Tricker #10- Final Voyage

      So we continued with Tricker at 1200 LaVista, some, through the summer of 1977 and she reentered the cage(at times) and led a somewhat reformed life.  After all, even a slow raccoon picks up  on the fact that if you dig a hole through a roof, you get taken on a dove hunt of no return, fraught with rattlesnakes, highway travel, mean dogs,and the like. So there was a rosy time of boy and raccoon united, the two were inseparable, and could be seen wrestling playfully in the yard as birds chirped,  the papayas and limes swelled on the trees, the gentle Valley breezes blew through the din of chicharras(a variety of LOUD locusts in the Valley), and all was good.                                                                                                                  John's boyhood friend, Ralph, had a slew of little brothers and sisters  who thought John, the raccoon tamer,  was a rock star.  They were dying to see this coon, and John was eager to oblige. They  lived in a little farm on Rooth Road northwest of McAllen.  John had spent many a happy weekend there, hunting, fishing, helping with the farm chores, trying to ride calves, riding horses, milking cows and generally having a blast, so he really wanted to give the tykes a full Tricker experience.  John at this point in his life was not good at  event planning though, and never thought about the two or three farm dogs that always ran loose around the place.  As they approached the house, John did finally consider the dogs and made the decision to get out and walk from a distance, you know, sort of sneak up  on the situation and hope boys got the dogs tied up.  Sure enough as the car arrived about a quarter-mile from the place, John and Tricker had just left the car and here come the dogs "a-runnin"!  As the border collie and cur dog blurs came  tearing across the open field he knew there was only one option,---he pulled off Tricker's harness, and let her run! She made a bee line for a citrus grove that was right next to a canal and was never seen again. ---She escaped the dogs, but was never seen again by John, Ralph or the sad little brothers and sisters who had been SO looking forward to a couple days with a coon. So it was all so anticlimactic,  ---poof gone like that!  Ralph said there were many raccoon tracks around the canal and groves so they figured she was as happy as could be!  She never showed up in town either,  --that we know of.  I guess she received the message and decided, somewhat on her terms to kick Us to the Curb!  It was an interesting twist of fate but this time it really worked.   Tricker's cage went on to house some bob white quail and  few others, but there was never another mid-sized omnivorous pet at 1200 La Vista!

Tricker #8 -Homecoming

   So John, in case you didn't know, never let the lack of a driver's license keep him from getting around town.  He was long distance cyclist from way back and patrolled a beat among various convenience stores, sporting goods stores, raspa stands, and most of all pet stores.  He was well known at all these locales and especially the pet stores, as he kept an aquarium, chickens, doves, quail, iguanas, turtles, well ----you get the idea.   One fine day in the spring of the year following the release of Tricker, Ruth received a call from the pet store just south of Lamar School on 10th Street (one of John's favorite hangouts) that someone had a raccoon show up a their house in Edinburg, that seemed very tame(the raccoon, not the house).  They wondered if it was ours.  Apparently the dogs had been giving it a hard time, but they had managed to get it in a cage and had the insight to contact area pet stores.   I can only imagine Ruth's eagerness to retrieve a varmint that she and her lovely home and garden had just began to recover from.  True love for her son prevailed and they took the short trip to the pet store and retrieved the animal.   No one was sure it was Tricker---this animal was much larger, more filled out and a bit beat up from the "dog rassling" but home they went.  All uncertainty was erased when this fat little beat-up raccoon jumped out of the Delta 88 as soon as it his the driveway and ran straight to the screen door and immediately began trying to let itself in.  Thus began a bit of a hiatus, in troubled relations between Tricker and parental forces as they were stuck with a sort of "Incredible Journey" awe,----- yes, a detante of sorts.  Not a hero's welcome, not a prodigal daughter scenario but an uneasy sort of "Wow, now what?"period.  The boy was happy, the coon was happy---what was one to do?

Tricker-Sayonara at Citrus City--- #8

    Dove season was upon us-- probably September 1976, and a nice week-end of hunting was in store in an area known as Citrus City.  This area was obviously known for orange and grapefruit groves watered by a network of canals and drained by ditches like much of the Valley, at that time.  There were also grain fields aplenty and occasional brush fence lines forming corridors for wildlife in the general vicinity.  Citrus City is roughly 12 mi west of Edinburg and 12 mi north of McAllen.   This is foreshadowing!  So it was along one of these brushy fence lines along a grain field, where we parked to find a bit of shade to wait until doves began to fly--- a father, daughter, son, and an unsuspecting raccoon.  As was typical, not a whole lot was going on in the 3-5 pm time frame, but Tricker was in seventh heaven rummaging through the brush behind"the hunters" seated in the shade along the field by the road.  A mixed cacophony of crackling vegetation, earth moving and contented raccoon sounds could be heard behind the waiting group. ---Then suddenly came the punctuating sound of the afternoon,-- an electric buzzing-rattling, that any South Texan instantly recognizes; yes, a sizable western diamond back sounded off behind us!  Father, Kids and an obviously intelligent raccoon, bolted away from the brush and toward the center of the grain field. surprised  by the unexpected noise!!  Tricker, in particular moved away at  rather dignified pace- as if somewhat insulted by the latest development! However her directionality left no doubt as to her response!  Eventually, the frantic surprise was replaced by a humorous response(relief).  So the hunt continued, the raccoon returned to her own devices in an area we felt she would be able to take care of herself.  So the hunt progressed, and when it came time to go , father and kids drove off without the furry critter.  It was a somewhat melancholy drive out of the dove fields that day, but the "Humans" reassured each other that "It was a better way."  "She seemed quite at home ." "She has everything she needs there.etc.  "

