As anyone living in the midwestern USA (I guess any where in USA) knows, Squirrels are quite pervasive here. They'd hang from trees, climb down to pick a nut, and occassionally fight among themselves, mess around with trash etc. I have often seen people feed them nuts.
Well, the other day, I found out that Squirrels do have a knack for sweet things as well. This is what happened:
I was coming out of the Illini Union, the student center at UIUC. I happened to have a pack of M & M's with me (if you haven't seen one, it's a kind of a chocolate). While I was unlocking my bike, I took one M&M out, and was planning to nibble on one. Suddenly, 2 squirrels came down from the tree next to my bike, and they sized me and the M&M out with interest. After a few seconds, they decided that I was a gullible one, and they can extort the sweet-smelling-nut-type-thing from me. So, literally, they stood up, and started waving to me. REally!!!! I wish I had my camera with me at that point, the scene was so funny, two squirrels standing up on their hind legs, and extending their hands!! Reminded me of how beggars in Bangladesh used to extort coins!
Anyway, I was so surprised and amused at the scene and their attempt to bully me into giving up the M&M, I spoke out in Bangla, (automatically) telling them "Dicchi baba dicchi" (wait please, I'll give you the nuts!!) (which reminded me again of my friend Suman's dialog in a similar situation on a train, India, in 2000)
So, I picked out 3/4 M&Ms, and gave them to the squirrels. They grabbed the chocolates, and finished them in 5 to 10 seconds. The way they devoured them, it looks like they really liked the M&Ms.
Ultimately, they managed to get 10-12 M&Ms from me that day. Next time, I'm taking my camera there, and will either get some stills or a video to show their "bullying tactics".
2 comments:
"... Reminded me of how beggars in Bangladesh used to extort coins!" ... nice way to picture Bangladesh, and of course yourself (they had to "extort" coins out of you !!!)
Well, there *are* beggars in BD that do so. And I'm not here to write a "rochona" on sonar bangla. Claiming there are no beggars will just make you a liar. I'm doing my best to promote Bangladesh in other ways, but that doesn't mean I can't write about Beggars.
As for "extortion", either you haven't been to Bangladesh, or you'd understand what that meant. Just try walking past Azimpur kabarsthan on friday or shab-e-barat or other occasions.
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