Tailypo

The CampfireThe openingFree

A long time ago, way back in the mountains, there lived an old man all by himself in a one-room cabin. He had nothing in the world but his cabin, his rifle, and three hunting dogs. Their names were Uno, and Ino, and Cumptico-Calico.

One winter night he'd had no luck hunting all day. He had nothing for supper but a little cornbread. He was sitting by the fire, hungry, when something came creeping in through a crack between the logs of the cabin wall.

He couldn't tell what it was. It had a long body, and little legs, and big eyes. And the longest tail he had ever seen.

The old man grabbed his hatchet and swung at it.

He missed the creature. But he hit the tail. Chopped it clean off.

The creature screeched and squeezed back out through the crack in the wall and was gone into the dark.

The old man looked at the tail lying on the floor. It was long, and meaty, and he was very hungry.

So he cooked it. And he ate it. Every bite.

Then he went to bed.