Life as a Moonshiner’s Son

Each morning, Sam exited his shoe box home promptly at day break and scurried onto my bed.  He danced on my chest until I was wide awake.  Who needed an alarm with Sam in the house? Sam and I had obviously become very attached.

Soon, the school semester was at hand.  Could I leave Sam behind when I went off to school?  Over breakfast, on the first day of school, I concocted a brilliant idea!  Why not take Sam to school?  I would place Sam inside my shirt and feed him pecans during the recess period.  I planned to take Sam out behind the old boiler building where the students would not see me feeding him.  My idea was flawless!

My plan worked well during the first class session.  However, something unexpected happened after the first recess.  The teacher, Mrs. Lamb had the attention of the students when I felt a slight movement inside my shirt.  Then I felt Sam move from his comfortable, secluded place inside my shirt and start the journey upward to my shoulders.  What to do!  Suddenly I was terrified at the possibility of this full grown squirrel coming out of my shirt!  I shifted both left and right in my seat in an awkward attempt to get Sam back to his hiding place. "Just what are you doing?  Stay still in your seat!" Mrs. Lamb said.  She looked at me with a stern face.

I was now moving franticly in my seat as Sam continued his upward journey.  Suddenly, Sam popped out of my shirt and announced his arrival with a loud chirping noise!  In an instant Sam became the center of attention.  Wow!  Mrs.Lamb dropped her text book and let out a horrifying scream that could be heard all over the building.  At that moment, several students jumped to the top of their desks while others scrambled for the door.  Several of the boys screamed accolades and urged me on with their laughter. Mrs. Lamb's eyes were as large as eggs, or so it seemed.  "James, take that rodent from this room! Do it now!", screamed Mrs. Lamb.  Then she also raced for the door which was now jammed with students.

Mr. Johnson, the principal, heard the commotion and ran down the hall toward my classroom.  As the door cleared of students, he quickly came inside and pointed his finger at me.  "Come with me, young man!" he shouted.  I followed Mr. Johnson down the hall.  As we entered his office, Sam jumped forward, landing squarely on the principal's shoulder!  Mr. Johnson shook his shoulder in disbelief as Sam chirped loudly.  That day, Sam and I embarked on the long walk home, not waiting for the bus, following an intense scolding from the principal.