by Joy Redmond
“Can he sleep in the house with me? I’ll keep him warm,” I asked.
“No, Julia, he’ll get too hot in a house. He needs to be in a building outside, lying on straw with a light blanket. Make sure he drinks plenty of water. Dr. Tegethoff wants to see him in one week, so be sure to bring him in next Friday morning by nine o’clock.”
“We’ll take good care of him,” I said, holding Nana’s hand as we headed to the car.
Dr. Tegethoff was placing Baby Deer in the back seat went we walked outside. “I picked blue for his cast,” he said. “I thought you’d like a bright color instead of dull white. What do you think, Julia?”
“Yeah, I mean, yes sir. I like them. After all, blue is for boys and I think they’re pretty. Is he going to hurt very much?”
“That’s something we never know for sure. We can’t ask them and they can’t tell us. But if he squirms a lot, that’s a pretty good sign that he might me hurting,” answered Dr. Tegethoff.
“Okay, I’ll watch for squirming,” I said. But I was thinking if he knew Baby Deer could tell me, he’d faint on the spot.
Baby Deer slept all the way home. Pawpaw carried him to the barn and placed him on the pile of straw. Mama and Papa Deer lay beside him and licked him lovingly.
Mama Deer’s voice was almost hysterical as she asked, “Why doesn’t he wake up?”
“He’s still a little sleepy from the medicine the doctor gave him,” Nana answered. “Nudge him a few times and call his name. He’ll rouse for a few minutes.”
“Baby Deer, Baby Deer,” Mama Deer repeated as she nudged him softly with her nose.
Baby Deer fluttered his eyes, looked up sleepily, and said, “Mama, how did you get to the doctor’s office?”
“You’re in the barn,” she answered, licking his face.
“I am?” Baby Deer said, looking around. “But I’ve got to go get my hooves fixed.”
I petted his head gently and said, “You did get your hooves fixed. It’s all over, and now you’re back in your barn home with Mama and Papa Deer. Do you hurt?”
“No. I don’t think so. I’ve never hurt before. What does hurt feel like?”
“You’ll know if you start hurting, trust me,” I answered.
“I’m thirsty and hungry though,” he said, looking at Nana. “Can I have some pancakes?”
“I don’t think you should try food just yet,” said Nana. “But I have to get your pills down you and you need water. I’m going to the house and get my turkey baster. I’ll fill it with water so you can swallow your pills. They’ll stop an infection and keep your fever down.”
“What’s infection and fever?” Mama Deer asked, fear in her eyes.
Nana scratched her head. “I don’t know how to explain because they are people problems, but he had a people operation so—” Nana paused. “Infection is a bad germ that can get into his bloodstream and he won’t get well. Fever is when the body heat gets too high—but taking the pills will help him get well faster.”
“Okay,” said Mama Deer. “I don’t understand germs and fever, but I trust you, Nana. Baby Deer just had a people fixing, so we’ll do whatever you say—but what are those things on his hooves?”
“They’re called cast,” I said. “They’ll hold his hooves in place until they grow straight. Do you like the color blue?”
“I don’t know colors, but they are pretty,” Mama Deer replied. “I like the color blue.”
Papa Deer snorted. “Colors are all the same to me.”
Baby Deer closed his eyes and fell back to sleep.
“I want to stay with him, Nana. I’ve got on my heavy coat, and I’ll be warm,” I said.
“I already knew I wouldn’t be able to pry you away from him,” Nana said. “I’ll bring you something to eat, but don’t be feeding Baby Deer. He can’t stand and drink from the trough, but you can use the turkey baster and keep plenty of water down him. And I’ll bring a light weight blanket.”
“Nana, the lady at Dr. Tegethoffs office said not to get him too hot. His mama and papa are close beside him. Won’t they keep him warm enough?” I asked.
“Julia, sometimes you’re so smart, you scare me. Of course their body heat will keep him warm, but not too hot. I should have thought of that myself.”
“I better eat in the house, Nana. If he wakes up and smells my food, he’ll want a bite. I’ll wait for you to bring the baster, then I’ll help you get the pills down him,” I said.
“Right again. Why didn’t I think of that, too?” Nana said, turning to leave.
