Sammy the flying squirrel was a sight to behold.

Not an ordinary flying squirrel, mind you, but a master of

the chase! Leaping off tall buildings, gliding with the winds,

free to do as he pleased.

He was a folk hero to his friends and quite a character.

For, Sammy, "outfoxed" the police!!

Even the cleverest of all the humans would never have

guessed that Sammy the flying squirrel had a yen

for sparkly treasures!!

It all started when he was just a little flying squirrel, Sammy

moved from the deep, deep forest to the big city. New York

City, The Big Apple!!  Sammy loved Apples and he really

believed he would find the Big Apple, but instead he

found something even more tempting! Unlike, Eve, Sammy

was tempted by the window at Tiffany's!!

He sat on the window ledge mesmerized by the diamonds on

display.  A cop walked by and shooed, Sammy off!!

"You can't sit there and watch real people! Go back to the

deep forest where you belong. You are a flying squirrel! What

would you want with a diamond?", the policeman asked.

Sammy just looked up at the cop and grinned.

"If it's good enough for humans, it is good enough for Sammy! Do

not underestimate the size of me, Mr. Policeman. Someday

you will read about me in the New York Times!! I will be a famous

flying squirrel.!!"

The policeman laughed.

"Oh that's so funny! A flying squirrel in the news!! Now I have heard

everything. Now, get off the ledge before I call the pest patrol!!"

"Ha! Pest Patrol! Small Potatoes!! They can't catch Sammy!! I can

fly, don't you know that? "

The policeman walked away still laughing.

Sammy scurried around the jewelry store trying to find a way in, but

found none. He decided to wait by the back entrance until one

of the salesmen opened the door. That would be his big chance.

He waited almost three hours, then finally the back entrance opened.

He slipped in and tried to find a way when the store was closed.

He found a staircase that led to the basement of Tiffany's, which

led to a door to the street level.

Then he waited until closing time.

But he did not figure on the safe.

"That was one thing he was going to have to plan on . Of course

the diamonds would be put in a safe at nighttime. He had to find

a way into the safe, then outside the building. Even if there was

security, he was small enough to walk right through it!"

Sammy decided to do an extensive stakeout.

Gathering information before he made his move.

It was pitch black in Tiffany's at night and he was frightened.

The silence was deafening but he looked up at the night

skies and remembered how much he wanted his name

in the New York Times!! I will be a flying squirrel legend

if I can pull this off!!

Finally, morning came, and the employees arrived one by one,

Sammy was able to follow one employee to the safe without

being caught. He was very quiet.  The employee entered the code to

the safe and with a series of bells and lasers, it opened. Sammy

memorized the code.  He watched exactly where the diamonds

were kept. He would remember. 

"Tonight, I will make history!"

Sammy went back to the basement and waited all day.

He heard lots of noise overhead but he was going over his

plan to steal the diamonds over and over so he would not make

a mistake. 

Finally, night came and he heard no more noise up above.

He quietly climbed the stairs and brought a bag with him

Sammy punched in the code with his nose. The bells

and lasers went off.  The safe door

opened.

The safe was filled with sparkly diamonds. It was a sight

to behold!! Sammy has never seen such beauty in his little

life.  He gathered as many diamonds as he could put in

the bag and dragged the bag to the basement, It was heavy but

he knew the exit was big enough.

Sammy's heart was beating like mad....

"I am going to make history!! He shouted

as he got outside to the night skies...He felt like

he was king of the world....

Sammy put the bag of diamonds on his back and tried

to fly away, but he could not...

The bag of diamonds was too heavy...

then a tap on his shoulder...

and a smile

"Remember me, I told you that

Squirrels can't gather diamonds...

Now instead of listening to me and going

back to the deep forest to gather acorns, you

got greedy and tried to steal diamonds

from Tiffany's!!!

Now you are going to be in the New York Times

but it will be for stealing diamonds..

"I can't help it!! Sammy cried... Look at these

beauties!! They sparkle!! They shine like the stars!!

Do acorns sparkle?

Oh, Sammy you will be a legend.

A folk tale from jail.

Now hand over the diamonds, Sammy. You can't

fly with all those diamonds in your sack!! Stealing is

wrong and you know it!!

If you give them back now, I won't

arrest you, but don't come back, if

I catch you again. you will go to jail.

Just remember Sammy, all that

glitters and sparkles is not diamonds...

"Can I just have one?", Sammy pleaded.

"No!", said the cop.

"Sammy, you don't have to steal diamonds to be a legend.

Just be yourself. You made me laugh the day I saw you

on the window ledge. I was amazed that you made it all the

way to New York City and to be at Tiffany's. Look what you

did? You managed to take a diamond from Tiffany's!!

How many squirrels have done that?

Now you are a legend, even if the whole world

doesn't know that , you and I do, now don't we?

You can tell this to all your flying squirrel friends and

they can laugh and wonder about you, Sammy.

Now isn't that alot better than going to prison?

You betcha!!

Sammy smiled and said

You are hilarious...You think I want to leave here without the

diamonds...think again...

Okay, then, maybe there is a warm spot in the prison for ya...

Just teasing Sammy...Leave the diamonds here...okay...

Oh, but they are so sparkly and shiny

All things we want are sparkly and just a bit out of reach...

Don't let that stop you from dreaming Sammy....that

sparkly pursuit of diamonds...Greed is not good

they will get you in more trouble than they are worth