by MJ Schutte
Very slowly, he moved forward.
After a few steps, he spotted the danger.
Just past the goat, under a berry bush, a black panther was hiding.
Black panthers were by far the most dangerous predator known to man.
Worse than that, they were highly aggressive.
He froze again and strained his eyes in the near darkness to get a better look at the animal.
He didn’t really know what to do. Leaving the little white goat seemed cruel but he wasn’t about to get into an argument with a black panther either. He was pretty sure he already knew what the outcome of that would be.
It was very uncommon to actually see a black panther. They normally hid during the day and hunted at night. Brighton had never seen one before so he decided to get a closer look. From the stories he’d heard, they moved like ghosts through the night and were faster than lightning.
The goat was still happily grazing, completely unaware of the danger only a few paces behind her. What little breeze there was, pushed from the goat to the panther so she couldn’t even smell the danger. The panther wasn’t stalking the goat as Brighton originally thought. Instead, it was lying on its side.
Strange Brighton thought. The panther was one good leap away from the goat and still it did nothing.
He realized then that the panther wasn’t watching the goat; its eyes were fixed on him.
Stranger still, Brighton did not see any threat in those black eyes.
He thought he saw pain and a plea for help.
Relaxing a little Brighton slowly moved closer and squatted about an arm’s length away from the panther.
He realized that this could be very dangerous but his curiosity got the better of him.
‘What’s the matter?’ he asked softly.
Slowly he reached out and touched the panther’s big black head.
A soft, throaty growl came from the animal. Brighton gently stroked its head hoping this will keep the animal calm and establish a bit of trust. With his other hand, he pushed the berry bush branches away a little. He instantly saw what was going on.
She was giving birth.
Brighton had seen a number of goats give birth so he was familiar with the sight. He pushed the branches further away and moved around to take a better look.
‘This is not good,’ he said to the panther.
He knew that in a normal birth, the head should appear first but instead he saw two hind legs. Every time a goat gave birth this way, the little one was long dead before they could free it from the mother.
Brighton didn’t know how long the baby panther was stuck this way in the birth canal but he was certain it could not survive.
‘I’m going to help you get the baby out,’ Brighton explained to the mother, ‘It’s dead but if we don’t remove it you will also die.’
He took hold of the small legs and gently pulled.
At first, nothing happened but as Brighton increased his pulling force, the small body started to move. The mother was clearly in agony but still made no threatening move towards Brighton.
Finally, he was able to pull the baby free. A quick check revealed that the little one was not breathing and Brighton could not feel a heartbeat. He wiped away most of the blood anyway and placed the baby next to his mother’s head.
‘I’m sorry,’ Brighton said stroking the small lifeless body.
‘It was a boy.’
Sadness washed over Brighton. He continued stroking the baby for a little while before deciding there was nothing more he could do. Besides, it was time to get the goat home.
Just before he removed his hand from the little body, he thought he felt the chest move. He pressed down a little harder and again the chest rose and fell as if the little one was breathing. Brighton put his hand between the front paws and felt for a heartbeat.
It was there!
Very faint but still, it was a heartbeat! The little chest rose and fell, again and again. It was definitely breathing!
‘Your baby is alive!’
Brighton was almost beside himself with excitement.
‘You need some milk and your mother is too weak to feed you,’ he said to the little one.
Looking around he spotted the goat. From a nearby bush, he picked a round leaf slightly bigger than his hand. Cupping his left hand, he fashioned a makeshift cup in it with the round leaf. Next, he went to the goat, who had decided that this was as good a place as any to sleep for the night and got her to stand up.
In no time, his makeshift cup was half-full.
When he returned to the panthers, the little one was struggling to get on his feet. It was far too weak for that but he still tried.
‘You’re a little fighter,’ Brighton told it.
He dipped his finger in the milk and pushed it into the baby’s mouth. One taste of the milk was enough, the little panther started suckling on Brighton’s finger. Brighton poked a small hole in the side of his makeshift cup with a twig and held it in front of the baby.
Eagerly the baby started drinking. Brighton continued to fill up the cup and feed the little panther until it didn’t want any more milk.
He then offered mother panther some milk, which she gratefully accepted. Before she finished drinking the baby was fast asleep in Brighton’s lap. He sat with the two panthers for a while longer and then said, ‘I’d better get home, Mother is probably furious by now.’
He placed the sleeping baby next to its mother, gathered up the little white goat in his arms, and started walking home. He looked back at the panthers. The big cat’s eyes were fixed on him again but this time he saw no pain. Instead, he saw the eyes of a grateful mother.
It was close to midnight when Brighton got home.
Through the window, he saw a candle still burning in the kitchen.
‘I think I’m in trouble,’ he whispered to the goat.
He put her down with the others and went inside.
Before he took two steps into the kitchen his mother flew into his arms and hugged him so tight, he thought she was going to squeeze the life out of him.
‘Oh Brighton, I was so worried,’ she cried.
‘Sorry Mother,’ he said sheepishly while hugging her back.
Stepping back, Clarissa asked irritably, ‘Where were you?’
