by Joy Redmond
“I think so, too,” said New Papa Deer.
I glanced at the fawns again. “What are their names? Are they twins? Do you live in Deer Village?” I asked excitedly.
“Whoa, slow down,” New Papa Deer said with a chuckle. “Dora Doe and I call them Baby Deer.”
“You can’t call them both Baby Deer,” I explained. “They won’t know which one you’re talking to. They each have to have their own name. Are they bucks or does?”
New Papa Deer said. “I’ll leave it up to you to name them since, I don’t know names. He nudged one of the fawns with his nose. “This one is a doe,” he said, and nudged the other one. “This one is a buck.”
“Great doodleberries,” I exclaimed. “A buck and a doe. Okay, I’ll think up a boy’s name and a girl’s name that rhyme” I thought for a few minutes, then snapped my fingers and said excitedly, “I’ve got it. We’ll call the buck John and we’ll call the doe Jane. The buck’s full name is John Deer, and the doe’s full name is Jane Doe Deer, but we’ll just call her Jane Doe.”
“John Deer and Jane Doe sound like perfect names,” came a familiar voice from the shadows. Then Mama and Papa Deer stepped into the clearing.
“Am I seeing Deer ghost?” I cried.
“I’m not a ghost, yet. I’m Old Papa Deer and here—” He glanced behind him. “Where did that old doe go?” he asked, reminding me of Nana.
“I’m right here, you old blind buck,” she said, nudging Old Papa Deer. “It sure is good to see you again, Miss Julia,” she said with a smile. “Now my name is Old Mama Deer.”
“I can’t believe it!” I said, barely able to catch my breath.
Old Mama Deer nuzzled my arm and said, “We’ve come a long way, and we have a lot to tell you.”
“Please do,” I said, sitting on the ground.
Mama Deer began her story, “Hunters raided Deer Village, and Old Papa Deer and I had to run for our lives. We ran across two waterways, many pastures, and deep into another woods.”
“Poachers!” I said.
Old Mama Deer continued. “We didn’t know we had run into the part of the woods where our Man Deer lived. We were there for a spell before he found us. Old Papa Deer was asleep under a tree when Man Deer saw him,” she said.
“Then what?” I yelled.
“Then Old Papa Deer and Man Deer found me asleep under another tree. Man Deer took us to where he lived, and we met his doe. He told us you named her Dora, and we love the name.”
“Thank you. Then what?” I asked.
“After our reunion, we decided we’d come back to Deer Village and see if we could start again. So we began the long walk, and Dora Doe lagged and we thought she wasn’t going to follow us all the way. But as you can see, she did. Soon after we arrived, the new ones came. They were born in Deer Village.”
“This is all so wonderful,” I said. “To tell the truth, I didn’t think I would ever see any of you again. Now here you are with twins added to the family. They are so precious.”
“We’re proud of them,” Old Mama Deer said.
“Would all of you huddle together and let me get a picture?”
After I snapped the picture, I looked at Old Mama Deer and asked, “Now that you’re all back, you won’t ever disappear and leave me again, will you? Please promise you won’t.”
“No, we won’t leave again, Julia,” New Papa Deer said. “This time we’re in Deer Village to stay.”
Old Papa Deer chuckled and said, “After all, we wouldn’t want to miss the next barn Christmas. I’m looking forward to some more of Pawpaw’s giggle juice.”
“I get to enjoy some giggle juice this year, too,” New Papa Deer said.
“That’s true,” I said. “I’ll make sure Pawpaw gives each of you two big glasses of giggle juice this time. I know deer don’t do months, but it’s only two months away, which isn’t long.” I had to take a few deep breaths before I could continue.
“I’ll bet Nana will want to knit John Deer and Jane Doe sweaters, and she’ll think of something nice for all of you, I’m sure.”
“I’m not letting Nana put bells on my antlers this year, and you can tell her so,” Old Papa Deer said with a snort.
“Nana can hang bells on my antlers,” New Papa Deer said. “And I won’t be grumpy like Old Papa was last time.”
We all laughed.
“Baby John Deer. Baby Jane Doe, would you like to play with me?” I asked.
