Storytime

When Sammy found himself ‘up a tree,’ it was Mom who saved the day!

Once upon a time, Sammy the baby raccoon cried, “Mommy, Mommy, where are you?” as he peered out of the knothole in the old, dead cedar tree in Stanley Park.

“I’m hungry, Mommy. You said you’d be back in a few minutes but you’ve been gone for ages! Where are you? I’m so scared! What if a big bear comes to eat me up? What’ll I do then? Please come back. Pleease!”

Hikers on the trail stopped and looked up as they heard Sammy’s plaintiff cry. Soon they were joined by joggers and bikers, many busy focusing their cameras and smartphones to catch the action.

Just then Mamma raccoon jumped over to the old cedar from an adjoining tree. Sammy was overjoyed. Still crying, “Mommy, Mommy!” he crawled out of the knothole and scurried down the side of the old tree to meet his mom.

“Where have you been?” he cried, “I thought you were never coming back!”

“Such nonsense, son. You know I went out to gather food for us. You must learn to be patient, child. Soon I’ll teach you how to forage for food, but for now, come on back into our nest.”

She hurried up the tree and squeezed through the knothole. Just as she turned around to watch Sammy, he lost his footing, slipped and fell to the ground.

A gasp went up from the crowd as Sammy hit the ground with a thump. Fortunately, undergrowth at the base of the tree broke his fall. Immediately Mamma raccoon squeezed back out through the hole and shot down the tree calling for Sammy, whose little voice could be heard calling, “Mommy! Mommy!”

Sammy reappeared at the base of the tree, still crying as he climbed up the tree trunk. His mother heaved a sigh of relief. While climbing along beside him, she scolded him for not being more careful. Then she hurried on ahead and climbed back into the knothole. She turned around and stuck her head out of the hole to watch her little son and give him encouragement and instructions as he slowly made his way back up.

Sammy hesitantly made his way to a burl sticking out of the trunk about half a metre from the hole and climbed onto it to have a little rest. After a few minutes he resumed his climb.

The crowd shouted, “Come on little guy, you can do it!” as he would take a few steps upward and then slip back. He rested a few more minutes on the burl then struck out again.

“Help me, Mommy!” Sammy called as he neared the hole. Mamma raccoon leaned out and reached down a “hand.” Sammy clasped it with one of his own and his mom pulled him the last little bit. He quickly disappeared into the hole, chattering happily as he went,” Thank you, Mommy, you’re the best!”

The crowd clapped and cheered at the happy outcome before stowing their gear and continuing on their way. ■