The High Point of the Day

[matrixrefugee]

Finally the weather has cooled off and the humidity is plummetting as I type... Hope it stays cool and dry through Saturday: how else am I gonna wear my black trenchcoat? ;8^)

But that wasn't the high point of the day...

Mom asked me to go out and pick some grape tomatoes off the two *BIG* plants in tomato cages my dad brought home. I was trying to pick them off the plant near our mailbox, when this bumblebee came buzzing around, attracted by the bright yellow flowers on the tomato vines. So, since we were getting in each other's way, I went over to pick the tomatoes off the other plant, next to the porch. As I'm puttering around the plant, I hear this squeeky snorting, snuffling, gasping sound coming from nearby. Now, we've had a chipmunk living under our deck this summer and the little rodent has been mooching tomatoes off our plants. I don't mind if he snags one or two now and then, but he has this slightly maddening habit of leaving them on the steps of the porch. Well anyway... I figured it was the chipmunk grumbling under the deck, but the sounds seemed distressed, so I took a look.

Near the tomato cage is a 10 gallon plastic pail three-quarters full of water. And I notice the surface of the water was rippling like something was swimming in it. So I took a look...

And there was the chipmunk, in the water, barely keeping his head above the surface. At first, I looked around for something to fish him out with, but then I realised it would be easier to dump him out. So I took the pail off to one side, and tipped it over, dumping the chipmunk and half the water out, then dumped the rest of the water where it wouldn't hit the now very bedraggled chipmunk. He sat there crouched in a sunny spot on the grass, shivering just a little and looking miserable. I was afraid the cat might come along and get him, so I went looking for a box to put him in. Then I thought I'd better get a nice thick bath towel to pick him up with in case he got scared and bit me. So I went in and explained the situation to my mom, who found me just the towel I needed.

I went back out and knelt beside the chipmunk, whose fur had started to dry out a little, reassuring the little guy that I wasn't gonna hurt him, I was just trying to help him...

And then he took off like a shot, running under one of the cars. If he can run, he's all right!

Comments

Awww... poor little chipmunk!

[crowdog66.livejournal.com]

He was very lucky you came along when you did. Good work! :-D If there were more compassionate people like you around, the world would be a much better place.