Summary

"The Big Mean Squirrel" is a satirical story about a carnivorous squirrel that grows to an immense size and ultimately meets a humorous demise after eating a human.

Abstract

The narrative "The Big Mean Squirrel" by Benjamin Duuude is a darkly humorous tale that follows the exploits of an unusually large and carnivorous squirrel. After feasting on its fallen cousin, the squirrel becomes morbidly obese, leaving behind deep prints that pique the curiosity of a passerby. The story takes a turn when the human who discovers the prints encounters the sleeping squirrel, which is large enough to prey on humans. A comedic chase ensues, ending with the squirrel consuming the human and subsequently exploding due to its overindulgence. The story is interwoven with reflections from "Science Duuude," who contrasts the tale with his own childhood experiences and the importance of respecting nature, as well as a message of gratitude inspired by a sciku prompt.

Opinions

The author, Benjamin Duuude, presents a humorous and exaggerated view of nature, challenging the conventional, idyllic portrayal of wildlife.
"Science Duuude" reflects on the contrast between his past and present perspectives on nature, acknowledging his transformation from a rock-throwing child to an adult with a more harmonious view of the natural world.
The story serves as a satirical commentary on human interactions with nature, particularly the fear and fascination that large wildlife can evoke.
The author expresses gratitude towards previous readers and contributors who engaged with the story and provided feedback, emphasizing the value of community and collaboration in storytelling.
The narrative concludes with a nod to prosocial behavior, as encouraged by the sciku prompt from Dr. Rangan, suggesting an underlying message of unity and appreciation among all creatures, despite the story's comedic violence.

The Big Mean Squirrel

Ben Duuude’s big squirrel story…

The Big Mean Squirrel…

By Benjamin Duuude

One day there was a very fat squirrel. He fell off a tree and died.

He had a cousin, his mom’s sister’s son. This “cousin” was carnivorous. He had fangs and ate anything that dared cross his path. He was also HUGE! His carnivorous cousin took advantage of the fat squirrel falling off the tree, and became very fat. Now, wherever he walked, he left deep squirrel prints.

One day someone found these prints, and wondered what could have made them. He followed the prints until he came across a HUGE SLEEPING SQUIRREL. It had fangs and blood all over its mouth. The Ordinary-Person-That-Happend-To-Come-Across-This-Thing was very scared, and the squirrel looked big enough to take him down, so he backed away slowly…and stepped on a stick which snapped.

The squirrel woke up. It saw the human and growled.

Mr. tasty morsel turned and ran, but the squirrel ran too. Fortunately for the human, the squirrel was so fat it was just about as fast as the ordinary human. They ran and ran.

Eventually, the squirrel caught up and ate the human in one gulp. It was so full, its stomach started to hurt. It felt like it was being stretched, and he started to expand.

Then it blew up.

THE END.

A couple other thoughts and some background…

By Science Duuude

Well, so much for my efforts to instill in my kids a respectful and reverent attitude towards nature… to see an aura of oneness permeating all creatures big and small around us… to…

Well, when I was his age and younger, I was throwing rocks at ducks and ducklings and begged for a slingshot so I could go out into the woods and bring down a rain of fallen nature, a pitter-patter of animal corpses permeated with the aura of my inerrant lead shot. So, who am I to teach anyone anything about nature?

Somehow as I got older, my youthful fierceness abated, and I never acquired a taste for guns or shooting.

But perhaps I can at least impart a lesson in gratitude, a recent sciku prompt by our own good Dr. Rangan at the Science and Soul publication:

Thank you with Gratitude

Day 30 Prompt: A Prosocial Science Inspired Sciku

medium.com

Ben and I thank the previous readers who generously clapped and gave feedback.

Greg Bartosiewicz, Matt Ray, R. Rangan PhD, Lee Ameka, Panos Grigorakakis, Donna L Roberts, PhD (Psych Pstuff), Juliano Righetto, Dan Stout @boxyourbuddy, Andrea Juillerat-Olvera, Terry Mansfield, Susannah MacKinnie, Jonah Lightwhale, Anthi Psomiadou, Shrish Tariq, Lucy The Eggcademic (she/her), James G Brennan, Mary Holden, Dr. Jackie Greenwood, Daniel A. Teo, Mark Starlin, Patrick M. Ohana

Thank you all!

S.D.

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