A few minutes later, Nana returned with the pills and baster and roused Baby Deer long enough to get the pills down him. He swallowed as if he had been taking pills all his life. He drank water as fast as I could refill the baster. Then he fell asleep, and I went into the house with Nana.
I wolfed down a grilled cheese sandwich and potato chips, then grabbed a blanket to cover Baby Deer if Mama and Papa Deer needed to get up for a stretch or to eat and drink.
Nana brought Mama and Papa Deer a bucket of fresh green beans and carrots. “They need to eat raw food. It’s better for them. I just about bought out the produce section yesterday at Food Giant. I think the check-out lady thought I had lost my mind,” Nana said, and laughed.
Nana let me stay in the barn with the Deer family until dark. Then we gave Baby Deer his pills and Nana said he could eat a little, as long as he ate slowly. I hand fed him green beans, but he didn’t want carrots. I made sure he had plenty of water, then kissed him bye. “I’ll be back before I go to bed.”
Nana, Pawpaw and I sat at the table and ate supper. I ate fried chicken even though I had sworn off meat. My taste buds couldn’t resist.
“Nana, today is Halloween. Can I decorate a pumpkin with a black marker and take it to Baby Deer? I won’t cut it and make a mess. I’ll just draw eyes, a nose, and a mouth on it, and make it look like it has hair.”
“You can decorate as many as you want,” she said. “Pawpaw brought in a bunch of them. In fact, we’ll cut open a few because I think the Deer would like the seeds. It’ll be their first Halloween,” Nana said.
“Oh, Nana, you’re the greatest,” I said, hugging her tightly, my mind spinning faster than a hamster’s wheel. “Next month will be their first Thanksgiving and December will be their first Christmas. I can’t wait for the holidays!”
“By the time Thanksgiving and Christmas are over the Deer family will think they’re people sure enough,” Nana said.
“That’s what I’ve go in mind,” I said.
SAVING BABY DEER
I flipped the switch on the carport and the barn lit up. Then I carried my decorated pumpkin to the barn. Baby Deer was awake and I set the pumpkin in front of him.
“Aaahhh!” he screamed. “What is that thing?”
“It won’t hurt you,” I said. “It’s just a pumpkin that I drew a face on. It’s called a jack-o-lantern. I thought you’d like it,” I said, crossing my arms across my chest.
“I like it. You don’t have to get mad. It just scared me because I thought it was a people head. It sure looks real,” Baby Deer said.
Papa Deer nudged the pumpkin with his nose and snorted. “It’s an ugly people head.”
Mama Deer nudged Papa Deer with her nose. “I don’t think it’s ugly, Julia. I think you did a good job decorating it,” she said, and gave Papa Deer a stern look.
“Thank you,” I replied. “It’s time to take your pills, Baby Deer. Do you hurt?”
“No. I feel fine, but I don’t like the cast. They make my hooves heavy. How am I supposed to walk with these stupid things on?”
“You’re not supposed to walk in them,” I said. “You have to stay on your straw bed and not walk around for awhile. I’ll hand feed you and give you water with the baster. I know you don’t like all this, but it’ll be worth it,” I said, but I wondered if he had gone through a terrible ordeal that wasn’t going to work.
Nana came into the barn and said, “How is everybody
doing out here? Do you need help getting his pills down him, Julia?”
“I think I can do it,” I said. I filled the baster with water, then shook an antibiotic into my hand. “Okay, Baby Deer, open wide.”
As he opened his mouth, I pushed the pill toward the back of his throat and emptied the baster into his mouth.
“I got that one down. Is that all?” he asked.
Nana patted his head. “You say you don’t have any pain, so I don’t see any need in giving you Tylenol.” She felt his head and nose. “You don’t feel feverish, either. I don’t believe in taking pills unless they’re necessary. I’ll set my alarm clock and I’ll come out to check on you—about one o’clock,” she said, looking at her watch. “I’ll give you the infection pill, and if you’re hurting or have fever, I’ll give you the Tylenol.”
Nana and I waited as Mama and Papa Deer nestled on either side of Baby Deer. I hugged them, and kissed Baby Deer on the nose.
“Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the straw-bedbugs bite,” I said and laughed.
“Straw-bedbugs!” Baby Deer yelled, and wiggled his body as if bugs were crawling up his legs.
