Sunday, August 18, 2024

Foley's Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Oliver, the Groundhog with a Dream

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  • Oliver was a groundhog with a dream.

  • He lived in the woods by the Ocean Park mini golf course and arcade. Every day he would hide in the woods watching families play mini-golf.

  • Often they would bring their dog. It would watch the family play like Oliver did, sitting still, not chasing the ball, and getting lots of love and scratches.

  • Oliver knew he could be just as good a pet as any dog, he just needed a chance.

  • One day he decided to take it.

  • While a family was playing he slowly snuck up on them. He was almost at the fence when a dog began barking at him, warning the family. Oliver had to hand it to those dogs, they knew they had a good thing and wanted to protect it.

  • Oliver realized the straight-ahead way wouldn’t work for him.

  • He developed another tactic: He would use the arcade.

  • He sat outside an open doorand watched. Soon he had a plan.

  • Hesisterinside while the low-paid and less aware workers cleaned. When they left he put his plan in motion. By the next day, he would be living with his new family as a beloved pet.

  • As he waited for the arcade to open he wished he had brought a snack.

  • Soon the playroom was filled with kids. Oliver became excited as he heard footsteps outside of where he was nestled. Then the click of coins, and a whir.

  • The claw had been activated.

  • Oliver waited until it was lowered into the plushies and hopped inside then claw.

  • The boy brought up the claw: “I got something, I got something,” he yelled and his little brother and siter came over.  The claw emerged from the stuffies, and seeing family, Oliver smiled.

  • “It’s a rat!” the little girl yelled.

  • Oliver was about to explain that he was a groundhog when he saw people running around and screaming.

  • Scared, Oliver screamed along with them., 

  • He only wanted to get out but he could not find the exit.

  • Men arrived with big, sharp tools. They ripped apart the claw machine and gently lifted Oliver out.

  • They began to discuss what ton do with him when he broke away from the men and ran through the people, out the door, and back to his hole.

  • He had decided that humans were a species better enjoyed from a distance.


5 comments:

  1. Oliver, that is so true about humans, keep your distance!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oliver was very smart, but we bet he enjoyed his night sleeping with all those stuffies.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I"m so happy that Oliver is safe!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oliver's bravery paid off
    Hugs Cecilia

    ReplyDelete

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