Harvey

There are times when even raccoons believe they are too curious. And for Harvey the baby raccoon, or kit, this was no different. Lost, away from her tree home in the park, sniffing an enormous, silver-green monster in a driveway was miserable. Where was she? She didn't mean to get lost. The monster looked scary. Would it attack her? Suddenly the monster roared before the terrified kit.

Harsh, blinding crimson lights flared before her as it rolled, crunching stones in its path until they were dust, toward her! Instantly she turned tail and scurried away, faster than a rabbit. But, with a perpetual roar, the monster chased Harvey as well.

It had turned around to glare at her with glinting, malicious yellow eyes as it opened its mouth to the road--to eat her. Harvey squealed and ran faster. But everywhere the frightened raccoon turned, so did the monster.

Harvey's paws were bleeding on the coarse surface, eyes glazed with fear. She didn't know how long she ran. If she somehow survived, she promised herself: if she lived, she would never--never ever ever!--run away to "explore" again. If only she would survive. The monster roared again, and started to pick up speed. Harvey shrieked once more and forced herself to run faster.

Harvey was just about to give up when she noticed the most beautiful thing in the world was in front of her--her tree! The monster was apparently tired as well, for it slowed as humans galumphed across the street before it. Harvey hesitated and then leaped up to the great oak tree.

The moon shone beautifully on a tiny raccoon with streaked and dirty gray fur, scurrying up a tree and into a cozy little hole in the middle of it where all the squeaking came from. Her black eyes were wide, and she was still trembling. But the adventurous kit did survive. Boy, Harvey couldn't wait to tell Mom and Dad what she did tonight!