Whiney Weasel, you look so sad!
Something must'a happened to you real bad!

    Bucky Beaver was busily chewing away on the last persimmons tree that stood by the pond, and didn't see his visitor until he he heard a squeaky voice greet him. He stopped chewing long enought to speak.

    "Oh, hi Whiney! Why such a sad face?"

    Whiney Weasel did indeed have a sad countenance,but there was a hint of anger too. "You'd be sad too Bucky, if some low--life scoundrel would take over your home!"

    Bucky sneezed. A tiny sliver of wood had flown up his nose. "Who took your home, Whiney?" Bucky wanted to know.

    "Muggsy Mink. Flood washed him out, so instead of making himself a new one, he took over my home; and when I go to the entrance and tell him it's my home he comes out with those sharp teeth snapping and says 'Get outt'a here! Finders keepers, losers weepers!"

    Bucky squinched up his eyes and considered the situation for a few moments; then began to chew on the persimmons tree again -- then jumped back and shouted at Whiney.

    "Watch out Whiney! TIMBER!!"

    Whiney was very close to not ever needing a home any more. He zigged when he should have zagged; quickly saw his mistake, and streaked to a safe area. The tree crashed down to the ground with a loud noise. Bucky fell over and rolled in uncontrollable laughter at the weasel. Whiney wasn't too pleased at his friend's laughter.

    "Oh sure!" he whined, with anger in his voice. "You can laugh! With your home under water no one ever wants to steal it."

    "Oh, I wouldn't say that..." Bucky told him. "Monk Muskrat and some of his friends have made the mistake of entering my home. My missus has little ones, and those muskrats have scars to keep 'em reminded never to try that again."

    Still rolling with laughter, Bucky rolled over the bank and into the pond,but a few seconds later he came up, still laughing.

    "Aw, I see you aren't going to be any help!" Whiney snarled.

    Bucky shook the water from his shiny pelt. His laughter stopped and he faced Whiney with a stern expression.

    "Well Whiney, if you'd stayed closer to home; away from Farmer Brown's chicken yard trying to catch a fat hen you wouldn't have lost your home. Spent too much time trying to figure out a way to get past that old mean rooster, and not get a dose of lead from Farmer Brown's shotgun."

    Whiney tucked his tail and slinked toward the woods, mumbling.

    "I came here for some help, and what do I get from that buck-toothed so and so/  A lecture!"

Bucky stopped clipping tender twigs from the fallen tree and looked toward the departing weasel.  "Beside having good buck teeth Whiney, I also have very good ears." he said. "I heard that remark, but in your present mood, I'll overlook it. I'd say your best bet would be to go see old Whoo-Pee the Owl. They claim owls are wise, so maybe old Whoo-Pee can help you.

    Whiney was a little shame-faced as he stopped and turned toward Bucky Beaver. "Thanks Bucky! Sounds like a good idea - and - and I apologize for what I said."

"Apology accepted Whiney," Bucky replied. "but don't go see the old owl until night. He sleeps in the day, and when he gets awakened from his sleep he is mighty grumpy. Has a dual personality too, you know.... Sometimes he turns into Boo-Whoo the night owl."

Chapter 2

Bucky Beaver's work went on; his teeth on the tree went "crunch":
Then carried some tender twigs to his den for his mate's and kiddies' lunch:
Whiney Weasel went hunting, for he was hungry too:
Wondering if Whoo-Pee the Night Owl could tell him what to do.....

    Whiney Weasel couldn't keep his mind on his hunting and missed a good chance to catch a plump wood hen. He blamed it on Muggsy Mink. Muggsy had caught him away from home and took up residence in Whiney's home; a nicely done; really neat hole dug between the big roots of a cypress tree. Whiney had been so proud of it; and had plans to choose a pretty mate and bring her to his home. His dreams were all shattered now, and Whiney was so upset he couldn't even hunt for something to fill his empty stomach. He came upon some turkey buzzards feasting greedily on a young deer some so-called hunter had shot "just for kicks" and left lying in the woods.

