Deer Deaders

Morning drives through town bring an increasing number of deer sightings.

Dead deer, draped across the hood of a truck. Deer are plentiful in this area and hunting is apparently very popular.

Deer season reminds me of a daycare story from about 5 years ago. Hannah and Travis were around 4 and 5 years old and Travis was excited because his dad "got a deer." The conversation was like a slow motion train wreck--I could see that it was going to happen and couldn't do a thing to stop it. In the children's minds "got a deer" conjured up images of some pet deer being led around on a leash, possibly with a saddle on it so they could ride. All of the littles were excited. Travis's dad got a deer! Travis mustered on...."Yeah, it was really cool--it was in the back of my dad's truck and..."

At nearly 5 years old, Hannah knew there was something fishy about a deer being in the back of someone's truck. She began to cast a suspicious eye on her friend. Travis continued..."and there was blood coming out it's mouth."

While every other little in the daycare looked at Travis with open admiration--after all, he had a deer readily available in the back of his dad's truck--the parts clicked into place with Miss Hannah.

"How did a deer get in your dad's truck? WHY is a deer in your dad's truck?"

"Because he shot it with his gun. It was really cool...it was in the back of my dad's truck and there was blood..."

Your dad deaded a deer?" She practically screeched. "He DEADED it?!"

The room grew silent. Travis was near tears. Six faces glared at him.

"Your dad deaded a deer?!" "What if he deaded one of Santa's reindeer, Ms. Lorri?" "WHY does Travis's dad dead deer?"

After a hastily improvised conversation about why people dead, er, hunt, deer and why I was certain this couldn't have been one of Santa's reindeer, I thought we had put the moment behind us. Tears were dried and calm was restored.

And then Travis's dad showed up. Used to being greeted by smiling faces and hugs, he was stunned when he got a cold shoulder. He made another attempt to greet the hostile mob and Hannah, mob spokesperson, melted him with a disgusted look and two cold words.

"Deer Deader!"