by David Almond
“I watched them coming through the fields,” she said. “They been there half an hour now, just watching.” She grinned. “They come for their little'n, Bobby.”
We went to the garden shed and opened the door.
“Howay, little'n,” said Ailsa.
It stood up and walked out with us. It sniffed the air and jumped. We led it to the edge of the garden.
“Look!” said Ailsa. She pointed to the deer. “It's your mam and dad. They found you.” She laughed. We looked out at the hugeness of the land around. “God knows how, but they've found you.” Ailsa put her hands gently on the fawn and guided it through the garden fence into the field. “Go on. Off you go, then.”
And so the fawn trotted through the field toward the grown-ups. It turned and took one last look at us.
“Just look how strong it's got,” said Ailsa. “It'll get through the winter now.” We waved. “Bye-bye,” we called, as the family made its way back home again.
“Sometimes,” said Ailsa, “the world's just so amazing.” I looked into her eyes.
“It is,” I said.
Published by Yearling, an imprint of Random House Children's Books a division of Random House, Inc., New York
Copyright © 2003 by David Almond
Originally published in Great Britain in 2003 by Hodder Children's Books
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eISBN: 978-0-307-52374-7
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