I’m short on time today, so I’ll have to go for one of my back-up ideas for when I’m low on ideas and content. Gather ’round for the story about King Meanie.
Years ago, we noticed that we had a lot of squirrels in the back yard and it was quite entertaining to see them chasing each other around like siblings having a good time playing tag. But as we watched more closely, we began to see something a little more sinister happening. One of the squirrels was, in fact, a little bit of a bully. Each time a squirrel would approach the bird feeder to get some food, the bully would chase it away so he could keep the food supply for himself. We named him King Meanie. Of course, all squirrels look more or less the same, so we couldn’t always tell which one was King Meanie until he started in with his bullying.
But then something very fitting happened. We started putting out peanuts (in the shell) for the squirrels to keep them away from the bird feeder. This didn’t work, by the way – oh, how young and naive we were. King Meanie kept up his usual practice of making sure he got most of the food supply. He started looking a little ragged around the edges. Then it became clear he was losing hair. We found out that squirrels are actually not supposed to eat peanuts – it leads to hair loss. None of the other squirrels suffered this fate.
The refrain to the Gilbert and Sullivan song, “Let the Punishment Fit the Crime,” seems appropriate here:
My object all sublime
I shall achieve in time –
To let the punishment fit the crime –
The punishment fit the crime;
And make each prisoner pent
Unwillingly represent
A source of innocent merriment!
Of innocent merriment!
King Meanie was indeed the source of innocent merriment for us. I don’t think he ever repented of his wicked ways, either.
Sadly, I don’t have a photo of King Meanie in his woebegone state, but here’s another squirrel who looks just like him before he lost his hair.
Don’t you think he has somewhat of an evil glint in his eye?
I’ll probably delete this in the morning.
Lynniebeemuseoday 