Erulisse Dances

A NEW CHARACTER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

I am shivering. Maybe it's the cold, or maybe it’s just the terror of the journey to an unknown and strange place. Sounds I’ve never heard before have been my companions over the past two days while I hid in the branches. Now it’s dark, but I feel that I’m finally in the open air again, so it’s time to leave my tree – my place of safety that became a trap. I don’t think this place is where I should be, I need to find my way home. I smell food and I’m so hungry. I climb down the trunk and leave my tree to follow my nose.

“Who! What! What are you doing, rummaging around my home? Go away! You’re bothering me!”

I turn to run, unable to stop the disappointed noise that escapes me. This foul-mouthed creature is guarding the food I ‘m trying to reach? It? He – I feel it must be a he – is green, very loud, and seems to be angry. He clearly does not want me around his “home”.

I wish I knew where my own home was. I tucked my tail and pushing back my own tears, I release a small "meep" and turn to walk away.

“Wait a sec. What are you? Who are you? I’ve never seen someone looking like you on the Street before.”

Turning, I face him again. On closer look, he was an odd creature. He was perched above the rim of a metal can that smelled tantalizing. I could find food inside that can. But he is loud and green with a big mouth and protruding eyes. Maybe he is dangerous! Maybe he will EAT me! I turn away quickly, ready to run away.

“Don’t go,” the green creature said. “Not so fast. Wait a minute.” He ducked his head below the rim of the metal then popped right up again. “Are you hungry? I have a pork chop bone with meat still on it. It’s fresh – only three days old.”

He ducked down into the can again for a moment, coming up with something that look disgusting and smelled of decay. My nose twitches. I’m so hungry and that smells so good! I take a small step forward.

“Come on. It’s OK, I won’t hurt you. Here. I’ll put it right here on the step.” The green creature leaned over and tossed the decaying pork chop onto the second step near his trash can.

I approach with care, smelling around me for any threats or others who might want to steal this delicious meal. I’m so hungry, I haven’t had anything to eat for several days now. Reaching the chop I reach out and grab it, pulling it to me and tearing the meat from the bone. Food! At last!

The green creature ducked back into his can, coming up with a few more food items he thought his new guest might be interested in.

I was still hesitant, not yet willing to trust. But I was still hungry and he continued putting things onto the stone steps. I ate almost all of the rotted food. It was wonderful, and I left little behind except small pieces and a slick of grease.

“Feeling better now?” he asked, resting his arms on the rim of his can. “Think you can make it to your home now?”

The horror of my situation returned, and I curled into myself.

He watched this reaction to a question he had thought normal, and reassessed. “You lost?”

I nodded, not moving because I had no place to go.

“What’s your name? I’m Oscar.”

“OP. It’s actually Opelia, but my family…” I stopped, homesickness hitting me again. I shook my head. “I don’t know where I am, but I think I’m far away from my home.”

They spent a few minutes more with Oscar asking questions and OP answering in short replies. Her story finally became clear to him.  

“You could stay here. With me. While we find a good safe place for you to call your new home.”

“Oh no,” I gasped, backing away from him. “You have a nice home. You don’t need me around underfoot.”

“I have friends who can help you find a new home”, he responded. “But until they find one, you need a place to stay. You can stay here.”  

“But where is ‘here’?” I finally asked.

“Here? Welcome to Sesame Street! Wait until I tell the gang all about you! They’ll help you, I’m sure of it. You’ll have a great place to live in no time!”

And that’s how OP, the opossum, came to move to Sesame Street.