what should we do, Mr. Owl?” asked Frisky, almost in tears herself.

            “You must leave. Everyone must leave. We must find new homes, new trees, and new neighbors. But do not worry, in the end, matters will turn out as they should. Perhaps one day we will see each other again.” And with that, Mr. Owl closed first his left eye, then his right.

            “Come on, Macky,” whispered Frisky to her brother. The two squirrels quietly crept out of Mr. Owl’s hole so as not to disturb him, and climbed back to their own nest.

            “Don’t be sad,” said Frisky. “Mr. Owl said things will be alright. But first we need to move or else the humans might cut down our tree while we’re still in it!”

            So they set about packing. First they gathered up their mossy mattresses and stuffed them in little backpacks. Then they went down to the ground to dig up all the nuts they had buried that year. They dug and dug all day, until their little claws ached and their legs were sore. By the end, Frisky had found eight acorns and two peanuts. Macky had found only four acorns, a pebble that looked like an acorn, and a little silver button.

            “What use do we have for a button?” Frisky asked when Macky showed her what he had found.

            “I thought it was rather pretty,” he said softly. “I’m keeping it.”

            “Fine,” Frisky said, although she thought Macky was being quite silly.

 

  

        

The next day was moving day. Frisky woke up to the chirps of their neighbors, the Sparrows. She stretched her little squirrel legs, wiggled her little squirrel nose, and shook her big bushy squirrel tail. Frisky looked over at Macky, who was snoring quite loudly. He liked to sleep in, but today Frisky had to wake him up. So she sang a little song:

 

Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping?

Brother Macky? Brother Macky?

Morning birds are singing,

Morning birds are singing,

Cheep cheep chirp,

Cheep cheep chirp.

 

Macky opened his sleepy eyes and sat up. “Ow!” he exclaimed as he poked his head on the pine needles that hung over his bed. “What do you mean by waking me up so early? I was having a rather nice dream.”

            “There’s no time for dreaming. It’s moving day, remember? Let’s hit the road, Mack.” So the two of them put on their backpacks of moss and stuffed as many nuts as could possibly fit into their big squirrel cheeks. Macky put his little silver button in a secret pocket of his backpack.

            “Goodbye, old pine tree,” they whispered through all the nuts in their mouths. The tree didn’t say anything, but its big branch swayed in the wind as if to say farewell in reply.

 

          

            Macky and Frisky wandered all over the neighborhood. They crossed fifteen fences, four roads, and three streams, but they couldn’t find a tree good enough to call home. After two days and two nights, when they were down to their last peanut, they came upon a huge, green oak tree. It had wide branches, big cozy nooks, and acorns growing all over it.
            “Wwwwoooooooowwwww,” they both said in amazement.

            “Come on,” Frisky said as she took Macky by the claw and hopped onto the fence that separated the tree from them.

            “HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!” Six blue jays swarmed down and stopped the squirrels from crossing the fence. “We are the border patrol officers of this yard,” one of them said. “Did you think you could just jump over this fence for free?”

            Frisky said bravely, “There aren’t any signs that say we can’t. What do you want, anyway?”

            The blue jay replied, “We demand that you pay an entry fee. The fee for two creatures like yourselves is....” The jay cocked his head to one side to do the math. “Seventeen blueberries!”

            Macky and Frisky looked at each other. How could they possibly get blueberries? Then Frisky thought of an idea.

            “We have something better than blueberries,” she said.

            “Nothing is better than blueberries,” said the jay.

            “The problem with blueberries,” Frisky continued, “is that you eat them, and then they’re gone! They’re not permanent. We can offer you something that will last a lifetime. Have you ever had mattresses made out of moss?”

 

 

            “What’s moss?” the blue jay asked. The jays had never seen it before, because it only grew in the squirrels’ old neighborhood. Macky and Frisky took their moss out of their backpacks. The jays reached out to touch it with their wings. They felt how very soft it was, and their greedy eyes gleamed.

            “Give us all the moss and we will let you pass!” the big jay said. And so the squirrels handed over their prized moss and scurried into the yard. They continued toward the oak tree, which, like the pine, towered above a little creek. “Perfect,” Frisky thought as she led the way across the creek.

            “NOT SO FAST!” cawed three big crows as they flew down in front of the squirrels.

