Sage O'Neill, Stony Brook School
Somerset County
Bobcat. Somerset County. Sage O'Neill
Don't Let My Spots Vanish
I wander around the remains of my home. No longer feeling safe, I run far away from my den. My mother has not returned this morning from hunting. Has she been killed herself, by one of those odd men or vast, glowing machines? My mother would've come home; I'm sure of it.
My home is a rugged, mossy crevasse guarded by an army of proud poplars, majestic oaks, and shy pines. It lies deep in the mysterious forests of northern New Jersey. The bobcat is a quiet animal; we're not often seen by people. But believe me, it's a pity they don't often see us! We have silky, brownish red or yellow fur, tufted ears, and our namesake: our bobbed tails. Bobcats may be tiny; we're about two foot tall and twenty pounds, but we are a strong, fierce, species!
My poor, poor mother! She was born and raised here, just as I! Those cruel men who hunt for our fur and the scary inventions that tear down our forests have killed her; I know it! We've been killed by development with our homes being cut down, but hunting! Oh, hunting rips my soul apart! Bobcats' homes have been destroyed for years and years, but it is time to stop! My ancestors have suffered and I think we've suffered enough! You people have created a world of menace for my family and it is you that shall have to fix your mistake!
You all know you can help! There are many solutions! Don't hunt us for our beautiful fur! I've read some magazines lying in the forest and they say faux fur is very fashionable this fall! Don't cut down trees and take our homes away. Instead, recycle! Buy the new paper products that don't have a tube. How would you like to wake up one morning to find your home a mess of ugly buildings that all look alike? That's what's happened to us bobcats for generations and will continue if you don't end this madness. Set aside protected land for not only bobcats, but for ALL wildlife to roam, be free, and live without constant fear.
Please make the better choice! Don't let the bobcat disappear from right under your nose! Your grandchildren will never know the bobcat as anything but extinct if you don't stop this evil destruction. But why do I even bother? Most humans have been ignoring our situation for decades, but there are some that help by trying to stop the murderous deeds. As I stretch out on this smooth boulder that I have dreamed, cried, and been joyful on, I, the bobcat, make this final plea to you: please, don't let my sweet, soft spots vanish.
Written by: Sage O'Neill
Stony Brook School, Branchburg
Teacher: Mrs. Burke