Anya nodded seriously at her father. She didn't know why she shouldn't drink the water, but she trusted her papa because he always told the truth all the time.

She got really excited when the squirrel started talking, though, because what girl wouldn't be excited at the prospect of a gigantic adorable talking squirrel? She began bouncing up and down excitedly again, and decided to ask once more.

"Pleeease can I pet him? A rabid squirrel wouldn't be able to talk that good, right? He'd sound more like 'hisss blargh blargh blargh', but this guy doesn't sound like that at all!"