Tricker seals her fate. #7

    From when she was small, John would turn Tricker out of her cage and stay with her as she explored the yard, the alley, etc..  She never went too far, never created problems and  went back to her cage, when John herded her back.  But as Tricker matured, she spent more and more time travelling the tree tops, eating fruit, and who knows what and generally becoming more independent.  John would start trying to corral  her an hour or so before dark and, eventually Tricker decided that she liked night time operations perhaps even better than daytime operations.  So there were days when John would give up, go inside and wait until Tricker let herself back into the house or cage on her own.  She was able to open our back screen doors, which were locked only by a latch at the top, by pulling the bottom of the door frame and then push her way through.  Eventually, Ruth decided that a second latch should be added to the bottom to put an end to that.   Seemed like a great idea and actually worked, as well, until there was a night when Tricker wouldn't come down from her tree.  John gave up at some point during the night.  Tricker, thwarted by the second latch , decided she could just go ahead and get in by burrowing through the roof.  When John, who was often on the roof for a variety of reasons only known to him, soon saw the massive hole over the play room which was clawed through the shingles, tar paper and all the way to the wood he figured one or both of them were goners.  Sure enough, a field trip to the dove fields was arranged for the both of them... but one of them would not return.

Tricker goes to school(not) & John leaves school #6

John has finally added to the Tricker Stories. This is the first.
  When John was in the 5th grade his teacher, Mrs Hargrove, became aware that John had an interesting pet that many might like to see. Thinking it would be an educational experience, she invited John to bring Tricker to school for a sort of "show and tell" at a specific date and time. At this point Tricker was pretty much an adult raccoon who had definitely developed a sizable body and mind of her own.  So, first thing on the appointed morning, John hooked up Tricker's harness to the leash and set out for school.  The only problem was that there just happened to be a driving rainstorm at the time.  As John and Tricker arrived at the street and began their first crossing, Tricker decided for the first time in her life that she was not at all interested in crossing the street, or furthermore , going anywhere John was interested in taking her.  So...after a short raccoon rodeo began, involving mule-like leg setting, monkey-like leg climbing, dashes int the pittosporum hedge , etc..   In the driving rain they both decided that it probably wasn't in the best interest of anyone to continue on that path.  After a bit of reflexion, it was decided that maybe Tricker wasn't the best school visitor then, or ever,  as she was getting pretty large and more independent.  Big independent critters with lots of sharp teeth probably should stay at home.  It should be mentioned that John was summoned at school by his mother when Tricker occasionally slipped int the main part of the house and holed up under a bed, to her great consternation.  For some reason, Maria(pt time maid) was hard to convince that a playful raccoon swiping at her ankles should be part of making a bed!  John would be summoned and normality was gradually restored by the removal of Tricker from under the bed and so on. Fortunately, the principal and teachers knew our family well and understood the predicament. We just weren't like other families!

Tricker ##5- Subsisting

    Tricker in the interim between her arrival at the Kuhl household and the grocery catastrophe had endeared herself to the family by being very helpful.
     She checked under the overstuffed chairs, the sofa, and under the kitchen furniture frequently during the day, as well as checking the veneer of the doors, screen inlays, the "pockets" around the bases of the louvers, and so on.
     Apparently, somewhere along the way she had had beautician lessons and loved to work with Mary Kay's abundant curls to everyone's appreciation, especially Mary's.
     Her checking under the furniture at times ran counter to the directions of Ruth--"la ama de la casa"--so when Ruth attempted to persuade Tricker to check in other areas from those Tricker had selected, there was conflict -more than mental-, so "The Tricker Master" and his aid, was sought.  So John was summoned from the nearby elementary school.  As a result, John spent quite a little time soothing the two mistresses of the house.  The teachers at the school were interested and cooperative so things went smoothly ,-- at first.  After the third episode, for some unknown reason, the school authority became a  "bit testy" and shall we say "short tempered" .
     All in all, Tricker's popularity was definitely on the wane as her judgement and that of the"ama de la casa" differed.  The true "ama" was not about to defer her long standing authority to this furry newcomer in her house!!!
    

Tricker #4

   In the past few weeks I've held off on "Tricker" stories because I'd hoped to get the collaboration of John, the real "Tricker Expert".   Fortunately for him his athletic girls are setting the world on
fire with their soccer.  --- John's been helping them anyway he can. -Better than Tricker, it turns out!
   On inquiring in the family, perhaps the most dramatic episode occurred one pleasant afternoon.  The girls, Corien and Martha, were home from school and I don't know about John and Walter, but I'm sure they were otherwise occupied.
   It seems that Ruth, after the "little girls" had arrived home from school, had gone to do a bit of grocery shopping.   Meanwhile , Tricker , as was her wont, was climbing around the house , doing her duty, as she saw it, including the walls and  the roof.  In short, having a wonderful time as an inspector of the building.  --Checking the locks of the doors and windows,  the veneer of the doors, the hooks in the screen doors, and other fabulous things as her job as inspector of buildings in the "Valley" area  required.  I'm sure she was enjoying her chosen occupation to the fullest, but along came Ruth with her car laden with groceries! What a put down!!
     What was the normal loving raccoon to do when the mistress of the house comes loaded with groceries!?  Jump on her from the roof and try to give her a big hug, of course!  Amid the unappreciative screams, scrambling,  and the flying groceries, I'm sure "Tricker " was really upset!  After a decent prescribed

interval , everyone resumed the quiet , dignified attitude and the usual tranquil life was again pursued. -with a distressed,  disgusted attitude, the " ama de la casa" in the midst of it all. -- I'm sure Tricker's ultimate fate was sealed that day!  -John received "instructions" and other bits of valuable information were released in that "pregnant" atmosphere!
    Strangely, by the time I arrived at home , all was quiet and tranquility reigned, (or Tricker thought) as she resumed her "benign? reign" over the house at 1200 LaVista.