    Whiney had no trouble chasing the vultures away and sniffed the over--ripe carcass. It wasn't on his list of favorite foods, but he choked down several mouthfulls of the pungent meat and went looking for a cool, secluded shady spot to take an afternoon nap.

    Twilight was settling in the forest. The night creatures were tuning up their instruments for an all-night concert. The nightingales and orioles were singinging their sweet refrains, and from somewhere came the unmistakable call of a lonely coyote.

    "Doggone that good-for-nothing Charlie Coyote!" Whoo-Pee the Night Owl mumbled as he was awakened from his day-long sleep. "Well, it's time I was waking up anyhow. Company may be coming. I love company."

    When he didn't have anyone around for company Whoo-Pee would talk to himself. Then he focused his eyes on the floor of the woodland, his head popping to and fro and his neck turning round and round. Whoo-Pee always woke up hungry, and anything that moved down there was liable to be on his dinner menu. A voice startled him, and he looked down at the foot of the big oak and saw Whiney Weasel standing there with a gopher in his teeth.

Chapter 3

Whoo-Pee couldn't believe his eyes!
A weasel come bearing him a prize....
Was it a trap? How could he tell?
He'd heard a weasel would eat an owl

    Whoo-Pee the Night Owl licked his beak. That sure was a nice plump gopher. He thought Barney the Barn Owl had wiped out all the gophers in Farmer Brown's fields.   "Is that gopher for me?" he asked nervously. "I didn't know weasels hunted gophers."

    Whiney laughted. He'd come to Whoo-Pee the Night Owk bearing a gift he thought couldn't help but bring him goodwill from the crusty old owl. It had been a while since Whiney had felt like laughting, but this was funny. Whoo-Pee was licking his beak and dripping saliva as he thought how tasty that gopher would be, but he was hesitating.

    "Yeah Whoo-Pee, it's for you." Whiney told him. "I caught him off-guard enjoying some of Farmer Brown's corn. C'mon down and get him. He's too heavy for me to bring up in the tree."

    There was a great rustle of feathers as Whoo-Pee dived to the forest floor. smatched the prize from Whiney and flew back to his perch in the old oak tree. \Whiney climbed up, and found a comfortable seat on a limb just across from Whoo-Pee.    The only sounds in the early night were the night creatures as they performed in their nightly music-making;, and Whoo-Pee the Night Owl noisily consuming the best supper he had enjoyed in a long time. There was a whir of wings that startled Whiney, but Whoo-pee was so busily engrossed in his enjoyment of the meal that he didn't notice Spookie the Screech Owl until he was perched right beside him.

    "Couldn't spare me a little humk of that, could you old friend?? Spookie asked.  Spooloe was one of Whoo-Pee's special friends. He couldn't turn him down. He tore off a corn-fattened leg of the gopher and turned to Spookie who gingerly took it from his friend's beak.

    After the evening meal was eaten Whoo-Pee and Spookie shared some small talk; then there was a rustling in the leaves and Scamp the Squirrel appeared, displaying a toothy grin.   "Did'ja see Roscoe the Coon go by a while ago?" He asked as he perched on a nearby limb and munched on an acorn .

    "Nope. "Whoo-Pee replied. " I must'a still been sleeping. "Was the coon dog after him?"

    "Your must'a been dead Whoo-Pee, if that ol' hound's baying didn't awaken you. He was right on ol' Roscoe's tail too!" Scamp the Squirrel almost fell backward off his limb giggling.. A flurry of sharp toenails in oak bark was heard, and Roscoe the Racoon plopped down in the fork of the big oak next to Scampy the Squirrel.

       "Aw, Scampy, you ol' bushy-tailed wood rat!!" Roscoe scolded Scampy good-naturedly. That ol' hound wasn't about to catch ol' Roscoe."

    Whiney the Weasel was taking it all in. amd wondering when he was going to have the opportunity to present his problem to Whoo-Pee the Night Owl who was chuckling in amusement at the exchanges between the racoon and squirrel. Then Whoo-Pee took notice of how quiet the visiting weasel had become. Whoo-Pee turned to Whiney and studied him momentarily before speaking.

    "Whiney, I sure do appreciate the gopher. Best meal I've had in weeks, but you look troubled and unhappy. Want to talk about it?"