New Papa Deer nodded, and the two fawns instantly sprang to their feet. We ran and kicked leaves, and then played hide-and-go seek until sunset.
I looked at my Princess watch and said, “It’s time for me to head for the house.” I hugged John and Jane. Then with tears in my eyes, I hugged New Papa Deer, and Jane Doe let me hug her. “I can’t wait to tell Nana and Pawpaw about all of you.”
“Say hello to them for us,” said Old Mama Deer.
I sure will,” I replied, hugging her neck. Then I hugged Old Papa Deer.
I stood for a few minutes just looking at them, my emotions getting the best of me. Then I managed to say, “Thank you for everything. You’ve made me very happy.”
“We thank you,” said New Papa Deer. “You’ve made us very happy, too.” He smiled, winked and said, “We’ll all see you next Saturday!”
SINKING IN MUD
I felt Nana stroking my hair. I fluttered my eyes and looked around. I was lying on my rollaway in Nana’s trailer.
“I feel asleep before you came home last night, Nana.”
“You were dead to the world when I came in to check on you, but you were mumbling as if you were having a good dream,” Nana said.
I looked up at her and groggily replied, “I think I slept for two years. I was eleven, almost twelve, when you woke me up.”
“Sorry, but you’re still nine, almost ten,” Nana said, laughing. “Dreams are strange aren’t they? I sure hope I don’t age in a dream. I’m old enough.”
“I had the most wonderful dream,” I said as I sat up. “I dreamed the Deer family came back and Baby Deer who’s called New Papa Deer now, and Dora Doe have twins, a buck and a doe. I named them John and Jane—and they could talk.”
“That sounds like a happy ending to me,” said Nana. “Nobody really understands dreams, honey. Most of the time they’re mixed-up, and some make no sense at all—but I’m glad you tell me about yours.”
“I know the part of the dream about finding Baby Deer was only a dream. But my heart tells me that some of it is the angels trying to tell me what’s going to happen for real.”
“Maybe so,” said Nana, slowly nodding her head. “Maybe you’re a Dreamer like me. I’ve been a Dreamer since I was about your age. I have premonitions in dreams and sometimes I’m wide-awake when I see them. You don’t have to be asleep to have premonitions. I’ve had plenty both ways, and some of them I could have done without.”
I hugged Nana. “Sometimes life can be hard, right?”
“Well, child, none of us get the life we want, but as we take life’s journey we have to—”
I smiled and finished the sentence, since I’d heard it all my life. “As we take life’s journey we have to think happy thoughts, love hard, laugh a lot, give our heartaches to God, and keep on trucking.”
“That’s absolutely right,” Nana said, ruffling my hair. “I hope you always remember that.”
“I will, Nana,” I said, hugging her.
“I hear Pawpaw honking the horn. He said he’d drive you to the creek. Come on before the old truck runs out of toot-juice,” Nana said as she got up from the bed.
“This’s how it all started!” I said as my eyes widened. “I was asleep and you called for me because Pawpaw was honking the horn.”
“Really? Well, you never know what dreams are trying to tell you. Mine have told me plenty. Get dressed and I’ll get my camera,” Nana said.
I quickly dressed, yelled for Nana to hurry, and ran outside.
“Come on, Sweet Pea. Let’s go find de
er,” Pawpaw said.
Before I made it to the old truck, a white pickup pulled into the driveway. I cupped my hand over my eyes to cut the glare of the sun and saw that it was Uncle Scott.
Nana came outside and I saw her eyes light up when she saw her son.
As Uncle Scott walked toward her, he said, “Close your eyes Mom, I have a surprise for you.”
Still shading my eyes, I saw the door to Uncle Scott’s white pickup open—and Cousin Brandon stepped out.
“OK, Mom, you can open your eyes now,” said Uncle Scott.
When she saw Brandon walking toward her, Nana put her hands to her face and tears began to flow. She seemed unable to speak or even move for a long minute, and then she ran toward Brandon and threw her arms around him. It had been two years since Nana had seen Brandon. He had been living in California, and he had told the family that he was never coming back to Kentucky. Nana had taken him at his word.
I did have a premonition, I thought, remembering Brandon had come to the barn Christmas, and Nana was so happy.
