The Choctaws knew ‘Possum when he had hair on his tail. ‘Possum’s tail was gray with white hair mixed in and it was very nice to look at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When ‘Possum met Raccoon he looked and looked at Raccoon’s tail. Raccoon’s tail had stripes on it and ‘Possum wished that he had stripes on his tail too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Possum asked Raccoon, “Raccoon, how did you get those stripes on your tail?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raccoon said, “All raccoons have stripes on their tails.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Possum told Raccoon, “I want stripes on my tail too!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raccoon said, “You are a ‘possum and you should have a ‘possum tail.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“But I want stripes”, ‘Possum pouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So Raccoon said, “Someone told me that you could wrap bark from a tree around your tail, then cook your tail over a fire. When your tail is cooked, it will have stripes.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Possum ran to a tree and took some bark and wrapped his tail. Then ‘Possum built a fire and cooked his tail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When ‘Possum unwrapped his tail there were no rings. ‘Possum looked again and saw that there was no hair. ‘Possum began to cry. Then ‘Possum said, “I was so silly. I will always like my tail, no matter how it looks.” But the hair never grew back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n