‘Uh….Didn’t Lily tell you?’ Brighton stuttered.
‘Yes, she said you had to go get the white goat but that was hours ago.’
‘Well…..um…..I had trouble finding her.’
Brighton decided not to tell his mother about the panthers. She would only give him a lecture on how dangerous they are and he didn’t want to ruin the good feeling that was inside him.
‘You’re hiding something,’ Clarissa accused.
‘How do you….I mean…I’m not hiding anything!’
‘A mother knows these things. You were always bad at hiding things from me and even worse at lying about it,’ his mother smiled.
Brighton tried to change the subject.
‘I have to get cleaned up. Any chance I could twist your arm for some supper?’
Clarissa smiled at him. It seemed he was always hungry these days.
‘I made some stew and fresh bread earlier. It’s probably cold now,’ she replied.
‘Let me go wash then I’ll come eat. Dish up for me please?’ Brighton asked as he headed outside to where the water barrel was.
‘Hurry up,’ his mother instructed, ‘it’s late and I want to get to bed.’
‘Yes mother,’ he said rolling his eyes.
Suddenly he turned around and put his big arm around Clarissa.
‘I’m sorry I got home so late,’ he apologized.
Chapter 2
THE NEXT MORNING Brighton was up long before the sun. He was still not going to tell his mother about the panthers but could not wait to show Lilian.
As soon as it was light enough, he headed out with the goats. When he got to the clearing he sat down to have some of last night’s b
read and stew.
He frequently looked up and scanned the area towards town to see if Lilian was coming. The excitement was almost too much for him and the wait agonizing.
After a while, he thought of quickly going to where he left the panthers but then worried that while he was gone Lilian might arrive. He settled down to wait some more.
It was almost midday before Lilian finally came. She was wearing a pristine white dress and white shoes.
Instead of shouting for Brighton as she usually did, she walked right up to him and said, ‘Good day, Brighton.’
Brighton looked at her quizzically and asked, ‘And who might you be?’
‘It’s me, Lilian,’ she replied seriously.
‘It can’t be,’ Brighton teased.
‘The Lily I know has a mop of tangled hair and would never wear such a fancy dress. I don’t know who you are but you’re certainly not my Lily.’
Lilian clenched her fists and shouted at him, ‘You big monkey!’
She turned around and stormed off towards town.
‘Wait!’ Brighton called out. ‘Lily, please wait!’
He chased after her and quickly caught up.
When he took her by the arm, she stopped but did not turn around. Brighton stepped in front of her and looked down into her blue eyes. She had tears running down her cheeks.
‘What’s wrong Lily?’ he asked.
‘Nothing,’ she sobbed.
‘Looks like something to me,’ he countered.
He went down on one knee, wiped a tear from her cheek, and said softly, ‘Please tell me?’
She looked away and said shyly, ‘I spent hours making myself pretty, and all you can do is tease me.’
Brighton almost laughed. Is that all he wanted to ask but decided against it. She was already upset, no point in making it worse.
‘I’m sorry Lily. Give me another chance please,’ he said instead.
When she didn’t answer he said, ‘I promise to tell you that you look pretty.’
‘NO!’ she shouted, ‘I want you to tell me the truth.’
‘Ok, ok,’ he said quickly. ‘I will tell you the truth.’
‘Promise?’
‘Yes, I promise.’
Lilian thought about it for a moment and then stepped back two steps muttering something about boys and stupid.
She slowly turned a few times so that Brighton could get a good look. The flowing, white dress hugged her body perfectly, the white shoes matching the dress. Her blonde curls were brushed out and neatly held back with a pink ribbon. Six tiny pink bows decorated her hair halfway down and six more at the bottom.
‘So? What do you think? You promised to tell the truth!’ she demanded.
Brighton was speechless for a moment. He always thought Lily was quite a pretty child but now she looked more like a woman, an exceptionally beautiful woman.
‘Uh … You’re pret … I mean …. um.’
He could feel his face going red.
‘You are very beautiful, Lilian,’ he finally stammered.
Her heart skipped a beat.
‘Thank you, Brighton.’
Lilian could tell Brighton was serious.
He only ever called her “Lilian” when he was serious.
Her heart was beating so fast she feared it might fly right out of her chest. He said “beautiful”. Not “nice” or “pretty” but “beautiful” and she knew he meant it. How she wished he would scoop her up in his strong arms and kiss her right now.
‘What’s with calling me “Brighton”?’ he asked, still staring at her.
‘You’re making me uncomfortable,’ she said.
‘What? Oh, sorry,’ he said quickly turning his eyes away.
‘Let’s go sit on that fallen tree and we can talk a while,’ she suggested.
Without a word, Brighton turned, took her hand, and started walking.
‘So?’ he asked.
‘So what?’ she replied.
‘So what’s with calling me “Brighton”?’ he asked again.
‘Calling your boyfr…uh…friend silly nicknames is for little girls. I am a lady now and I shall act like one.’
‘Boyfriend?’ Brighton asked with a sly smile.
