Can Squirrels Talk?
Written By Kruti Patel
Beep! Beep! The car comes to a stop, and Carla screams, “Hi, Grandma! Hello Grandpa!” Carla’s brother comes out of the car too, and races to the door, knocking on it two times. Carla and her brother, Simon, are excited to see their grandparents because tonight, they are hosting an annual party that they have every year! And every year, Simon and Carla would ride in a car and race to Grandma and Grandpa’s house.
There is a voice heard by the children, and Grandma comes outside, holding a small, cute puppy. “Her name is Stella!” She tickles the puppy’s belly, and Grandpa welcomes Simon and Carla inside the house. “How is school, children?” he asks as Simon and Carla sit down on a comfy sofa together. Carla replies, “It’s going good! My brother, Simon, started 2nd grade, and now I’m in 5th grade!” Simon nodded his head rapidly and said cheerfully, “Yeah!”
Grandma says, “Hey, children, why don’t you go outside and play in the yard while your grandpa and I prepare for the party?” The two children nod and rush outside the house. When they enter the yard, they see the green foliage of many elegant oak trees. “Carla, look, there’s a squirrel, and it’s flying!” Simon points up in the sky at a squirrel, who was sticking out his arms. “That’s just a flying squirrel, silly. It’s a type of squirrel that doesn’t really fly. It just glides in the air,” Carla explains to Simon.
The squirrel glides down, down, down until it reaches the ground, and when it does, Carla and Simon rush over to it, checking to see if it’s alive or not. The squirrel suddenly exclaims, “I’m alive!” Carla jumps back, and Simon hits a nut at it. “Ow! Watch who you’re hitting nuts at!” it complains. Carla looks shocked. She had never seen a squirrel who could talk, especially not a flying squirrel! “Are you an artificial squirrel?” Carla asks because she doesn’t believe that animals can speak like people can.
The squirrel is shaking his head and says, “Of course not! I’m a real live natural squirrel! Is that clear enough for you?” It starts looking for a few nuts, groveling on the ground. “Yes, but still, animals can’t talk in people’s language! They can talk in their own language, yes, but still! It’s just not possible, and this is just some kind of imaginational dream I’m having! According to psychology-” “Do you know what I think of your speech?” the squirrel interrupted. “I have four words for you: It’s boring, boring boring! In fact, you bore me just by saying that.”
Carla says, “Okay, I won’t tell you anything that you think is boring.” “Thank you!” the squirrel replies. Simon asks, “What should we call you?” “Glider!” it says with enthusiasm. “Are you a he or she?” Simon questions. “I’m a he, for your information!” Glider answers in an annoyed voice. “But can you take me to the park please?” “Well, we have a considerable amount of time to go to the park before the party starts, but you’re not invited, Glider,” Carla says.
They walk to the park, and the children teach Glider new tricks, like how to do a handstand. Carla looks at her watch and says, “I’m sorry, Glider, but we have to go back to our grandparents’ house because they’re hosting a party,” Simon and Carla say farewell to Glider and race home. Glider suddenly evaporates, and Carla says as they race home, “I don’t think Glider was crude at all! In fact, he was sweet and kind, but he was a little annoyed when you kept asking questions, Simon.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter,” Simon says, “As long as there is a blend of vanilla and chocolate ice cream at the party, I’m fine!”