This morning as I went out to pick up yesterday's mail, I saw a squirrel plummet two stories from the roof of the building and land on the sidewalk about three feet away with a loud slap, like a dry towel smacking the pavement.
"Whoa!" I said to the stunned rodent. "You okay little guy?"
The squirrel shook himself off, gave me a scornful look, and ran somewhat unsteadily off across the lawn.
I looked up and saw a second squirrel on the roof, peering over, who turned and scurried off.
Being me, I immediately began constructing scenarios in my head--were they playing chicken? Had one squirrel pushed the other? Was the squirrel on the roof thinking some variation on "Oh god, oh god, what am I going to tell Mom, oh god..."
Given the capacity of wild animals to survive shocking injuries, I sort of wonder if the squirrel was really okay, or if one more Gimpy the Squirrel will appear in the next few weeks...
Around here, we don't have buildings tall enough...so the gang initiations often involve dashing out in front of cars, and are judged by how close to the car (without getting injured) the initiate gets ... crouching between the wheels and letting the car pass over them is the ultimate performance.