Fawn's Snack in the Neighborhood

By Angie Bromeland

The pair of fawns walk awkwardly down the sidewalks in town. All along the street, people’s faces are pressed against windows to see the darling deer. Old Mr. Mitchem is eating an apple on his front porch hidden in the shadow of the awning. He hasn’t yet noticed the fawns, and the fawns are too confused by the hard cement beneath their hooves to pay him any notice. Mr. Mitchem yawns and takes a bite out of his apple. That’s when he notices the two deer. He squints to be sure he isn’t imagining the sight, and he laughs. The darker of the two fawns hears him, and gawks in his direction. Mr. Mitchem freezes in place, not wanting to startle the baby deer.

Then, to his surprise, the fawn takes a step in his direction. And then another. It isn’t long before the fawn walks right to Mr. Mitchem’s porch railing. Across the street, Mr. Mitchem’s neighbor, Mrs. Gruber, is wide eyed as she watches in surprise. The fawn stretches her neck over the railing, and snatches the apple right out of Mr. Mitchem’s hand before she springs away. The fawn’s brother follows behind her, and the people pressed against their windows are left staring after the pair. It takes a moment before it dawns on Mr. Mitchem that what just happened is rather extraordinary. When he does, he laughs and laughs from the very bottom of his lungs. Mrs. Gruber across the street comes out on her porch and laughs with him. Then the other neighbors do the same. The whole street is buzzing with talk about the fawns and the Mr. Mitchem’s apple.

It was a sight to see, and one the people of the neighborhood won’t forget anytime soon.