Antonio doesn’t hide his disdain. “Mama doesn’t hop or bop.”
And Amlet adds: “And Mama absolutely doesn’t dance in the moonlight.”
Big Poss groans. “The young never really know their parents. That’s the tragedy of modern life.”
Amlet answers, “Of course we don’t know you. We only met you earlier tonight.”
Big Poss grabs his own tail and cracks it like a whip. “Believe me when I say that your mama loves rock and roll!”
Amlet’s voice is shaky. “Hey . . . sure . . . whatever you say . . . you’re the Big Poss.”
Big Poss spins around and does a quick two-step. “For now, we exit, stage left.”
The next thing the two young possums know, Big Poss has dropped to the ground and scurried to a telephone pole, where he starts to climb with great vigor. Antonio and Amlet have no choice but to follow.
With a lot more balance and skill than seems possible, their flabby father scrambles out onto the wires that connect the poles. Amlet and Antonio struggle to keep up. Big Poss’s weight makes the telephone lines bounce, and that plus his singing make for a unique high-wire act.
The two brothers are so intent on not losing sight of the large marsupial that they forget that they have never been this far from their own neighborhood. Almost an hour passes before Big Poss finally stops, atop a pole on a platform that looks out on a wide, glowing river of light.
This is the largest cement path that Antonio and Amlet have ever seen. One side is red and one side glows bright white. Amlet whispers to Antonio, “The vicious beasts are all together.”
Big Poss wraps his tail around the wire and bellows over the rumble of the metal monsters, “Take a peek at that, pilgrims!”
Antonio manages, “You took us all this way to see a monster migration?”
Amlet whispers, “What’s a migration?”
Antonio doesn’t answer. His eyes now fix on the wires ahead, which run toward enormous towers. These giant structures have cables strung high above the wide cement path.
Big Poss stares out into the distance. “Your mama is on the other side.”
Antonio steps back in defeat. “Big Poss, I can’t go out there. I have problems with heights. There. I said it. I’m a big baby. Maybe that should be my new name.”
At his side Amlet whispers, “Same with me. Can’t do it.”
Big Poss looks at his two sons. “Can’t do what?”
Amlet speaks for both of them. “We can’t cross over the cars and trucks on the high wire.”
Big Poss chortles. “We’re not crossing from above. I just came to show you the view.” His spotted tongue rolls back into his mouth and Big Poss turns and starts down the pole to the ground. Antonio and Amlet are both confused. If he isn’t going to cross in the air, does he plan on crossing on the ground? Antonio calls out, “What’re you doing? We can’t face that many cars and trucks!”
But Big Poss doesn’t answer.
Once down from the pole, Big Poss heads for a rock pile in an area thick with weeds. Scraps of paper and many, many plastic bags, mostly torn, are caught in snarls around the scrappy green shoots. Big Poss knows his way around and he moves quickly, not in a straight line but in a zigzag manner, until he comes to a large storm drain that is unseen behind the rocks.
“Follow me. Single line. And don’t chase the toads. Or talk to the rats. We don’t have time to listen to their nonsense!”
There is a metal grate in front of the storm drain. It isn’t difficult for Antonio and Amlet to get through, but Big Poss has to draw in his breath and squeeze his body into a gap that does not look large enough to accommodate his girth. He’s thrilled when he gets to the other side, shouting, “When you are an actor, your body is your instrument!”
A slow-moving stream runs down the center of the drain. Big Poss leads the way. Antonio and Amlet feel their feet slide in the ooze. It isn’t long before the dark world comes alive. The first thing they recognize is the croak of toads. Amlet finds amphibians very tasty. But the three possums are full of garbage, and besides, according to Big Poss’s instructions, there is no stopping now.
Antonio and Amlet hear the rats before they see them. There is a rustling noise and then the low hiss of rodent voices. “Hey there, you beasts new to the neighborhood? Can we talk? You wanna buy a snapping turtle?”
Big Poss keeps moving, but grunts in the direction of the unseen voices, “We’re not buying anything you’re selling!”
