Dear, Deer

Dear Deer. On To The Forest!

Over a few days, the deer, which the kids dubbed Bucky, became healthier and stronger then before. He was now eating solid foods and was more energetic then ever. The children had a blast reading to Bucky, talking to him, eating with him, playing with him, and spending time with him.

It was turning mid summer and the white spots on the fawns back were disappearing, day by day like flowers slowly losing petals. Except, they were dots and not flower petals, and it was slowly disappearing, not falling off like when they've died.

Miranda had decided that Bucky needed to be free.

"He needs to make deer friends. Perhaps he can find a looker and mate her. Point is, we cannot keep hiding him from Father. He could find him any day—he's getting ever so big, and he won't be able to be hidden behind the stack of boxes anymore, John." Miranda said as she made lunch for the three of them.

"I suppose... can we still feed him? He could meet us every once in a while we're in the woods so we can check on him." John pleaded. He was sitting on a stool and was leaning over the granite countertop.

"And we can give him samitches!!!" Ali yelled in a grumbled voice. Like her usual voice were ground pebbles rubbing to make up her croaking voice. She was excited, and when children get excited they tend to make their voice sound strange.

"Sandwiches." John corrected grumpily.

"Right!" Ali yelled as she stuffed her book into her backpack messily.

"Alright that settles it then!" Miranda drained the cooked noodles and put them in different bowls before drowning them in tomato-basil sauce. She also set aside a Tupperware container of the food for their dad.

They had mixed conversations during lunch; they talked about the weather and argued about the temperature outside for five minutes before Ali ran out and looked at the thermometer, they talked about how they would deal with life now that their little secret was becoming not so little anymore and they had to send him away, and they talked about Ali's newest drawing spree.

"I like the unicorn one because it has green all over it." Ali added as they ankled to the garage.

When they opened the door they found Bucky, standing on a desk, eating their father's papers.

The fawn was chewing on their father's work.

Oh dear.

"No! Get off—stop that! Get off!" Miranda pushed Bucky off the desk and grabbed the rope they had been using as a leash after Bucky was getting too heavy to carry.

Bucky scrunched his nose and his ears pointed backwards. He was expressing his clear distaste in the thick thread.

He pranced around, avoiding the rope at all costs. John snuck up behind him and when Bucky decided to back up, John grabbed his hips and held his steady while Miranda gently tied a slip knot.

"Come on, Bucky! We're going to the woods so you can meet friends!" Ali yelled excitedly. The deer's face showed clear resentment and he grunted out a huff. The noise sounded pained and John petted his back leg. He begrudgingly leaned into the touch and let the children drag him to the clearing.

The clearing waited for them. The leaves aglow with the golden-red of the sinking sun. The whole woods screamed we're vibrant! Play with us.

The children awed when the deer hesitantly walked away from them.

"Go on, honey. Go find some friends." Ali said kindly, her voice was strained as tears leaked out of her eyes.

Bucky laid down under the picnic table with a huff as he waited for the kids to sit with him.