The Dreamer

by Joy Redmond

  “Why not? Is it because you can talk to humans and they can’t?”

  “No, it’s because I have goofy hooves and I can’t run as fast as they can.”

  I looked at Baby Deer’s hooves and saw that his front ones turned inward. “Well, the other deer are stupid. Actually, I think goofy hooves are cute. They make you different and that makes you special.” I eyed the sideways hooves.

  “You think they’re cute?” he asked, eying me curiously. “And you think they make me special?”

  “Absolutely,” I said. “And I’ll tell you something else. When I was in kindergarten, some of the kids teased me because I have red hair and freckles, but Nana told me that my hair and freckles are what make me special—and I should be proud of how God made me.”

  “Oh, I think your hair is beautiful. I don’t know colors, but if it’s red, that’s my favorite color. What are freckles?”

  I pointed at the tiny brown specks across my nose and on my cheeks. “These things,” I said.

  “Well!” Baby Deer said excitedly. “Then I’ve got freckles, too. But we call them spots.”

  “That’s right!” I exclaimed. “I’m white with brown spots and you’re brown with white spots. You have deer freckles!”

  We laughed, and then Baby Deer said, “Julia, I like your freckles.”

  “And I like yours,” I said. “I have something else that’s different from other humans, too.” I raised my right pant leg and pointed at my knee. “See this big brown mark? Nana says that the day the angel brought me to my mama and daddy, she kissed me there to wish me a happy life and to say goodbye before she went back to heaven. Most people call it a birthmark.”

  “An angel kiss,” Baby Deer repeated. “You must be very special if an angel kissed you.”

  “That’s what my Nana says.”

  “Julia,” Nana called. “Are you about ready to go? I’m getting tired and I want to go back to the house.”

  “No Nana, please,” Baby Deer said. “We haven’t played any people games yet. Couldn’t Julia play just a little longer?”

  “Well, I can’t argue with that sweet voice,” said Nana. “Okay, you can play for another hour or so. I’ll come back and get you. But you have to promise that you’ll stay by the edge of the woods so I can find you. Don’t go deep into the woods. Promise?”

  “I promise Nana. Thanks.” I was so happy I thought I might need some of the smelling salts Nana was always talking about even though I’d never seen her smell salts of any kind.

  “Bye, Julia. Bye, Baby Deer,” Nana said as she picked up her wildflowers and turned to leave.

  “Bye, Nana,” we both said.

  “Do you want to run across the big pasture?” I asked.

  “Oh, no. I can’t. I must stay hidden in the woods. If I go out into the pasture, a hunter might shoot me. Deer have to be very careful, you know.”

  I felt hot tears welling as I said, “Surely no hunter would shoot a baby deer like you.”

  “It’s happened before,” Baby Deer said. “Mama and Papa warn me to stay in the woods and hide behind trees. When I saw you and Nana, I knew in my heart you weren’t hunters and I knew I was safe. I sure get lonesome. I’m glad you came along,” he said as he rubbed his head up and down my arm.

  “I don’t think a hunter would shoot you if I were running beside you. Hunters don’t shoot people. It’ll be okay. I’ll race you across the pasture.”

  Baby Deer began to run in circles.

  “What are you doing? We have to run in a straight line for a race.”

  “I know that,” Baby Deer said. “I’m warming up, silly.”

  “Okay,” I said. “When you’re ready, stand beside me. Then I’ll say on your mark, get set, go! Got it?”

  “Got it!”

  “On your mark. Get set. Go!” I yelled.

  We took off, and though I ran with all the speed I had, Baby Deer was half way to the other side of the pasture before I could run twenty feet.

  He stopped, looked back and yelled, “Come on slow-poke.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest and protruded my bottom lip. “That’s not fair. You’ve got four legs and I only have two.”

  Baby Deer trotted to my side saying, “I’m sorry, but I never get to run with other deer because of my goofy hooves. I guess I was so happy that I wasn’t thinking. I’ll give you a head start.”

  “Never mind,” I said. “I can’t run as fast as a deer—even one with goofy hooves.”

  “How about if we bury each other in a big pile of leaves?” Baby Deer suggested.

