Different Views

Randy Raccoon wasn't trying to upset Beverly Beaver. They had become instant friends when they first met in the Spring. And now, as the Autumn leaves began turning brilliant red and gold, Randy felt a new urgency to have Beverly understand.

"We can't control our world," said Randy. "It's too big, too powerful."

"I disagree," said Beverly. "We can build the kind of world we want to live in."

Now this wasn't their first disagreement and in many ways Randy enjoyed Beverly's different views. He yearned to explore, to investigate, and to sample everything. He couldn't understand why Beverly saw things so differently, why she was so set in her thinking.

"No way," said Randy. "Why should we waste our time trying to change the world? We can't make any real difference."

Beverly agreed that trying to control the forces in life wasn't easy and that there would be set-backs.

"Instead of trying to control our world we must learn to live with it," continued Randy. "We've got to learn new ways of doing things and be ready to move on or out of the way when we have to. We must out-smart life and be more clever than our challenges. Don't you see," asked Randy? "We can't change the way things are?"

"I don't agree," said Beverly. "We can work hard and make our world what we want it to be."

Suddenly, Mother Beaver slapped her tail and Beverly knew she had been talking much too long. She said good-bye and hurried off. Randy was sorry she couldn't stay.

Before leaving though, Randy washed his hands one more time in the ever deepening pond. As he dipped his hands into the cool water, Randy noticed the reflection of an eagle silently gliding overhead. Looking up, he said to himself, I wonder what the eagle would say?

Return to: Day 2 p.m.