TheBanyanTree: Nine Banded Mystery

[tobie at shpilchas.net]

An excellent prompt for a story

> On Apr 16, 2021, at 10:39 AM, dale.m.parish--- via TheBanyanTree <thebanyantree at lists.remsset.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Cindy doesn't usually fabricate illogicals as part of a joke, so when she told
> me that there were three dead baby armadillos in a row just north of the
> house, I took her at her word.  
> 
> Not exactly in a row, but about five meters apart, on a line running almost
> due east-west, about 10 meters north of the house.  Cause of death: Unknown.
> 
> I'm not very practiced in armadillo autopsy, and they had been there long
> enough to be covered with ants and flies, so I took a pass.  I got the
> distinct feeling that she was disappointed, since she kept asking me what I
> thought killed them.  "I don't know.  Apoptosis?"  
> 
> But we both know that armadillos are born as quadruplets of the same sex--
> many times we have seen a mama armadillo leading her tiny quads through the
> yard on a foraging expedition, digging holes in the yard looking for critters
> for supper.  What would have killed only three of them?  Did one die of other
> causes prior to the demise of these three?  Was one faster than the other
> three siblings and get away?  What would have, could have, killed three of
> them in a row like this and would not have eaten them.  They didn't appear to
> have any trauma-- crushed shells or skulls.  Something that could have
> physically killed them would surely have left marks of some kind.  
> 
> The thought occurs that they could have gotten into something poisonous that
> did them in as they tried to get back home?  A couple of problems with that.
> None of them were pointed in the same direction.  The neighbors to the west
> are all city folks, who have "lawns" and do not tolerate any critters in their
> yards.  There is no cover for nor tolerance of burrows, nests, or holes in
> those yards.  I wouldn't think even baby armadillos would be seeking to run
> across the road onto those places where there is no cover for them.
> 
> If they were fleeing to the east, there's nothing of which I'm aware that
> would be poisonous between their point of demise and that road that offers no
> cover.  Strange.  
> 
> If we see a lone baby in the next few months, we may try to place it in this
> quadruplet set, but I suspect the mystery will remain unsolved.  
> 
> Dale
> --
> Dale M. Parish			For All Of Mankind'S Supposed Accomplishments,
> 628 Parish RD			Our Continued Existence Is Dependent Upon 20
> Orange TX 77632-0264		Centimeters Of Topsoil And The Fact That It Rains.
> Dale.M.Parish at Gmail.Com			--Toilet Stall Wall
> 409-790-2352
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Want to change your name, email address, or password? Or have you forgotten your password? Go here: http://lists.remsset.com/listinfo.cgi/thebanyantree-remsset.com


"Might makes right."     Old proverb

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."    Matthew: 5:5

"Make a fist."     Phlebotomist to patient


Tobie Shapiro
mailto:tobie at shpilchas.net <mailto:tobie at shpilchas.net>