Geron Kees

Horace still has his car. It doesn't get the mileage it used to, since he has so many friends now that can teleport!

You don't have a squirrel store near you?

I'll get my wood some other way, thank you!

Sure. But I don't want it obviously topping my apple pies!

Oh. That's pretty cool. I just hope you cover it between the sawdust jobs and the apple pies!

Holes in all the wrong places?

I guess it depends on which side of that monkey you're standing on!

Oh. I thought it was a sort of 'children should be seen and not heard' kind of deal!

All our conversations seem to evolve. I just wish William Jennings Bryan could see this in action!

A bit.

It does. I started with putting out dishes of squirrel mix in the back to get them interested, and then sitting out there on summer days and tossing handfuls in the yard, and waiting for them to come and get it. I just brought those tossed handfuls closer and closer, until they got used to being there with me. It was actually them that made the last move, to come right to the table and take the offerings directly from my hand. Having them climb up to the tabletop was also their decision. They are amazing little critters, curious and energetic. I love to watch their tails as they move around, as they use them as a form of semaphore to each other. It was their appetites that sealed the deal, though. Food seems to be a powerful incentive to get friendly!

I think the ending of any Christmas story has to have a smile in it, or it just wouldn't be Christmas!

Skwish is a rather delightful force, because it adapts itself uniquely to individuals, and expresses as some interesting talents. That leaves a lot of room for exploration, new characters, and all sorts of fun. Who knows what the future can bring! I can go out on the stone deck behind my house and sit at the table, and spread a handful of squirrel mix on the tabletop, and in just a few minutes time I will have several squirrels who were brave enough to come over, climb the wooden legs to the top, and sit there, a foot away from me, and eat. All the while they watch me, and they do not flinch away if I pat their heads, or hand them an unshelled peanut. We've become at ease with each other now. Pixel and Hex are real friends of mine -- they live in my yard. I have to imagine what an adventure that is for them, to dare to come and sit with me for a while, and I wonder what they think of it, and me, and just the whole thing. It's fine food for the imagination, and this story was inspired by them.

Thank you. Happy you finally got here!

Thank you! And the same wish for you, too.

It is always my pleasure to have company at Christmas! Thanks for joining us!

Oh, oh, oh. I thought Weinerdog was referring to one of the primary characters, and I was trying to think, 'who the heck has a dog?' Yes, Dick has Shadow. They'll be back at some point, I'm sure!

Aw. This was the last chapter, I'm afraid. Better to end it on a high note, I thought, and let you readers imagine what came after. Next Christmas, we'll all go to dinner with Nicholaas together!

😁

Better than having a monkey at trial, huh?

Getting older has to be managed carefully. No one wants a wheel barrow parked outside their front door!

Was that the same kid that asked her why she smelled so bad?

Or Leatherface!

Think of what the SQUIRRELS might think!

Pretty darn good, if you ask me. The chainsaw would have just gotten in the way. Um...what part did the kitchen table play in all this?