Intermediate english reading

vigilant to spot him. In February, scuffles, growls, yelps, and assorted noises at night 
alerted the Hartleys to courting combat in the woods. Twice, Bandit, as they named 
their visitor, showed up in the company of a female raccoon, but in spring he resumed 
his bachelor routine. 
5
In March, a good-sized female turned up for a late brunch. Although from a 
distance she looked much like Bandit, she had a habit of attacking the food dish and 
running off with it into the woods. Not only did she have an attitude, but a nick in one 
ear and a missing toe on her left hind foot suggested that she had a history to match! 
The characteristic black mask across her face did nothing to hide the mischief in her 
black eyes, and with the slim, agile fingers of her silver-gloved hands she was able to 
grasp and grab whatever she fancied. In June, a younger female joined the crew. While 
she munched on her food, the newcomer liked to sit upright like a squirrel, and she 
often dipped her food or her hands in the water dish. 
6
Bandit, Raggedy Ann, and Putzi generally traveled alone, but when one showed 
up, the next wasn’t far behind. To prevent conflicts, the Hartleys scattered dry dog food 
on the ground instead of putting it in a dish. This tactic did not always work; when 
inevitable skirmishes broke out, the raccoons sorted things out in their own furious, 
but harmless, way. With the three raccoons coming to feed, squabble, and sometimes 

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rest, the Hartleys’ yard turned into a “garden stage.” All they needed for the real show to 
begin was for Raggedy Ann or Putzi to show up with young. The Hartleys could hardly 
wait! 
7
On the night of the summer solstice, the Hartleys were outside gazing at the 
stars when a strange warbling came from the woods. A couple of weeks later before 
suppertime, loud warbling and cooing sounds caught their attention again. Lined up on 
a big cedar log at the top of the yard were a trio of raccoon kits the size of kittens. The 
couple sat quietly on the bench outside, waiting for Raggedy Ann, but it was Putzi who 
appeared at the bottom. When she whistled, all three kits slid, tumbled, and bounced 
down the steep stone steps and landed in a furry huddle. At first, the kits scooted for 
cover and dived into the salal,
but at Putzi’s signal they collected around her. The little 
raccoons could barely chew or swallow the big chunks of dog food, so they turned their 
investigations to the water container. Pulling themselves up onto the rim, they 
seesawed on the edge, and drank the water that dripped from their button-shaped 
noses. 
8
The Hartleys had to wait until one lovely August afternoon for Putzi to bring 
her family again. A little later, Raggedy Ann, who disliked being upstaged, paraded 
across the garden stage with twins. Showtime had begun! 
9 Sporadic at first, the raccoon family visits were more eventful than the national news 
on television. The kits enjoyed pulling on the bouncy red nicotiana flowers in the 
garden, or grappling with the ice plants as if they were knots that had to be untied. They 
fished among the various stones and rocks for goodies, and overturned an assortment of 
seashells to check out the underside. Empty flowerpots left on the stone steps became