Several years passed and both Storm and Aleksi grew older. Storm was now two years old. He was a bigger wolf now. His coat was long and sleek, his eyes were golden and his fangs were sharper.
Aleksi was sixteen years old and could carry a rifle. His father now took him and Storm to hunt bears and elk.
One summer day at the farm. Aleksi, Leon, Storm, and Alfred went to the river to fish. Aleksi and Leon cast lines into the water. Waiting for the fish to grab on. Storm ventured out into the water and swam in circles. He then spotted a fish and ducked under. The wolf grabbed the fish and came back up, splashing water everywhere.
Alfred helped his sons bring the fish in. They picked the fish up and put them on a rock. Leon cast his line again, wanting to catch another fish.
"These fish will do." Alfred said and picked the two chubs up.
Storm tore open the flesh of the chub he had caught and gulped down the meat. Howling after he had finished.
"Well done Storm," said Aleksi.
Leon and Aleksi followed their father back towards the farm house. Storm following behind. They walked up to the dirt path past the grove of trees. Then walking into the field of cows where Mr Adamik was.
"Hello pa," Alfred spoke.
The boys hugged their grandpa and greeted the farm dogs. The sheep dogs ran around Storm, sniffing him and licking under his chin. The wolf growled a warning and moved away.
"Will anyone help me milk these cows?" Mr Adamik asked.
"We will!" Leon and Aleksi said in unison.
The farmer whistled and the dogs went around the cows and started herding them towards the gate. The cows went without a fight, some tried to kick or head but the dogs. But the sheep dogs corrected them with barks and nips.
The boys helped by using sticks to make the cows move faster. Finally all twelve cows were tied up in the barn and Leon and Aleksi started milking.
"It's been harder to sell and get money these days Since the war ended. We only get a few dollars per harvest or bucket of milk," said Mr Adamik as he shook his head. "We might have to sell the cows, or one of the horses."
"No! Please grandpa, not Boxer or Ever!" Alexi said with dismay.
"It might be our only option," the old man said.
"I haven't been to school since I was ten, now I'm twelve and I can work!" Leon said. "I could help you out grandpa."
"Yeah me too!" Aleksi added.
"Well you are helping me now," Mr Adamik chuckled.
Storm nuzzled Aleksi and whined. Aleksi patted the wolf before picking up the bucket of milk and taking it to the storage room. Leon followed after his bucket was done. They came back and started milking the other cows.
"May I help?" one of the farm hands asked.
"Yes please," Leon voiced.
The farm hand took a bucket and began milking a cow. Mr Adamik joined in and an hour and a half later they finished the job.
They poured the milk into the container in the other room and closed the door. Leon and Aleksi ran outside to greet their father. Alfred was carrying a bag with two fish that he had gutted. He tipped his hat to his father, then put the bag in the car. Leon and Aleksi climbed into the backseats with Storm.
"We will eat fish tonight and tomorrow night," Alfred commented.
"Goodbye grandpa," Leon and Aleksi said.
"Enjoy your fish boys," their grandfather said.
The car made a cloud of dust as the car drove away down the road. Mr Adamik turned and went back to the barn. He would think about selling the cows and one of his horses. But first he had to wait till his heifer had her calf. Then he would sell the heifer and the calf to earn enough money for the month. The farmer's dogs walked beside him and helped herd the cows back into the paddock.
YOU ARE READING
The Wolf
Historical FictionAleksi is a Polish boy who lives with his parents near his grandfather's farm. He frequently goes on hunting trips with his father and their team of four dogs. Hunting hares and ducks. One day they come across a wolf pup beside a dead she-wolf. Ale...
