I

PASSAGE

Jody allowed his thoughts to drift back to the fawn. He could not keep it out of his mind. He had held it, in his dreams, in his arms. He slipped from the table and went to his father’s bedside. Penny lay at rest. His eyes were open and clear, but the pupils were still dark and dilated. Jody said, “How are you feeling, Pa?” “Just fine, son. Old Death has gone thieving elsewhere. But wasn’t it a close shave!” “I agree.” Penny said, “I’m proud of you, boy, the way you kept your head and did what was needed.”

Word Meanings:

• Drift back to – go back to
• Fawn – a young deer in its first year
• Dilated – enlarged
• Thieving – the action of stealing
• A close shave – a narrow escape
• Kept your head – stayed calm in a difficult situation

Explanation:

In this passage, Jody is deeply preoccupied with thoughts of the fawn, illustrating his emotional attachment to the creature and the innocence it represents. His dreams of holding the fawn highlight his longing for connection and perhaps a sense of responsibility towards it.

He moves from the table to his father Penny’s bedside, where Penny appears alert but still affected by a recent health scare, as indicated by his dilated pupils. This detail conveys the seriousness of Penny’s condition while also suggesting a return from the brink of death.

Penny’s reassurances, likening his recovery to a “close shave” with death, emphasize the fragility of life and the relief that comes with survival. Jody’s agreement shows his understanding of the situation, reinforcing their bond. Penny’s pride in Jody for remaining composed during the crisis signifies a pivotal moment of growth, highlighting themes of resilience and familial love in the face of adversity.

PASSAGE

“Pa-”

“Yes, son.”

“Pa, do you recollect the doe and the fawn?”

“I can never forget them. The poor doe saved me, that’s certain.”

“Pa, the fawn may be out there yet. It might be hungry and very scared.”

“I suppose so.”

“Pa, I’m a big boy now and don’t need to drink milk. Why don’t I go and see if I can find the fawn?”

“And bring it here?”

“And raise it.”

Penny lay quiet, staring at the ceiling. “Boy, you’ve got me hemmed in.”

“It won’t take much to raise it, Pa. It’ll soon start eating leaves and acorns.”

“You are smarter than boys of your age.”

“We took its mother, and it wasn’t to blame.”

“Surely it seems ungrateful to leave it to starve. Son, I can’t say ‘No’ to you. I never thought I’d live to see another day.”

Word Meanings:

• Doe – a female deer
• Hemmed in – (here) caught in a situation where one can’t say no
• Acorns – small brown nuts from oak trees
• Recollect – to remember or recall

Explanation:

In this passage, Jody begins by asking his father if he remembers the doe and the fawn, to which Penny responds that he can never forget the doe, who saved his life. This exchange highlights the emotional impact of the encounter with the deer on both characters.

Concerned for the fawn’s well-being, Jody expresses that it may still be out there, hungry and scared. He asserts his maturity, claiming he no longer needs to drink milk, and proposes to search for the fawn. Penny’s question about bringing it home suggests he understands the gravity of the situation.

Jody’s eagerness to care for the fawn illustrates his sense of responsibility and empathy. As Penny stares at the ceiling, he acknowledges that Jody has put him in a position where he feels he cannot refuse his request. Jody argues that raising the fawn won’t be difficult since it will soon adapt to eating leaves and acorns.

Penny recognizes Jody’s intelligence, commenting on how he is wiser than most boys his age. Jody points out the moral dilemma they face: having taken the fawn’s mother, it would be ungrateful to let it starve. Ultimately, Penny, moved by Jody’s plea and reflecting on his own near-death experience, admits he cannot say “no” to his son, showing the bond of love and trust between them in the face of adversity.

PASSAGE

 “Can I ride back with Mill-wheel and see if I can find it?” “Tell your Ma I said you can go.”

Explanation:

In this passage, Jody inquires if he can ride back with Mill-wheel to search for the fawn. His father consents, instructing Jody to inform his mother that he has granted permission for the trip. This brief exchange underscores Jody’s determination and his father’s supportive role in his quest to care for the fawn.

