I stood before the mirror brushing my long golden hair. I was so terribly vain about my golden mane. There were times I wish it was the lovely blue back my grandmother, grandfather and aunt had, but I was proud about my hair all the same. I wore it long to my waist and I brushed it a dozen strokes several times a day.
Grandfather came in one day and said, “You remind me of the possum.”
I was horrified! An ugly possum? “Grandfather, how could you say such a thing? I’m not that ugly am I?”
Grandfather smiled and shook his head. “No. Not ugly. Merely terribly proud of yourself.” He motioned me to follow him to the living room.
I knew I was uncommonly proud of my hair but to have grandfather point out that he thought I was vain—it was a hard pill to swallow. I sat in the chair indicated and he pulled up one across from me.
“When the world was young, Possum had a tail full of long, bushy hair. Possum was so proud of his perfect tail that he brushed it several times a day. It was fluffy and silky and very beautiful.”
Grandfather paused as I sat back and envisioned such a thing. A possum with a bushy tail!
“Rabbit had a long bushy tail at one time as well, but Bear had pulled it out leaving him with just a short stump.”
I sat up. “Why?”
Grandfather raised his hand. “That is Rabbit’s story. We’re discussing Possum’s tail.”
I nodded and leaned back.
“Rabbit was so tired of hearing Possum sing about his glorious tail and was irritated with the way Possum waved and danced with his tail so he plotted a trick.”
I grew more interested because everyone knows what a trickster Rabbit is. He was always in some sort of mischief!
“Well the animals were planning a great council and dance. Rabbit was supposed to spread the news to all the animals and make sure they would come. While he was out passing along the message, he stopped at Possum’s home.
“‘Of course I’ll be there,’ Possum answered. He took his tail in his hand and stroked its beautiful hair. ‘But I must have the best seat in the house. Everyone must see my beautiful tail.’ ‘Certainly,’ Rabbit replied with a sly grin. ‘Wouldn’t have it any other way. In honor of such a beautiful tail and for such a special occasion, I’ll send someone to comb it for you before the dance.’ Possum excitedly agreed. What better than combing his own tail? To have others comb and admired it’s perfection!
“Rabbit told Possum goodbye and hurried to the next house, the home of his friend Cricket. Now Cricket is such an expert hair cutter, he is also called the Barber. Rabbit told Cricket his plan and Cricket agreed. He rubbed his legs together and they played a mischievous tune as Rabbit laughed and rubbed his hands together.
“Rabbit left Cricket with instructions and went on his way. The next morning Cricket went to Possum’s house and explained her was there to help Possum prepare for the dance. ‘But it’s hours away’ complained Possum. ‘With such a long and beautiful tail we need hours,’ countered Cricket.
“Possum finally agreed. ‘You must keep your eyes closed tight until I am done.’ Cricket instructed. Possum nodded and closed his eyes. Cricket took a bright red ribbon and began wrapping it all along Possums tail. With each wrap, he snipped off the hair at the roots of poor Possum’s tail but Possum never felt a thing.
“When Cricket had finally finished, Possum’s tail was wrapped in the lovely Red ribbon and Cricket had tied it into a bow. Finally, it was time for the dance. Possum couldn’t wait to show off his beautiful tail. He hurried to the Longhouse and entered. As promised, Rabbit had him the seated in a place of honor near the council.
“All through the meal, Possum’s tail twitched. He had never kept it hidden for so long and he was anxious for the dancing. Finally, it was time for music. Possum jumped up and danced around the room, his ribboned tail twitching wildly. Unable to stand it any longer, Possum pulled the bow and unraveled the ribbon, dancing and singing ‘How lovely is my tail. How beautiful, how long, how silky.’
“The other animals began shouting and pointing. It must look extra beautiful tonight, he thought to himself. He twirled and whirled. ‘My tail is so fine, all others wish they had it’ The animals continued to shout and point.
“’The hair on my tail is so long beautiful and silky,’ he sang and whirled. But the animals shouts were getting louder and now they were laughing. Laughing at him? He couldn’t understand it. He reached back and picked up his tail only to find that all the beautiful hair was gone! It was now as bare and ugly as that of a lizard!”
Grandfather looked at me closely. “Because of this no possum has no hair on its tail today and whenever shocked or surprised it rolls over and faints. Do you know why I told you the story?”
I had several answers, ‘a warning to beware of crickets and rabbits?’ among others, all of which would have been construed as disrespectful. I shook my head and waited.
“Beauty on the outside can be easily taken away and might never return. A woman who is beautiful on the inside will live past her years in stories lovingly passed down to her children and their children and their children’s children.” Grandfather smiled, kissed my forehead and scooted away.
When not creating tales of suspense, fantasy or the paranormal, Donica Covey breaks the bonds to ATV, shoot, hike or read. She loves spending time with her little “daughter-once-removed” (never say Granddaughter!) or hanging with the K&R Crew. To learn more please visit her website http://www.donicacovey.com
