by Jane H Wood
The smell of dinner drifted up the stairs and he glanced at his watch, surprised to see it was 6pm. He’d been in his room all afternoon; quickly, he switched off his music and descended the stairs.
His mom was in the dining room, laying the table for dinner. She glanced at him.
‘What have you been up to?’ she asked, placing the cutlery on the table.
‘Oh, I just wrapped some presents, and the time sort of went,’ he replied sheepishly. His mom stopped what she was doing and looked at him.
‘That’s very sweet. Your dad’s home—’ Just then a voice called out, interrupting her in mid-sentence.
‘Hey, Edmund. How was your day?’ asked Sam, walking into the dining room. ‘I was wondering if perhaps you’d like to spend a day with me at the garage. You know, get out of the house for a bit.’
Edmund wandered in to the lounge, unintentionally ignoring the question. His mind was elsewhere, thinking about his wolf; nothing else seemed to exist. He blinked, as though surprised to see his dad was home already.
‘Hi Dad, I can’t believe we are going to see GoldenEars in four days’ time,’ he sighed, and ensconced himself comfortably in front of the fire. ‘It seems too good to be true, but it is actually going to happen,’ he finished, gazing appreciatively at their Christmas tree in the corner, the colourful fairy lights twinkling on the green artificial branches.
‘Yeah, you’re right, I can’t believe it either,’ replied Sam from the doorway, astonished the days had passed so quickly.
Christmas Day arrived at last, not that Edmund was excited for the day itself, but it was another day to cross off his calendar. A fresh dusting of snow had fallen during the night, adding another layer to the roads and gardens he could see from his bedroom window. He peered at the scene, his breath misting the glass. Everywhere was quiet, deserted, untouched and beautiful. The morning had taken on a surreal feeling, standing there.
Was his mind seeing things differently? Or was it the festive atmosphere affecting him, or… perhaps he was just relieved he’d survived the horrific injuries all those months ago?
A voice calling his name pulled him out of his pensive mood.
‘Breakfast, Edmund. Pancakes on the table. Come down while they’re hot,’ called his mom, her voice light and happy.
The thought of hot sticky pancakes made his mouth water, and without delay he hurried downstairs.
‘Merry Christmas, my darling,’ said his mom, waiting at the foot of the stairs to greet him. She smiled and kissed him fondly on the cheek as he jumped off the bottom step.
‘Merry Christmas, Mom… and Dad,’ he beamed, noticing his dad walking into the hallway to join them.
‘Morning, son. Merry Christmas… Hey, look at this lot! Your mother has done us proud,’ he said, gesturing towards the dining room table where a large plateful of pancakes was waiting for them.
The morning passed happily, then mid-afternoon their guests Bert and Marion arrived for a supper of roast beef with all the trimmings, followed by one of his mom’s triumphs in the kitchen department: warm cinnamon apple pie, with fresh cream. The meal was superb, and the conversation remained easy and relaxed around the table. Afterwards, everyone made their way into the lounge, their appetites replete.
Presents were exchanged in front of the fire, where each face gradually turned pink from the heat, although Edmund suspected the wine might have contributed to a larger degree.
‘Look, young man, we’ve brought you a present,’ said Marion, rummaging in her bag and lifting out a square package wrapped in festive paper, with a red ribbon tied around it.
Edmund took it gratefully and knelt on the floor by her feet to unwrap it.
‘Oh Bert, Marion! It’s great! Look at all the beautiful pictures!’ he said excitedly, and began flicking through the pages of the book. It was full of photographs and information about the lives of wolves that roamed the Canadian wilderness.
‘Thank you,’ he whispered, completely spellbound by an adult male wolf staring back at him from the glossy front cover.
‘Let me see,’ asked Doreen eagerly, joining him on the floor. He was secretly pleased she was interested, and together they flicked through the pages. Marion knelt too, intrigued to learn about the lives of wolves.
