It was a birthday party, in the field directly behind the barn. Grissum, Newsum, Jensum, and Dumsum were there. Even though they had just finished eating out of the garbage can behind the farmer’s house they eyed the array of bugs, snails, berries, fruit, grasses (fresh right off the ground), leaves (fresh and aged from last fall), and carrion, and their mouths were watering. Four eggs were located in the middle of the feast, but those were reserved for the Birthday possum, Havsum (female). Each egg represented one year of life. This was a big deal because she was the only possum to reach the old age of four in 38 years which was back before the expanse was created by the humans.
Most possums came up missing and never made it to their forth year. In fact they had no need for funerals (there was no one to burry), so they had memorials. The list of the missing was long. This list included 3 of Havsum’s husbands.
Havsum had a thirteen little ones that had just moved from her marsupium to her back. By the end of next month they would be on their own. Livin’ wild and free.
This was a historical event. Possums had come from all over to celebrate, down to 75 to be exact.
For the 37th time….
Hey Grissum, why are all these possums here? (Newsum)
Yea Yea… (Jensum with Dumsum behind her chasing his tale)
Its Havsum’s Birthday Party, she is 4 today.
Wow (together)
For the 38th time….
Hey Grissum, why are all these possums here? (Newsum)
Yea Yea… (Jensum with Dumsum behind her chasing his tale)
It is Havsum’s birth…. listen instead listening to me why don’t you three go over there and get some food.
Let’s go! (Newsum) and off they went, to eat as much as they could, life was short.
It was at this point that Grissum saw her, she was beatuful. Her 52 teeth were almost straight. Her nose was the perfect pink. She was chewing on a bug, looking straight at him, this was it, he knew it, love at last.
He approached, slowly. She swallowed her food. He reached down and picked up a peace of over ripe fruit to give to her. When he looked back up….
She was gone.
He quickly looked around, she was no where to be found.
Gone.
Then someone screamed “OWLS!”
Literally all over the field possums were dropping as if dead, on the cool night ground.
No one moved, but many were taken.
About 55 minutes later Grissum, opened one of his eyes and looked up into the night sky.
No owls.
He slowly got up off the ground.
There was a sound behind him. He turned around.
For the 39th time…
Hey Grissum, why are all these possums here? (Newsum)
Yea Yea… (Jensum with Dumsum behind her chasing his tale)
Its Havsum’s Birthday Party, she is 4 today.
Wow (together)
Lets go congratulate Havsum and go home.
Good, Good. (Together)
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