FLYING SQUIRREL
by
Gerry Irwin

Word: clock
Question: How do computers heal themselves?

The end of March looms large and I’m cleaning bathrooms, hoping inspiration will strike. How do computers heal themselves? The truth is, mine doesn’t. It can’t even keep time, and its clock gains 40 minutes per year. I’ve been to the Scribblers’ site for a wonderful dose of wit and whimsy, but as I vacuum around the block of firewood by the bath, I admit defeat and reluctantly abdicate my duties in Doris’ delightful game.

Perhaps someone might have asked instead why we have a block of firewood by the bath. Doesn’t everyone? Simple, it’s for the flying squirrel to make his escape. Flying squirrels are beautiful animals, but this one isn’t very bright. We heard a commotion in the bathroom one night and there sat the cat and the squirrel solemnly eyeing each other. The cat had brought it in, apparently unharmed, through the cat door. I tried to think of a solution, perhaps involving inverted buckets or large towels. The practical husband suggested opening the window, removing the cat, and closing the door. That would have worked if flying squirrels could climb smooth walls. Apparently it’s a problem for them. Hence the firewood block, placed under the window, to give him a leg up.

The block didn’t get put back in the wood box right away and a good thing that was, because said squirrel, or his equally foolish cousin, appeared again a week later and the little drama was repeated. The block still sits in the bathroom, just in case.