The gentle hum of voices and the warmth of the fire had a tranquil, almost hypnotic, effect on Edmund. His dad was engaged in conversation with Bert, their murmured voices discussing their separate businesses, while his mom and Marion had drifted away from the subject of wolves and were talking to each other, just general chitchat.
Edmund wasn’t really listening, only aware that everyone was happy. His thoughts returned to GoldenEars, trying to recollect every tiny detail about the wolf, the way his fur looked and the quizzical expressions he often had when those beautiful golden eyes of his focused on him. He casually lifted a hand to stifle a yawn, unfortunately noticed by his mom. She gave him an understanding nod.
‘Coffee, everyone?’ she suggested.
An appreciative mumble came from the two men, reclining in their armchairs beside the fire, quiet now and nearly asleep. Doreen smiled knowingly at Marion, who responded with an amused smile, and they both slipped away into the kitchen.
Edmund blinked sleepily, got up and climbed the stairs to his room. He sprawled comfortably on his bed, reading about wolves and how they defend their territories. The book was comprehensive, and the pictures inspired him to draw something.
On the bedside table were some new watercolour pencils and a drawing pad his parents had given him. He knew they were really from his mom, because his dad didn’t seem to take any interest in his artwork. Sitting up, Edmund reached across and grabbed them and began to draw a pack of wolves running through the wilderness. After the initial pencil lines, the wolves began to take shape on the paper. He was pleased at how quickly he had managed to capture their images, and with a sweep of his hand filled in the background with a nondescript smudged line.
On the floor beside him was a pair of robust hiking boots. It was obvious they had come from Bert’s clothing store, and his dad had probably chosen them. Also, earlier, he had been given a compass in a case, which he found interesting. Another parcel contained a thick jumper and shirt. He smiled when he saw them, for he knew his mom must have chosen them. She was always worried if he was warm enough, fussing more than usual after his near-death experience.
A murmur of voices came from the hall downstairs. He glanced at the clock on his bedside cabinet; it was 10pm. He put his drawing pad away and hurried downstairs.
Bert and Marion were standing in the hall, putting on their coats and hats, preparing to depart. Everyone seemed to be talking at once, each calling their good wishes and goodbyes. A few hugs and kisses were exchanged, and even Edmund had a kiss planted on his cheek. Discreetly he rubbed the lipstick off his skin. His mom raised an amused eyebrow at him as she opened the front door. The wind had eased, but it was snowing again, silently falling to the ground.
‘Thank you both for a great evening,’ said Marion, beaming.
‘You’re very welcome. We’ve enjoyed it too,’ replied Doreen warmly.
‘Watch the road, Bert, it looks a bit slippery,’ warned Sam.
Bert stepped out and waved back. ‘Will do. Night all.’
Edmund stood by the front door, calling his thanks and wishing them goodnight. Sam closed the door and shivered.
‘What a cold night. Hope they get home all right. They’ve a bit of a journey into town, but that vehicle of theirs should be able to manage a bit of snow,’ he concluded, and hurried into the dining room to help Doreen clear the table.
Boxing Day dragged on, but Edmund tried to keep himself busy, for tomorrow they were going to Huxforest Wildlife Reserve. By lunchtime he had already packed his clothes in a suitcase, standing it beside his bedroom door, ready to take downstairs. He could
hardly sleep that night with the sheer excitement of it all.
Finally it was the morning of their journey, and Edmund was wide awake at 6am. He pulled on his jeans and sweater and went over to the window to peer out into the gloom. It had stopped snowing, but the day had barely begun, the rising sun just a mere streak of light growing on the horizon. It filled him with excitement to think that later today he would be with GoldenEars.
The house was quiet, his parents obviously still asleep. He was impatient to get going, and decided he’d better have a wash and clean his teeth. However, he lost track of time staring at his reflection in the bathroom mirror while slowly brushing his teeth, daydreaming about his pup. A sudden thought occurred to him – he’d be quite big now. Then a ripple of horror ran down his spine! What if GoldenEars didn’t recognise him anymore?
