midday
In one way , especially , Fatty Coon and Dickie Deer Mouse were alike : They were night-prowlers . When they slept it was usually broad daylight outside , and the birds -- except for a few odd fellows like Willie Whip-poor-will and Mr. Night Hawk -- were abroad , and singing , and twittering . And when most of the birds went to sleep Dickie and Fatty Coon began to feel quite wide awake . It was not strange , therefore , that Dickie Deer Mouse was surprised when he found himself face to face with Fatty Coon in the cornfield at midday . Dickie tried to slip out of sight under a pumpkin vine that grew between the rows ; but Fatty Coon saw him before he could hide . And Fatty began to make the queerest noise , as if he were almost choking . Dickie Deer Mouse stopped .