LIGHT ON A SNOWY DAYpage 2 / 5
“He'll get plenty of food, alright. Right now he just needs to have his hoof cleaned and bandaged.”
As Mr. Dotson placed a bandage around the little deer's injured hoof, Maggie became excited as the little deer began to nibble on the lettuce. And then, she pointed out to her father that the little deer had markings above its eyes that looked like the sun. After a quick observation, Mr. Dotson was struck by how much the little deer's markings did in fact resemble the sun with protruding rays of light.
It was dark outside and the temperature was quite cold. Despite her reluctance to leave the little deer, Maggie's father convinced her that he would be safe in the garage. Maggie insisted that her father return with carrots and warm blankets for him. He promised he would.
After he turned off the light in the garage, Maggie turned to her father and said, “I'm going to name him Paxton, Daddy.”
“That's a fine name for a deer, Maggie.”
“You really think so, Daddy?”
“Sure do.”
“Daddy?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure Paxton is going to be alright?”
“He's going to be fine, Maggie. Now let's get inside where it's warm.”
Later that night Maggie could barely sleep. She kept getting up to view the garage from the window in her room. Even though she couldn't see Paxton, looking out at the garage comforted her.
After she awoke the next morning, Maggie rushed down the stairs and was heading for the front door, when her mother asked her where she thought she was going.
“I'm going to go see Paxton, Mommy.”
“Not before you eat your breakfast, young lady.”
To the dissatisfaction of her mother, Maggie wolfed down her breakfast. She had two eggs, scrambled, and a piece of toast. Her glass of orange juice never left the table.
“Where's Daddy? Is he in the garage with Paxton?”
“Yes, he's in the garage tending to your little….” Before Mrs. Dotson had finished her sentence, Maggie was out the door.