Prairie dogs were once one of the most abundant mammals in the Great Plains region of the United States of America. They were thought of as a nuisance by the settlers and therefore brutally massacred, almost to extinction. In fact, at one point, Arizona did completely eradicate the critters inside its border.
Efforts have been to reintroduce the rodents to their natural habitat in the state of Arizona. It has paid off. Although their numbers are nowhere near their peak, there are many healthy, thriving communities that known as “towns”. There seems to be on anomaly with this second generation of prairie dogs that has the locals in an uproar.
* * * * * *
Timmy and Sammy popped their heads out of their burrow at the same time as every other day, just at the break of sunrise. Timmy surveyed their vast dessert domain and said to Sammy, “Good morning! How about we pray a little?”
“No, I´m not feeling it today” Sammy answered.
“You´re not feeling it almost every day as of late”
“Yeah, I don´t know. I just don´t think it does anything” Sammy said, looking down at the warming, red clay desert floor.
“What do you mean? We are back from extinction! That´s a miracle, that´s God!” Timmy said with enthusiasm.
Sammy felt peeved by Timmy´s fervor “We were extinct. Millions of us were murdered. We wouldn´t have had to come back from extinction if we hadn´t been extinct in the first place!”
“Fair enough, but suit yourself” Timmy said, closing his eyes. “but I choose to stay positive, besides, believing gives me powers to not do some things that I would otherwise do” he said before falling into silent prayer.
“I prefer to be a realist. Face life and reality on their terms and I got discipline. I don´t need no ghost in the sky to get me to not do stuff”
Without opening his eyes Timmy put his index finger to his lips and said “Shhhhhh…”
* * * * * *
Right before lunchtime, back in the town, the people were having a community meeting.
“Order!” Judge Barns said as he smacked the table with a hammer, an actual framing hammer, not a gavel.
“But we´re hungry Judge” Andy said.
“We need to get to the order of business, the damn heathen prairie dogs” he answered.
“Language” Mary Ann piped up.
“Sorry” Judge said, blushing, “These gosh darn prairie dogs”
“They ain´t prayin’! Why they ain´t prayin’?” shouted a concerned citizen.
“I have no idea” Judge said. “But Andy´s right. Let´s adjourn for lunch and meet back here in an hour and a half”
“Here, here!” the crowd shouted.
By Ryan 
You’re getting better and better at creating fables with layer upon layer! (says me paternally like I’ve got a carrot stuck up my ass… but it’s true!)
Thank you very Bruce! I already have four parts in the bag an I am really proud of this one. Now, just one question: which is true, that I´m getting better or you´ve got a carrot stuck up your ass? 😂🤐
The carrot – at least I thought it was a carrot.
OooOoofffF!