How the Possum’s Tail Came to Be Hairless Do you want to know how the Possum came to have a hairless tail and why they seem to grin and play dead? Very well, then please sit around the 2007 New Fire and listen to my story. Long ago Possum had been very proud of his tail, for it had been covered with hair. He never missed a chance to show it off to the other animals such as the bear, rabbit, or deer. He would say, "Look at my beautiful tail! Is this not the finest tail that you have ever seen?" All of the animals grew tired of listening to Possum boast. Rabbit, the messenger of the animals, decided to do something about Possum’s boasting. One day, Rabbit arrived to tell Possum of an important council meeting. Rabbit said, "Chief Bear asks that you sit beside him and be the first speaker because you have the most beautiful tail of all." Possum who was pleased to hear the news, smiled at Rabbit and said, "With such a beautiful tail, I should indeed be the first to speak. Isn’t it the finest tail you have ever seen?" Rabbit pretended to examine Possum’s tail. Then he said, "There seems to be some dirt on your tail. Why don’t you let me clean it for you with this special cleaning potion that I have?" Possum wanted his tail to look perfect for the council meeting; so he agreed. Rabbit poured the mixture on Rabbit’s tail and wrapped the tail in a snakeskin dressing. Rabbit instructed Possum not to remove the snakeskin until he was about to speak at the council meeting. Rabbit left Possum knowing that he had not told Possum everything about the potion. The following day Possum took his place next to Chief Bear at the council meeting. Possum eagerly waited to remove the snakeskin as his time to speak neared. All the animals would be so envious of his beautiful tail. They watched as Possum stood up and removed the snakeskin dressing before speaking. He grinned with pride as he slowly began to unwrap his dressing. He looked to the animal crowd and said, "I have been asked to open this meeting because I have the most beautiful tail. Isn’t it the finest you have ever seen?" Looking over the facial reactions of the other animals, Possum looked down at his tail. The grin on his face froze. Not one hair was left! Rabbit’s potion had made all the hair fall off. Shocked and embarrassed, Possum fell to the ground pretending to be dead. One by one, the other animals left the council room as Possum remained on the ground feigning death. Now you know why today Possum has no hair on his tail and why he sometimes will play dead. And you know now too why he has that grin on his face.