RECORD STORE TALES #1127: Walter – An Uncle Paul story

My Uncle Paul loved his “spot”.  It was a comfy armchair at the cottage, right next to the patio screen door, and right in front of the TV.  The phone was on an end table right next to it, and fridge was never far, with a fresh supply of cold beer.   It was cool, shaded, comfortable, and perfect.  On many days he’d prefer to sit there than come down to the beach, or playing cards.  Who could blame him?  Though we were often elsewhere while Uncle Paul did his thing, he was never alone.

He had Walter.

In reality, there was probably more than one Walter.  Chipmunks typically only live two to three years, yet Walter, in one form or another, returned to his screen door year after year, looking for peanuts.  There was also a second chipmunk that he named Fang.  Doctor Kathryn recalls, “the other chipmunk he fed, he named Fang. Fang had part of his ear missing, and looked really banged up!”  He probably ran afoul of a cat or Schnauzer.

We always had loads of chipmunks at the cottage.  They’re not a pest, but they’re timid and not very brave by nature.  If you left peanuts out (always shelled, unsalted), then you could gradually condition them to come closer and closer.  Still, many would cower afar, especially since there were Schnauzers about, and Schnauzers and chipmunks are natural sworn enemies.  This rivalry has been documented through history, most notably in the German children’s fable “The Chipmunk that Stole the Schnauzer’s Hat” (“Der Streifenhörnchen, der den Hut des Schnauzers Gestohlen“).

Through patience and time, Uncle Paul had trained little Walter the Chipmunk to come to his screen door and be rewarded with a peanut.   The little brown, black and white creature would approach tentatively with caution, grasp a peanut his two front paws, stuff it in his cheeks, and dart off!  He scampered across the deck, down to the ground and off into the unknown trees.  But he’d be back, minutes later, ready to stuff another peanut in his cheeks.  Uncle would always have an ample stash of nuts ready to serve.

This year, Jen and I have been visited by a new chipmunk friend on the front porch.  It’s our first summer there since Uncle Paul passed in November.  I’ve decided to name him Walter 2, in honour my uncle’s original friend.

I think uncle would like that.