squirrels

I consider myself to be someone who loves animals and has a genuine concern for their welfare. For example, when Anderson holds a caterpillar too tight or catches a lightning bug heavy-handedly or steps on ants just because they are crawling across the driveway, I scold him and tell him to respect the fact that God has given these creatures life by not killing anything needlessly.

Well, sometimes I think I may know of one creature that can be an exception to this rule: Squirrels.

Yesterday morning, Anderson and I left for school when a squirrel ran out in front of my car, darting wildly back and forth and back and forth so that it seemed that no matter what I did, I would run over him. Fortunately for him, I managed to slam on brakes and avoid him, saying to myself more than anyone else, "Stupid squirrel." Anderson heard me and he actually chided me, "Mom! Their brains are like the size of a nut! They don't know any better!"

Okay, so he had a point. They do, after all, seem to always be running about, scared, confused, even panicked. But then I started thinking that it would be far better for me to run over a squirrel than to wreck trying to avoid it.

My dad has a method for approaching squirrels in his car: He aims right for them. He actually tries to run over them. And you know what he discovered? When you do that, you miss them. It's when you swerve to avoid them that they run under your wheels.

So yesterday afternoon, we are driving down Penny Road on our way home from school when a squirrel darts across the road, and I am certain that the car in front of us is going to hit him. I think, "Can't you squirrels just learn to look both ways, for the love of Pete?!!!!" I wince, my eyes squinted, knowing I will witness this squirrel's demise when suddenly, the squirrel leaps high up in the air, barely missing the car's front left wheel, and manages to make it across the road. Shew. That was close. I was thankful my eyes were spared, but you know I was thinking the exact same phrase I uttered that morning...

Stupid squirrel.