Sample Writing

Most of this summer I kept the window open at the top of the basement stairs so that the cats could come and go as they please. I put food and water at the top of the stairs. Of course the down side is that I've occasionally had other cats in the neighborhood belly up to the free bar. Sometimes there has been a ruckus and food and water got spilled. I attributed this to Luther, Jane's cat from across the street. He is the biggest bully and has Martini completely cowed. Sometimes as I cleaned up the messes, I've grumbled about a herd of elephants traipsing through the house. A few times I've shut down the free lunch whenever the weather outside was too rainy or cold.

For several weeks now, I've noticed the water bowl was just plain dirty, and I would grumble at Martini and Houdini about washing their paws in the water bowl. This morning I picked up the water bowl and fussed again about how dirty the water looked. It had bits of grass in it. I thought to myself that it looked as though a raccoon had been using the water bowl to wash its food. I went to the sink to clean and refill the water bowl and was stepping back to the top of the stairs when I caught sight of a gray shadow. As I watched, a ringed tail disappeared down the steps. I peeked over the steps and turned the light on there sat a nicely fat raccoon, about teenager size, not fully grown. He/she looked up at me completely unafraid as if to say, "Alright, already, let's get breakfast on."

I have this bad habit of talking to animals, so I said, "So, you really are a coon. Enjoy your meal." just as if I were serving a Hardee's customer.
I set the food and water down, and closed the door at the top of the steps and went to take my bath. I assumed my uninvited guest left the same way she came, through the window.
Finishing my bath, I came back into the kitchen, made my coffee, opened the door to let the cats in, neither of which came right away. I was busy sipping my coffee and answering my e-mail when Houdini came in demanding attention. I barreled into the kitchen, grabbed a can of cat food, poured it out and set it on the floor for Houdini. Now Houdini is a picky eater and the vet has prescribed vitamins which have to be given each day to try to perk up her appetite. In a few minutes she was back at the computer, walking on the keyboard and otherwise trying to get my attention. Coffee was gone so I go back to the kitchen, poke Houdini?s vitamins down her throat, grouse at her because she has only nibbled her food. She climbs upon the big chair in the kitchen and I decide to make some toast and jelly for breakfast.

Pretty soon, from behind me as I stand at the counter I hear slurping, eating sounds, so I turn and say, "So you decided to eat your breakfast after all."
Houdini sat in the chair stoically watching the young raccoon gobble up her breakfast. I finished fixing my toast, pulled out a chair, sat down and ate my breakfast whilst five feet away, a raccoon pigged out. She made several trips from the food bowl to the water bowl. They really do wash their food, very messily. Once she reared up on her hind legs to investigate the garbage can. Before I thought I clapped my hands and said, "Scat." Which is the way I broke the cats from the same habit. She put her front feet down, and calmly regarded me as if to say, "See, I do have manners." and went back to eating.

Breakfast over, I needed to go to the basement to iron the top I was going to wear to work, so I walked toward the raccoon expecting her to flee out the window. She did not. She proceeded me into the basement staying a good four feet ahead of me, went into the little room off the main basement, waited for me to clear the steps and then carefully returned upstairs to eat some more. When I went back up stairs, Houdini was sitting in the open window, so I figured Ms. Coon was gone. Not so, she was in the kitchen, but decided to exit through the kitchen door when I came into the kitchen. At no time did this raccoon seem scared, or distrustful of me. She kept a distance between us, but I'm not one to offer to pet animals I don't know anyway. I talk to them quietly, avoid sudden movements which might scare them and if they decide to come to me, OK, but I do not approach them. But this coon did not run when I clapped my hands, nor when I walked toward her to go down into the basement. She/he must be used to people. Unfortunately my camera was laying on my desk at work, so I have no pictures. But the camera goes home with me today and if I get a return visit, I will have pictures.

Submitted by Danny McMillion