    Muggsy Mink had been out of order! Spooky the Screech Owl became a bit impatient with his old friend Whoo-Pee the Night Owl for permitting Muggsy to continue his arrogant speech. Spooky was well aware of the fact that given the opportunity, Whiney Weasel would make a meal out of him; but as he perched there on a limb beside Whoo-Pee he had watched and listened to the two; Whiney and Muggsy as they presented their case to Whoo-Pee; and he'd had all he could stand of Muggsy Mink. He was a little embarrassed at his outburst as Whoo-Pee turned to him with an alarmed expression. then chuckled.

    "Do you take spells like that very often, Spooky?" Then Whoo-Pee looked up in the tree at Scampy Squirrel sticking his head out of his hole. "You can come on back down now Scampy."

    The night creature tuned up cautiously, then started up a concerto, with the gifted soloist Kosmo Katydid. The orchestration was superb.

    "I don't like katydids!" Scampy Squirrel said, with a frown. "He plays pretty, but I still don't like katydids!" Roscoe the Coon went "tsk! tsk!"

    "Scamp, that's discrim - discrimi ...."

    "Discrimination." Whoo-Pee said. Scampy Squirrel giggled; rolling back and forth on his limb, finally falling off his perch and having to grab onto a limb several feet down the tree. Roscoe called down to him.  "Scamp, it's plain to see you're no flying squirrel."

    Everyone except Whiney Weasel was having a good laugh at Scampy Squirrel's antics. Whiney wanted to get back to the subject of his losing him home. Muggsy Mink stretched and arose .  "Well, I guess I'll be getting on back home." He said, then glanced sideways at the morose Whiney who was slumped on a limb with his head down. "It's was nice to visit you folks, but there's no place like home." Muggsy added.

    Whoo-Pee the Night Owl blinked his big eyes as a full moon popped over the horizon and cast a bright light through the old oak's branches.   "Muggsy, before you go," Whoo-pee began. "I have something to tell you."

    "Well, tell on old-timer." Muggsy replied; with emphasis on "old timer".

    "I want you to come back here tomorrow night;" Whoo-Pee began. "and bring  with you anyone who will testify that your were within your rights to take over the den Whiney Weasel says is his home. Court will convene at full dark."

    Muggsy started to protest, but Whoo-Pee interrupted him.  "....and Muggsy, if you don't show, I'll deputize Charlie Coyote and send him  after you!"

Chapter 6

'Tis strange that in the darkest hours;
When black clouds have brought such gloom;
The wind of change sweeps them  away,
And new joy begins to bloom!

    Whiney Weasel was well hidden in a laurel thicket watching a ruffed grouse hen with nine plump half-grown chicks, scratching in decaying leaves and filling their craws with red wigglers. Whiney had plans to fill his protesting stomach with ruffed grouse, but he was waiting for the most opportune moment to dash out and seize the hen. The chicks would be tender and tasty, but not enough to provide an adequate meal.

    The right moment came: and just as Whiney started his leap, he saw a dark form flash from a heavy growth of weeds across from him, grab a chick and disappear. Startled, his leap was delayed . The grouse had scattered in every direction - all but one chick, frozen in place. It wasn't the prey Whiney had hoped for, but better than nothing. He grabbed it up and looked in the direction the other predator had gone; then moved toward the weeds. Its scent told him it was another weasel: a female weasel.....

    She uttered a high pitched growl as he entered the weed hideout, then noticed the stranger had brought his own lunch. She turned her back to Whiney and continued to devour the plump chick.   Whiney had been hungry, but he hadn't started to eat. He was looking the young female weasel over. "She's a beauty!" thought Whiney, as he admired her shiny dark brown  coat and tail. Hunger took over then, and he made short work of the grouse chick. She had finished her meal too, and slowly headed for the woods. Before she entered the dark woods she looked back once; and that was all the invitation Whiney needed to follow. He joined her at a shaded pool, where they both had a long drink of the cool water . After they had satisfied their thirst, Whiney got up enough courage to speak.

    "What's your name? My name is Whiney."

    "My name is Wendy." she replied, then added "Why in the world did they name you Whiney?"