With a jolt, he was brought back to the present by the persistent banging on the bathroom door.
‘How long are you going to be in there, Edmund? I need to go!’ yelled his Dad.
Edmund nearly choked on the foaming toothpaste that by this time was filling his mouth. Quickly he spat it into the sink, rinsed his mouth then dashed the towel across it.
‘Sorry, Dad, coming!’ he spluttered, hurrying out.
Everyone was on the move now. His mom was in their bedroom, opening drawers and retrieving clothes ready to pack in their case. Her voice called out to him, sounding shrill and harassed.
‘Edmund! Have you packed yet?’
He called out to confirm that he had, adding he was going to put the kettle on.
Breakfast was a hurried affair as far as Edmund was concerned. He gulped down a mug of coffee and nearly choked on a piece of toast in his haste to get going.
‘Steady on, Ed, Max isn’t expecting us until later today. We’ve bags of time,’ said Sam, slowly drinking his coffee.
An hour later the family was ready, and with their Chevy packed with their two cases they left. It was a slower journey than Sam had anticipated, the thick snow dictating their speed. Doreen and Edmund were being quiet, allowing him to concentrate.
They travelled steadily northwards, leaving the town and the surrounding rural areas behind them, and entered the wilderness. Visibility deteriorated and the journey changed for the worse.
Sam blinked and rubbed his eyes, squinting ahead, trying to see where the road was. The ground in front of them was clean and unmarked. Tensions mounted, fearing they might stray off the road and get hopelessly lost. Everyone was anxiously keeping an eye out for road signs as the old Chevy trundled on.
19
Max paced nervously back and forth, awaiting the arrival of Edmund and his parents. He couldn’t stop staring through the window every few seconds, because the family were overdue and he was beginning to worry.
It was 6pm and dark by the time they arrived at the reserve, and as soon as Max saw them he rushed outside to greet them.
‘Hello, welcome! Did you have a good Christmas?’ he asked pleasantly, shaking Sam’s hand vigorously.
He returned the ranger’s firm handshake, bemused by the man’s enthusiasm, but answered politely that they had. Sam moved aside to introduce his wife, and for a brief minute the three of them chatted.
Edmund waited patiently, listening, and finally grinned at Max, noticing the ranger’s eyes drift towards him.
‘Hello Max, it’s good to be back. How are you and GoldenEars? Is he all right?’
‘Hello Edmund, I’m fine, and it’s nice to see you again. The progress the two pups have made is nothing short of astonishing, and I think you will be pleasantly surprised how well they look.’ He paused, noticing Edmund’s injuries were free of bandages. ‘How are you, Edmund?’ he asked, his facial expression changing to one of concern.
‘Oh, I’m fine now. Good as new,’ replied Edmund with a dismissive shrug.
‘Well, that’s great, I’m so pleased to hear it,’ Max beamed. ‘Look, it’s cold out here, please follow me into the centre. I expect you could all use a hot drink.’
As everyone shuffled through the doors, the warmth of the interior enveloped them. Edmund was trying to restrain himself but couldn’t bottle the words up any longer.
‘Max, can I see GoldenEars now?’ he asked fervently, unable to keep the pleading tone out of his voice.
‘Of course,’ he replied, ‘but I’ll need to get a flashlight, if you’ll excuse me a moment. We only have a few spotlights outside, though none shine directly into the enclosure as they would inflict an unwelcome intrusion into their space,’ he said, hurrying into his office to retrieve what he needed.
Within a few minutes they passed through the rear of the building. Doreen was doing her best to feign interest in the place ever since they had arrived, for her son’s sake, but in truth she felt close to exhaustion. It had been a long and tiring journey and all she wanted to do was lie down and rest.
They were standing outside in the freezing cold, peering into the wolves’ darkened enclosure. Doreen shivered uncontrollably. The penetrating cold night air had forced her awake and also revitalised her senses. She patted Edmund’s arm reassuringly, watching him staring through the fence, his face apprehensive, searching for the pups.
