LateNightHacking Louis My Writing

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Nutsy flipped the last of the pecan pancakes off of the skillet and expertly caught it on the plate. It slapped quietly against its three brethren. The aroma of hot, fresh pancakes pervaded the whole kitchen. The kitchen was part of the flying squirrel’s home, hollowed out in a great oak tree. The squirrel hummed "All I want for breakfast are these fine pancakes" as he sauntered over to his pantry and stared inside. "And what shall go on them?" he chittered as he looked at the jars of preserves and syrups. "Hmmm. Blackberry... blueberry... orange... raspberry... Oo, now here’s an interesting one." He took out the jar and carried it over to the counter where the pancakes were. "Gooseberry," he murmured as he spread jam lavishly over the stack on the plate. "A new taste sensation!" With that he stabbed a fork in the top of the pancakes and carried it out to the table.

It seems that the aroma of good cooking had spread further than just the kitchen.

As he stepped into the next room, a huge gray muzzle poked in through the open portal that lead to the outside. Nutsy almost ran into the furry snout that now blocked his path, and he was so startled that he almost dropped the plate. "Aaak!"

"Did I smell food?" came the muffled query from the rather large mouth. Whatever was outside had its jaws held closed by the somewhat small hole that was the entrance to Nutsy’s home.

"Josh, are you trying to scare me to death?" asked the squirrel. He grabbed his fork and thumped the intruder on his rubbery nose.

Josh managed to stick his tongue out and lick off his nose. "Mmm! Gooseberry!"

"And you can’t have any! This is my breakfast! Go get your own!" commanded Nutsy. The muzzle snorted and disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Nutsy went to the portal and watched the raccoon make his way down the side of the great oak. "I’ll be at Tumblewater!" Josh called up when he had reached the ground. "Come out when you’re done!" The squirrel waved with his fork, then turned and walked to the table to enjoy his breakfast in peace.

˜ ™

Nutsy walked down the path that led away from his home tree. It was a small path that led between the ancient trees of Shady Woods. The giant oaks had a certain nobility and Nutsy was proud to have a home here. Weaving his way under the ferns and blackberry brambles, he came to the much larger, clearer path used by the larger denizens of the forest. Turning, he headed south down towards the creek known as Tumblewater Springs.

Being small, Nutsy was ever on the lookout for danger. It also meant he didn’t make much noise when he walked. The layer of moss on the trail made his passage virtually silent. Down the path he could see Josh fishing in the creek. Josh was sitting on a rectangular rock that extended a ways into the water. The water bubbled and gurgled as it wended its way down its rocky bed, with a sudden splash every so often as Josh grabbed for a fish.

Nutsy walked up unnoticed behind the raccoon who was concentrating on the task at hand. The ’coon watched the ripples in front of him closely for the telltale spotted flash of the little brook trout that lived in the creek.

"Yah!" <Sploosh!> Josh swiped both hands through the water. Dripping, he held up his catch. "Gotcha!" The trout wiggled vigorously, but the raccoon held him fast. He stared at the wiggling fish. "My you look delicious," said Josh as he admired the trout. "Still," he continued to himself, "I’ve just about had my fill. Should I eat another one?"

Nutsy decided to get revenge for the scare Josh had given him earlier. As Josh was talking to his food, Nutsy jumped up and grabbed the tip of the raccoon’s proud tail.

"Hee hee!" he chittered as tugged backwards on the gray and black striped tail.

"Whaaa!" yelled Josh in surprise as he lost his balance. His footing slipped and he threw up his arms. The fish flew through the air and the ’coon tumbled backwards off the rock. Nutsy, quick as ever, scrambled out of the way as Josh landed with a <thud> on his back on the mossy bank. He laid there, slightly stunned. "What happened?"

Nutsy leapt up onto the boulder where Josh had been a moment before. "Looks like your breakfast got away." He waved happily to the fish as it swam back into the shadows.

Josh raised his head and looked down his belly towards the flying squirrel standing on the rock. "I know somefurry who *won’t* be getting away."

Nutsy turned to face the burly raccoon at least three times his size who was still flat on his back with his feet in air. He grinned impishly. "You wish, ya big lump! You couldn’t beat a banana slug if it gave you a three yard..."

Belying more agility than one might expect, Josh did a snap sit-up, allowed his momentum to carry him up onto his hind legs, and jumped onto the rock. With a splash, Nutsy was making friends with the fish again.

Nutsy fetched up on a rock as the current carried him down stream. He climbed out and stood in the middle of the creek, gasping for breath. He coughed a couple of times, then held out his forelimbs as he look at himself. "AAAAARGG! I’m drenched! YOU OAF! Look at me! I’m totally soaked! Aaaaah! Look at my tail!"

"Yeah, but ya sure smell better."

This infuriated the wet squirrel, who began hopping up and down and waving his arms violently. "Why you -- you...! Joshua, when I catch you I’ll..! Aaah! I’ll get you, I will!"

The masked one just smiled. "Catch me if you can," he replied in quiet challenge. With that he turned and bounded off on all fours into the dense forest to the north east.

"I can!" Nutsy screamed after him, and the flying squirrel gave a tremendous leap into the air. He almost made it all the way onto the bank. "Blasted creek!" He hauled his hindquarters out of the water. "Frigging tail!" He shook himself dry this time. "Blooming wiseacre ’coons!!!" He leapt into the air.