An Old Raccoon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Eugene Morgan

One evening while the old man finished up a long day of fishing and an old raccoon began its evening fishing, discussed about the difficulties of adjusting to old age.

“I hate the idea of growing old,” said the old raccoon.

“Please listen to what I’m about to tell you,” replied the old man.  “You’re the oldest coot I have ever seen.  You’re the oldest raccoon in your communal den.  You dislike the idea of growing old but that’s a fact that you can’t change.  And you enjoy being useful when you hunt for fish and frogs. You’re afraid that old age will take away your joy but you’re mistaken.”  After hearing this from the old man the raccoon was too shocked to respond before the old man took off.

That next day while a young raccoon saw the old man fishing, asked,

“Can you teach me how to fish?”

“How can I teach you how to fish when you’re a raccoon and I’m a man,” the old man questioned.  But that gave the old man an idea and said to the young raccoon,

“Why don’t you come back tomorrow at the stream behind the hill.”

“Okay” replied the young raccoon.

The next evening the old man and the old raccoon was fishing along the stream when approached the young raccoon.  The young raccoon knowing better not to ask the old man again, instead, asked the old raccoon to teach him how to catch a fish.  Before the old raccoon could give an answer, the old man interrupt and said,

“This raccoon is too old, too fragile, and too stubborn to teach you.  The old man looked over to the old raccoon and said,

“This raccoon is too young, too inexperience to catch a fish.  In fact, his front paws aren’t fully developed enough to catch anything.”

The old raccoon and the young raccoon both said,

“Can too!” and they both left to prove the old man wrong.

Two weeks had passed before the old man had heard from the old raccoon.  The old raccoon said to the old man,

“You’re right about one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m stubborn, sometimes.”

“Yes, that can either lead you to joy or take it away but old age can do neither,” said the old man.