  “Okay. Is that a deer game?” I asked.

  “It’s fun—that’s all I know,” replied Baby Deer. “Come on, you’ll like it.”

  We walked to the edge of the woods. Baby Deer began scooping leaves with his nose until he had a pile. I used my hands, and in a few minutes, we’d made two nice piles.

  “What now?” I asked.

  Baby Deer stood in the middle of his pile and turned in circles until he could see the ground. Then he dropped onto his belly and reached with his legs, raking the leaves toward him until he was covered.

  “Now you do what I did,” he yelled.

  I turned in circles and made a hold in the middle of my pile. Then I dropped onto my belly and began raking leaves over me with my arms. “This is fun,” I said. “How far do you live from here?”

  When Baby Deer didn’t answer, I peeked out of my leaf pile. I was about to ask again when I heard a snore. “A talking, snoring deer,” I said with a giggle. Then I rolled onto my back.

  “Julia Raye!” Nana yelled.

  “Oh, no. The two-name call. I’m in big trouble.” I jumped up, sending leaves flying into the air.

  “Aaahhh,” Baby Deer cried as he woke up. “You scared me again.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “But Nana is here to get me.” I wondered why Nana had come back so soon. “Gee, the leaves did make a comfortable bed,” I said, realizing I had dozed, too. “I have to go now.”

  “Will you come back and play with me again?” Baby Deer asked.

  “You bet I will. I visit Nana and Pawpaw every Saturday. I’ll be back to see you next Saturday,” I said, kissing him on the nose.

  “Bye, Julia, little girl,” he said with a giggle.

  “Bye, Baby Deer, little buck,” I said with a giggle.

  “See you next Saturday,” we both said.

  BUILDING A BRIDGE

  I rolled my head on my arms, thoughts of Mama and Daddy running through my mind, and I felt as if I needed to tell my parents something, but I wasn’t sure what. I blinked several times, but my eyes didn’t want to stay open. I drifted into dreamland, again. A week had passed.

  ***

  I paced my room. It was raining and I was in a sad mood. I figured Nana was empting many buckets of rainwater, and I hoped she could find her umbrella when she used the commode.

  I creased my brow and fantasized about how wonderful it would be if I could win the lottery. Then I’d buy Nana a beautiful house.

  It was Saturday and I hurried into the kitchen. Daddy always cooked Saturday breakfast so Mama could sleep-in. I ate my sunny-side-up eggs and biscuits smothered in milk gravy as fast as I could scoop it into my mouth.

  As soon as I drank my glass of milk, I said, “I’m done with breakfast, Daddy. Will you drive me to Nana’s?”

  “You sure are in a hurry this morning,” Daddy said, eying my empty plate. “Get dressed. I’ll take you.”

  It was the fasted I had ever brushed my teeth and gotten dressed. I grabbed my orange sweater. I knew hunters wore orange, and I also knew that even though hunters weren’t supposed to hunt this time of year, some did. Nana called them poachers. I wanted to look like a hunter, in case one got close enough to see Baby Deer.

  I ran upstairs, kissed Mama, and said, “Bye. I’m off to Nana’s.” I didn’t give Mama a chance to say anything. I bounded the stairs two at a time on my way down, calling, “Come on Daddy.”


  Daddy was standing at the door, trying to get my dogs, Maggie and Kota, to go outside to play in the yard. I ran past them and the dogs followed. I hurried to the car. Daddy seemed to be taking his time, which made me want to scream. He finally slid behind the wheel and started the car.

  I fidgeted all the way to the country.

  When he finally pulled into the driveway, I saw Pawpaw was outside, feeding his two dogs, Sugar and Cinnamon.

  I jumped from the car, calling, “Hi Pawpaw,” waving as I hurried into the trailer.

  “Nana, Where are you?” I yelled as I entered the kitchen.

  “I’m in the bedroom, sweetie. I’m trying to get the sheets changed.”

  I ran down the hallway, tripped on my untied shoestrings, and almost fell into the wall. “Nana you can change the sheets later. We have to go see Baby Deer,” I said. I was out of breath and my throat was as dry as a cotton ball.

