If you’ve ever stopped by Mr. Zellers’s workspace, you may have found yourself wondering about the many squirrel paintings, figurines, and mementos he has displayed alongside photographs of alumni. What began as a backyard feud eventually became a beloved tradition, so we asked Mr. Zellers to take us back to the squirrel who started it all.
Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away….
On a lovely summer day I was working in my upstairs study. Reading a new book or writing a book review. Then it happened: the sound of a SQUIRREL running across the roof, just above my head. I ignored it for a time. But back and forth, back and forth…. My patience strained, I went outside to see what squirrelie was up to. It greeted me halfway down the downspout; he seemed to be making a mocking gesture! Infuriated, I picked up a brick and threw it at the monster!! Missed!!! Hit the house; damaged the siding. Now it was war!!! The monster then ran back across the roof and out of sight; I was left in “something” of a rage…. By the fall, I had partially recovered. However, for some reason I mentioned the incident to students in my classes and advisory. The result was interesting: students began to bring me toy squirrels. Even my wife gave me a little pewter squirrel figurine. Squirrels began to appear in student art work; and one Greenhillsian even brought me squirrel roadkill. As many of you know, by now my anger has abated and I can now see the critters without becoming apoplectic. As it happens, I now treasure these mementos of a career! And the critters themselves: I feel some pleasure when they approach me in the yard, and some sadness when I see dead ones on the road. I even brake for them. Change is good!–BZ
