Kelly - Skunked!: Calpurnia Tate, Animal Doctor in Training

The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you for your personal use only. You may not make this e-book publicly available in any way. Copyright infringement is against the law. If you believe the copy of this e-book you are reading infringes on the authors copyright, please notify the publisher at: us.macmillanusa.com/piracy.

For animal lovers everywhere

None of the terrible things that happened need have happened at all if the skunk hadnt drawn attention to itself by ripping up our garden and stealing a bunch of vegetables. And if Father hadnt told the hired man to set a trap and kill it. And if the skunk hadnt turned out to be a mother with a baby hidden in a den nearby. And if my younger brother Travis hadnt heard the hungry baby crying and stopped to investigate.

But this unfortunate chain of events did occur, with Travis winding up in disgrace and a hero at the exact same time.

You may wonder how one boy, age eleven and a half, could end up both heroic and disgraced on the same day. Well, Im going to tell you about it, and its all true. There may be some people in our town of Fentress, Texas, who suspect me of stretching the truth from time to time, but I swear this is not one of those times.

In 1901 we lived in a big white house near the San Marcos River: me, Mother, Father, Granddaddy, and a total of six brothers. How I got stuck in this big old mess of boys Ill never know. Life is just not fair sometimes. Rivers tend to attract wildlife, so living near a river is an excellent thing if you happen to be interested in such. Travis and I were both interested in wildlife but for different reasons. I was interested because Granddaddy was teaching me Science. Together we studied all kinds of life, wild and tame, big and small, flora and fauna (meaning both plants and animals). Travis, on the other hand, was crazy about animals as pets. He was always bringing home some wild creature or other, determined to make it his pet. He persisted in doing this even when the creature was just as determined to not be his pet.

One fine day in May, he went down to the river. On the way he heard a strange noise unlike anything hed ever heard before. The noise was like a squeak and a hiss and a grumble all mixed up together.

Hello? he said. Whos there?

The noise stopped. Some other boy might have been scared, but Travis knew these woods and was not afraid. He stood very still. Then he heard the noise again. It was coming from a hollow tree. He peered inside and saw a tiny animal looking up at him.

A kitten! Howd you get stuck in there? Dont worry. Ill get you out, and then Ill help you look for your mama.

Travis reached in. He gently pulled the kitten out. Except that the warm furry body curled in his palm wasnt a kitten. It was a kit. Also known as a baby skunk.

Travis nearly dropped the kit in shock. But he knew that skunks spray only when they are scared or upset, so he stood very still and made no sound. He and the kit stared at each other. The baby had shiny black eyes, two white stripes down its back, and a fluffy tail. It sniffed his hand and tried to nibble his thumb.

Poor little guy, I guess youre hungry. Wheres your mama? We better find her. He explored the surrounding woods for a while, but there was no sign of her.

Finally he said, I guess I have to take you home with me. Your mamas not going to be happy, and my mamas not going to be happy, either. She doesnt like it when I bring wild animals home, although I dont see anything wrong with it myself. Ill have to hide you somewhere or shell pitch a fit.

The kit began to squirm and grumble, so Travis tucked it into the bib of his overalls, where it settled right down. (Its a cruel world for orphaned skunks unless they have the great good fortune of meeting my brother.)

All right, lets get you to your new home.

The kit stayed quiet while Travis fretted about hiding it from Mother.

I guess youll have to live in the chicken coop. He thought about this for a minute. I suspect the chickens wont like that. Theyre really fussy. You wont believe the racket they make when someone goes in their pen, even to feed them. And I cant put you in the root cellar. Our cook, Viola, goes in there all the time to fetch potatoes. So I guess its the barn for you, my friend.

If the kit had any thoughts about this, he kept them to himself.

Travis sneaked into the barn. He hurried past the horses and the milk cow and the barn cats to the farthest corner, where he kept his tame rabbits. It was dark and gloomy back there, and a new addition to the family would be less likely to be noticed. He hoped.

He spoke to his prizewinning Angora rabbit. Bunny, I want you to meet your new friend.

He held the skunk up to Bunnys cage. Bunnys nose twitched once; the kits nose twitched once. And then they ignored each other. So much for new friends.

Viola rang the dinner bell on the back porch. Travis shoved the kit into the empty cage next to Bunnys, saying, Mother gets upset if were late to the table. After we eat, Ill bring you your dinner, once I figure out what that is, of course.

He hurried inside and took his place next to me at the long table crammed with hungry brothers. After the blessing, he whispered, Say, Callie, what do skunks eat?

I gave him a wary look. Why do you ask?

Um, no reason. Im just curious. He went back to eating his ham and potatoes and pretended not to notice that I was now staring at him in alarm.

Travis, I hissed, tell me you didnt.

Didnt what?

Tell me you didnt bring a skunk home, I said, trying to whisper, but I was so anxious it came out a sort of strangled whisper-scream.

Mother said, Is there something wrong? Do you two have something you wish to share with the rest of us?

No, Mother, we said, and stared at our plates.

Later when Mother was busy talking to someone else, I whispered to him, Theres no skunk, right?

He didnt answer.

Right?

He didnt speak. He didnt need to. I could see the answer in his face.

After dinner Travis grabbed a paring knife and stole an apple from the pantry and ran to the barn. The kit stood on his hind legs when he saw Travis and tried to reach through the wire with his paws.

Dont worry. I havent forgotten about you. Look, I brought you an apple. I hope you like it.

He was so busy slicing it that he didnt hear me sneak up behind him.