The story is about how Possum wanted a beautiful tail like Raccoon. Raccoon jokingly tells Possum how he got his pretty black stripes by wrapping his tail with hickory bark and singing it in hot ashes. As a result of Possum doing as Raccoon told him, oppossums today have no hair on their tails, travel at night because of embarrassment, and "play possum." This booklet is supplemental reading material for the "Choctaw Culture Early Education Activities" guide. The guide suggests activities pertaining to this story. (ERB)