The young pair were nowhere in sight. Max continued to roam the flashlight beam over the ground until he arrived at a small hut in the centre. He lingered, focusing on the open doorway, wondering if the two young wolves were inside, but he didn’t have a clear view, due to the undulating nature of the lying snow.
Edmund rested his hand on the gate latch and was about to open it when Max spoke, his tone unexpectedly tense.
‘Don’t go inside just yet, Edmund! Why don’t you call him first?’ he suggested.
The truth was, he wasn’t sure if the wolf would accept him anymore, fearing that he may have reverted to his wild natural state.
The chief ranger’s words seeded a niggling doubt in Edmund’s mind, and he replaced the latch and crouched down in the snow. He felt nerves stir in his stomach as he prepared to call his friend.
‘GoldenEars! Come on, boy. Come to me!’ he called, and waited… ‘GoldenEars!’ he repeated loudly, fearing his friend had forgotten him. His heart raced uncomfortably while he continued to wait.
His mom squeezed his shoulder, aware how important it was to him.
‘Try again. Perhaps he’s asleep,’ she suggested gently.
He complied, and waited.
‘He’s forgotten me,’ he croaked, feeling stupid, having expected the pup to remember him after all this time.
‘I’m sorry, Edmund,’ said Max, ‘but it has been a while since you last saw him.’
They all turned to go back inside, when a rustling made Edmund spin round.
A movement, the crunch of snow. Max returned the beam towards the enclosure again. Then all at once they saw him, bounding through the snow, ears flapping wildly, his expression one of happiness. There was no denying he recognised the boy.
‘There!’ shouted Edmund, pointing.
Without hesitating, he charged through the gate and was off running and stumbling through the snow towards his friend. The mood changed, and tensions increased a notch as the other wolf alighted from his hiding place and bounded after his brother. Swiftly, Max’s hand flew to his belt, ready to grasp his holstered handgun. He couldn’t afford any more mistakes.
‘Be careful, Edmund! The other wolf!’ he warned, watching the scene unfold.
His mom had picked up the urgency in the chief ranger’s voice.
‘Yes, look out! Over there!’ she called in alarm, pointing wildly at the two wolves making their way towards her son.
‘Son! Come back!’ shouted his dad.
But there wasn’t a shadow of doubt in Edmund’s mind that he was safe. Dropping to his knees in time for his friend to run straight into his outstretched arms, the weight of the wolf almos
t knocked him over.
It was in those frenetic, crazy seconds that Edmund took in the size and sheer strength of his wolf; not fully grown yet, but he definitely wasn’t helpless anymore. There was no mistaking it, GoldenEars was beautiful, majestic even. He hugged him close, hardly able to believe that he was actually holding his wolf after all this time.
‘I’m so glad you’re all right! Oh, how I’ve missed you!’ he gasped, as GoldenEars jumped and twisted around him, stealing licks on his face and nipping playfully at his fingers in his enthusiasm to greet him.
In wonder, he noticed that the shorter hairs on his face had changed to a lighter creamy buff, and his pale body seemed to glow with an abundance of rich brown and grey flecks peppered throughout the strands. Around his neck the fur grew thick and luxuriant, framing his face and giving him a gentle appearance. And the fine golden hairs on the tips of each ear were longer and fluttered wildly as he moved.
He was too big to pick up, so Edmund just knelt there enjoying the experience. Kegg whimpered excitedly, still trying to lick his face, while Edmund continued half-heartedly to push the young wolf away. In Kegg’s persistence, he playfully pushed him onto his back. The pair frolicked in the snow, Edmund laughing while Kegg leapt around him, yelping with excitement.
The game intensified as Tuke joined his brother, and Edmund suddenly had his hands full, playing with two nearly fully-grown wolves.
After the initial scare, the three spectators relaxed slightly, enjoying the scene; it was as though the boy had never left them.
At last Edmund managed to scramble to his feet and retreated, dashing through the gate and shutting it firmly behind him. He stood there puffing from the exertion.