It’s a sad tale, but one that needs telling. The story is of love, one creature for another, a match that nature perhaps had not in mind when blending the essence of mutual attractions. You see, Homo sapiens and Mephitis-mephitis are not naturally destined to dwell together. The unfortunate prejudice we sometimes see against this inter species co-habitation is not based on any grounds other that favouritism. We seldom see stares and whispers when a man walks his canine, or a Felis catus is spotted lounging in the window of a suburban home. These were obstacles the subjects of this story had to overcome in forming their, albeit it short, lifelong friendship. Coy, a man of no small means, had a reputation for, shall we say the unusual.
Some might even say he leaned a little toward the eccentric side of life. No one could find fault in his actions; response would be limited to something akin to say, two raised eyebrows, as in a look of wonder. Certainly not the one eyebrow raised the other lowered look, accompanied by the sideways stare, implying the thought “what’s he up to now?” Coy was his own man and that’s how it would be.
No one’s sure how the first meeting took place, some say it was the result of an unfortunate automobile accident, others that a chance meeting with a stranger led to an introduction. Let’s just leave that day as one ordained by destiny. Petunia, as the family came to know her had all the natural talents her kind are endowed with, curiosity, excellent eyesight, an attractive though not colourful appearance and of course the ability to usually get her own way. To Coy there was no question as to whether or not they were meant to be friends.
It would not take much imagination to hear the words that greeted Coy when he arrived home that fateful day with Petunia, “GET THAT DAMN SKUNK OUT OF MY HOUSE!” Now you mustn’t think Francis, Coy’s wife was intolerant, although Petunia must have thought so, she was just uninformed. It was like the time Coy purchased a boat. Now this was Coy, so it was not just a boat. It was a speed boat, inboard V8 engine, twin axle trailer with chrome wheels, and a beautiful, highly polished genuine mahogany hull and deck. In fact it was so beautiful that Coy bought two of them, they looked grand cursing the Tennessee river side by side. Francis got used to that, so it was that she would also get used to Petunia. It didn’t seem to take any time at all before Petunia would follow Coy around the house, asking to be picked up and scratched, sometimes sleeping by his feet as he watched his colour TV, the first in that town. Coy would even take Petunia in the truck with him occasionally.
Coy didn’t have an entirely blessed life, he had had to work hard to build his business, he studied hard to get his pilot’s license, and he and Francis had lost a house to fire. From what was heard around town he was blessed in that Petunia had never had to demonstrate her abilities in the olfactory field. Coy and Francis had two sons; the older, had recently married and was living next door to Coy’s place. He and his wife were in Coy’s kitchen making popcorn one afternoon. The young wife had locked Petunia in the bathroom since she didn’t particularly have fondness for our friends of the furry persuasion. This had happened before and Petunia didn’t like it. Disregarding the noise of scratching and tiny claws racing around the bathroom floor, the popcorn proceeded to schedule. There was only one interruption, for some reason the son and his wife decided to leave the house for a time, this led to the double tragedy that afternoon.
On returning to the house the couple discovered to their horror that fire had pretty well destroyed the place. After the firemen had extinguished the flames they discovered poor Petunia. She had perished from smoke inhalation in the bathroom. Coy, having experienced house fire before, was more devastated by Petunias death than the damage to his house, we can all understand that and I’m sure we agree, it really is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all .
Perhaps one day Pepe Le Pew will find his true love, in the meantime let him pursue his unrequited desire for Penelope the cat as much as he wants.
Some might even say he leaned a little toward the eccentric side of life. No one could find fault in his actions; response would be limited to something akin to say, two raised eyebrows, as in a look of wonder. Certainly not the one eyebrow raised the other lowered look, accompanied by the sideways stare, implying the thought “what’s he up to now?” Coy was his own man and that’s how it would be.
No one’s sure how the first meeting took place, some say it was the result of an unfortunate automobile accident, others that a chance meeting with a stranger led to an introduction. Let’s just leave that day as one ordained by destiny. Petunia, as the family came to know her had all the natural talents her kind are endowed with, curiosity, excellent eyesight, an attractive though not colourful appearance and of course the ability to usually get her own way. To Coy there was no question as to whether or not they were meant to be friends.
It would not take much imagination to hear the words that greeted Coy when he arrived home that fateful day with Petunia, “GET THAT DAMN SKUNK OUT OF MY HOUSE!” Now you mustn’t think Francis, Coy’s wife was intolerant, although Petunia must have thought so, she was just uninformed. It was like the time Coy purchased a boat. Now this was Coy, so it was not just a boat. It was a speed boat, inboard V8 engine, twin axle trailer with chrome wheels, and a beautiful, highly polished genuine mahogany hull and deck. In fact it was so beautiful that Coy bought two of them, they looked grand cursing the Tennessee river side by side. Francis got used to that, so it was that she would also get used to Petunia. It didn’t seem to take any time at all before Petunia would follow Coy around the house, asking to be picked up and scratched, sometimes sleeping by his feet as he watched his colour TV, the first in that town. Coy would even take Petunia in the truck with him occasionally.
Coy didn’t have an entirely blessed life, he had had to work hard to build his business, he studied hard to get his pilot’s license, and he and Francis had lost a house to fire. From what was heard around town he was blessed in that Petunia had never had to demonstrate her abilities in the olfactory field. Coy and Francis had two sons; the older, had recently married and was living next door to Coy’s place. He and his wife were in Coy’s kitchen making popcorn one afternoon. The young wife had locked Petunia in the bathroom since she didn’t particularly have fondness for our friends of the furry persuasion. This had happened before and Petunia didn’t like it. Disregarding the noise of scratching and tiny claws racing around the bathroom floor, the popcorn proceeded to schedule. There was only one interruption, for some reason the son and his wife decided to leave the house for a time, this led to the double tragedy that afternoon.
On returning to the house the couple discovered to their horror that fire had pretty well destroyed the place. After the firemen had extinguished the flames they discovered poor Petunia. She had perished from smoke inhalation in the bathroom. Coy, having experienced house fire before, was more devastated by Petunias death than the damage to his house, we can all understand that and I’m sure we agree, it really is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all .
Perhaps one day Pepe Le Pew will find his true love, in the meantime let him pursue his unrequited desire for Penelope the cat as much as he wants.
Petunia: RIP 1964
JAWhite, 2009 Return To Main Page
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