Several steps later, Antonio feels something hit his back. It’s a pebble. He turns and sees dozens of rodent eyes. When he gasps, Big Poss rears up onto his back legs and growls, “Listen, you rats—I didn’t come here looking for trouble, but I’ll give it to you. I’ll give it to you good!”
Big Poss then charges straight into the darkness, his mouth open to expose his forty-two sharp (but chipped and stained) teeth. But he doesn’t have to use them. The dozens of rats take off in the other direction, leaving the three possums to continue on their way.
Antonio and Amlet don’t say anything, but they are both impressed by the performance.
Chapter 31
The world is different on the other side of the tunnel.
There are bright lights because this is the big city.
Antonio stares at the tall structures that jut high into the sky. The trees are gone. Everything is shiny and loud (even though it’s nighttime), and the air is thick with the smell of both food being cooked inside the structures and garbage overflowing from Dumpsters that line the alleys.
Amlet feels his feet tingle with excitement as he blurts out, “This is positively a slice of possum heaven!”
Big Poss allows Antonio and Amlet to take it all in: people moving down the cement walkways, cars motoring along the wide paths. There are lights on in nearly all of the structures and the sound of machines, whirling from all directions, fills the air. The possums watch as a cart pulled by a horse appears from around a corner. The mare wears a straw hat and her oversized, floppy brown ears poke through two large holes cut on the sides. Brightly colored paper flowers decorate the horse’s leather harness, and tarnished silver bells hang from a red cord that circles her neck. A white-haired people steers the slow-moving animal down the street as cars maneuver around them. It’s all fascinating (and scary) to the two possum brothers.
Antonio is the first to speak. “Mama kept a lot from us.”
Big Poss shrugs his shoulders. “She probably thought you weren’t ready.”
Amlet’s voice isn’t more than a whisper. “Are we ready?”
Big Poss finds a way to puff up his chest. “You are with Big Poss. I’ve got your back. But we didn’t come here to sightsee. We came to find your mother. Single file. Stay in the shadows. You are supporting players. Follow the lead actor.”
The young possums fall in behind as their father moves low (with his belly rubbing the smooth rock ground) out of the drainpipe. He disappears under a sleeping car. Big Poss continues (going under monster after monster) until he reaches a metal grate and slithers inside. It is dark and foul-smelling here. Amlet calls out, “Where are we?”
Big Poss keeps his voice quiet. “It’s called a sewer. Hang tough.”
Big Poss travels for only a short distance and then stops. Above the possums is a large circle of metal. Tiny specks of light can be seen. Big Poss stands up onto his back feet, lifts his arms overhead, and pushes. The metal lid moves and the night sky is revealed. “This way, ankle-biters!”
Big Poss pulls himself out of the sewer pipe. Down below, Antonio and Amlet rise onto their hind legs, but even standing on the tips of their toes, they can’t reach.
Antonio shouts, “Big Poss! We’re not tall enough!” Big Poss doesn’t answer, but his tail lowers down into the darkness. The two brothers grab hold and use it like a rope.
When they get to the top,
they see Big Poss gritting his teeth. “Remember that in any situation, the answer to your problem is right around you. Always. If you don’t have the right props, you improvise. And just so you know—that hurt.”
Big Poss then moves to a line of trash cans. “This is what we call a back alley, and back alleys are where dreams are made, ankle-biters!”
Antonio and Amlet both find the alley frightening. They see the piercing eyes of rats peeking out of crevices and they hear the sound of monsters in the buildings. They look through a half-open door and see a shelf of fire where the villains seem to be roasting animals. But the two brothers keep moving. There is no turning back now.
Big Poss is energized with every step and it is hard to keep up with his wiggly run. But it isn’t long before he lets out a whooping holler and skids to a stop. Loud music comes from inside a tall brick structure. Antonio and Amlet hear people stomping their feet and slapping their hands. Big Poss points overhead to a metal staircase that is attached to the brick. “We take this to the top.”
