In Toronto there are smart raccoons. They know what day is garbage day. They know whose bedrooms have the best granola bars. They have good taste.
My best friend is a lion. He is big and loud. He is both sweet and strong.
We spend a lot of time talking on the phone together.
One of my favorite things about this friend is that he reacts dramatically to things. He purrs when he is happy and he shouts when he is startled.
One day we were telling jokes and being silly over the phone. I was in my studio in Montréal while he was lying in a pile of clothes in his room in Toronto.
Suddenly he was shouting. First one surprised shout. Then more angry shouting. The phone hit the wall. I had figured out what was happening and was laughing. There was swearing. When my friend came back to me on the phone he was panting.
Despite the noise of our phone conversation Potato the raccoon had come into the lion’s bedroom looking for a snack, or a hug. He saw my big cuddly friend in his nest laughing and being friendly to me. Perhaps the raccoon wasn't familiar with telephones and thought the jokes and friendly gestures were for him.
Potato thought "hmmm he looks so nice. I want to touch him" which admittedly is what I think when I see raccoons or my lion friend. The raccoon very gently crept up to the lion and reached out his fingers to touch him. He sunk his hands into the lion's mane and touched the lion's head and hung on which startled the lion who, suddenly face to face with an unfamiliar animal inside his bedroom screamed.
It is possible that Potato was trying his hand at being a hat but I am sure that potato the raccoon loves my friend the lion who no longer leaves granola bars out or the window open. I wonder if he has found a new friend to snack and cuddle with.
Unknown "Fire Temptress" Playful
- 16 years, 10 months, 20 days ago