Pawpaw got out of the truck and hurried to join them. We all hugged and cried joyfully.
Pawpaw wiped his eyes. “Okay, Sweet Pea. Let’s go to the creek and let Nana enjoy her son and grandson,” he said, blowing his nose into an old red handkerchief he always carried in his back pocket. “This is one special day.”
“Yes, it is special,” I said, my heart filling with joy for Nana.
As we rumbled down the lane, my heart was thumping as I said, “I can’t wait to get to the creek. There’s a talking baby deer waiting for me.”
Pawpaw laughed and his belly shook like a bowl of Jell-O. “We might spot some deer, but I’m pretty sure you won’t find one that talks. It would be sweet if animals could speak, but not a chance.”
“Don’t rain on my parade, Pawpaw,” I said, scanning the passing scenery. “I had a dream about it, and I think it was a premonition. I’m a Dreamer, you know, just like Nana.
“Well, you’re a lot like her, that’s for sure. Your nana believes in premonitions, and I’ve known her long enough not to argue with her,” he said, his eyes on the dusty road.
When we reached the creek, Pawpaw turned off the motor and told me to keep my eyes peeled. He rested his head against the window. A few minutes later, he was snoring peacefully.
I opened the door and left it open so I wouldn’t wake Pawpaw when I shut it. Then I headed for the creek bank. The water didn’t look deep and Nana wasn’t there to tell me I couldn’t wade without boots, so I pulled of my tennis shoes and socks, eased down the steep bank, and slowly stepped into water almost to my thighs.
In my dream, it had been barely over the top of my feet. It was cold but I didn’t care. I was on a mission. I waded in and got stuck in the mud. There hadn’t been mud in my dream, but at that moment I was stuck and couldn’t move. I tried to use my hands to pull my legs free, but I lost my balance and fell.
I looked around and saw a large branch hanging down to my right. I stretched my arm toward the branch until my fingers finally wrapped around it. Then I pulled myself up with all my strength and I felt the mud begin to give way. I pulled myself hand over hand across the creek until I could feel small stones beneath my feet. The water was shallower, so I let go of the branch and waded the rest of the way.
After I had pulled myself up the opposite bank, I fell down on my back and caught my breath. I was glad Nana wasn’t there to scold me—and that Pawpaw was asleep in the truck.
After a few minutes, I stood up and looked around me. It was as beautiful as it had been in my dream. “Dang, I didn’t bring the camera,” I said.
I ran toward the woods at the edge of the pasture and saw a large oak tree that looked very much like the one in my dream, but as I ran around it, I found no baby deer. I paused for a minute, wondering if I should go deeper into the woods. Nana wasn’t there to stop me and Pawpaw was asleep, so I decided to do it.
I had only taken a few steps when I heard a rustling to my right. I looked in that direction and saw a tiny baby deer. However, unlike my dream the deer leaped up from a pile of leaves and ran away.
“Come back, Baby Deer,” I called, but the deer ran faster.
Then I heard the “doot-dooty-doot-doot” honking.
“Oh, man I’m in trouble now,” I mumbled. I ran back to the creek and saw Pawpaw standing on the opposite bank.
“I can’t get back across. I’ll get stuck in the mud again,” I said.
Pawpaw’s eyes narrowed as he said, “Young lady, you are in deep do-do. I should let you stay over there until you learn your lesson, but your nana would wring my neck.”
“Okay, okay. I get it. My bad. But how am I going to get back across the creek? Go get Nana.”
“No way! I not going to get Nana involved in this. Stay where you are.”
He walked back to the truck and then returned to the creek bank dragging his aluminum ladder. Then he went back to the truck and returned with his rifle.
“Oh my gosh! He’s going to shoot me,” I whispered. Then I remembered the cottonmouths. I blew a sigh of relief as I realized I was lucky one hadn’t bitten me while I was stuck in the mud. Cottonmouths are deadly poisonous and Pawpaw probably wouldn’t have found me in time to save me, I thought.
Pawpaw extended the ladder and then wedged it against both banks.
“You’d better be glad the creek is narrow or you’d be stuck on the other side until the cows come home,” he said sharply.
Nana often used that saying, but only when she was teasing. I could tell by Pawpaw’s tone that he wasn’t trying to be funny.
