Charlie awoke to his mom yelling. He quickly jumped out of bed and ran downstairs to see what the matter was. There was his mom flapping her arms at something outside the window as she yelled, “Get out of here,” numerous times.
“Mom, what is it? Are you okay?” he raised his voice with concern.
“Oh, Charlie, there’s a wolf outside the window, and I put Mariah out just a little while ago,” she said, shaking a bit. “I think I have scared that wolf from going past the front of our house, but I need to call for help,” she said, now quickly moving to where the phone rested.
Charlie could feel his little heart start to pound faster as he crept towards the window to see if the wolf was still there. To his amazement, there it was taking one last look down their lane before it disappeared.
“Mom, mom, I think you scared it away,” little Charlie said in glee. “It was really big, wasn’t it, mom?” he continued, feeling rather excited and yet concerned for his new goat out in her pasture at the rear of their house.
“Charlie, I’m on the phone with the wildlife officer—just one minute, dear,” she said quickly.
She continued to speak on the phone, “Yes, it was grey and white, and I think I scared it away for at least a little while. Aha ha. Yes, we are just on the corner of Hummingbird Lane. We will see you shortly, thank you,” she said, hanging up the phone.
“Charlie, I’m going to go outside and put Mariah back in the shelter so she will be protected if that wolf comes back. You keep a lookout through the front window and yell to me in the backyard if it comes back,” she said.
“Okay, mom, I will keep a lookout, and please be careful,” he replied, giving his mom a big bear hug.
And so, Mrs. Tucker put on her boots, grabbed her broom, and went outside to put Mariah back in for the day. Charlie kept on the lookout for the wolf, and thankfully, his mom came back in with Mariah now put in and safe.
“What a relief,” Mrs. Tucker said. “Do you know, Charlie, this hasn’t been the first sighting of this wolf on our island. Supposedly, there have been three sightings, and they are going to set a trap to get it off our island,” she said with hope.
“Ha, you mean, mom, this wolf is not supposed to be on our island, but then how did it get here?” he asked.
“I think it swam over here from the mainland,” she said. “But, however it got here, it probably would be better going back where it came from, for everyone’s sake, including Mariah and the other farm animals in our neighborhood,” she continued.
“What happens if it comes back, mom?” We can’t put Mariah back outside until we know it won’t be back, right? Charlie questioned.
“We shouldn’t put her out, no,” she replied.
“Why don’t you go get started with our breakfast my little man, maybe some whole grain Cheerios, and I’m going to call your father,” Mrs. Tucker said.
Then Charlie headed off towards the kitchen.
After some time, Mrs. Tucker came into the kitchen, “Why, I’m sure glad you didn’t put any milk in my Cheerios,” she said smiling.
“Of course not, mom, I know you can’t stand soggy Cheerios,” he replied.
As she was pouring the milk onto her cereal, she started to speak, “Your father and I have decided that we should get a dog, Charlie, to look after the farm and be a companion to all of us.”
“Really? Yes, yes, yes!” he said while jumping up and down and running around the kitchen.
“Ha ha ha ha ha, my oh my, I am glad you are so excited. Your dad is going to meet us at the SPCA during his lunch hour,” she said still laughing.
“Can I name our new puppy?” he begged, leaning against his mom’s leg while looking up at her with both his hands together.
“We would love that, Charlie,” she replied, taking her bowl to the sink. “We should get ready now, dear, as the wildlife officer will be here any minute.”
© 2011 Crystal Buchan
