By David Gabbert
Early one Monday morning, a mother deer and her young fawn were making their way across the open field near the Growing Together Community Garden. The young fawn, weary from its long travel, needed to rest and begged its mother to stop so they could rest for a bit. The mother noticed a large, overgrown flower bed by the deer equivalent of “Golden Corral”. She bid her young fawn to rest in the tall grass by the restaurant while she went in and filled up.
Happy to be able to rest for a bit, the young fawn happily lay down in the overgrown flower bed, taking in all of the lovely smells from the wild flowers. While the young fawn got comfortable, the mother started to circle the garden perimeter, looking for a way to get in. Everywhere she looked, she felt that she would not be able to jump over the fence safely, due to a peculiar line in the sky beside the fence. When she returned to get her young fawn, she noticed an old Hu-Mon walking towards the restaurant, near where she had left her young fawn.
In fear of being noticed, the mother dashed to the nearby canopy of pine trees, the thick underbrush obscuring her entirely. Anxiously, she watches and waits, praying the old Hu-Mon does not notice her young, defenseless fawn! The old Hu-Mon repeatedly walked in and out of the restaurant, often stopping and gazing in the general direction of her fawn. Each time she would panic, but each time she would also calm herself, reminding her she had taught her fawn well. The young fawn will not move until she calls for them, so she must remain calm.
After some time, the old Hu-Mon stops coming and going. She quietly calls out to her fawn, letting them know where to go and to move quietly. The young fawn had been SUPER scared when the old Hu-Mon stopped and stared at them the first time. But eventually they realized they were in no danger with this old Hu-Mon. Regardless, once they heard their mother’s quiet call, they were both happy and eager to get back to their mother!
It wasn’t much longer before the pair were once again making their way through the rugged terrain of Appalachia. Enjoying the wild and wonderful land they got to explore together!
