another animal story

walking with elder on the right and elio on the left, we turn the sharp corner that heads to our classroom. i look behind to eye those who try to cut the corner. i look sharply, but inside i laugh knowing that i have become my father. i turn back around to see where i am walking and i see that which pushes me back and pulls out of me a low gutteral uuuugggggghhhhhh, not a girlish high piched eeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwww. the students come running regardless of sidewalk and norms. they start forming a circle around this central american possum spread dead on its back. i can't decide if she looks electricuted or drowned because i can't keep my eyes off her little one balancing itself on her belly while sucking its last drops of milk. little life upon mother death.