It takes several days to enlarge the tree hole. Long days of gnawing bark. Amy breaks up the monotony by showing you around the rest stop, exploring the different surrounding paths and trees. You are a little concerned about delaying your search, but your efforts are rewarding. Your little hole is becoming a comfy home.
After enlarging your home, you set about finding more nuts. You and Amy eat a surprising amount of food, and it requires a large part of your day hoarding nuts. Maybe it is because you have some much energy. Amy was right - you can run all day and hardly feel tired at all. At night, you and Amy snuggle, watching the stars and the other animals in the forest. Neither Amy nor you has tried anything more intimate than snuggling. Your relationship is more like that of good friends, or brother and sister. But sometimes you wonder if that might change.
Over time, you gradually forget about the keys. Your time is spent looking for food, exploring the forest, or playing with Amy. It is only when a tow-truck arrives at the rest stop to take away your car that you remember. The Key! You have to find the key!
You begin to scurry about, looking around the spot where your car had been parked. It has to be there, it just has to be!
Amy sees your scurried panic, and runs over.
"Sam, what is it? What's the matter?" asks Amy. "Come away from there. It's not safe. I don't think you will find any nuts, and you might get run over. Let's go home."
"Home? Home? " you say angrily. "That is not my home! That's just a hole in a tree! I am not a squirrel, I am a human being. So are you, if you haven't forgotten. We need to find that key!"
You begin to run around, but Amy stands in front of you and blocks your path. She puts her clawed hands on her hips. "Why?" asks Amy.
You stare in shocked silence at her, unsure if you really heard what she said. "You can't be serious?" you ask.
"Of course I am serious. Why? Why do you want to change back? Is it really that bad?" asks Amy.
"What about my life? My job? I was just about to graduate from law school, and I had a good job lined up," you say angrily.
Amy scoffs. "You're not missing anything, believe me. I had a job. I was a high power executive. But now I am glad to be out of that rat race. It's nice to settle down, and just enjoy life. I never realized how much time I wasted pursuing things - things I didn't need and really didn't make me happy. I am truly happy now, and I don't want to go back!"
"Well I do. And as soon as I find that key I am getting out of here. You can stay if you want. I want a life, " you say.
"But Sam, " says Amy softly, on the verge of tears. "You have a life. A life better than your old one. You have good and plentiful food, a nice cozy home, ..... and me? Isn't that enough?" asked Amy.
"I am sorry, Amy. It's not. Not for me," you say coldly.
Amy looks at you sadly, with tears in her eyes. Then she scurries away, crawling into your den in the tree. You sigh. You didn't mean to hurt her. You really do like Amy. She is a very nice person, a good friend, and a nice companion. But you do not want to be a squirrel.
You search for a while longer, but slowly realize it is useless. At dusk, you crawl back home. Amy is on the side of the nook, with her back to you, quietly sniffling. You walk up to her, and gently put an arm on her shoulder.
"I am sorry, Amy. I didn't mean to hurt you. I like you, I really do. And I appreciate all you have done for me. I mean, without your help I probably would have been crushed, eaten or starved long ago. If it had been under any other circumstances, I would be lucky to be stuck with a girl like you. But I just can't live like this. I am not a squirrel," you say.
Amy turns, with some tears in her eyes. She sighs, reaches up and places a paw on your cheek. "I know. I knew you were unhappy. I like being a squirrel, but I don't think I could do it alone. And I like you. I just thought if I could make you happy, maybe you wouldn't mind so much. That you would just accept it, and stay with me. But now I realize that was wrong. I will help you look for the key in the morning."
"Thanks, Amy. But I guess I was a little wrong, too. We may never find that key, and I might be stuck like this forever. I didn't want to admit, even to myself. But it's true. If we can't find that key, I will need to learn how to just accept my fate. So, I should probably ease up a little, and learn to enjoy life as a squirrel. You have been trying to make it easier for me, to make it more bearable, and I have just been a jerk. I promise try to be a better squirrel, if you are still willing to teach me."
Amy jumps up. "Really? Do you mean it? You won't be sorry. It can be really fun, if you give it a chance. I can't wait to show you ....."
"Easy, easy, " you say. "It's late, and we need to get some sleep. Why don't we talk about it in the morning?"
She turns back around, and you snuggle against her back. Your home is much larger, and you no longer need to squeeze around her. But somehow it just feels right, more comfortable.
"Sam?" asks Amy.
"Yes?" you reply with a yawn.
"You have had a little fun being a squirrel. Admit it, " she says softly.
You sigh. You have to admit, it has had its moments. The taste of a fresh nut, the thrill of running wild and free, the excitement of new sights and smells as you explore the forest.
"Yes, it has been fun. Now got to sleep, " you say.
You feel Amy shudder with excitement against you, and her tail brushes and tickles you. But you are still able to slowly drift off to sleep.