PASSAGE

He sidled back to the table and sat down. His mother was pouring coffee for everyone. He said, “Ma, Pa says I can go bring back the fawn.” She held the coffee pot in mid-air. “What fawn?” “The fawn belonging to the doe we killed. We used the doe’s liver to draw out the poison and save Pa.” She gasped. “Well, for pity sake—” “Pa says it would be ungrateful to leave it to starve.” Doc Wilson said, “That’s right, Ma’am. Nothing in the world comes quite free. The boy’s right and his daddy’s right.” Mill-wheel said, “He can ride back with me. I’ll help him find it.” She set down the pot helplessly. “Well, if you’ll give it your milk—we’ve got nothing else to feed it.

Word Meanings:

• Sidled back – walked back quietly, trying not to be noticed
• Gasped – catch one’s breath with an open mouth, owing to pain or astonishment

Explanation:

In this passage, Jody quietly returns to the table, trying to avoid drawing attention. He informs his mother, who is pouring coffee, that his father has permitted him to bring back the fawn. Startled, she pauses and asks which fawn he means. Jody explains that it is the fawn of the doe they killed to save his father’s life by using its liver to extract poison. His mother expresses surprise and concern, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

Jody argues that leaving the fawn to starve would be ungrateful, a sentiment supported by Doc Wilson, who agrees with both Jody and Penny, stating that nothing in life comes for free. Mill-wheel offers to ride back with Jody to help him find the fawn, showing camaraderie and support for Jody’s mission.

Faced with the boys’ determination and the moral implications of their actions, Jody’s mother feels helpless yet acknowledges the rightness of their cause. Despite her reservations, she agrees to allow Jody to bring the fawn home, stipulating that he must share his milk with it, indicating her compassion and the family’s commitment to nurturing the creature. This exchange emphasizes themes of empathy, responsibility, and the complexities of human-animal relationships.

PASSAGE

Mill-wheel said, “Come on, boy. We’ve got to get riding.” Ma Baxter asked anxiously, “You’ll not be gone long?” Jody said, “I’ll be back before dinner for sure.” Mill-wheel mounted his horse and pulled Jody up behind him. He said to Mill-wheel, “Do you think the fawn’s still there? Will you help me find him?” “We’ll find him if he’s alive. How you know it’s a he?” “The spots were all in a line. On a doe-fawn, Pa says the spots are every which way…”

Word Meanings:

• Mounted – got onto (a horse or similar)
• Doe-fawn – a female fawn

Explanation:

In this passage, Mill-wheel encourages Jody to hurry up and get on their way. Jody’s mother, Ma Baxter, expresses her concern about how long they will be gone, to which Jody reassures her that he will return before dinner.

Mill-wheel helps Jody mount his horse, showing his willingness to support Jody’s quest to find the fawn. Jody’s inquiry about the fawn’s survival reflects his hope and determination. When he confidently asserts that the fawn is male based on the arrangement of its spots—”all in a line”—he demonstrates his growing knowledge of nature, as he remembers his father’s explanation about distinguishing between male and female fawns. This exchange highlights the bond between Jody and Mill-wheel while emphasizing Jody’s youthful curiosity and eagerness to take on responsibility.

II

PASSAGE

Jody gave himself over to thoughts of the fawn. They passed the abandoned clearing. He said, “Cut to the north, Mill-wheel. It was up here that Pa got bitten by the snake and killed the doe and I saw the fawn.” Suddenly Jody was unwilling to have Mill-wheel with him. If the fawn was dead, or could not be found, he could not have his disappointment seen. And if the fawn was there, the meeting would be so lovely and so secret that he could not endure to share it.

Word Meanings:

• Gave himself over to – to spend all your time and energy doing or feeling something
• Abandoned – having been deserted or left
• Endure – (here) handle or tolerate

Explanation:

In this passage, Jody immerses himself in thoughts of the fawn as he and Mill-wheel travel through a deserted clearing in the forest. He directs Mill-wheel to head north, recalling the location where his father was bitten by a snake, leading to the killing of the doe and his first sighting of the fawn.

