• tab “Poppa Possum, have you finished with the invitations yet?” asked Momma Possum. The Possum family was preparing for Momma Possum’s baby shower. Itty Bitty Baby Possum had been born the week before and his parents couldn’t think of a name for him. They planned to name him at the shower.
    “Yes and later today I’m going to the store to buy balloons and party hats.” was Poppa Possum’s reply. The Possum parents already had a daughter- Po Possum. She was very excited about having a new baby brother to care for. Just as Poppa Possum was getting ready to leave, the Possum family heard a squaking outside. Suddenly, with a violent cracking, a beak came crashing into the tiny Possum home. “Hawk!” Momma Possum cried. Po Possum rushed outside screaming at the outstanding hawk that towered above her. “Po! No!” shouted Poppa Possum. But Po continued to yell. “Go away you beast!” Inside, the hawk’s beak disappeared through the gaping hole it had made and the bird turned its attention toward Po. The whole time, Itty Bitty Baby Possum was screeching and squealing. Outside they heard Po scream as the hawk swooped down and grabbed her in its beak. Momma Possum and Poppa Possum rushed outside to rescue their daughter, but it was not only Po Possum that was taken away. When the hawk left, Poppa Possum, Momma Possum, and Po Possum’s tails were clamped tightly in the bird’s mouth.

    2 Years Later


    tab Auntie Patricia Possum was now caring for Itty Bitty Baby Possum and the 2 year-old was still grieving over his parents’ and sister’s kidnappings.
    “Come on, you don’t know for sure until you find out. Pleeeease?” begged Itty Bitty Baby Possum’s best friend Patrick Possum. “I don’t think so. The hawk took them two years ago.” replied Itty Bitty Baby Possum. “But don’t you want to find out if they are still alive?” pried Patrick Possum. “Well….I would like to see my sister-” “Then it’s a deal! I’ll meet you at my house on Saturday at 6:00AM sharp!” Patrick left. Although Itty Bitty Baby Possum knew that his parents and sister wouldn’t be there, he somehow felt excited for the journey.
    Itty Bitty Baby Possum thought that Saturday would never come, but on Friday night he packed the gear that he would need in a small blue bag: a flashlight, food, water, a change of socks, a blunt knife and a hair pin for picking locks. He shoved the bag and its contents under his bed until 5:00AM the next morning when Itty Bitty Baby Possum awoke to the buzz of his alarm clock. He quickly shut it off and got dressed. He wore work boots and a sun hat. He grabbed his bag and slipped silently out the window of his bedroom, avoiding the thorny bushes that lay below. He ran all the way to Patrick Possum’s house and threw a small stone at Patrick’s window. The other boy’s whiskery face appeared behind the glass. “Hang on. Stay right there. I’m coming.” Itty Bitty Baby Possum waited under Patrick Possum’s window until his friend dropped from the window ledge. “Let’s get going.” said Patrick. And off they went to the mountains.

