but I live near a busy street, and just now a squirrel got hit by a car. It happens all the time on that dumb road. My cat Roger was killed on that road, and Tallulah was hit there, too. She's just too tough of a no-nonsense Pit to let a minor thing like a car bother her. Much.
Pay no mind to how she trembles if a car comes too near us on our walks.
Anyway, I saw the squirrel on the road, and then I saw it move its tail. Oh, no. Was that just the wind from cars passing it? Another car went by and his tail did blow in the wind.
But then he lifted his head.
"Oh NO," I said, and ran to the road.
He was alive, and trying to get up. "No problem here. Squirrel feel absolutely well. Just few scratches."
I considered getting a shovel and getting him out of the road that way, but I was worried I'd hurt him. I called Animal Control, and they weren't going to be open till 8:00. It was 7:44. I squatted down near the squirrel. "I'm going to stay here with you till Animal Control can get here. It'll be okay, little squirrel."
He lifted his head and looked at me, dazed. "Don't be scared," I told him, but he probably was.
I stood there like a crazy woman (I mean. "Like" a crazy woman might be a bit of a stretch.) Every time a car whizzed by, I'd cringe. Maybe I really should get that shovel.
Just then, a white SUV careened down the road and hit my little squirrel. I screamed, and dropped my phone, and hid my eyes.
Oh, how I've cried for that squirrel today. He'd just been minding his own business, doing ridiculous squirrel things, and this happened. And the last thing he saw was my crazy-eyed self, talking to him in squirrel baby talk.
I called Ned, crying hysterically. Shut up. I told Ned the story and he got weepy, too. He offered to come over, but I have to go to work and act like a normal person who doesn't get hysterical about a rodent in the street.
Rest in peace, little squirrel. I hope you did not suffer much, that you were in shock and barely noticed the woman with all the hair. I hope if you did notice her, you felt comforted in some way. I hope you're in a teensy squirrel heaven filled with bird feeders you can raid to your heart's content.
Love, your insane human friend, June.