Suddenly, Jody feels a desire to be alone. He grapples with the possibility that the fawn may be dead or elusive, and he does not want Mill-wheel to witness his disappointment if that were the case. Conversely, if he finds the fawn, he envisions a beautiful and intimate reunion, one he feels is too personal to share. This moment reflects Jody’s inner conflict and deep emotional connection to the fawn, underscoring themes of vulnerability and the desire for solitude in moments of significant emotional importance.

PASSAGE

He said, “It’s not far now, but the scrub is very thick for a horse. I can make it on foot.” “But I’m afraid to leave you, boy. Suppose you got lost or got bitten by the snake, too?” “I’ll take care. It might take me a long time to find the fawn, if he’s wandered. Leave me off right here.” “All right, but you take it easy now. You know north here, and east?” “There, and there. That tall pine makes a bearing.” “So long.” “So long, Mill-wheel. I’m obliged.”

Word Meanings:

• Scrub – small, low plants or bushes
• Wander – to roam without a fixed path
• Makes a bearing – acts as a compass and helps to identify directions
• Obliged – be grateful or thankful

Explanation:

In this passage, Jody tells Mill-wheel that they are close to the location where he saw the fawn, but the thick scrub makes it difficult for a horse to navigate, so he prefers to go on foot. Mill-wheel expresses concern about leaving Jody alone, worried that he might get lost or bitten by a snake like his father. Jody reassures him that he will be careful and that it may take some time to find the fawn if it has wandered away.

After Mill-wheel reluctantly agrees to drop him off nearby, he advises Jody to stay cautious and asks if he knows the directions to north and east. Jody confidently points out the directions and mentions that the tall pine tree serves as a landmark for navigation. As they part ways, Jody thanks Mill-wheel, showing his gratitude for the support. This exchange highlights Jody’s determination and growing independence, as well as the bond of friendship and concern between the two characters.

PASSAGE

He waited for the sound of the hooves to end, then cut to the right. The scrub was still. Only his own crackling of twigs sounded across the silence. He wondered for an instant if he had mistaken his direction. Then a buzzard rose in front of him and flapped into the air. He came into the clearing under the oaks. Buzzards sat in a circle around the carcass of the doe. They turned their heads on their long scrawny necks and hissed at him. He threw his bough at them and they flew into an adjacent tree. The sand showed large cat prints but the big cats killed fresh, and they had left the doe to the carrion birds.

Word Meanings:

• Hooves – the horny part of the foot of a horse
• Crackling – sharp sound
• Twigs – slender woody shoots from a tree or shrub
• Buzzard – a large hawk-like bird of prey
• Flapped – (of a bird) moved its wings up and down
• Scrawny – thin and bony
• Hissed – made a sharp, sibilant sound
• Adjacent – nearby
• Bough – a main branch of a tree

Explanation:

Jody waits for the sound of Mill-wheel’s horse hooves to fade before he turns right, moving cautiously through the still scrub where only the crackling of twigs breaks the silence. He briefly questions if he’s headed the right way when a buzzard suddenly rises before him and takes flight.

As Jody arrives at a clearing beneath the oaks, he finds buzzards circling around the carcass of the doe they had killed. The birds hiss at him, turning their heads on their long, thin necks. In response, Jody throws a bough at them, prompting the buzzards to retreat to a nearby tree. He notices large cat prints in the sand, indicating that big cats had killed the doe recently but left it for the carrion birds. This passage captures Jody’s tension and the stark reality of nature, highlighting the cycle of life and death in the wild.

PASSAGE

He parted the grass at the place where he had seen the fawn. It did not seem possible that it was only yesterday. The fawn was not there. He circled the clearing. There was no sound, no sign. The buzzards clacked their wings, impatient to return to their business. He returned to the spot where the fawn had emerged and dropped on all fours, studying the sand for the small hoof prints. The night’s rain had washed away all tracks except those of cats and buzzards.

