March 2011

A gray squirrel has been reported to be attacking the residents in the bizarre neighborhood of Bennington, Vermont.

My family is no stranger to the aggressive and malicious nature of the squirrel. On nights when the wind howls, the shutters shake, and the moon is bright we tell the children of the event that forever haunts are family.

When my brother, Keith,  was quite young he came home from school to an empty house. This was no surprise for he was told that morning that he would be left alone in the house for less than an hour. The surprise was coming home to a house only to be greeted by a surprised squirrel who had made its way into the kitchen and was devouring some chips left on the counter.

When Keith entered our home he immediately locked eyes with the intruder who stared back at him with his soulless black eyes. Keith let out a gasp, which must have provoked the demon causing him to leap from the counter with a squeal and charge after my helpless brother.

Forgetting his size and survival skills, taught to us at a very young age in case of such scenarios, Keith ran from the house taking refuge at our neighbor’s house. When the rest of us got home Keith came back to warn us of what awaited his family behind our red door. Cautiously we formed a tight perimeter, leaving our backs protected, and entered the house.

The squirrel had departed leaving only the tiny remains of potato chips on the counter. We nicknamed him Skippy. The memory of Skippy remains burned into my family’s history.

So, as a warning to all of you, be leery of squirrels.

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