“Okay,” said Pawpaw, sitting on one end of the ladder. “I’ll steady this thing while you shimmy across it.”
I stuck my arms straight out to my sides for balanced as I walked slowly across the ladder. I was wet, muddy, disappointed, and wondering what Pawpaw was going to do next.
When I got to the other side, Pawpaw didn’t say a word. He pulled the ladder off the creek bank, hauled it to the truck, threw it into the bed, and then he got inside the truck. I wished he’d just fussed at me and got it over with, but he didn’t.
I picked up my tennis shoes and socks. Then I decided to ride in the back, so I stepped on the back tire, hoisted my body over the bed, and plopped myself down. The drive back was brutal. The wind dried the mud on my body and I had goose bumps the size of golf balls. I shivered so hard my teeth rattled. I was sure I would catch my death.
When we got back, I saw Nana, Uncle Scott, and Brandon sitting in the yard. I could hear Nana laughing before Pawpaw turned off the motor, but I knew the laughter would stop when she saw me.
I jumped from the truck, tucked my head and made my way to the carport.
Nana looked at me and said, “What in tarnation happened to you?”
My face turned red and I felt tears spring to my eyes. I placed my hands on my hips and said, “I fell into the creek, but I’d appreciate if you didn’t make fun of me. I don’t think it’s very funny. I’m freezing and—”
Before I finished my sentence, Nana was by my side putting her arm around me. Then she bent and whispered in my ear, “If you could see yourself you’d laugh too. You look like the creature from the Black Lagoon.”
The image of a muddy creature rising from a lagoon was funny and I laughed in spite of myself.
Uncle Scott took off his shirt and put it around me. It was big enough to make me a full-length coat.
Pawpaw headed for the barn.
“Julia, go get in the shower and be sure you get all the mud out of your hair, then I’ll come check you for ticks.” Nana said, shooing me inside. “I’m going to the kitchen and rustle up some grub.”
I showered, shampooed, and smeared my body with Nana’s good smelling lotion. I picked up Uncle Scott’s shirt. It didn’t have mud on it, so I put it back on. Uncle Scott used cologne that smelled heavenly.
I went into the kitchen and Uncle Scott and Brandon were sitting at the table, drin
king iced tea. Nana was cooking and laughing as Uncle Scott spun tall tales, followed by Brandon’s attempt to top them.
Nana seemed to have a new spring in her step that I hadn’t seen in a long time. I took a seat beside Uncle Scott and I shared his glass of tea.
“Okay, we’re ready for the mud story,” Uncle Scott said, looking at me.
I stood and began telling the story, contorting my body in ways I didn’t know I could do. I acted out how I stepped out into the deep water, sank in the mud, grabbed a branch, and fought my way out while everyone laughed so hard they had tears rolling down their cheeks. My mouth was in what Mama called high gear and so was my imagination.
“The mud was worse than quicksand and was sucking me under. My nose was all that was sticking out. Suddenly, I spied a big log in the water. I stretched out and grabbed on to it. Then using all my strength, I rolled on top of it. I paddled with my arms, fighting off cottonmouths on both sides, until I reached the other bank. I slapped one so hard that it landed in the pasture and slithered under a tree to hide so I couldn’t find him later and finish him off.”
When I paused a minute, Uncle Scott seized the opportunity to ask a question. “After you fought off the cottonmouths, did you have to roll off the log and wrestle an alligator?”
“No, but I saw a crocodile upstream a ways. I knew I could reach the bank before he caught up with me. But if he had caught up with me, I was going to slap him on his nose, knock him under the tree and he could have eaten the snake for dinner,” I said, and took a bow.
Everybody clapped.
“You deserve an Oscar for that performance. You’ve got talent, child. Someday you might be the greatest actress that ever hit the big screen,” Nana said, setting the table.
Pawpaw came in from the barn, washed his hands and joined us at the table. Then we all held hands and Uncle Scott said the blessing.
When we had finished eating, Uncle Scott walked to Nana’s side, gave her a hug, and said, “We need to be going, Mom. I’ve enjoyed our visit. And Julia you were great entertainment.” He kissed me on the forehead.