  “Honey, we can’t get across the creek. It rained all week and the water is up past our heads. I can’t swim, and even if I could, the water is still too cold. We won’t be able to go see Baby Deer. I’m sorry, honey.”

  I cried, “I’ve got to see Baby Deer. I’ve got to!”

  “Well, all that crying and taking on won’t change the situation,” Nana said, kissing my cheek. “We’ll bake chocolate chip cookies and you can help me in the flower garden. You know you love to play in the dirt.” She wrapped her arms around me, pulled me close, and stroked my hair.

  “Pawpaw will figure out a way to get across the creek,” I said as Nana wiped away my tears with her apron.

  Just then I heard the back door slam, so I ran down the hallway yelling, “Pawpaw, you’ve got to get me across the creek so I can go see Baby Deer.”

  “A baby deer?” Pawpaw said, looking at me as if I had lost my mind.

  “I found a baby deer last Saturday and I want to go to the woods across the creek and see if I can find him again,” I said as if my life depended on it.

  Just then, Nana walked into the utility room and put her arms around my shoulder and said, “Pawpaw, it is very important to this child to find that baby deer. You’ve got to think of something.”

  “Well, sugarfoot,” he said in a tone that let me know he didn’t want to be bothered. “How am I supposed to figure out a way to get across the creek? You know the baby deer is not anywhere to be found after a week.”

  I knew he hoped I’d drop the matter, but my eyes told him I wasn’t going to, so he added, “But I guess I can take some timber I’ve got in the barn and build some sort of bridge across the creek.”

  My heart was thumping against my ribcage—until he said, “It’ll take me a long time, and then I’ll have to have somebody help me load it on the old flat bed and then unload it down by the creek.”

  My heart sank to my knees.

  “Nana, couldn’t we at least walk to the creek and—?” I didn’t want to finish my sentence in front of Pawpaw, so I took Nana’s hand and pulled her into the kitchen, even though the kitchen and living room were really just one room, divided by an old sofa.

  We stood by the table and I whispered, “If we walk to the creek, I could at least yell to Baby Deer so he’d know I came back. I could tell him that I love him and miss him. We could yell back and forth. Please, Nana.”

  “Yes, honey, she said softly. “I’ll walk with you. Then we’ll see if Baby Deer can hear us.”

  “You didn’t tell Pawpaw about a talking deer, did you?”

  “No, child. He thinks I’m bonkers as it is. I think we’ll just keep this our secret for the time being.”

  We looked out the kitchen window and saw Pawpaw disappear into the barn.

  Nana slipped on a jacket. “We have to put rubber boots on, honey. It’s pure mud out there.”

  I didn’t argue. I was in my boots faster than Pawpaw could skin a rabbit. We left the house and made the trek to the creek in record time.

  I stood as close to the water’s edge as I could and yelled, “Baby Deer, I’m back.”

  I didn’t get an answer.

  “Baby Deer,” I yelled louder, praying no hunter had found my new best friend.

  Then I heard a call, “Hi Julia.” I turned to my left to see Baby Deer hurrying along the opposite side of the creek. “Are you going to teach me some people games?” he asked, wagging his short little tail.

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t get across the creek because the water is too deep. Pawpaw is going to build a bridge, but it might take him all day. I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “Honey, Pawpaw won’t have that bridge ready for a long time,” said Nana. “I’m afraid you won’t get to play with Baby Deer today. It’ll probably be next Saturday before you can use the bridge.”

  Tears filled my eyes. “I won’t be able to come play with you until next Saturday,” I said.

  Baby Deer was standing by the water’s edge, and I thought I saw a tear run down his cheek.

  Baby Deer said, “Okay, I understand. I’ll be waiting for you. Bye, Julia.”

  “Bye, Baby Deer.”

  THE SURPRISE

  The rest of the day Nana and I baked cookies, pulled weeds, and repotted plants, but my heart ached for Baby Deer. We finally went inside so Nana could take a break and drink a glass of lemonade.

  “Nana, can I spend the night with you?”

  “It’s okay with me, but you need to call your mama and ask her.”

