a tall tale

I’ve never done any creative writing before and for some reason last night at 1:30, as I was trying in vain to go to sleep, I thought it would be a good idea. After some very minor editing this evening here is what I came up with, bear with me.

The sun was nearing the finish of its slow decent when Bernard Beaver climbed from his den to survey his corner of the pond.

“My little pile of sticks has nearly grown into a proper dam,” he thought to himself.

Bernard slapped his large leathery tail in both a moment of delight and pride at his own hard work and what it had brought him.

A pair of mallard ducks, startled from their rest by the abrupt thump of Bernard’s tail sprung from the water as if they could not take flight quickly enough.

“Sorry!” Bernard called after them, but his apology came too late. Circular patterns of ripples were already spreading across the pond from the many points where the tips of the duck’s wings had met with the previously still water.

Over the cattails and reeds along the far side of the pond Bernard could see cars rushing along a highway in both directions, their headlights flashing across the surface of the water as they whizzed by before fading into the cool spring evening.

The highway, although dangerous, was familiar territory to Bernard as were the many ponds adjacent to his own and the rocky fields just to the far side of them. Beyond that Bernard had never ventured. In fact, he had often mused about traveling to the great hill in the distance but never had he mustered the courage to set out on such a journey.

“It wouldn’t be too difficult,” Bernard said. He hoped that by saying it aloud maybe he could convince himself it was true.

He thought he would be able to get there by crossing underneath the highway and moving west along a nearby stream. The biggest problem would be avoiding all of the other beavers, many of whom were much larger than Bernard and not fond of uninvited guests.

But Bernard entertained the idea for only a moment more. He was not really one for adventure and the thought of confrontation with a larger beaver, let alone the unknown danger that might lurk toward the setting sun, was troublesome enough to sway him from the idea.

“In any case, there is much work to be done” Bernard thought as he slid from his dam into the dark water.

On land he waddled awkwardly, he was strong but his wide heavy body and stubby legs made him a cumbersome fellow. In the water, however, he felt at home, his webbed feet and tail acting in unison to propel him deftly through the pond.

Lifting his head to the surface Bernard gulped a great breath, and just before diving he took one last look toward the hill which now stood in the hazy shadow of twilight.

- – -

And here was my inspiration for the story.

Roadkill #6: Beaver (Castor Canadensis) Found on Westbound shoulder of Highway 26 mile 31, near Othello WA. Picture taken on 2/15/10 at 5:10 p.m.

A couple of interesting notes: Beavers are the second largest rodent in the world, there are only two extant species of beaver, beavers are really cool.

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