Opossum and the Persimmons: A Catawba Tale

Opossum found a persimmon-tree. "All these persimmons are for me," he squealed climbing the tree.

Deer came. "I want persimmons!" Deer shouted.

"They're not quite ripe," Opossum replied. "You must butt the tree to make them fall."

Deer butted the tree.

"Harder!" yelled Opossum.

Deer butted the tree so hard he killed himself.

Next, Opossum planted a sharp stick in the ground and then went back up the tree.

Wolf came. "I want persimmons!" Wolf shouted.

"Here's a low-hanging branch," Opossum replied. "Jump up!"

Wolf jumped and fell on the stick. He died.

Opossum ate all the persimmons by himself!

(opossum)

This story from Sally Gordon blends lots of different bits of trickster-opossum lore into one long story. You can see the whole story in Catawba Texts. 

See also an even longer version by Susan Harris in an appendix to the book: Opossum Outwits Deer and Wolf.