Bowled in the AM then as the horse races were cancelled because of the Super Bowl we went for a drive with friends from home. We found the small cowboy town of Cave Hills. Kind of touristy but enjoyed it. We will go back again and spend a say. Some great bargains on lawn ornaments and fired clay pots. I bought one and it looks pretty nice on our pad front.
I'll post the rest of A Winters Tail and tomorrow will post a poem by my Port Hardy friend.

When once Beaver and his family all arrived at the same time, Beaver’s Friend said, “If all of you will sit here in a row with your backs to me I would now like to give you each a gift. You must not look back and you must not move your tail even though you feel me touching it. Beaver I will start with you.”

 Beaver’s Friend bent to his task and in a short while said, “There, that part is finished, but I have one more thing to do, but for that you must turn side ways so you can see your tail while I finish.”

 Knowing that Beaver’s Friend was sincere and somehow knowing that what he was doing had great importance the beaver family turned as they had been told. There eyes widened as they stared at how their tales had been enclosed between rounded paddle like boards and bound with a fiberous vine.

 Beaver’s Friend took out his knife and with one slash cut across the ball of one of his thumbs and starting with Wanderer squeezed a few drops of his blood onto the vine and boards. When all five tails had received the drops of blood, Beaver’s Friend stood and with arms spread wide and face tilted to the sky cried out, “Oh Great Spirit, I have used the sapling and the vine you placed here on earth, I created the boards with your guidance and used my warm blood to bind those boards and having come here at your bidding I ask that you complete what I have done.” He stood there for a long minute, waiting, waiting for a sign but there was no sign and as he slowly lowered his arms and tilted his head to look down, his body jerked and he opened his eyes wide in amazement.

 The five beavers were also staring in amazement, staring at their tails, tails that were no longer round and muskrat like but were shiny and flat. Beaver walked over to a standing tree and stood on his hind feet then used his tail as a prop. He leaned one way then the other and did not fall over. The three young beavers jumped onto the water, they swam in circles, in tighter circles than ever before. They slapped the water making small popping noises. Mother cried aloud, “Yes, yes we can warn each other of danger, we can have slapping signals for different things. Oh thank you, thank you Beaver’s Friend.”

 Beaver looked up at his friend and said, “You are right, the Great Spirit sent you to us today and through you the oversight is no more.”

 L

ater that day the boy walked back into the tribes clearing and walking up to his father he said, “Father, can you call everyone together? I must say something.”

 With out questioning his father did as he was asked and in a short time the tribe members were all gathered around the campfire. When all were seated, the boy stepped forward and in a clear and firm voice said, “The Great Spirit summoned me this morning and had me help change a mistake that was made a long time ago. Because of this I will no longer be known as Pond Water and my name now is Beaver’s Friend.

From that day to this the beaver has always had a flat tail.