    The two possums walked and walked. Every once in a while they stopped for food or water. The mountains finally came into view as they stopped at the top of a small, grassy hill. “There they are” whispered Itty Bitty Baby Possum. “Let’s go!” exclaimed Patrick Possum. The two bounded down the hill to the base of the mountain. Itty Bitty Baby Possum tightened the laces of his work boots and began the slow and tedious climb. The terrain was rough and rocky. Rocks jutted out of the mountain every which way. Although Itty Bitty Baby Possum was wearing work boots, 15 minutes of climbing brought ache to his tiny possum legs. He stopped to catch his breath and get a sip of water but Patrick Possum urged him on. “Come on, get up! We are almost at the top!” Itty Bitty Baby Possum looked up in astonishment to see an eerie castle perched atop the mountain peak.
    Itty Bitty Baby Possum took a swig from his water bottle and trudged on up the mountain. At last they came to a sharp ridge. Itty Bitty Baby Possum made the jump with no trouble, but Patrick Possum tumbled to the ground. “Ohhhh” Patrick Possum sighed. “Patrick!” Itty Bitty Baby Possum called out to his friend below. “I think I’ve broken my tail.” Patrick moaned. “Oh no! And I don’t see away down!” Itty Bitty Baby Possum declared in agony. “It’s alright…go on without me.” Was Patrick Possum’s reply. “Oh, but Patrick I couldn’t.” “Sure you could. Don’t you want to find your parents?” “Yes I guess I do but-” “No buts! Get going!” “Are you sure?” “Positive. I’ll be okay. Now go!”
    Reluctantly, Itty Bitty Baby Possum walked up the path to the castle. It was close to falling to bits and looked like it hadn’t been painted in a century. Itty Bitty Baby Possum stepped up to the door and took hold of the brass knocker. Then he thought what am I doing? I shouldn’t knock on the door! And opened the heavy wooden door. Itty Bitty Baby Possum was amazed by what he saw. Inside were rows and rows of tiny cages occupied by 3 or 4 woodland creatures each. He stepped in and started examining the cages looking for a possum.
    Then from a cage in the far corner of the room he heard “Itty Bitty Baby Possum? Is that you?” He turned to see 3 possums and a rabbit in a cage. Itty Bitty Baby Possum squealed in delight and ran to his parents and sister. It seemed impossible! Yet there they were after two extremely long years of waiting. Itty Bitty Baby Possum quickly picked the lock on the cage and let his parents out. Then, just as all 4 of them were hugging, there was a great scratching noise from above. “Oh no! It’s him!” whispered Poppa Possum anxiously. “Head for the cellar!” The four descended a rickety staircase and went through a door. They crouched down in the room and clung to each other. Upstairs, a door opened. “He’s inside” Momma Possum whispered. “MY POSSUMS ARE GONE!” bellowed the hawk.
    Then the Possum family whispered in horror as the hawk stormed down the steps. “Quick, into the corner.” Poppa Possum hissed with urgency. They scrambled to the back of the closet as the massive hawk opened the door. The great brute sniffed the air. “Not in here.” He mumbled. The door shut and they listened as the bird climbed the stairs. Po Possum let out a sigh of relief. Then Itty Bitty Baby Possum remembered. “Patrick! Oh no! We’ve got to help him!” Itty Bitty Baby Possum rocketed out the back door. His parents followed close behind, scurrying along with their son until he stopped. But Patrick Possum was nowhere to be seen. In his place was a note that made Itty Bitty Baby Possum’s blood run cold. The threatening note stated “If you ever want to see Patrick Possum alive again, leave $2000 in the hollow tree at Eagle Point.”

    “Oh no!” said Itty Bitty Baby Possum. “Patrick’s been kidnapped!” His Momma and Poppa Possum came up behind him, panting. Poppa Possum read the note with a grim expression on his face. “We have to find him!” Itty Bitty Baby Possum urged his parents down the mountain. Itty Bitty Baby Possum ran while his parents kept a steady walking pace. After 15 minutes they reached the bottom of the mountain. The family rushed to Patrick’s house hoping he was there. He wasn’t. Sadly, they trooped home. Itty Bitty Baby Possum opened the door.
    His house was decorated with balloons and streamers. Auntie Patricia jumped out at him and yelled “Surprise!” “I rescued my parents…” Itty Bitty Baby Possum said glumly. “You did? That’s wonderful! But why so glum?” asked Auntie Patricia. “Patrick’s been kidnapped.” Replied Itty Bitty Baby Possum. “Gather ‘round and have some hot cocoa. This," said Auntie Patricia “makes everyone feel better.”
    “Now let’s try to relive these years we’ve lost.” Said Poppa Possum. Auntie Patricia gave Itty Bitty Baby Possum a book. “Just a little gift.” “It’s the sequel to my favorite book! Thanks! But not as good without Patrick. I will save him!” said Itty Bitty Baby Possum. “Itty Bitty Baby Possum! You’re such a star! Said Momma Possum. “We’ll call you Star Possum!”


    But where was Patrick?...To be continued