  I leaped out of the recliner and pushed the numbers on the phone as fast as my fingers would move. Mama answered on the third ring, and I went into my tale of woe, though I didn’t tell her about finding a talking baby deer, because I figured she’d accuse me of lying. I just said I found a baby deer and I wanted to be close to the woods so I could see him, and maybe make him a pet.

  “You can spend the night,” Mama said, “I’ll pick you up early in the morning so we can go to church.”

  ***

  I jolted awake. Nana was calling me.

  “Julia, you’ve been on the computer long enough. Come in the kitchen and help me fix lunch,” Nana yelled.

  I snapped to attention. “Dang, I wish I could have finished that dream. Wow, I’d be the happiest nine-year-old in the world if I found a taking deer.” Maybe it would happen at midnight on January 6th, I thought. “I’m coming Nana,” I yelled, slowly making my way toward the kitchen.

  In the kitchen, I pulled up a stool next to Nana, ready to help make tuna fish salad. “Nana, do you remember when I was little and I called this stuff guna fish?”

  “I sure do, sweetie,” she said with a smile. “A nana never forgets the cute things her grandchildren say, and a mother never forgets the cute things her children say and do. There are some days when I wish I had my three babies back at home with me.”

  As I peeled a hardboiled egg I asked, “You’ve got a lot of grandchildren, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do. I have six grandchildren and you’re the baby. When you outgrow me, I don’t know what I’ll do. I wish you could stay a little girl for the rest of my life,” she said, dabbing at her eyes.

  After we had finished making the tuna salad I said, “I think I’ll go to back to my room. If you need me, just call.”

  “I sure will,” she replied.

  I returned to the tiny room where I had a twin rollaway. I stretched out on the bed, closed my eyes, and hoped I’d meet Baby Deer again in dreamland. Visions of a wooden bridge flashed before my eyes as I drifted off.

  ***

  I was sitting by the kitchen table when Pawpaw came inside. He said, “I’m worn out, but I’m making headway with the bridge.” He headed for the sink to wash his hands before coming to the table.

  We gathered around the table. I said the blessing, and we all said, “Amen.”

  “Oh, fiddle-sticks,” Nana said. “I forgot the chips.”

  I jumped up from my chair, hurried for the pantry, and grabbed two bags of chips. I was anxious to hear how much headway Pawpaw had made and how m
uch longer it would be before he finished the bridge.

  When I got back to the table, he said, “It’ll be another week before I’ll have it finished.”

  I wondered how I could hold out for another whole week.

  After dinner, Pawpaw went back outside to work in the vegetable garden for an hour or so. By eight o’clock, he was in bed. He always said he went to bed with the chickens and got up when the rooster crowed, and he wasn’t joking.

  On the other hand, Nana had always been a night owl, so after Pawpaw went to bed, she and I went outside and sat on the front porch swing. Some of my favorite memories were of Nana singing to me as we sat next to each other on that old swing on silky summer nights.

  A short time later the hungry mosquitoes drove us back inside. We decided to play a game of Sorry. Moonlight was streaming through the living room windows and it looked as if it were still daylight.

  I drew a card that allowed me to make twelve jumps and I had made three of them when we heard a loud banging on the front door.

  “Well, who in blue-blazes could be at the door this time of night?” Nana said, pushing her chair back. She peered out the window and said, “I don’t see a car.”

  When the banging started again, Nana said, “I wonder if those silly dogs got out of the pen. They’re so hyper, they should have been monkeys.” She opened the door slowly, then said, “Julia I think you might want to come here for a second.”

  “What is it, Nana?” I said, walking to the door.

  On the porch stood Baby Deer, his nose pressed against the storm door, his front hoof ready to bang again.

  I almost knocked Nana down as I flung the door wide open. “Baby Deer!” I yelled. “Come inside.”

  Baby Deer smiled and slowly walked through the open door, his wet fur dripping water onto the floor.

  Nana said, “Stand still, I’ll get a towel. You’re ruining my carpet.”

  I knelt and pulled Baby Deer to me, not caring if my clothes got wet.

  Nana returned with a beach towel and began rubbing Baby Deer so vigorously that I was afraid she was going to rub off his spots.