Antonio and Amlet stare. The metal staircase doesn’t go to the ground. It is far, far, far out of the reach of any possum. Amlet whispers, “But how?”
Big Poss is more excited each moment. “Follow me!”
Near the staircase is a large Dumpster. Big Poss is breathless with enthusiasm as he climbs up the back, hauling his two sons with him. When they reach the top of the container (which Antonio and Amlet can see is filled with bottles and cans and half-eaten food), their father points to the metal stairs. “This is what we call the leap of faith. We’re going to jump from this Dumpster to that platform. You can do it. Don’t be afraid. Think of it as flying!”
Antonio sputters, “W-we’re possums. We don’t fly!”
Big Poss snorts through his nose. “Then think of it as falling.” Without any further instruction he shouts “Geronimo!” and then flings himself out into the open air. It doesn’t look like he’s flying.
He lands with a loud thump on the bottom step. He then gets up and stumbles around in a circle. He’s dazed. But not confused, because he hollers, “Get it done, brothers! And don’t look before you leap!”
Antonio and Amlet are more than afraid. They are terrified. But what choice do they have? Antonio turns to Amlet. “Let’s do it together!” They join hands, shut their eyes, and jump.
Amlet screams.
Antonio doesn’t.
But they both land right on Big Poss, which is good for them but not the greatest for the pudgy possum. He mumbles, barely able to speak, “You knocked the wind right out of me.”
Antonio and Amlet feel awful. But the best thing about Big Poss (they realize) is that he gets over any emotion quickly. The next thing the two possums know, he’s back on his feet giving orders and they are following him up the metal stairs to the roof. Antonio means it when he says, “Big Poss, you are the greatest actor of your generation.” But Big Poss doesn’t hear, or if he does, he won’t acknowledge it.
The music gets louder the higher they climb. When they near the top, Big Poss motions for them to crouch down. “You two stay here out of sight while I figure out the lay of the land. Your mother might not be that excited to see you. This place is for grown-up possums—and a few other four-footers that we tolerate.”
Amlet pleads. “We’re on our own in the world. How much more grown-up do we need to be?”
But Big Poss whips around and the look on his face tells Antonio and Amlet to do as they are told and keep their bellies low to the metal stairs.
Big Poss doesn’t seem to be thinking about saving Appleblossom right now. His fingers are twitching and his tail is thumping, and just before he goes over the low wall onto the roof, he calls back to his two sons, “I love the nightlife! I love to boogie!”
Antonio and Amlet can’t help themselves: They rise to their feet to watch. It’s a sight to see. A large blinking light that looks like a green bottle is positioned on one side of the long, rectangular space. High in the sky is the full moon, casting a glow down onto the area, which is filled with dancing animals. A one-eyed cat watches from a corner and rows of bats, swinging to the beat, hang upside down on a wire that crisscrosses overhead. Moths, mixed with hundreds of fireflies, buzz directly above and they too are clearly feeling the rhythm.
Big Poss works his way toward the gyrating crowd. He gives a wave to the cat, and gets a meow back. He tips his finger to a raccoon in the corner shelling peanuts. And then just as he approaches the throng of possums, the music down below changes and Big Poss’s eyes go wide. He jumps up onto a large metal box where everyone can now see him.
Antonio and Amlet are fascinated as Big Poss holds his chin up higher than his ears and sings to the moon (and also to the raccoon in the corner eating peanuts). He moves back and forth on his hind legs, and his tail beats rhythmically in a way that seems out of his control. This much is clear: Big Poss is a major crooner.
Antonio and Amlet stare out at the crowd. As Big Poss keeps singing, the swell of animals parts to let one wiggling possum really show her stuff. The other dancing possums stamp and squeal with appreciation, and the twisting wild thing turns so that Antonio and Amlet can now see her face. Right there in the center of everything, gliding and sliding and captivating the crowd, is their MOTHER!
