(glass shatters on the
hardwood floor)
“Hello?!”
(Silence)
“Is someone there?!”
(Shifting squeak of wooden
boards)
Anna quickly darts for her bed,
dives to the floor, and lifts the bed skirt. She reaches into the abys of
darkness under the bed. The cool metal brushes her fingertips, she tightly
grasps the item and removes it from its resting place.
Anna charges the weapon, (chick
chick)
Confidence floods her body, her
training begins to tighten her muscles, she readies her stance against the wall
that braces the doorway. From this angle she can view movements down the narrow
hallway. She decides to give a final warning.
“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!”
The deafening silence resonates
from the darkness of the hallway.
***
“Daddy, please can we go home
now? I’m cold.” Little Anna pleads.
“I know baby, but this is
important. You must focus, don’t let the cold distract you. Now…Aim.”
Anna shivers as she leans over
the log, the sleeves of her puffy white coat indent the fresh powder of the
snow that blankets their cover. Her nose runs parallel to the barrel of the
rifle and she stares down the shaft through the tiny iron circle, prepared to
line the tiny post with the breast of the buck.
Patients…breath… the faint plumes
of breath expel from her lips.
“Here we go Anna…”
A strong broad rack appears from
the tree line, followed by a black nose and sandy brown fur. Cautiously he scans
the clearing; Anna quietly holds her position; his stride is confident as he
slowly brings himself out from behind the brush. His hooves leaving impressions
in the fresh powdery snow, with every pulse of his chest the small smoke-like
clouds leave his nostrils.
“Follow your target.”
Anna carefully guides the site,
keeping focus on his chest; soft brown fur, lightly dusted by the fallen snow.
She takes in a single breath as he approaches full exposure.
(Click)
The bullet passes through the
suppressor (chew), the bullet pierces his body and is startled. He darts
back into the brush in attempt to flee.
“Very good.” Her father says with
pride. “Now let’s go make sure he isn’t suffering.”
Anna’s father instructs her to leave her
weapon and only takes a large knife. The steel glistens in the sun as he
loosens it from the sheath and returns it to his belt side. The set out in the
direction of the buck’s tracks, well impressed in the fresh snow. Miscellaneous
sized droplets of crimson leave their indentation along the track. It isn’t
long before they reach the deer. His body had slowly weakened till he collapsed
too the frozen earth. His breathing was exasperated, and his eyes were full of
terror upon our arrival. Anna and her father moved cautiously towards their
kill; they did their best not to torment the injured animal. Anna’s father
knelt along the animal’s spine, and motioned Anna to join him.
Anna’s immediate instinct was to
reach out; his pelt was rugged but soft to the touch, her hand rose up and down
with is breathing, heartbeat was fast and labored.
“We need to help him Anna.” Her
father states.
He removes the large blade from
its holster and holds it to Anna’s hands. Her pulse begins to quicken with the rhythm
of the deer’s. Lifting her hand from the deer’s body she takes hold of the
rubberized handle.
“Where do I…” she asks.
“Here baby, I’ll show you.”
Her father notices her struggling
and aids her by cupping his hands around her grip and thrusts the glistening
metal into the deer. The breathing stops, and the eyes lose their fear; Anna
and her father remove the knife and set it beside them in the snow.
“You did a great job Anna. I am
so very proud of you.”
Anna smiles at her father, joy
filled tears begin to pool at the base of her eyes. She embraces her father as
they set along side her first kill. The winter wind stings their faces and the
snow begins to melt beneath them; but they do not stir, just a few more moments
in this beautiful memory between a father and a daughter.
***
Anna’s eyes remain transfixed on
the dark hallow of the hall, waiting for the slightest shift in the darkness.
Her stomach begins to ache with wonder and fear of the unknown and decides to
investigate the lower level of the home. Perhaps the intruder headed her
demand. Cautiously she begins down the hallway, scanning and clearing her path.
As she rounds the banister of the staircase, she notices the reflection of
moonlight on the hardwood floor. Warning her that her front door is in fact
open to the elements. The brisk winter air brushes her feet as she descends the
carpeted steps. Her senses are enflamed, fear almost gets the better of her. She
prepares to round the corner and take the final step, trigger finger at the ready.
Her naked feet hit the cold hard
wood and she swings the barrel in the direction of the living room. The sudden
scurry of small shadow darts around the couch, Anna’s finger is pressed down at
the ready, but hesitates. What in the world? She wonders. Curiosity slowly
drowns the fear, her heart still fueled by adrenaline. Slowly she kneels to the
floor and sets her weapon beside her, not certain that she should need it.
What could this be? It moved to
quickly to make out; it was small, perhaps an animal… but what type of animal?
Now down on her hands and knees she slowly transitions onto the floral area
carpet. Moving slowly so she doesn’t spook the creature and activate its
defense. Anna peers around to the back of the couch and is relieved to see soft
brown fur and with white dots all huddled into a tight shivering bundle. Rabbit
like ears pinned to the neck and head buried into the underbelly.
Adrenaline levels decrease and
Anna is overwhelmed with relief. All that fuss was over this little critter; a
fawn.
