Look both ways, the Momma Raccoon always said.  But Little Ralphie was always too busy playing Cops-n-Robbers with his little foresty friends to pay attention to what his mother said.  (Ralphie had the best mask of all.  He was always one of the robbers.)  But Ralpie never listened.  He never paid attention to her when she talked about the importance of eating your fruits and nuts either.  Or the importance of dental hygiene…..  But, I digress.

The other night, Ralpie was playing “Chicken” with the squirrel family down the block.  (They were faster, a little more bright-eyed, and had bushier tails….had better nuts.)  But back to chicken.  It was Ralphie’s turn, just when a Ford Pinto came screaming around the bend.  The squirrels darted to and fro…. but little Ralphie…….. well.  The fate of the white stripe.  Gideon’s Bible.