Chapter 32
Antonio and Amlet, eyes and mouths wide open in surprise, watch from the shadows. Their father is singing and their mother is dancing. It is both shocking and amazing.
Who are these possums?
And then the music from the monsters cavorting inside changes tempo again and gets louder. The possums suddenly all cheer! Big Poss shouts, “They’re playing our song!” He scrambles down from his spot on the box, wiggles his way out into the crowd, and grips Mama Possum’s waist as he shouts, “Conga line!”
It’s clear that the animals know what to do.
Mama is in front. Big Poss has her back, and a long line of possums forms from there. They take three shuffle steps forward and then stop and in unison kick up a leg on the fourth beat.
In the air, the fireflies buzz together like an electric string tossed into the sky. When it’s time for a kick, they make their bodies glow bright yellow-green and fling three of their six hinged legs up toward the moon.
On the wires overhead, the bats (not wanting to be left out) draw their wings across their chests and open up on the fourth beat.
It doesn’t take long before the raccoon in the corner tosses down his peanuts and heads to the end of the possum line to join in. The place is rocking! It’s a sight to see.
Antonio and Amlet feel the music surge through their bodies. First Amlet starts tapping his left foot. Then Antonio finds his tail moving from side to side. The whole universe is now centered on the cavorting animals on the roof of a tall structure in the middle of the moon-filled night. Antonio and Amlet forget for a moment about their sister and they don’t care anymore that they’d been told to wait for further instruction. They climb over the low wall and emerge from the darkness.
Mama Possum’s head whips in their direction. She is mid-kick when she abruptly stops. The conga line behind her comes to a halt as each possum crashes into the next, causing a pileup that resembles a train wreck, but with the lone raccoon landing on top.
Mama calls out, “Antonio! Amlet! What’re you doing here?” Her voice is somewhere between shocked and scolding.
Amlet is quiet, but Antonio says, “Big Poss brought us to find you.”
And then the music down below ends. It has to be a coincidence, but it’s suddenly pin-drop quiet.
The fireflies break out of their line.
The bats stop swinging on the wire.
The one-eyed cat darts out of sight.
Then the raccoon pulls himself up from the possum pile and, as raccoons sometimes do, speaks in a rapid and rude manner as he approaches Antonio and Amlet. “Yo
u two are wrecking a good party! Aren’t you too young to be up here?”
The other possums now eye the two brothers with deep suspicion. Then Mama Possum intervenes. “These are my sons.”
Big Poss gets to his feet and steps forward. But he puffs up in a way that seems to irritate Mama Possum, because she moves right past him and heads straight to Antonio and Amlet. She sweeps them into her outstretched arms. “Come to Mama and get a hug!”
Antonio and Amlet have forgotten how wonderful it feels to be wrapped in one of Mama’s hugs. There is nothing like it, really. Mama Possum always smells like an orange peel and a fir tree. Antonio knows this is because she secretly carries a sprig of fir in her front pouch. (He doesn’t know why she smells like orange peels.)
She talks while she hugs them. “I want to hear what you two have been up to! How did you happen upon your father? And why are you here on the roof? You’re still pretty young to be dancing in the moonlight.”
Antonio and Amlet forget all about the long trek on the wires. They don’t care about the rats in the tunnel or the fact that they had to jump from the Dumpster to the metal stairs. It’s all worth it now because they are with Mama Possum. Antonio’s head swims with thoughts. He wants to stay on this roof forever to hear music and watch the fireflies and the swinging bats and be held in the arms of his mama (which makes him sound like a baby, but he isn’t). But then he remembers the reason they ended up here. “We came because of Appleblossom.”
All of the possums listen. A few whisper, “Appleblossom? Who’s Appleblossom?”
Amlet looks up at Mama. “She fell into a monster house. You could say it was partly our fault, but you could also say it was really just her fault because she shouldn’t have been up there.”
Antonio elbows Amlet. “It was an accident. But there are windows on the roof and we saw her inside. We want to try to help her. But we didn’t have a plan and then we ran into Big Poss and he had a plan, which was to find you.”