Return of the squirrel

I told you about that squirrel I’ve been feeding. Our relationship is deepening. 

It started with the consistent laying of shelled nuts on the outside window sill. The squirrel (sex unconfirmed, but I sense “he” so going with that) would appear in the window, “Yo! Where’re the nuts at?” 

I’d hold one out in my hand, but he wasn’t ready for all that. I kept it up. He’d inch closer each time. Finally, trust was established. Now he casually takes the nut from my fingers and begins to chew on the spot. Two dudes hanging out. 

Today, another moment. He didn’t stop at the window but popped his head through the open slider. “What’s up, bro?” 

Curious, I placed a nut on the floor, about a foot from the window. He spotted it. Recognized the proposal. Retreated. Thought it over. Returned seconds later and stepped through. Looked around and made his way across the inside sill of the window. 

He was cautious, but, I sensed, bewildered. “So… this is life on the inside?” 

Not tempting fate, he moved back to the opening and slipped back out. Negotiated logic once more, then returned and repeated the process. 

For my part, I remained still. Fighting the urge to squirm. I’m not a fan of insects and rodents. So, I try my best to be at peace when we meet. 

He returned a third time, clear on his objective. “I need that nut, and I’m pretty sure I can outrun this fucker.” 

He paced the sill again, this time scoping his route. Eyeballing the curtain cord, he quickly ascertained the obvious, “That won’t hold me.” Curtain it was. So, he leapt to it, shimmied down, felt the slippery linoleum “wood” beneath his claws, grabbed the nut in his teeth, Fred Flintstoned a coupla steps, barreled back up the curtains, slid awkwardly on the sill, then hauled ass out of sight. 

I imagine tomorrow night, I’ll have to boot him around midnight. “Alright, man. Imma hit the hay.” 

Relationships take time. Be patient. 

He’s getting bolder every day: