Racoon

I dropped Olivia off at the door tonight, she hopped out of the car and ran into the Aquatic Centre to get changed for swimming.  I drove back down the street in the rain looking for a free parking space.  I found one!  Walking back to the pool, it was cold, wet, dark with lots of cars passing.  I thought it must be the last of the neighborhood arriving home from work.  As I crossed Beach, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of something moving.  I turned my head to look...it was a big, furry racoon beside me, waddling along. 

He kept his distance from me, continuing to waddle and scurry along being sure to sniff all the nooks and crannies of tree trunks, steps and bushes.  I guess he was hungry for a snack!  I kept walking along the sidewalk adjacent to the aquatic centre, he walked along beside me on the other side of a four foot hedge, I could hear the rustle of his clawed feet on the ground.  Every so often he poked his head through the hedge to check me out.  I stopped and looked back at him.  What was he thinking?  Does he think?  What is he doing?  He crawled under the hedge and came out on the sidewalk beside me.  I stopped, we looked at each other again.  He didn't say anything, I said, "hi racoony, what's happening?". No answer and he swaggered across the driveway. 

I saw a man walking along the sidewalk, carrying an umbrella, he didn't notice the racoon cross the sidewalk just in front of him.  I looked around to see if there were cars coming as the racoon was about to step foot onto the street.  No cars close and he made his way across and the up an apartment building driveway.  I lost sight of him in some bushes at the side of the driveway.  How interesting and intriguing it is to see the city racoons of Vancouver.  They are cute and furry, they look good to pet.  I don't pet them or get close although I still think they are cute.  Somewhat mysterious they are with rings around their eyes and tails!