Hello, it's me.  Clay Sawyer.  I'm the one who has the mischievious raccoon as a pet.

Happily, "Rakkity" (as I call my pet) has settled down.  He's a lot less wilder than he used to be, thank goodness, but he still has his moments where he tries his best to upend things as we know it.  Other than that, he's a gentle, sweet-natured animal who loves to be with me at all times as much as possible.

I have now had Rakkity for over a year.  My friends have gotten used to seeing me with him: a boy and his 'coon.  We are a team.  Wherever I am, there's Rakkity right along side me (excepting at school, that is, unless it's a pet fair or something; then Rakkity comes to school with me).  He's my best pal.

My dad, who raged at first about me having Rakkity, has since fallen in love with him.  Who wouldn't? Rakkity is easy to love.  He is about the cutest thing I (or others) have ever seen!

My friend Kaleb has a skunk he's named "Syn", and sometimes he will come over (with his "stinky" pal in tow), where we go outside to explore the woods, play baseball or football or even soccer, and pick wild blueberries to eat if we get hungry.  "Syn" and "Rakkity" have become the best of friends, and sometimes they play together, which is really adorable to watch.

And no: in case you're wondering, Kaleb has not taken "Syn" inside the church on Sunday.  Pastor Gilmarten would have a COW!!  LOL

He'd like to, but he's afraid that he might be banned from the First Presbyterian Church.  LOL  So on Sundays, it's just myself and my  family (sans skunk, of course).  LOL

Anyway, back to my story.  Rakkity is no longer so little.  He's a rather big, pudgy boy.  Seems he is always eating; he's an eating machine! LOL  He does get his exercise, though (as do I), so he's not what one would call obese.  He's just round about the middle, as all raccoons often are.  LOL

I just wonder what he's gonna do when Ma has her baby (due at the end of the month).  She's having another boy.  I am about to become a big brother.  I guess he will have to stay in my room when we bring the baby home after he's born.  I don't want him biting the baby (or vice versa); then he will be banished, and I will no longer have him in my life.  That would be the worst thing for me.  I love my 'coon too much; I want to do everything possible to ensure that he stays!

~To be continued.~