The short stay of Chippie the Chipmunk

My brother Ronnie and I were nothing alike. He was good; I was bad. Curious about everything, I got into trouble constantly, and received many a switching because of Ronnie’s snitching. Occasionally, though, events worked in my favor. Such was the case with his good buddy, Chippie the Chipmunk.

Wild creatures interested Dad, and if he caught one, he’d bring it home for a few days before setting it free. Once he brought home a chipmunk and put it in a birdcage.

“Boys, what shall we name him?” I suggested Monk, but Dad preferred Ronnie’s choice: Chippie.

When Ronnie tried feeding C...