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The Lost Tail

Coyote woke up in a hurry to eat breakfast, but to his dismay his tail was gone.

"Oh no, I've lost my tail. Where could it be?" he wondered.

He sat for a moment and remembered he played tag with Rabbit yesterday. Coyote jumped up onto his feet and ran to the grassy prairie towards Rabbits house. Coyote saw Rabbit harvesting carrots in the garden.

"Rabbit, have you seen my tail?" asked Coyote.

"No" said Rabbit.

"Can I try your tail on and see if it fits?" asked Coyote.

Rabbit's tail was round and fluffy like a cotton ball. Coyote put it on and he began to hop like a bunny. It didn't fit so he took Rabbit's tail off. He sat for a moment and remembered he went swimming with Hippo. Coyote jumped up onto his feet again and ran to the lake towards Hippo's house. Coyote saw Hippo laying in the mud.

"Hippo, have you seen my tail?" asked Coyote.

"No" said Hippo.

"Can I try your tail on and see if it fits?" asked Coyote.

Hippo's tail was short and hairy. Coyote put Hippo's tail on and he began to eat grass.
It didn't fit so he took Hippo's tail off. He sat for a moment and remembered he had lunch with Cat. Coyote jumped up onto is feet once again and ran up the hill into town towards
Cat's house. Coyote saw Cat in her kitchen making tuna salad.

"Cat, have you seen my tail?" asked Coyote.

"No" said Cat.

"Can I try your tail on to see if it fits?" asked Coyote.

Cat's tail was long with a lot of short hairs on it. Coyote put Cat's tail on and he purred like a kitten. It didn't fit so he took Cat's tail off. Coyote began to worry because he could not remember anything else he did the day before. The sun began to set and Coyote needed to get home soon. Coyote made his way home through the woods when suddenly he remembered he played hide and seek with Squirrel the other day. He saw squirrel climbing a tall oak tree.

"Squirrel, have you seen my tail?" asked Coyote.

"Yes, I have," said Squirrel.

"Can you tell me where it is, I have been looking for it all day," said Coyote.

"It is on your head" laughed Squirrel.

Coyote reached to the top of his head and felt his tail.

"Oh, how did it get up there?" Coyote wondered.

"Don't you remember we raced each other yesterday to see who was the fastest. You lost and had to wear your tail on your head" Squirrel said.

Coyote sat for a moment and remembered... never to race Squirrel again.

Learn more about this author, Irene Adamiak.
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