Thanksgiving
**Thanksgiving** November 1994 Warren Becker's ears swiveled at the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. The elderly coyote rose to his feet and called out, “Anna! I think they're here!" “Answer the door, will you? ...
You Smoke That Stuff?
You Smoke That Stuff? February 1968 It was a cold, clear winter Sunday in Chicago. The road crews had cleared the streets, but snow still covered the sidewalks in a fluffy white blanket. Roy’s parents had invited the couple to lunch. ...
Moore Than Enough
**April 1952** “Lester said to look for a dirt road with a mailbox that has three red reflectors on it," said Roy. Sarah laughed, “So we're going from a gravel road to a dirt road. What next? Mud? Wait! I think I see...
Comfort
Comfort October 2005 Jessica Connelley’s ears swiveled at the front door slamming shut followed by the sound of 11-year-old footpaws running up the steps. A moment later, came the bang of a bedroom door slamming. Jessie slipped the chicken...
Leave it to Lester
Leave it to Lester July 1954 New York, New York, a helluva town The Bronx is up and The Battery’s down New York, New York, lyrics by Betty Comden & Adolph Green Roy woke to the sound of insistent knocking on his apartment door. The bear rubbed...
The Canyon
**July 1938** Hamilton was fighting hard to keep his tortured stomach under control. The bouncing of his uncle’s pickup truck over the rough gravel road had brought upon him a bout of carsickness the likes of which he’d never felt before in...
Poppy
**Poppy (epilogue)** December 2027 It had become a tradition for the family to gather at David and Jessica's house for the holidays. Their offspring, Llewelyn Roy was there with his wife Belinda and their children. Tracy sat in a...
The Stables
**July 1973** Roy stepped into the apartment. “Babe! I'm home!" he called out as the door swung shut behind him. The bear detected the faint sound of running water coming from the bathroom. The tap shut off and a few...
Gifts
**Gifts** November 1929 Roy looked out the passenger-side window of his dad’s Model A at a long line of males waiting to get into a soup kitchen. He turned to his father, “Papa?” “Yes, Roy?” “How long do you think it will be before...
Table Turned
**August 1931** Giuseppe Russo closed the apartment door behind him and dropped his suitcase on the polished wood floor of the foyer. “Is anybody home?” he called out as he hung his hat on the ornate hook mounted nearby. Demelza, the...
Farm Life
**Farm Life** June 1954 _Working on a sex farm, Trying to raise some hard love Getting out my pitchfork, Poking your hay_ _Sex Farm; written by Michael John McKean, Christopher Guest, Robert Reiner, and Harry Shearer; recorded by...
Christmas Balls
**Christmas Balls** December 1972 Roy plugged in the lights of the Christmas tree and smiled with satisfaction as he backed his way out from underneath it on his paws and knees. “Okay, Babe, it's ready for the…" The bear turned and...