LIGHT ON A SNOWY DAYpage 1 / 5
Written by Artie Knapp
IT WAS TWO DAYS before Christmas and young Maggie Dotson was already being told that her Christmas wish would not be coming true. Paxton she was told, would not be coming back.
A year before that December day an injured baby deer had been abandoned in the woods behind the Dotson's home. So weak was the little deer, that he hadn't the strength to run from Maggie's father when he approached him.
As he carried the little deer towards their home, Maggie rushed outside and greeted her father with great excitement.
“Wow, a deer! What happened to him, Daddy?” asked Maggie.
“Well, I'm not sure how he managed to do it, but he mangled one of his hoofs pretty severely,” Mr. Dotson said.
Maggie leaned in to take a better look. “Poor little reindeer. Can we keep him, Daddy?”
“First of all, he's a white¬-tailed deer,” laughed Mr. Dotson. “And no, we can't keep him. He's a wild animal, Maggie. I'll do everything I can and then he'll have to be set free.”
While gently rubbing the little deer's nose it licked Maggie's hand, which made her laugh. Mr. Dotson smiled and just shook his head. He proceeded to carry the little deer to the garage.
After Mr. Dotson carefully placed the little deer on the floor, he asked Maggie to go to the house and get his medical bag. The little deer was in luck. He was being attended to by James Dotson, local Veterinarian.
In what seemed like two seconds to Mr. Dotson, Maggie rushed inside the garage carrying his medical bag, and a handful of lettuce she had grabbed from the refrigerator. Maggie handed her father the bag, and then placed the lettuce by the little deer's mouth - but he wasn't interested.
“Why isn't he hungry, Daddy?”
“Maybe he's just too scared to eat right now.”
“I know what he needs,” Maggie said. “He needs carrots, because that's what Santa's reindeer like to eat.”