Squirrel Procrastinates

The town elder, a wizened old goat, looked scornfully at the slight trickle coming down the falls where the stream that fed the lakebed the town resided on had once flowed. However, lately, the creek had dried up, and the level of fresh water the lake had was dwindling, as it was carried downstream and used by the townspeople. The goat heard footsteps behind him, and turned about to see a small rabbit walking towards him.
“Elder, why did the water stop?” The small bunny boy asked. The goat shook his head regretfully, indicating that he knew not the cause.
“Maybe the water god has been angered. We may have to leave this place and find a new area to live if this goes on for much longer.”
“Could it be because of that?” The rabbit asked, pointing to the top of the dry waterfall. The elder craned his neck far back, and, after squinting to block out the sun’s harsh rays, was able to see that atop the falls sat a large boulder, obviously damming the stream and preventing the water from spilling over.
“That may be it.” Elder Goat replied. “Now, if we could find someone to climb up the falls and dislodge it for us…” he trailed off.
“Maybe we should ask Squirrel!” Rabbit reasoned. Goat thought for a second.
“Yes, he is the best climber in this town. Perhaps we should ask him to climb up the waterfall and loosen the rock.” So Elder Goat and Rabbit made their way to the small hut where Squirrel, champion climber of the town resided. Outside the straw building, they could see Squirrel shooting marbles with his friend Chipmunk.
“Squirrel.” Elder Goat said as he approached. “We have found that a large boulder blocks the flow of water to our village. Would you climb to the top and dislodge it, the town would be in your debt.”
“Eh, maybe in a bit.” Squirrel said, shooting a marble and knocking a few of Chipmunk’s marbles from the ring etched in the dirt. “I’m right in the middle of a game. Besides, we’ve still got water left, right?”
“Well, you had best make haste.” Elder Goat replied.
A day and night passed. The next morning, Elder Goat headed to the waterfall and found it still trickling, and the water in the lake was now stagnant and muddy. Soon, it would be unsafe to drink. Quickly, he strode towards Squirrel’s house, with Rabbit and Chipmunk in tow.
“Squirrel, why have you not yet unblocked the falls?” he asked. Squirrel was sprawled out in his hammock outside his hut, waving himself with a leaf fan.
“Eh, maybe in a bit.” Squirrel said, pulling a book from underneath him and flipping through the pages. “It’s too hot right now. Besides, we’ve still got water left, right?”
“Well, you had best make haste.” Elder goat replied.
A day and night passed. The next morning, Elder goat headed to the waterfall and found that there was now no water coming down the cliffs, and the lake was almost empty. Quickly, he strode towards Squirrel’s house, with Rabbit, Chipmunk, and the rest of the town behind him.
“Squirrel, why have you not yet unblocked the falls?” he asked. Squirrel was sitting inside his hut, snacking on some fruit.
“Eh, maybe in a bit.” Squirrel said, selecting a prime apple and biting into it. “I’m really hungry right now. Besides, we’ve still got water left, right?”
“Well, you had best make haste.” Elder goat replied.
This went on for a week. One by one, the villagers began to leave town. Rabbit left with his family. Chipmunk struck out on his own. Eventually, only Elder Goat and Squirrel were left in the village. The lake was now bare-bones dry. The two animals stood in the lakebed and stared up at the falls.
“I would do it, but I’m just so thirsty.” Squirrel moaned.
“The only way we will get water is if you climb up the falls and unblock the stream.” Elder Goat said. Squirrel sighed, but sprang into action. As fast as lightning, he shimmied up the cliff and reached the boulder. He quickly worked it loose, and a river of gushing water poured out. Hopping down the rocks, he stood next to Elder Goat as he watched the lake fill up. The water was sluggish and brown. Squirrel took a drink of it, but spit it back out immediately.
“This water is disgusting!”
“That is because it is mixing with the dried dirt from the lakebed. It will be several weeks, if not months, before it returns to normal.” Elder Goat scooped up a jar of the dirty water and headed back to his hut, leaving Squirrel alone. The champion town climber sat by the lakebed and sighed. All of his friends were gone, and the water that he wanted to drink was yucky.
“If I only hadn’t been so lazy.”