Bang Bang

No more squirrels frolic around the yard, thanks to the rifle. If they even pass through the yard, it must be before anyone gets up in the morning. In fact, I'm having to take aim at squirrels in other yards' trees.

Like the one I got today.

Things started when I fired from my deck at a squirrel in my neighbor's tree. It either struck him or startled him, because he leaped from a limb about 30 feet up and hit the ground with a thud. I never really saw what became of him, although I figured he had to be a goner. I did notice a rodent going up the same tree, so I figured that must be the same one that jumped.

Later, I walked over by the lake to get a better view of what was in the neighbor's trees, and I noticed probably four up there. One was sprawled out across some narrow branches and I had a view like a bearskin rug. Ready, aim, fire ... no sudden leap, no fall from the heavens ... I thought I'd missed. Until 15 minutes later when I heard crack, crack, and then saw a falling squirrel--not like the one flailing and attempting to land on all fours earlier in the morning--that looked dead already and landed on his side. The neighbor's dog was frightened by the dying/dead squirrel; ironic seeing how the coward barked at and ran squirrels that made a path through his yard.

I did my duty, scooping up the carcass and placing it by the lake. When I came back out after my shower, whatever likes to eat squirrel bodies had already carried it off.