‘Well ... you are a boy and you are my friend. That makes you my boy friend. Not like boyfriends and girlfriends who kiss all the time, but my friend who also happens to be a boy.’
‘Oh,’ was all he could think to say.
‘Where did you get the dress?’ Brighton asked after a while.
‘I made it,’ she answered.
Suddenly he remembered about the panthers.
‘Lily I have…..’
‘I prefer Lilian now.’
‘What? No. I don’t care how pretty or grown up you are; you will always be my Lily.’
She decided not to argue. She liked being “his Lily”.
‘What did you want to say?’ she asked.
‘I have to show you something,’ he said, barely containing his excitement.
‘Ok, show me,’ she said.
Brighton grabbed his knapsack and said, ‘Come with me, it’s in the woods.’
They walked south to the edge of the woods where Brighton turned to Lilian.
‘You can’t go in there with that dress and those shoes. Take it off and leave it here,’ he instructed.
She lifted her chin and declared, ‘A lady does not get undressed in front of a boy.’
Brighton folded his arms and leaned back against a tree.
‘Well, you will ruin the dress and shoes in the woods so it’s your choice. Take it off or stay here.’
Lilian was in two minds. This was not lady-like but she desperately wanted to see what got Brighton so excited.
Her curiosity won the battle very quickly. She took the dress and shoes off and left them on a rock.
‘Ok, ready,’ she said standing in her vest and undergarments.
‘Follow me and stay quiet. This could be dangerous,’ Brighton warned.
They walked in silence to the spot where the blue flowers grew under the oak trees. Lilian knew better than to ask Brighton where they were going. He never gave away a secret.
When they got to the place, Brighton whispered, ‘Stay behind this tree until I call you.’
‘Ok,’ she whispered back.
Brighton slowly rounded the tree and walked to the berry bush. Mother panther was still lying under the bush, her eyes fixed on him. She let out a low growl and the little one appeared from under the branches where he was hiding. He charged up and launched a mock attack on Brighton’s shoes.
When Brighton saw they remembered him and there was no danger he called out to Lilian.
‘Come slowly towards me.’
She came around the tree, saw the small panther, and froze. Before Lilian could speak mother panther was up on her feet, the hair on her back standing up, a deep menacing growl coming from her throat. Her eyes were fixed on Lilian, her tail flicking through the air.
‘Stand still,’ Brighton said quickly.
Lilian stood dead still, not that she was able to move anyway, she was frozen with fear. Brighton walked over to the big cat, the small one still playing around his feet.
Carefully he touched her head and said, ‘That is Lily. She is my friend just like you are my friend.’
The big cat seemed not to take notice, still staring at Lilian and growling. Her body was shaking. She was far too weak for this but very determined to protect her young.
Brighton walked to Lilian and put his arm around her.
‘See,’ he said addressing the cat, ‘she is my friend.’
For a few moments more it looked like mother panther might attack but then she suddenly sank down to the ground. Brighton was unsure if she accepted that Lilian would do them no harm or if her fragile strength just gave way. Either way, he was glad the danger seemed to be over.
He walked over and sat next to her.
‘Come closer,’ he said to Lilian.
>
She shook her head.
In a small voice Lilian said, ‘It’s a black panther.’
‘Yes I know,’ Brighton replied.
‘They are dangerous,’ Lilian whispered.
‘’Yes I know,’ Brighton said again, ‘but this one is my friend. I helped her give birth to the little one last night.’
The small cat was still trying to play with Brighton, but for the moment, he ignored the little one and stroked the big cat’s head. Deciding that this was no fun, the small cat looked for something else to play with.
He spotted Lilian. Far quicker than seemed possible for the baby that he was, he charged at Lilian’s legs in a playful attack.
A small whimper escaped her lips. Just before the little one reached Lilian, he stumbled and crashed into her legs. This brought a small giggle from Lilian and she started to relax a little. After a few moments, she plucked up the courage to reach down and stroke his head. This brought another menacing growl from mother panther.
‘Easy girl,’ Brighton said soothingly while stroking her head.
Lilian bent over to pick up the little cat but Brighton quickly snapped, ‘Don’t!’
‘She might think you’re trying to take him away and that won’t be good for us,’ he explained.
‘First walk over here slowly and come say hello to the mother, maybe then she will allow you to pick up her baby.’
Lilian slowly approached the dangerous animal. Careful to keep Brighton between herself and the predator she reached out with one hand and gingerly touched the animal’s head.
‘Sit down and stroke her,’ Brighton said.
Still very unsure, Lilian sat next to Brighton and started stroking.
The big cat seemed to accept that Lilian was a friend and visibly relaxed. Behind Lilian, the small one was trying to get to one of the tiny pink ribbons in her hair.
‘Now you can pick him up,’ Brighton said.
Lilian turned, picked up the baby, and put him in her lap.
‘Bri, have you seen his eyes?’ Lilian asked.
‘No. Why?’
‘Look,’ she said turning the cat’s head towards Brighton.
His eyes were completely white.
Brighton looked at mother panther’s eyes and said, ‘Her eyes are black.’
