Library Notes
July 11, 2003
By Pansy Hundley, Librarian.
I came in late the other Sunday afternoon from church and walked into the kitchen to put some things down. As I passed by my back door, which has a window in it, I thought I caught movement of something in my back lot. So, I backed up and looked again.
Mercy sakes alive! There was a skunk strolling around out there, nose to the ground, evidently seeking goodly morsels. I stood and watched him/her for a few minutes, wondering what to do. I didn’t have many options. I could stand and watch him/her, ignore it, or go chase it away. Now, folks, was that last thing I said an option? No, it was not! I do not intend to start skunk-chasing. My mama did not raise a plumb fool.
So, I chose the "ignore" option. After a short while, said black kitty disappeared and I breathed a sigh of relief, hoping he/her had moved on to Hunt County.
I took my walk and myself decided I’d get on home and mow, at least the back yard. There was a possibility of rain the next day. I was going to be gone the next week on vacation. I really needed those yards mowed before I left.
So, I got the lawnmower key and headed for the shed to ready the little darlin’ to perform.
I always push the mower out of the shed, oil and gas it and apply the handy WD-40. I got it pushed out and thought I’d just stick my head around there and see if "the striped visitor" was anywhere in sight.
I carefully walked around, checked in a dog house setting beside the shed. Nothing there and nothing in the back lot. Again, movement caught my eye. I looked as fast as my head would turn – took about thirty minutes, you know. Doing his/her little skunk-walk, there he was, coming from behind that dog house, hurrying down beside the shed, headed for the back lot. I was about four or five feet from him. What did I do, you ask? Well, right after I had heart failure, I made myself as little as possible, didn’t move a muscle or blink an eye. He/She had probably been in the shed when I pushed the mower out. If I were talking this, instead of writing it, my voice would be as high as it could go.
Skunk proceeded to go through the fence, into some HIGH weeds that I’ve been clearing out with the weed-eater. Those weeds that are close neighbors to the poison ivy.
Have you ever heard of a skunk being weed-eated? Me neither. But, when I next have opportunity to attack those weeds again and said skunk is batching there, that could get interesting. I may break new ground, not to mention what’ll happen to me, the new weed-eater and the skunk.
I got my mowing done eventually and I had to back that mower back into its’ place in that dark shed. I was a wee bit nervous, wondering if that feller had come back to spend the night. I did not dally. It does not take me long to put up a lawnmower.
Ever since that time, I watch carefully for the uninvited visitor that must come visiting when the mood strikes him. My hope is that the mood does not strike often.
Now that my calamity has been averted, and you do not have to enter this library with a clothes pin on your nose, let’s talk books.
Let’s talk that marvelous Nicholas Sparks, author of several good reads, including "Message in a Bottle". His latest is "The Guardian", right here, right now, ready for your late night reading, or early morning or middle of the day.
"Julie Barenson’s young husband left her two unexpected gifts before he died – a puppy named Singer and the promise that he would always be watching over her. Now, four years later, 29-year-old Julie is far too young to have given up on love. She may be ready to risk caring for someone again. But who?
Should it be Richard Franklin, the sophisticated, handsome engineer who treats her like a queen? Or Mike Harris, the down-to-earth nice guy who was her husband’s best friend? Choosing one of them should bring her more happiness than she’s had in years. Instead, Julie is soon fighting for her life in a nightmare spawned by a chilling deception and jealousy so poisonous that it has become a murderous desire…."