Wiley Skunk waddled around the south side of the house headed to woo Ahtram who lived over in the big field just North of the mall. Wiley was the one who when he was born innately knew how to get more milk than his other siblings; therefore he grew faster and could push the others around. After they were weaned of course Wiley learned to forage at eat more so he became one big skunk. And since he consumed more food his coat was longer, fuller and much shinier that all the others.

So Wiley became quite the ladies man, so every night when it was time to come out of the den and forage, Wiley would high tail some place to visit a young lady skunk. On this Night Wiley had left the den which was on the West side of Powderhouse just North of Storey so he cross Powderhouse and cut up through the yard at 1302 McAllister lane on his way to see his latest love. After crossing the road he ducked into the bird bushes then across the u shaped driveway up into the junipers and then up the walkway and around the garage. As he came around the garage he was singing Melancholy Baby and was quite oblivious to the world. All at once as he waddled across the graveled parking area he heard a gasp and before he could turn to see what was going on and if he needed to go into a defense spray position he heard the back door slam and a voice yelling, "Poppa, Poppa"

Wiley just ignored that sound for he knew the maker of the sound was more afraid of Wiley than Wiley was of it. He got to the edge of the gravel and there someone had made a fence of cinderblock, so he just skirted down along it until he found a crossing. Durn he hated those old cross ties for the creosote would make his glossy fur smell. Ah heck anyhow he crossed the dirt road and was on his way.

Off to the East a big full moon was starting to rise so Wiley broke into his rendition of "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" and again was oblivious to the world till he heard the buffalo grass rustle and low and behold there was Rumford coyote about to pounce on him. Quickly he spun around to the defensive position when Rumford pulled up short and spoke to him.

"Hey Wiley heading down to the Mall and raise a stink?" Rumford spoke in a high nasally twang coyote voice. "Hee, hee boy you would really make a mess if one of those cars ran over you."

"No, going down to see Ahtram, over north of the K mart store. She sure is one cute kitten." Wiley was all smiles for Coyotes would never attack a skunk unless the coyote knew he would not get sprayed.

When Wiley arrived at Ahtram's den it seems her father was holding court with all his old cronies. Ahtram's father, Retep Skunk was a scroungey old feller, for he had lived a wild life and it showed. Half of his tail was missing, from a store door, when he tried to walk into a Dry Cleaners, the top of his head was bald where he had run through the park during a dog show, and half of his right front paw was missing where he got it caught in a rabbit trap.

Retep and his cronies would sit around for hours telling stories and trying to make up one a little bigger than the guy before.

Wiley not wanting to take part in this for Wiley had lived a calm life and had experienced no wild times. So he whispered to Ahtram, "lets go for a walk and get away from al these people."

"I never thought you would ask, fine," was her reply. They walked down south toward the Mall but stayed on the North side of the road and the fence.

"Gosh Wiley I would love to go see what that place looks like, I have always wanted to go since, Cousin Elbam and cousin Enecnarf told about all the places, with their bright light and the smells of good food. They said they strolled all over the Target store."

"Pa always told me to stay away from those tall two legged creatures for they hate us beautiful striped people." Wiley was a little shaky cause he knew if he were pushed he would go. Oh he hoped Ahtram would take her cousins Elbam and Enecnarf's word and they could go over to the drainage dish and spoon in the moonlight.

"Wiley Skunk, you are a chicken!" Ahtram said as she bowed her back and lifted her tail straight up in the air in indignation.

"I am not," were Wiley's words as he headed for the fence. "Come on lets go. Once committed Wiley was going to make the biggest splash and show he could to influence Ashram so she would tell her friends what a macho Skunk he was.

"Slow down Wiley, and watch for the cars, good slow down." Ahtram puffed as she trotted behind Wiley. Across the road, down through the ditch then over to some cars, under them to the shrubbery. And there they were near the front door of the Big K store.

"Wow, gee, oh golly look at all the cars and the two legged creatures," Ahtram said as they walked down through the shrubbery till they were next to the front door.

Now it seems that maintenance had not been able to find the problem with the front door for patron leaving for it would open and then just stay open for a while and finally close on its own. But it was a warm October evening and so the maintenance people didn't worry for the heat was not on and the air conditioning was not on either. Just wait till after the store closes and then they could fix it correctly.

About then the door stuck open so Ahtram just trotted into the Big K store. But knowing he shouldn't Wiley followed. They went to the snack bar for they could smell food; but just as they got close to the counter they were spotted.

"EEEEEEEEEk look, a skunk!"

"Oh my lets get out of here for there are two of them."

"Run, quickly before they start spraying, heck I heard when a skunk gets mad it can squirt fifty feet, run." And so general pandemonium broke out. The only good thing was that as usual there were not many people in the Big K store.

Quickly Wiley herded Ahtram away from the noise and into the ladies department. "Come Ahtram, come let's get out of here." Not realizing he was heading for the ladies dressing room. "Yenya, doesn't this look gor . . . . Oh my lord a skunk!" The lady grabbed her purse and ran out of the dressing room with out her shoes in a new dress, which was not zipped. Out the front door and into her car.

The store manager heard the commotion and when he heard the reports of skunks in his store, he immediately dialed 911. Wiley and Ahtram made it back along the side wall and just as they got to the stock room door it opened and a young employee oblivious to the world pushed a cart through, and immediately Wiley and Ahtram scurried through, but Wiley was not fast enough and the tip of his tail got scrunched by the swinging door.

Fawldid Hepstis saw the two skunks so he sauntered over and opened the freight doors, and moved away from the door. "Durn that be one fat skunk, bet he could do some damage," were Fawldid's comments as he took another drag on his reefer and just grinned as the two skunks ran outside. The half stoned employee closed the doors and went back to his work. Break time was over.

Needless to say, Ahtram and Wiley's exploits were soon all over the hill and half way toward four mile road within a day, and needless to say Wiley became a big hero, but he was no longer Wiley but "Crooked tail K" a local hero.

Although no one was sprayed, the Big K had to close down, and it is now another Bingo parlor.