Elizabeth
It was about 1960 when I was Nature Director at Camp Lazarus. Most
of the camp staff spent their summers in tents while a few of us special
folks were required to stay in facilities defined by our jobs. The
Nature Director, me, was destined to spend the summer under the cover of
a building roof. It made little difference where staff resided until
the summer downpours arrived. My story begins as the dark foreboding
clouds approached the camp.
The tent staff were seeking cover. The building staff were quietly
clamoring to keep the “foreigners” out. And my pet Raccoon, Elizabeth,
was calmly watching the contest begin. When the dust settled, it was
a pool assistant who won bed space on our nature cabin. And, that was
the night to remember.
Elizabeth, the Raccoon, lived in the building with myself and the Assistant
Nature Director. Elizabeth’s usual night schedule included visiting
with the building residents before her retreat up the chimney for her evening
dinner. On this particular night, however, my assistant had purchased
a bag of Oreo Cookies. As the lights went out for the night, a couple
Oreo cookies flew through the air to our visitors bed. Elizabeth knew
what was happening and ran for her treat. And, then she did it again
and again and again.
And when the cookies stopped, she started a few of her own tricks…like putting
her paw in the visitor’s ear and pulling back before the hand reached the
face. A great game guaranteeing that our visitor would not return again.
And, he didn’t.
And, so, my 1960 summer experience at Camp Lazarus ended with a quiet wet
summer thanks to Elizabeth the Raccoon and a few Oreo cookies.
(Written by Brad Engert)
(Click the fire to get back home)