True Story

I may never be able to read one of the girls’ favorite books again.

The book looks harmless enough, doesn’t it?  

Don’t be fooled. 

See, the story is about a little squirrel, Miss Suzy, who becomes homeless and seeks shelter in the attic of a nearby house.  She settles into a dollhouse, makes friends with toy soldiers, and lives quite happily there until she is able to return to her tree house. 

The problem is, “Miss Suzy” isn’t so cute and cuddly when seen up close. 

And in your own house.

The fantasy of the children’s story became reality when little Miss Suzy herself somehow ended up in my fireplace.

She frantically tried to escape, and I really wanted to aid her return to the wild, but I had no idea how I was going to make that happen without letting her loose in my house (we have no way to close off the room that the fireplace is in).  I was quite unnerved by her presence, and by my fear that she would somehow find a way into the house (the fireplace cover isn’t perfectly flush with the stone hearth).  I also didn’t want the girls, spurred on by the story of Miss Suzy, to open the glass door so she could set herself up in our dollhouse. 

Thankfully, she must have found her way back up the chimney, because I haven’t seen or heard her since yesterday evening. 

I hope she’s happily situated back in her tree house.  And I hope she stays there.  There’s only room in this house for one Miss Susie, and she doesn’t have a tail!