    "It's just a nickname the gang laid on me. My real name is Wilbur."

    "I like that much better." Wendy said. "Where do you live?"

    Whiney wished she hadn't asked that question, but somehow he felt that this pretty  young female was to play a major part in the rest of his life. He ran through the entire story  for her. When he came to the part about finding a mate and taking her to his home, Wendy dropped her pretty head. If weasels were able to blush, Wendy would have done so. Whiney told her of the meeting to be held that night with Whoo-Pee the Night Owl in the old oak tree.

    "W-Would - would you- you go with me tonight, Wendy?' Whiney asked, stuttering in his embarrassment. Wendy laughed and jumped to her feet.

    "Only if you can catch me, Wilbur! She exclaimed with a laugh as she took through the forest in a full run.

    Whiney was caught off guard and Wendy was almost out of sight before he took up the challenge. He knew some shortcuts throught the woods, and before too long he came out of a thicket right in front of the surprised Wendy. She took off in another direction with Whiney in full pursuit. They played chase, hide and seek, and other such games boy and girl weasels play when they've just discovered each other until twilight fell on the forest.

Chapter 7

The old oak tree was full that night:
The word had got around.....
And those who couldn't climb a tree
Were gathered on the ground.|
Whoo-Pee the Night Owl greeted
Each one; then said "I think
A certain character is missing:
And his name is Muggsy Mink!"

    As Whoo-Pee the Night Owl greeted each one gathered in and around the old oak tree he saw Wendy Weasel perched close to Whiney.  "Well, well;" he whooped. "Whiney, you look a lot happier than you did last night. Will you introduce me to your - uh - friend?

    If boy weasels could blush -- well, if you could see their blush; but the rich ermine-like fur that covered Whiney's face concealed it. and Wendy's too.   Whiney stammered out an introduction, and there was the titter of giggling and laughter in every limb and branch of the old oak tree. Scamp the Squirrel became so convulsed with giggling that he flipped backward and fell from his perch. He grabbed for a   limb, but caught Roscoe Racoon's striped tail instead.

    "Sorry about that!" Scampy apologized as he scrambled back to his perch beside his mate who was fanning herself with her bushy tail to keep from fainting.

    "That squirrel is a nut case!" declared Roscoe, checking to see if he'd lost any of the pretty stripes in his tail.

    Whoo-Pee hadn't had as good a laugh as this for a long time, and he hadn't enjoyed this much company ever before, but there was important matters to take care of, so he settled himself down and flapped his wings together for attention. The laughter continued. Whoo-Pee whispered something into the ear of Spookie the Screech Owl perched next to him.   Spookie came out with the most eerie screech anyone in the forest had ever heard; ending with "Atten-shun!"

    The reaction was more than Whoo-Pee had bargained for; for there was a scrambling  throughout the tree and at the foot of the tree as a great number of the night visitors dashed for a place of safety. Whoo-Pee called them back, but a good many headed for their respective homes vowing never to return to the old oak tree. Sadie Squirrel, Scampy's mate was up the rest of the night trying to calm down her little ones.

    "Spook, did'ja have to use that screech?" Whoo-Pee scolded. "I haven't heard you use that one since way back when Rowdy the Red-Tail Hawk and his cronies tried to rob your nest and snatch your little ones."

    "Naah, Whoo-Pee! This'n was nothing to compare to that screech!" Spooky declared. "Rudy and his gang hasn't been seen in this forest since then, and some say Rudy ended up a nervous wreck with his missus having to carry food in to him."

    "Hmmm....." Whoo-Pee muttered. "Well, this one was bad enough." He glanced over at Whiney Weasel. After recovering from Spooky's screesch Wendy had been taken over by sleep; leaning against Whiney. Whiney grinned sheepishly at Whoo-Pee.

    Well...." Whoo-Pee began. "I suppose it's getting a little too late for most of you folks for us to get the case of Whiney Weasel versus Muggsy Mink going tonight. but we'll  get into it tomorrow night; and I guarantee you Muggsy Mink will be present and accounted for. Charlie Coyote, are you still down there?

