The Heist
A Story Every Day in 2024 21st Feb 52/366
"So. Who's got the suits?"
Reggie looked around at his gang. They'd come up with a plan. They needed to reach higher, they'd all decided. There was too much poison on the ground - everyone was out to get them - and they were getting slim pickings from their usual haunts right now and so, they were looking up. This was about survival in the dark underworld they inhabited.
Robbie stepped forward with the costumes.
"They weren't easy to get, Boss. There's not much call for dressing up in fur anymore so I've really had to scramble to get them."
Reggie gave Robbie a raised eyebrow at his fashion comment and took one and held it out in front of him. His first impression? It was going to be warm. His second? That this was going to be the heist of the century. If they could only pull it off.
"Robbie, you've done well. Right, everyone try them on and then we'll get training."
Reggie watched as his gang transformed themselves from the dark killers and opportunists that they were known as to the wider world, into something that would draw the eye but not repel it. They'd be able to hide in plain sight.
"Good! Good!" Reggie was pleased with the result and rubbed his hands together. "Right. Let's get training!"
*
It took weeks for Reggie's pack to reach the heights of athleticism required for the job. Some of the technique for grabbing was harder because of their limited hand span but they were hungry and determined and so, like all vermin intent on stealing the prize, they kept on and on, until they got it right. Balancing beams wouldn't normally be an issue but the fur was cumbersome and they weren't used to the adaptation needed for the tail. Leaping, twisting, dangling - this was all new to them but they had to get it right.
And then the day came.
Reggie looked at his gang and said, proudly, "Right, Rat Pack. I think we're ready."
He couldn't see if they were pleased as the furry jowls disguised their angular features.
"Squirrels? Ready?"
His gang cheered.
"Let's go get us some nuts!"
***
365 words
Whimsy from me based on a severe dislike of squirrels, except little red ones. They're cute with their little tufty ears but grey, black, russetty grey squirrels are, in my opinion, rats with more fluff. The only time I tolerate them is when they sit on their hind legs and do that nibbly thing with their paws.
If I see them on my feeders, it enrages me. I've written a poem about it too:
I know it's completely irrational but I can't help it.
Thanks for stopping by! If you do read this, please do leave a comment as I love to interact with my readers.
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Comments (13)
See, I read this and just think Reggie and Co are really clever! It's a really entertaining little story. Oddly enough, red squirrels are the ones that annoy me, through no fault of their own. We act like they're an 'endangered species' in the UK and feed them a huge chunk of our conservation budget, solely because they're cute, and worse at surviving than the greys. Meanwhile, they continue to thrive across much of Europe, and are not in real danger at all in countries where they don't have to deal with competition (the little wusses). 😄
Love the rat pack! Love the accompanying poem though feel squirrels got a slightly more positive write up in the prose. The names fit so well too!
If they're a rat pack, shouldn't they sing us a little tune?
Haha. What a cute story. Too funny. ❤️
Always telling anyone who’ll listen that squirrel are just rats with bushy tails. This was a validating read!
My mum, who lived in London the first 33 years of her life, always views pigeons as rats with wings.
True story. I found a young squirrel cowering near the front entrance of my building. When I tried to help it, it ran up the leg of my jeans (no, not inside. Lol) anyway, I plucked it off my jeans and planted it on the nearest tree. It was cute.
Your poem and story work together like a kind of out of the box reverse. In one squirrels are downgraded to the most hated of the vermin world - rats in fluffy suits and in the other rats lift their game to the realm of cuteness by donning fluffy suits. It’s a wonderfully hilarious pairing!
Cute story squirrel… not having first hand experience… they’re easy to love!🤣
Nahh, it's not irrational. You have good reason to dislike them. Loved your story!
I like watching them gather nuts, but my dogs also like to chase them. One day they might get lucky.
Squirrel fiction is rapidly becoming a bona fide sub-genre hereabouts! Nice work!
Very well written!