Tricker #3 Starts to settle in.

  I was wrong about the box.  It came from the neighborhood.  -From friends I always  called "The big people".  They were all 6-footers except for the 3rd grader , who was only 5'3" tall.
  However, the first night was an indication of things to come.  In the morning it was observed that Tricker had decided the box was cramping her style, so she let herself out. --Shortly after departing the box she apparently encountered little sister's oil paints. -- It was evident that she thought she looked good in "umber" --or was it "burnt umber" or just chocolate brown?'  This was in spots all over the accessible body.  Gorgeous!?!  Whatever shade it was we had a well spotted , brown, that is,-spotted raccoon all over the available body. -- After a brief session , John cleaned her up(a bit) and the real pine box from the undertaker friend was obtained and suitably modified with heavy duty wire and nails.
  Note-- The forepaws of a raccoon look like little hands and might as well be, --with strength beyond the appearance that the size seems to indicate.  The previous "wire gate" had been "duck soup" to Tricker!
   Of course, there was a brief lecture and warning from yours truly concerning the care and "keeping" of said raccoon. (Talk about hot air!)
   So this was a brief warning of the future at our relatively peaceful domicile.

Tricker #2- Becomes "Family"

In a few days after the "possum incident", Ruth made what might be considered a tactical error.  She went to Gibson's (a poor man's cut-rate store in the area) with John.  Presumably she was intending to purchase - or at least review- shampoo, tooth paste, combs and brushes or the like at  inexpensive prices.  We were both "depression kids"  so low prices were important to us, essentially all our lives, hence the "cut-rate store".
   The "fatal error" with this store was that it had a "pet shop"!  On arriving I'm sure John made a bee line to the pet area and a thorough investigation was undertaken.  In a brief period of time Ruth was probably orally defending house  and home. But Ruth was a vulnerable object facing an irresistable force. -So the purchase was made!
   That evening after my "day at the office" I returned to find we had another cute little member in our family. -- A darling, winsome little raccoon!  John had obtained a box from a funeral director friend ,fenced it at one end , there it was ---the latest member of our already large family! I'm sure I expressed a little skepticism, but I was not the house keeper so it wasn't important. And so the adventure began!

"Tricker" #1

Ruth was a wonderful beautiful person:wife,mother, student, and even tolerated me.
One of the briefest times for Ruth to earn a star for her crown undoubtedly was when the raccoon, "Tricker" affected our family.
  The " door was opened " one fall week-end when we encountered a female possum complete with a dozen or so mouse-sized little ones in our garbage can by the alley. Usually the cans were covered except when the garbage was collected and the covers left off to allow the cans to dry.  At any rate, that day the cover had been off and the can was occupied by several "critters".  We brought out our old mini-sized 22 (a relic from a promotion back in the 1900s ) and I proceeded to dispatch the mother and the little ones one at a time.
  John decided that he wanted --and would care for-- one of the little ones.  At that time John was a very persuasive kid(11) and seeing no harm -I (we) decided to let the experiment proceed. --He did like animals, and of course he would take care of it, etc., etc., etc. .
   So the busy little boy obtained a box and the tiny doll-sized milk bottle to feed the "young un"with at the picnic table in the back yard. -- I shrugged my shoulders and relented("another phase") I thought to myself.)
   I resumed my morning "chores" and after a half hour or so, I came out to see how things were going.  --Neither John nor " the baby" were in sight,  I called John and asked him where "the baby" was.  "On the table" was the quick reply. --"No he's not " was my equally quick reply.  After about 15 min. of frantic searching , we gave up.  I philosophized by mentioning "There are many cats in the neighborhood." That didn't help , but John quieted down. -- To be heard from later!