Word Meanings:

• Clacked – made a sharp sound or series of noises
• Parted – separated or divided
• Emerging – coming into view
• Hoof prints – marks left by the feet of animals like deer

Explanation:

Jody carefully parted the grass at the spot where he had seen the fawn the previous day, struggling to believe that it was only yesterday. However, the fawn was nowhere to be found. He circled the clearing, finding no signs or sounds of it. Meanwhile, the buzzards clacked their wings impatiently, eager to return to their scavenging.

Returning to the spot where the fawn had emerged, Jody dropped to all fours to study the sand for small hoof prints. Unfortunately, the rain from the previous night had washed away all tracks except for those of the cats and buzzards. This passage emphasizes Jody’s disappointment and desperation as he searches for the fawn, illustrating the harsh realities of nature and the fleetingness of life.

III

PASSAGE

Movement directly in front of him startled him so that he tumbled backward. The fawn lifted its face to his. It turned its head with a wide, wondering motion and shook him through with the stare of its liquid eyes. It was quivering. It made no effort to rise or run. Jody could not trust himself to move He whispered, “It’s me.” The fawn lifted its nose, scenting him. He reached out one hand and laid it on the soft neck. The touch made him delirious. He moved forward on all fours until he was close beside it. He put his arms around its body. A light convulsion passed over it but it did not stir.

Word Meanings:

• Startled – feeling or showing sudden shock or alarm
• Tumbled – having fallen or collapsed
• Quivering – trembling or shaking with a slight rapid motion
• Delirious – extremely excited
• Convulsion – a sudden, involuntary muscular contraction; shiver

Explanation:

Jody was startled by a movement in front of him, causing him to tumble backward. To his surprise, it was the fawn, which lifted its face to him with a wide, curious motion. The fawn stared at Jody with its liquid eyes, leaving him shaken. Despite its quivering, it made no effort to rise or run away, reflecting its trust in him.

Unable to move at first, Jody softly whispered, “It’s me.” The fawn responded by lifting its nose to scent him. He reached out and laid his hand on the fawn’s soft neck, an act that sent him into a state of delirious excitement. Moving on all fours, he got close beside it and wrapped his arms around the fawn’s body. Although the fawn experienced a slight convulsion, indicating a shiver, it did not move away, suggesting it felt comforted rather than scared. This passage beautifully captures the tender and intimate moment of connection between Jody and the fawn, highlighting themes of trust and companionship in nature.

PASSAGE

He stroked its sides as gently as though the fawn were a china deer and he might break it. Its skin was very soft. It was sleek and clean and had a sweet scent of grass. He rose slowly and lifted the fawn from the ground. Its legs hung limply. They were surprisingly long and he had to hoist the fawn as high as possible under his arm.

Word Meanings:

• China deer – a clay deer that is easily broken
• Sleek – smooth and shiny
• Limply – lacking stiffness; relaxed
• Hoist – the act of raising or lifting something

Explanation:

Jody stroked the fawn’s sides with great care, treating it as delicately as if it were a fragile china deer that might break. The fawn’s skin was soft, sleek, and clean, with a sweet scent reminiscent of fresh grass. As Jody rose slowly to lift the fawn from the ground, its legs hung limply, indicating its relaxed state. Noticing that the fawn’s legs were surprisingly long, Jody had to hoist it high under his arm to carry it properly. This passage highlights Jody’s tenderness and protective instincts toward the fawn, emphasizing the bond forming between them.

PASSAGE

He was afraid that it might kick and bleat at sight and smell of its mother. He skirted the clearing and pushed his way into the thicket. It was difficult to fight through with his burden. The fawn’s legs caught in the bushes and he could not lift his own with freedom. He tried to shield its face from prickling vines. Its head bobbed with his stride. His heart thumped with the marvel of its acceptance of him. He reached the trail and walked as fast as he could until he came to the intersection with the road home. He stopped to rest and set the fawn down on its dangling legs. It wavered on them. It looked at him and bleated.

