Secret Rendezvous

When everyone was asleep at the house, and I was sure I heard the soft snoring of my father, I pulled on a jacket and quietly went outside. The night greeted me with its familiar sounds, and tonight the wind was rustling the branches overhead, their dry leaves crackling and almost making a sound like running water. The moon was low, just coming up over the tree tops and the sky was clear so the heavens were full of stars. I picked up the lantern by the corner of the house, and struck a match in the box next to it, lighting a small candle inside. A warm, yellow glow emanated from the old brass lantern and I held it slightly in front of me as I walked towards the woods.

I was nervous and excited and had to concentrate to keep my feet under me, as there were roots and sticks to trip over. I found the spot I was looking for, and sat on the ground, the lantern beside me. I sat quietly and listened. The crickets were loud, and they competed with the frogs in the nearby pond, who were singing their hearts out. As usual, I didn’t hear anything, but suddenly she was there.

The fox stood very still, about six feet away, and watched me. I looked at the beautiful, wild animal and held my breath. Her eyes glowed in the candle light, and I could see her whiskers twitching. She was trying to smell if I had brought her any offerings. I had brought her something, an egg. I had tucked it in my bra, and thankfully it was still intact. I pulled out the egg and held it out towards her. She came forward so slowly, and it made me sad that she was still so frightened or suspicious of me, even though I had been feeding her like this for nearly a couple of weeks. I wasn’t sure if she would come all the way to my hand, sometimes she didn’t. But I felt like waiting tonight, and I was rewarded, because she eventually walked all the way to my outstretched hand. I held the egg so she could take it in her mouth and she gently took it from me, holding it between her teeth and never breaking it. Her wet nose brushed my hand, and I smiled. Then, with her prize in her mouth, she slipped soundlessly into the darkness and was gone.

I sat for a while longer, listening to the night, but I felt my warm bed calling to me. I walked back to my house, the lantern lighting the way, feeling so happy about my secret rendezvous with my little fox. I would tell my family about her tomorrow, and let them join me in the woods. Perhaps Mom would let me give her a chicken leg…

Image Credit; Marko Blazevic @ Unsplash 

#WDYS

What do you see # 284- 14 April, 2025