    A yip-yip and high pitched howl announced that Charlie Coyote was there at the foot of the old oak listening to everything going on.  "Yessir, Whoo-Pee, I'm here" He said. "It'd take more'n a loud-mouthed screech owl to scare ol' Charlie away."

    "Good!" Whoo-Pee whooped. "Consider yourself deputized to go tomorrow evening and bring Muggsy Mink in. That dude is gonna have his day - er - night in court whether he likes it or not!

Muggsy Mink was taking a nap
When he was awakened by a yap,
Followed by a high pitched yowl:
Oh boy! Was Muggsy Mink's mood foul?!

    "Charlie Coyote, you mangy, flea-bitten carrion eater!" Muggsy shouted from inside. " Get your rotten breath away from my door and go back out West where you belong. We don't need your kind around these parts!"

    "You can call me Deputy Charlie Coyote, Muggsy." Charlie Coyote  informed Muggsy in his best official voice. "Whoo-Pee the Night Owl deputized me and gave me orders to bring you in, and that's exactly what I aim to do!"

    "And just how do you plan on doing that, you half-breed dog.?" Muggsy asked with a sneer. "You may dig a gopher out of his hole, but you don't have the right equipment to dig into where I am."

    "Guess that's why Whoo-Pee asked Billy Badger to come along with me." said Charllie Coyote. "Billy can dig in there and drag you out; but you may be hurting some when he gets you out. Billy's ready to start digging. Better come out peaceable like, Muggsy......"

    A whipporwill's call came from a grove of willows down by the creek. It wasn't a mating call; rather an expression of joyous relief that the summer's offsprings were out of the nest and on their own, and he and his mate finally had some time to themselves. The woodland orchestra had already tuned up and the vocalists had run the musical scale in preparation for a night-long  concert.. A group of bullfrogs in the farm pond at the edge of the forest were providing good bass. A light thundershower in the late afternoon had lessened the heat and humidity, and although the perches in the old oak tree were still a little damp, no one seemed to care. A pack of coonhounds could be heard in  the distance, gleefully chasing a racoon around the foot of Eagle Knob.

    "Better him than me!" Roscoe Racoon observed with a laugh. "That young hound of Farmer Brown's gave me all I could handle last night as i was heading home."

    Whoo-Pee the Night Owl stared at Muggsy Mink, slumped on a limb between Blackie Bear and his brother Bubba Bear. It wasn't hard to see that Muggsy was very displeased with the situation. Whoo-Pee nodded to Spookie the Screech Owl. Spookie hopped to a more prominent perch, put on his most distinguished look, cleared his throat and began.

    "Hear ye! Hear ye! This court will now come to order." Spookie began; but was interrupted when Muggsy Mink suddenly leaped to the next limb and over to a limb right in front of Whoo-Pee and Spookie. Blackie and Bubba Bear were caught off-guard; just staring at each other. Muggsy glared at the two old owls momentarily, fighting off the urge to tear into them and dry pick both of them. He then waved to the animals and birds gathered in the old oak tree to take in the events of the night.

    "Y'all can go home!" Muggsy shouted to them. "Not gonna be any court here tonight." Spooky the Screech Owl started to shout "Out of order", but Whoo-Pee  stopped him.

    "And just what do you mean by that, Muggsy?" Whoo-Pee asked sternly, with more bravado than he really felt.

    "I can see you're all against me. If I let you go on with this I'd have about as much chance as an icicle in July. I'm moving out of this forest over beyond Eagle Knob to the river country. Poor little Whiney can have his hole back. I was cramped in it anyhow."

    A cheer went up in the old oak tree and on the forest floor beneath; with all the various chirps, twitters, grunts, yelps and screeches. Over on the farm, Farmer Brown was feeding his coonhounds and tying them for the night when he heard the commotion coming from the forest. He called his wife.   "Ma, come out here and lissen to that noise coming from the woods."

    "What is it Pa?" She asked, stepping out on the front porch and listening.

    "My land, Pa! What do you think they're carryin' on like that about? Do ye reckon a big mean animal has disturbed 'em?

    "No Ma, I don't think so. Sounds to me like they're celebratin' 'bout somethin'."