I laughed and explained that it was just an old saying. Mama and Papa Deer laughed, too. They were getting used to my silly sayings, which I learned from Nana. Just before I left, I glanced back at Baby Deer. He was already asleep.
I went to bed as soon as I got back to the trailer. It had been a long day, and I feel asleep before I finished my prayers.
I woke up to the feeling of somebody shaking me. I sat up and looked around. My night light was bright enough for me to see around the room, but there was nobody there. I glanced at the clock. It was midnight. I lay my head on the pillow, but I couldn’t go back to sleep. I had a strong feeling— the kind of feeling Nana always said she felt when the angels were talking—and the angels were telling me to check on Baby Deer.
I got out of bed, slipped on my housecoat, my house shoes, and tiptoed down the hallway. I picked up the flashlight in the utility room because I didn’t want to switch on the barn light and startle the Deer family.
I heard Baby Deer coughing and gagging as soon as I entered the barn. I ran to the stall, propped the flashlight on the wall, and hurried to Baby Deer’s side. I watched in horror as white foam spilled from his mouth. Mama and Papa Deer were licking him.
“Oh, snap!” I looked at Mama and Papa Deer. “Don’t worry. I’ll get Nana and I’ll be right back.”
I snatched the flashlight, ran to the house, burst through the back door, then raced down the hallway and into Nana’s bedroom. “Nana, wake up,” I cried as I shook her frantically.
Nana jumped. “What is it, child. What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Baby Deer is coughing and he’s foaming at the mouth. I think he is dying,” I cried. “Please, come quick!”
Nana put on her housecoat and slippers. Then we hurried down the hall and out the back door. She flipped on the light switch to the barn and we hurried across the back yard.
As she rounded the corner of the stall, she saw Baby Deer, and her breath caught in her throat. “Confound it. This is my fault. I should have given him the Tylenol.”
I handed the pill bottle to Nana, then filled the baster with water. “Can you get them down his throat with all that foam coming out?” I asked.
“I’m going to try,” Nana said.
My hands were shaking so hard I could hardly fill the baster.
Nana shook two Tylenol into her hand, opened Baby Deer’s mouth, and pushed the pills toward the back of his throat. I handed her the baster. She squeezed the water into his mouth and stroked his throat.
“Good, he got them down,” she said. “Now give me the infection pill and I’ll get it down him, too. It’s a little bit early, but I think it’ll be okay.”
“What’s wrong with his throat? What’s that white stuff coming out of his mouth? Why is he coughing so hard?” I asked, wringing my hands with fear and concern.
“I think his throat is sore because Dr. Tegethoff had to put tubes down his throat so he could give him the stuff to put him to sleep. He might have congestion in his lungs from the sleep medicine, too. The foam is a deer’s natural medicine,” Nana explained.
I bowed my head. “Dear Lord, please don’t let Baby Deer die. I’ll die, too!” I cried.
“I’ll be right back,” Nana said, and hurried toward the trailer.
Mama Deer licked my arm. “I heard you talking to our Creator. Thank you. I talked to Him, too. But sometimes it’s nature’s way—”
I didn’t let her finish the sentence. “Nature’s way is not going to win this time. Nana knows ways to beat nature,” I cried. “And as far as I’m concerned, nature’s way stinks!”
A few minutes later, Nana returned carrying several things in her arms. First, she rubbed Baby Deer’s throat with Vicks and then she pinned a cotton dishtowel around his neck. Next, she rubbed Vicks on his hind hooves and slipped on a pair of Pawpaw’s big cotton socks.
“Hand me the baster,” she said as she opened a Mason jar. “I made a vinegar and honey toddy. This should help him get better.”
Nana had her own remedies for many ailments, and they had always worked when I was sick. We sat watching Baby Deer for the next hour. We were so relieved when he stopped coughing, the foam stopped oozing from his mouth, and he was breathing easier.
“Come on, sweetheart,” Nana said. “He’s resting now. We can get some sleep, too.” She stroked Mama Deer’s head. “I know you’re scared for your baby, but I think he’ll be okay. If he wakes up and starts coughing or foaming again, please run to the house, kick on the back door, and I’ll hear you.”
