"Would you look at that?" whispered Chloe, a six-year-old Brittany Spaniel with an amber and white color coat, triangular shaped ears and pinkish colored nose.

"Look at what?" replied Mindy, a ten-year-old Beagle with a tricolor coat of tan, black and white fur, a wet black nose and a long tail.

"Over there, on the fence." Chloe pointed with her paw. "Looks like a squirrel peeping through a pair of binoculars. Strange, huh?"

"Let me see!" Mindy said as she followed Chloe's paw and looked intently towards the fence. "Oh, that's Salty. Salty Squirrel. His real name ... you ready for this one," she chuckled, "is Saltimo Scungileone Squirreliamo. That's why he's Salty for short."


Chloe howled with laughter after trying to repeat it. "That name is a real tongue twister. I'll stick with Salty," Chloe said after she calmed down. "I heard there was a new squirrel in the yard. He must be the one. How did you meet him, and where was I?"

"Good question," Mindy said.


So began the story ...

"I'm in the yard this morning
sniffing here and there,
I spot a squirrel on the fence
dressed so debonair.

Sporting a top hat and cane
with a tuxedo jacket and pants,
Looked like he belonged on stage
ready to sing and dance.

But he kept staring into the yard
just like he is now,
I asked him what was he doing
he told me, trying to fulfill a vow."

Chloe shook her head and covered both eyes with her paws. Here she goes. When Mindy tells a story, she starts talking in rhymes. This is going to be a doozy!

"I told him my name was Mindy
and to consider our yard his home,
He said thank you very much
but would rather be left alone.

So I turned to walk away
not wanting to interfere,
Thought to go look for my toy
when he yelled to me, "Come here."

What was I supposed to do?
You know I have a big heart.
I told him hop down from the fence
and tell it to me from the start."

Mindy paused to look at Chloe who watched Salty on the fence, then continued. "According to Salty, they met at the annual Gathering of Acorns party."

"They, meaning Salty and ...?" Chloe wondered.

"Charlemagne Cecilia Chipmunk! CeCe for short. Her mother's name is Conceeta Perdeeta Chipmunk! They call her CePe. Pretty neat, huh?"

"And the father's name?" Chloe asked.

"Harry. Just Harry." Mindy said in a ho-hum manner. "This acorn party is held once a year and lasts for days. Each family gathers acorns and stores them in certain dry parts of the yard, usually in a tree. It's their food for the winter."

"How do you know all this? Salty tell you? And when was this party?" Chloe asked.

"Salty didn't say, but my guess would be right before last winter. That was when they met and became inseparable. You didn't see one without the other. They could be found dancing through the trees, soaring from branch to branch. They've been together every day since! Well, until two days ago."

"What happened?" Chloe asked.

Mindy continued the story ...

"He found a note in his nest
read it and began to cry,
The note was from bride-to-be
telling him forever goodbye."

Chloe looked at Mindy. "That's a shame," Chloe said. "He seems like a nice squirrel. Dresses kinda funny with that weird hat and jacket. Looks like he's ready for Halloween!"

"Chloe, that's his tuxedo. He wore that for his wedding. You know, like in getting married," Mindy said.

"I know what a wedding is, cranky-pot. We went to Rachael and Ralphie Raccoon's wedding, remember?"

"Of course I do. You and that Poodle, what's his name, Jerry, sat together, the whole time. He wore a tie and you had a pink bow around your collar. You both were so adorable."

"It's not Jerry!" Chloe said.

"What? What's not Jerry?"

"His name. It's not Jerry, its Jacques," Chloe said blushing slightly. "Anyway, he's our neighbor, and I was just being nice."

"Oh sure. You two are always nice, barking at each other through the fence. Like in some secret code," Mindy said. "What's that all about?"

"Okay, okay, enough about Jacques. Let’s talk about Salty? I don't get why she left him. Didn't she love him?" Chloe was bothered by what was happening. Brittany Spaniels are sensitive and she began to feel the same emptiness inside herself that Salty must be feeling.

"Yes of course she loved him," Mindy said, before continuing with the story...

"She felt she wouldn't be allowed
to become his squirrelly bride,
Her mom and dad were chipmunks
a fact which she could not hide."

"He couldn't live without her
she was the love of his life,
He had to go out and find her
so she could be his wife."

"So, CeCe is a chipmunk and Salty is a squirrel," Chloe interrupted, "who cares? They were in love. That's all that should matter. How did he end up here, in our yard?"

"Salty said squirrels and chipmunks don't marry
they are a slightly different breed,
Like foxes won't marry coyotes
that's breaking bloodline creed.

"Okay! I got that. Read my lips." Chloe spoke slowly, "how... did.... he... get...here?" Chloe was getting anxious.

"CeCe grabbed her stuff and left
afraid to see him face to face,
Salty didn't let that deter him
He would search every nook and space."

"He hopped about for two days
her note always at his side,
Never lost sight of the goal
to find his chipmunk bride."

"He checked every yard
from here to Kalamazoo,
Under porches and inside sheds
when Silky Skunk gave him a clue."

"Good ole' Silky," Chloe said. "He's a good skunk now that he doesn't have those scent glands any longer ... pee-yu."

"Would you let me finish the story?" Mindy was exasperated. 

"Oh! Oh! I got an idea. I know what to do to help Salty," Chloe said as she danced around like a ballerina. When she stopped dancing, she walked over to Mindy and whispered in her ear...