Word Meanings:

• Bleat – the weak, wavering cry made by a sheep, goat, or calf
• Thicket – a dense group of bushes or trees
• Vines – climbing or trailing woody-stemmed plants related to the grapevine
• Stride – to walk with long, decisive steps in a specified direction
• Dangling – hanging or swinging loosely
• Wavered – to move in a quivering way; flicker

Explanation:

Jody feared that the fawn might kick and bleat upon seeing or smelling its mother, so he carefully skirted the clearing and made his way into a dense thicket of bushes and trees. Navigating this underbrush with his burden was challenging; the fawn’s legs became caught in the bushes, hindering Jody’s own movements. He tried to shield the fawn’s face from the prickling vines, and as he moved, the fawn’s head bobbed with his stride. Jody’s heart swelled with joy at the fawn’s acceptance of him. Once he reached the trail, he walked quickly until he reached the intersection with the road leading home. Pausing to catch his breath, he set the fawn down on its dangling legs. It wavered slightly before looking up at Jody and bleating softly, signaling its connection to him. This passage emphasizes Jody’s determination to care for the fawn and the developing bond between them, illustrating the challenges he faces in protecting it.

PASSAGE

He said, enchanted, “I’ll carry you after I get my breath.” He remembered his father saying that a fawn would follow if it had first been carried. He started away slowly. The fawn stared after him. He came back to it and stroked it and walked away again. It took a few wobbling steps toward him and cried piteously. It was willing to follow him. It belonged to him. It was his own. He was light-headed with his joy. He wanted to fondle it, to run and romp with it, to call to it to come to him. He dared not alarm it. He picked it up and carried it in front of him over his two arms. It seemed to him that he walked without effort.

Word Meanings:

• Enchanted – filled with delight; charmed
• Stroked – to move one’s hands gently over a surface, repeatedly; caress
• Wobbling – to move unsteadily in a particular direction, especially from side to side
• Fondle – to stroke or caress lovingly
• Light-headed – unable to think clearly due to joy or excitement
• Romp – to play in a lively or energetic way
• Alarm – to frighten or scare

Explanation:

Filled with delight, Jody told the fawn that he would carry it once he caught his breath. He remembered his father’s advice that a fawn would follow a person after being carried first. As he began to walk slowly away, the fawn stared after him. Jody returned to gently stroke the fawn before walking away again. This time, the fawn took a few wobbly steps toward him and cried piteously, showing its willingness to follow. This realization brought Jody immense joy; he felt as though the fawn truly belonged to him. Overwhelmed with happiness, he longed to fondle it, play, and call it to him, but he restrained himself to avoid alarming it. Finally, he picked the fawn up and carried it in his arms, feeling as if he was walking effortlessly.

This passage highlights Jody’s deep emotional connection to the fawn and his growing sense of responsibility. It captures the joy and innocence of childhood as he embraces this newfound bond, reflecting his desire for companionship and the innocent joy of nurturing a vulnerable creature.

PASSAGE

His arms began to ache and he was forced to stop again. When he walked on, the fawn followed him at once. He allowed it to walk a little distance, then picked it up again. The distance home was nothing. He could have walked all day and into the night, carrying it and watching it follow. He was wet with sweat but a light breeze blew through the June morning, cooling him. The sky was as clear as spring water in a blue china cup. He came to the clearing. It was fresh and green after the night’s rain. He fumbled with the latch and was finally obliged to set down the fawn to manage it. Then, he had an idea — he would walk into the house, into Penny’s bedroom, with the fawn walking behind him. But at the steps, the fawn balked and refused to climb them. He picked it up and went to his father. Penny lay with closed eyes.