I looked at Mama Deer, and said, “We’ll save Baby Deer. Don’t worry.”
Mama and Papa Deer were lying close to Baby Deer as Nana put her arm around me and led me out of the barn. I looked into Nana’s eyes and said, “You can be honest with me. Do you think Baby Deer is going to die?” I asked, and tears ran down my face.
“Nobody is going to die on my watch,” Nana said. “Let’s go to bed. Baby Deer is in the hands of our Creator, and those are the best hands.”
We walked inside the trailer and headed down the hall. “What a day!” I sighed, then headed for my bedroom. I was asleep by the time my head hit the pillow.
When I opened my eyes again, it was eight o’clock the next morning. I jumped up and raced into the kitchen.
“Nana!” I cried. “Have you checked on Baby Deer this morning?”
Nana startled and dropped her coffee cup, spilling coffee in her lap. “Mercy, child! You almost caused me to jump out of my skin,” she said, and laughed.
“How can you laugh? How can you just sit there drinking coffee? Nobody checked on Baby Deer the rest of the night. He might be dead!” I wailed.
“Calm down, Julia,” she said. “Pawpaw checked on him early this morning. He’s sleeping and breathing just fine. I was about to go out and give him his dose of medicine. I’ve also made up another jar of vinegar and honey. Go put on your housecoat and shoes.”
I hurried back to my bedroom, slipped on my housecoat and put on my shoes without socks.
We headed for the barn. I raced ahead of Nana. I held my heart and blinked several times when I reached the stall. Baby Deer was sitting on his haunches, eying his cast, and laughing. “I look like a boxer,” he said.
I knelt beside him. “You’re okay! You sure gave us a scare last night, but Nana and I saved you.”
“You, Nana and the Creator,” Mama Deer said softly.
“Right,” I said. “I think the Creator had the hardest part in His hands.”
“I feel great,” Baby Deer said, trying to stand up. “I want to walk.” He took a step, lost his balance, and fell back onto the pile of straw. He laughed as if it were the funniest thing he’d ever done. We all laughed with him.
It was also a funny sight seeing him with a dishtowel around his neck, socks on his hind hooves and blue cast on his fro
nt hooves.
“Well, crimanitley,” Nana said. “For a deer who was on his death bed last night, you’re sure being a comedian this morning. But I don’t think you need to stand on your hooves just yet. We want them to heal correctly.”
Nana stroked Baby Deer, patted Mama Deer, then looked around the stall. “Where’s Papa Deer?”
“He went outside so he could run in the woods,” said Mama Deer. He doesn’t like to be cooped up. You know how bucks are.”
“I suppose bucks are a lot like men people,” Nana said with a wink. “There are a lot of things they can’t handle, but we female people and female deer do okay, don’t we?”
As Mama Deer nodded in agreement, I knelt between Mama and Baby deer and hugged their necks.
Nana said, “I want a picture of this. Baby Deer, hold your front hooves in the air again. Get real close, Julia.” Nana patted her pockets. “What did I do with the camera?”
“You set it beside the jar of vinegar and honey toddy,” I said, pointing to the ground.
“Oh, yeah, there it is,” Nana said, picking up the camera. “Get close and smile.” Baby Deer held his casted hoofs in the air, and Nana snapped.
Mama Deer’s eyes were big as saucers when I held the camera so she could see the picture. “Is that what I look like?” she asked. She shifted her eyes as if she thought her image might jump out at her.
“That’s what you look like,” I said. “You’re beautiful.”
“I’ve seen my reflection in the creek water, but I didn’t look like the picture. I am kind of pretty,” she said, then lowered her head as if she were embarrassed.
“Julia, you get Baby Deer’s pills and toddy down him while I make some pancakes. I think Baby Deer can have some this morning. Mama Deer do you want pancakes?”
“I’ve never tasted them, but Baby Deer seems to like them, so I’ll try some,” she replied.
“Do you think Papa Deer would like some?” Nana asked.
“No, he’ll eat in the woods, so he’ll be full,” Mama Deer answered.
I rubbed Baby Deer’s back and said, “I have to go home this afternoon. Tomorrow is Sunday and I go to church, then I eat dinner with MeMe and Granddaddy. MeMe is the best cook in the world.”