“We are the traffic controllers of this creek,” one of them said. “Do you think you can cross it for free?”

            Then Frisky said with all her might, “Why not? I don’t see any toll booths. But let me guess. You’re charging a fee, right?”

            “That’s right,” said the crow with an selfish smile. “For two critters like you, I’d say the price is...” The crow stopped to prune its feathers and think. “Seventeen worms! Live worms!”

            Macky moaned. How could they ever catch so many worms? But Frisky already had an idea.

            “You eat worms?” she said to the crows. “How very uncivilized. I bet you’ve never even tasted quality food before.”

            “Oh I know what you squirrels eat,” laughed the crow. “You eat those gross acorns. Ewww!”

            “I’m not talking about acorns,” said Frisky. “Have you ever heard of peanuts?”

            The crows looked at each other. They were confused. There were no peanut plants in the neighborhood, and they had no idea what they were.

 

 

            “I have one peanut with me,” said Frisky, taking it out of her cheek and wiping it off with her tail. “It’s a very rare and delicious food for which I paid a great deal of money. However, I suppose I would be willing to part with it in exchange for passage across this creek.”

            The crows’ eyes grew narrow with greed when they saw the wet peanut, and they eagerly snatched it up. Then Macky and Frisky began to scurry up the tree trunk of the oak. They climbed up and up, until they found a very large, cozy-looking nook, just the perfect size for two squirrels.

            But before they could even sit down for a rest, a loud, barking voice yelled from above: “WHO DARES ENTER INTO MY TREE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION?” Macky and Frisky looked up, trembling from fear. What they saw was the biggest, furriest raccoon they had ever beheld.

            “We are two squirrels,” Frisky stuttered. “Our names are–”

            “I DON’T CARE WHAT YOUR NAMES ARE!” said the raccoon. “I AM THE LANDLORD OF THIS OAK AND I WILL NOT STAND FOR ANY... SQUIRRELS!”

            “Is there some sort of fee we must pay?” asked Frisky.

            “DO YOU THINK I NEED ANYTHING FROM YOU? I AM THE RICHEST ANIMAL IN THE WORLD!”

            Frisky was stumped. The raccoon did not seem willing to bargain, and besides, Frisky didn’t have anything left to offer.

            “Macky,” she whispered. “What should we do?”

            Macky thought and thought. Then he said, “I have an idea!” He opened up his backpack, reached into the secret pocket, and took out the little silver button. “Mister Raccoon, sir,” he spoke loudly. “I know you don’t need anything, but a landlord like you deserves to have all the riches in the world. And I have one treasure I might be willing to sell to you.” He held up the silver button, and it gleamed in the sun. Now, raccoons absolutely cannot resist anything shiny. This raccoon was especially greedy for shiny objects, so when he saw the button, he knew he must have it.

 

 

            “I ORDER YOU TO HAND OVER THAT BUTTON!”

            “I will only give it to you if you’ll let us live in this nook forever and ever,” said Macky firmly.

            The raccoon landlord stood silent, thinking. Then he nodded, snatched up the button with his claw, and climbed up to the top of the tree and out of sight. Macky and Frisky breathed a sigh of relief. They scampered inside their new home, exhausted, but happy. And soon they were snoring.

            Macky and Frisky lived peacefully in their nook in the oak tree for years and years. At first it was difficult to get used to the new kinds of leaves and the new kind of tree bark, but in time they adjusted. They never had any more problems with the landlord raccoon. He actually turned out to be very gentlemanly once he got to know them, and even traveled many fences to bring them moss bedding as a housewarming gift. They also made lots of new friends with their other neighbors, such as Boris the Badger, Holly the Hummingbird, and Woodrow the Woodpecker, who introduced them to all the best parts of the oak tree, including its unlimited supply of yummy acorns! Yes, Macky and Frisky grew to love their new home quite a lot.

 

 

But they never forgot about their old neighborhood. Every so often, they would travel back to the old yard where the pine tree once stood. They would visit their old friends, climb the old trees, and search for peanuts that the girl in the big blue house still hid for them.

“Delicious,” Macky would say.

“Scrumptious,” Frisky would say.

And when their tummies were full and happy, they would wave goodbye again and scamper back across the fences, roads, and streams to their nook in the oak tree, where they would curl up in their soft mossy beds and fall fast asleep.