When the warm summer sun takes a vacation, it leaves an invitation to the dark clouds and chilly wind to move in. Leaves begin turning colors, rain drops fall, and small animals busily store up food for the coming winter.

While collecting nuts that have fallen on the ground, I hear some of my friends talking in the tree above. “That Squirrelly is a lucky little guy!”  They are right, you know.  Not only do I have an uncommonly beautiful tail, but there are three girls who live in the house next to my favorite tree who often leave treats and like to watch me from their big window.  Sometimes I find acorns, nuts or dried kernels of corn.
 
This year has been the best that I can remember. I have grown older, able to forage for myself, and explore farther and farther with my friends. My tail has grown fuller and my coat has thickened to keep me warm when the temperature drops in the months ahead.
 
When I climb my favorite tree, I look down to where the three girls live to see if anything has been left for me. If there is, I scamper down to the ground, and stuffing my cheeks, I look up at the window.  If the girls are watching, they rap on the window or come outside to talk to me.  This is when I blink, stuff more treats into my cheeks, and wave my big fluffy tail.  Then I run and hop off across the street to another tree.    

I over hear the girls talking about a special day called Thanksgiving; I see them chatting and getting excited.  The say it is only two days away, and  they will be eating turkey with all the trimmings. They say they want to make a cake of peanut butter, sunflower seeds, filberts and dried corn. It sounds delicious. Then they excitedly gather up the ingredients, and take turns mixing it all together.

As I am crossing the road that very day, a truck with big tires speeds suddenly across my path.  I try to run fast and hop out of the way.  I almost make it.  But almost isn't good enough.  My tail stays behind, even though the rest of me makes it to safety.  Poor, pitifull me.  My legs still work, so I wriggle away, looking sadly back at my beautiful tail lying in the road.  I have always been proud of my fluffy tail, and know other squirrels envy me. What will they think now?  Will they still want to be mu friends?

I have to rest for a whole day, sadly missing my tail.  But when I get hungry and have no more food, I find that if I practice, I can still hop and run. Sometimes I roll, too, because I no longer have my tail for balance.  I really want to go back to the three girls’ house to see if they have left treats for me.  I run, roll a few times, and hop across branches from tree to tree until I finally make it to the one next to the three girls’ house.

As I look down at the house below, I see something special waiting for me. Down the tree I go, running, rolling and hopping.  The little sister is watching out the window when I begin filling my cheeks.  She claps her hands and squeals with joy, “Come look, Squirrelly is back and he’s eating the cake!”  Her sisters join her as she raps on the window.  As I look up at them, I eagerly cram even more Thanksgiving cake in my cheeks, blink, wiggle my tail-less body, then turn and scamper off in that cute new run-roll-hop way of mine.    

I know I am a very lucky squirrel indeed, and even though I will miss my beautiful tail, I am thankful on this day for the three girls who live in the house next to my favorite tree.  They will always be my friends.