Word Meanings:

• Ached – felt a continuous, dull pain
• Fumbled – to handle clumsily or unskillfully
• Obliged – forced to do something; compelled
• Balked – unwilling; hesitated

Explanation:

Jody reluctantly stopped to rest because his arms began to ache from carrying the fawn. When he resumed walking, the fawn immediately followed him. He let the fawn walk a short distance before picking it up again, feeling that the distance to home was trivial. Despite his fatigue and sweat, he felt that he could have walked all day and into the night with the fawn at his side. A refreshing light breeze on that June morning cooled him, and the sky was remarkably clear, resembling spring water in a blue china cup. Upon reaching the clearing, which looked fresh and green after the previous night’s rain, Jody struggled briefly with the latch to open the door. After setting the fawn down to manage the latch, he had an idea: he would walk into the house with the fawn following him, intending to surprise Penny. However, when he reached the steps, the fawn balked and refused to climb them. Consequently, Jody had to pick the fawn up and carry it into his father’s bedroom, where Penny lay resting with his eyes closed.

This passage illustrates Jody’s determination and affection for the fawn, highlighting his physical struggle and the bond they share. The vivid descriptions of the weather and the setting emphasize the beauty of the moment, while Jody’s desire to surprise his father reflects his youthful innocence and joy.

PASSAGE

Jody called, “Pa! Look!” Penny turned his head. Jody stood beside him, the fawn clutched hard against him. It seemed to Penny that the boy’s eyes were as bright as the fawn’s. He said, “I’m glad you found him.”

Word Meanings:

• Clutched – grasped something tightly

Explanation:

Jody called out to his father, waking him, and stood beside him with the fawn tightly clutched against him. Penny noticed that Jody’s eyes were as bright and lively as the fawn’s. He expressed his happiness by saying he was glad Jody had found the fawn, reflecting his approval and affection for his son’s bond with the animal.

PASSAGE

Jody then went to the kitchen. The fawn wobbled after him. A pan of morning’s milk stood in the kitchen safe. The cream had risen on it. He skimmed the cream into a jug. He poured milk into a small gourd. He held it out to the fawn. It butted it suddenly, smelling the milk. He saved it precariously from spilling over the floor. It could make nothing of the milk in the gourd.

Word Meanings:

• Wobbled – moved unsteadily
• Skimmed – removed the top layer or cream
• Jug – a large container for liquids
• Gourd – a fruit with a hard shell, used here as a utensil
• Butted – pushed or hit with the head

Explanation:

Jody went to the kitchen, and the fawn wobbled after him with unsteady steps. In the kitchen, he found a pan of morning milk with cream risen on top. He skimmed the cream into a jug and poured the milk into a small gourd. When he held the gourd out to the fawn, it butted it eagerly, smelling the milk. Jody managed to save the milk from spilling over the floor, but the fawn could not drink from the gourd.

PASSAGE

He dipped his fingers in the milk and thrust them into the fawn’s soft wet mouth. It sucked greedily. When he withdrew them, it bleated frantically and butted him. He dipped his fingers again and as the fawn sucked, he lowered them slowly into the milk. The fawn blew and sucked and snorted. It stamped its small hoofs impatiently. As long as he held his fingers below the level of the milk, the fawn was content. It closed its eyes dreamily. It was ecstasy to feel its tongue against his hand. Its

Word Meanings:

• Thrust – pushed with force
• Greedily – in an eager and selfish manner
• Withdrew – took back or removed
• Snorted – made a loud sound through the nostrils
• Impatiently – unable to wait calmly
• Content – satisfied; at ease
• Dreamily – in a way that suggests being lost in thought or daydreaming

Explanation:

Jody dipped his fingers in the milk and thrust them into the fawn’s soft, wet mouth, which it sucked greedily. When he withdrew his fingers, the fawn bleated frantically and butted him, eager for more. Jody dipped his fingers in again, and as the fawn sucked, he slowly lowered them into the milk. The fawn snorted and stamped its small hooves impatiently. As long as Jody kept his fingers submerged in the milk, the fawn remained content, closing its eyes dreamily. Jody felt ecstatic as he sensed the fawn’s tongue against his hand, enjoying the moment as the milk disappeared quickly, creating a gurgling sound.