Interlude: A Sickening Thud

once again, you're getting a repeat because i've been too busy to write a new story. this is from last October, from the ballgirl blog.

A Sickening Thud

on a bright and chilly walk this morning we came across a tree that was surrounded by squirrels. i've never seen so many squirrels in one place--i counted seven, but they had already started to scatter by then, and i'm sure i missed some. they were gathered on the ground, foraging for something--buckeyes, or acorns, or i don't know what.

as we approached with the dogs, the squirrels fled, but with so many squirrels mass chaos ensued. a couple of them ran up the tree, some ran across the street, they got in each other's way, it was like the Keystone Kops.

and then out of the corner of my eye i saw movement, and heard a quick whooshPLOP! one of the squirrels had fallen from the top of the tree.

the sound it made when it hit the sidewalk can only be described as a sickening thud. i felt it in the pit of my stomach. the dogs barked, the squirrel leaped up and scrambled off into a yard. we walked on. but man, what a sound. it stays with you.

on our way back home an hour later, the tree was covered in squirrels again. but maybe one fewer than before.