Scurry was a little squirrel. He was a gray, bushy tailed, busy little tree squirrel with big olive eyes and round ears that stood up each time he looked at you. He lived in the big woods near the Ranch of the Wild Winds with his mother squirrel and his Big Brother, scamper. They were friends with Hank the Tank.  Scurry and Scamper had fun playing with Hank the Tank. Scamper and Hank the Tank always took good care of Scurry, because Scurry was the youngest squirrel.

One day a beautiful Robin with bright red tail feathers came flying into the big woods. He was looking for Mother Gray-Squirrel. The beautiful Robin said to Mother Gray-Squirrel — good morning, I have just come from the Little Woods. I have come to tell you that your dear cousin, Mother Brown-Squirrel wants you to drop by her house for a visit.

Mother Gray-Squirrel kissed Scurry and Scamper goodbye. She said — be good squirrels, stay close to Hank the Tank.  I will be back soon.

So, Mother Gray-Squirrel went off on her adventure to find Mother Brown-Squirrel. She took the whole afternoon.  Mother Gray-Squirrel knew that Hank the Tank was watching over her children.  She had a very nice visit with Mother Brown-Squirrel. Then Mother Gray-Squirrel came back, but what a surprise, she did not come back alone.

She came back with a very small baby squirrel. A little brown baby squirrel with great big black eyes and funny little flaps that grew between the brown squirrel’s hands and feet.

Mother Gray-squirrel said to her children — This is your little squirrel cousin, his name is Zoomer, he has come to live with us for a few days. Take him outside and introduce him to your friends.

Scamper said — hello Zoomer. We are glad to meet you.

Hank the Tank said – Welcome to the Big Woods, we hope you have fun here.

But Scurry wasn’t so sure about this new squirrel. He did not know if he wanted the little brown squirrel to stay with them. He did not say hello to the little brown squirrel.

The next day Scamper played a game with Hank the Tank and Zoomer outside. Scurry did not like that. He did not want scamper to play with Zoomer. He wanted Zoomer to go home.  Later that day, Scurry began to make fun of little Zoomer.

Scurry said — what a silly name you have. Why do you have such a silly name? Why are your fingers shaped the way they are shaped? What is that attached to your arm? You don’t look like us.

Zoomer said – I, I, I don’t know about my hands or the things attached to my arm. It’s just how I am made. My mother gave me my name; I, I, I don’t know why she chose that name.

Scurry said — You look funny to me, you are brown, i am gray, Are you sure you’re a squirrel?

Zoomer said — my mother says I’m a squirrel, I think i’m a squirrel.

Poor little Zoomer was very sad, he really liked his cousins. He wished that his cousin Scurry liked him. Hank the Tank was concerned.   Later that day Mother Gray-Squirrel heard Scurry make fun of Zoomer. 

Mother Gray-Squirrel told Scurry – Please stop making fun of Zoomer.  While Zoomer is staying at our house we must try to make him happy. Zoomer is your cousin.  What you’re doing is not very nice.

Scurry was confused. He began to pray about this. Mother Gray-Squirrel came to Scurry and said — it is a good thing that you’re praying about this. God made all of us squirrels to live in peace with each other. I’m glad you were trying to find peace inside of yourself and to make peace with Zoomer.

Later that day a large wind came by and moved the trees back and forth. Poor Zoomer fell out of the tree. But then something very unusual happened. Zoomer did not fall to the ground. Zoomer put his paws out and slowly he went sliding through the air. It was like he was floating in the air.

Hank the Tank said to Scurry – will you look at that!  Zoomer can fly.  He is a flying squirrel.  Look at Zoomer go.

Mother Gray-Squirrel said — Well of course he can fly.  Zoomer was made to fly by God.  His mother is a flying squirrel. We’re all squirrels. but just the brown squirrels can fly. We have other things we can do that they don’t have. But we are all squirrels.

Scurry said – how come he did not fly when he first got to the large woods.

Mother Gray-Squirrel said — Zoomer had not yet been taught to fly by Mother Brown-Squirrel. When Zoomer fell out of the tree, he accidentally learned how to fly.

Scurry apologized to Zoomer for his poor behavior and his poor attitude. Scurry went around to all of his friends and told them how his cousin could fly and how cool it was to watch his cousin fly. Soon everyone in the neighborhood came to watch Zoomer fly.

As time went on Scurry and Zoomer became best friends. Scurry’s mother and Scamper were very happy.  Hank the Tank was very happy.  It was a very good Day.  The End.

Written by Lillian Moore, Published in the Humpty Dumpty Childrens Magazine, April 1953

Adapted for ShalomTalk by Dan and Pepper, 2024