[ WP ] You swerve to avoid a squirrel . Unknown to you , the squirrel pledges a life debt to you . In your darkest hour , the squirrel arrives .

I was almost home. It was going to feel so good to kick off my shoes and relax. I was going to shut off the phone, stay off Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, all of it. No people tonight, just curling up with a good book or maybe some TV. Janet would be fine with it. She knew how rough it could be. I was sure I could have some time to myself. That lovely soft couch sounded so nice right about now. Teaching could be grueling sometimes. I needed some `` me time''. 
 
 My mind began to wander, and my body took over driving. The squirrel came out of nowhere. I swerved, tires squealing, and came to a stop at the side of the rood. The little guy looked at me calmly, almost like he was sizing me up, and actually looked like he was bowing for a second before he scampered off into the brush on the other side of the road. 
 
 I felt like an idiot as another car passed me, whooping. Re examining that, I realized at least I was n't the kind of idiot who makes stupid noises while passing potentially stranded motorists. Flicking my blinker on, I eased my car back onto the road. 
 
 Turning right, I thought I caught sight of that squirrel again, but it had to be my imagination. Not every squirrel was'my' squirrel. There had to be hundreds of them in the woods around here. Pulling into my driveway brought my attention fully to the house. I turned off the car and took a minute to gather my nerves. Letting out a sigh, I grabbed my briefcase and headed to the house. 
 
 When I opened the door, I knew it'd all gone wrong. Janet was looking excitingly at me. I began mentally scrambling to remember what I'd forgotten. I glanced over at the table and saw a Happy Anniversary cake, a present and a card. Oh my god it was our anniversary. My stomach sank to my feet and I felt the room darken a bit. I had completely forgotten. With everything that had happened at school today, and then the squirrel... 
 
 Speaking of the squirrel. I could swear I saw him looking in the window. I forgot all about my trouble for a minute, as I squinted at the window. It was the squirrel. He was eyeing up the cake and then looking at me. I had to be going crazy. 
 
 She took my face in her hand and gently moved it to face her again. `` Well, Joe? Are you ready to celebrate?'' 
 
 `` Absolutely,'' I said, giving her a kiss. I had to think. I moved closer to the window. `` Did you see that squirrel?'' 
 
 `` Are you serious? I ask you a question and you start with'Oh look, a squirrel?' You forgot, did n't you?'' she asked, looking very disappointed and slightly angry. 
 
 I pressed my face against the window, mumbling quietly to myself, `` How can I find an excuse to leave?'' There was still time to pick something up, if only I could find a good excuse to leave and not look like I'd forgotten. 
 
 `` No, seriously, honey. I nearly hit a squirrel on the way home. I could have sworn I saw it in the yard.'' 
 
 `` You know I'm a sucker for hurt animals, but I'm also not an idiot,'' she said, pulling out a kitchen chair and taking a seat. 
 
 Just then the doorbell rang. 
 
 `` I'll get it, honey, you just sit there.'' 
 
 I opened the door, and there were flowers, with a ribbon on the doorstep. A squirrel was sitting right next to them. I was going insane. He made a swooping gesture with his arms, looking proud. 
 
 `` Who is it?'' 
 
 `` It's the squirrel,'' I said, not knowing what else to say. 
 
 `` Very funny, Joe. I'm just dying with laughter.'' I could hear her get up and begin to walk over to me. The squirrel turned on his side a bit, as though his leg hurt. Was he playing this up? I thought I'd run with it. If I was going to go mad, this was as good a way as any. 
 
 I picked up the flowers and turned around, handing them to her. `` Oh you did remember!'' she said, confirming that either I was dreaming or there really were flowers in her hand. Flowers that had just been somehow gathered and tied into a bow by a squirrel. 
 
 I gestured to the squirrel and her eyes followed the motion to where I was pointing. 
 
 `` Did you hit him in the driveway?'' she asked, alarmed. 
 
 `` I know it's our anniversary, but do you mind if I take him to Maud's to see if she can fix him up?'' Maud was our neighborhood's `` wild animal lady''. If a batch of baby rabbits was left without a parent, you took them to Maud's. If your cat brought home a still alive bird, you took it to Maud. She'd even raised a deer, once, and put a scarf on its neck during Hunting Season so no one would shoot it. 
 
 `` Oh yes, of course. I'll go get a box and some gloves,'' she said, `` Should I go with you?'' 
 
 `` No, no. It's okay. I can do this. You just relax.'' 
 
 In a few minutes I had the little guy in a box and put him in the front seat. He had n't actually looked hurt when Janet was n't looking, but I'd take him just in case. This and the flowers had saved me. Even dropping him off at Maud's, I'd have plenty of time to get to Jan's favorite store and pick up the gift basket she was always raving about. It may not be most people's idea of the perfect anniversary present, but to Jan it'd be the very best. She'd been talking about one particular gift basket for a month. He knew exactly what to get. 
 
 `` You saved me, little buddy,'' I said to the box. He squeaked back. Yup, I was crazy. I was also in luck. Maud was home, and on her porch, heading back inside with some mail. Must have been checking her box. 
 
 `` Maud! I have a squirrel,'' I said handing her the box. She opened it, and he popped out, scrambled to her shoulder and bowed to me. Maud laughed. 
 
 `` You saved his life, did n't you?'' she asked. 
 
 `` Not so much. I just swerved to not hit him. Not exactly heroic. He actually saved *me*. I have to go get a present for Janet. I nearly forgot our anniversary.'' 
 
 `` Well, looks like he pledged a life debt to you. I'd call this one even,'' said Maud, winking at me. He started chattering away on her shoulder as she turned to go back inside her home. It looked for all the world like he was actually imparting information. 
 
 Feeling a bit more sanity slip away, I resolved not to think about it any further. It was n't exactly going to be a relaxing night after work, but this year Janet was n't going to be disappointed. It could n't have turned out better, I thought to myself. 
 
 
 

