Lost in the Blinded Blizzard by John R. Erickson Page A

heart’s spare part, I promised it right there.
    Her eyes showed pure astonishment, I knew I’d done the trick.
    Her mouth turned up into a smile that would have melted brick.
    I knew I had her on the ropes, I knew I couldn’t fail.
    And that’s when I became aware of something near my tail.
    At first I tried to let it slide, I figgered it was just
    That same old crawling bug of love I’d noticed right at first.
    And so I winked my eye at her and gave her one more thrill,
    But suddenly that bug of love attacked me with a drill.
    When something’s drilling on your tail, it’s hard to keep your suave,
    I lost my concentration then and knew I had to solve
    The mystery of that piercing pain that had a hold of me
    The bug of love that bit so hard turned out to be a flea!

Chapter Ten: Devoured by Coyotes

    W ell, I finished my song and turned to the coyote brothers. They were staring at me with dull brutish expressions on their dull brutish faces.
    â€œWhat do you think, Snort?” No answer. “Would it surprise you to know that that song was based on a true life experience?” No answer. “It happened to me only last night. I’ll bet you’d like to hear the whole story behind it, huh?” He yawned. “Okay, here we go. It all began last . . .”
    â€œCoyote not caring for love or pretty music.”
    â€œYeah, but all things considered, it’s the kind of song that a coyote can really go for. I mean, it was so good, you’re probably thinking about letting me go.”
    They got a big laugh out of that.
    â€œOr maybe not. Which is just fine, as long as I don’t have to listen to any of your lousy coyote songs.”
    That got their attention, which is what I had hoped might happen. I had run out of good ideas, see, and was stalling for time, in hopes of postponing supper.
    Snort pushed himself up and came lumbering over to me. “What means, ‘lousy coyote song’?”
    â€œIt means . . . well, I hate to put it this way, Snort, especially with your hot breath right in my face, could you back up a little bit? No? Okay, we’ll just . . . I hate to say this, but I doubt that you guys have a song that’s in the same class with ‘Oh Flee, My Love.’”
    â€œUh. What’s meaning ‘class?’”
    â€œClass is something you’ve never had, Snort, and probably never will. I mean, you guys only know one song, right?”
    â€œGuys know two song.”
    â€œAll right, two songs.”
    He counted three claws on his right foot. “Coyote know seven song.”
    â€œWait a minute. You counted three claws. How could you come up with seven songs?”
    He scowled and counted again. “One. Four. Seven. Coyote know seven song.”
    â€œNo, no. You cheated, Snort. One claw plus one claw plus one claw makes three claws.”
    He stuck his nose in my face. “One claw plus one claw plus one claw make fat lip if dog not shut up.”
    â€œOh, I see now. You’re using Coyote Mathe­matics.”
    â€œWhatsomever.”
    â€œWhich means that you count to three, multiply by two, and add one.”
    â€œUh-uh. Add two, not one.”
    â€œNo, that would make eight.” He whacked me on the nose. “No, by George, that would make seven.”
    â€œHa! Hunk pretty smart.”
    â€œYes sir, that Coyote Mathematics is pretty foxy stuff.”
    â€œCoyote not like fox.”
    â€œThat’s what I meant. It’s not foxy at all.”
    â€œCoyote know seven song.”
    â€œThat’s certainly the bottom line, isn’t it?”
    â€œUh.”
    â€œWhich means that you’ve got a song or two I haven’t heard, and I’ll bet you’re scared to sing in a blizzard.”
    â€œHa! Coyote not scared of buzzard.”
    â€œYeah, but I said blizzard.”
    â€œCoyote eat lizard in one bite. Not scared of lizard.”
    â€œNo, you missed it again. I