By Tomi Hazel
As learned from Tom Phelps at Camp Wakapominee, Early 1960’s, Adirondack Mountains
ONCE THERE WERE TWO BABY SKUNKS.
ONE WAS NAMED IN, AND ONE WAS NAMED OUT.
SOMETIMES, OUT WAS IN AND IN WAS OUT.
OTHER TIMES, IN WAS IN AND OUT WAS OUT.
WELL, ONE DAY, IN WAS OUT, AND OUT WAS IN,
SO, THE MOTHER SKUNK SENT OUT OUT TO BRING IN IN.
OUT WENT OUT AND BROUGHT IN IN RIGHT AWAY!
THEN, THE MOTHER SKUNK ASKED OUT:
“HOW DID YOU DO THAT SO QUICKLY?”
AND OUT SAID, “SIMPLE – INSTINCT!”
The story is told with hand movements, exaggerated enunciation, and facial expressions: the left hand is IN and the right hand is OUT.
The hands flip back and forth separately, and together, side to side, following the action.
The hands are raised on either side as MOTHER asks the question, and hang in the air at OUT’s reply, feigning innocence with raised eyebrows.
Sourced From: A How to Tell Stories Exercise by Tomi Hazel, Little Wolf Gulch, 2020.