The Adventures of Button

by M. D. Richard W. Leech

  “Yes, yes, yes,” Delph shouted with glee. “Yes, I will keep my word. And, be your friend.” He hesitated slightly as he said the last, looking squarely at Buttons. Clearly, it was her call with Ssserek to back her up.

  Buttons couldn’t hold anger very long, particularly when trying to feign it. She smiled. “Yes, we’re friends. OK?” She licked Delph on the nose and Sally sealed the deal by climbing onto his snout and licking his eyebrow. It was just as well she couldn’t see his huge grin for at the best of times, only Ssserek’s smile could be more alarming.

  Ssserek grinned to himself as Buttons was joined by Sally. Their simple and transparent joy in life always filled him with a warm feeling. They began a minute inspection of the chain and trap, Sally’s tail slapping Delph’s nose again and again as the two went about their business.

  Delph simply clamped his mouth shut and closed his eyes. Temptation had never been greater.

  It took several moments before they reached the same conclusion.”Nuts! Take all day to dig up that stake.”

  While the dirt flew furiously from Buttons’s paws, Sally sought a limb with which they might lever-open the jaws of the trap. In a very short time, it became apparent they would fail. However deep, Buttons dug. The soft silt-like dirt fell back in, and however they tried to wedge the jaws open, either the branch broke or the angle was wrong. Buttons dropped disconsolately next to Delph.

  Why did he have to mix it up with these two? Bad enough with them running back and forth before his very nose, but to have Ssserek watching every move. No. No. No. It was his own fault. Here, he had friends, no longer lost or hungry. No. He would see it through. He groaned, but hung in there, waiting for his new friends to solve the impossible.

  “He sounds like a sick moose,” Sally said.

  Buttons jerked erect. “Ha! That’s it!” She said it very emphatically.

  “It’s what,” Sally asked as Ssserek grinned to himself.

  Leave it to them. They’d come through. He moved forward. “The moose, my little one. He has a hoof that no trap can resist.” Ssserek stopped and swayed as he looked at the sky. “Yes, I think we can do it. Sally?”

  She jumped at the singular urgency in his voice. “Yes, sir, what can I do?”

  Ssserek swayed back and forth as he considered all possibilities. “You can bugle. Bugle loud, dear. That’s what you can do. That’s precisely what you must do.”

  Sally nodded. Then she wasted no more time in questions. She knew what had to be done. She raced off to the east, and in a short time reached a small knoll amidst a clearing of trees. Quickly reaching the top, she raised her voice in the clarion call of her kind.

  Her bell-like voice reached higher and higher into the air as only beagles can when very excited. Into the afternoon air her call rose, reaching far to the south and east.

  At first, nothing happened. A few birds stopped to ponder the racket, but then went back to their feeding. But her voice carried until it touched a receptive mind. Rummaging in deep and wet foliage, two very large ears snapped erect. Their owner was large, very large indeed, and his head came up from the water that encircled him. He listened carefully, taking in the nuances and urgency of the message. He listened as large green leaves and other foliage hung from his large blubbery mouth.

  Then the young moose surged toward the shore, leaving his feeding for later. He was large even in his relative youth, for moose are the largest of all deer. He was lank and very tall, his shoulders being higher than the rest of his back. His head was awkward-looking to those not familiar with a moose, long in the snout, with large nostrils which he could close and open rapidly, and drooping blubbery lips which could suck large amounts of water foliage into his gaping maw. He liked to eat, and he would often leave the large zoo’s grazing field for the nearby swamp when he was really hungry. Of course, he wasn’t supposed to leave the field, but he had solved that problem some time ago. Now, he came and returned as he pleased, knowing when the time was right.

  But now was the time for action. He moved. He moved with speed and strength. He moved with ground-eating strides, his bulk seemingly blotting out sun as he made his way, first to the forest and then through it. He traveled along hidden trails. Where there was none, he made them. Bushes he ignored. Saplings he simply tore from the earth in his passage. The large trees he nimbly avoided. At last, he burst on the beach, shaking leaf, mud and water in all directions.

  Ssserek waited patiently until the great creature approached and dipped his long snout.

  “I’m here, Ssserek, as you called.”

  Buttons stood on her hind legs for a better view of the very large animal before her. Ssserek was large, Delph even larger, but this one was huge. “Holy cow,” she blurted out. “What are you?”

  His head swung down and around to take in the small dog in front of him. As he did so, he sprayed her with particles of aquatic plants, gobs of mud, and drops of water.

  “Yuk. My, but you’re messy,” Buttons spluttered.

  “I was in a hurry, and I don’t appreciate your humor,” rumbled the deep voice.

  Buttons took a few dainty steps around the messy moose. “You what?” she asked him.

  Before the conversation could tail off, Ssserek stopped them both with a flick of his tail. “Your opening exclamatory comment, Buttons. He is definitely not a cow. Nor the least bit holy,” he chuckled.

  “Sure, OK. But that’s not what I meant. And besides, you know very well.”

  A plaintive voice came from behind them. “Could we perhaps get on with this? My foot! It hurts!” Delph whined.

  All three turned their attention to the unhappy alligator who drooped disconsolately before them. They were gathering around him when Sally appeared from the trees, having made her way back more slowly from the knoll.

  She took one glance at the creature and started to say something, but just shook her head in wonderment. She raced up to them, taking her position between Buttons and Ssserek.

  Ignoring the poor alligator’s plight, the great creature took a deep breath, raised one eyebrow, and then lowered his head so that his nostrils puffed directly into their faces with each breath. “I am Milo, the moose, famous for his strength and . . .”

  Sally interrupted by muttering beneath her breath, “Good gosh. Another Greek scholar.”

  The creature’s head swayed ever so slightly, his large upper lip gently contacting Sally’s shoulder. She went tumbling, fetching up in surprise against the alligator’s snout, a smile rippling down his face so that all glowing fangs passed in review.

  They looked at one another in surprise but said nothing as Milo continued, “Famous for my strength and cunning sense of humor.” His “Ho, ho, ho” boomed out over the swamp, sending egrets and cranes flapping into the air.

  Sally looked more disgruntled than chagrined, but closed her mouth.

  She took the tumbling in good humor.

  Ssserek moved past the moose and scanned the chain, stake, and trap binding Delph securely to the ground. Motioning to Buttons, he said, “You will have to guide our rather large friend here, as I will instruct you. Please note the lever at this end. It must be pressed very firmly and not too fast.”

  Buttons’s short legs and keen eyes allowed her the best possible view, and it took only a moment for her to fathom the mechanism. Moving about, she stood pressed against the head of Delph, who turned his large, luminous eyes on her as she rested against the corner of his mouth. His upper lip rippled ever so slightly, causing Buttons to look up.

  She met his gaze squarely. “Easy shoe-leather, you’d make tough but enjoyable chew bones.”

  Delph slowly winked as his lips began to ripple once again. Buttons was about to say more when Ssserek broke in, “Easy, both of you. We must work together. And, very carefully if the matter is to be concluded successfully.”

  Delph’s breath came a bit quicker, but he refrained from saying more. Ssserek was right. And, after all, he did have a point.

  Bu
ttons turned to Ssserek and Milo, “Do you think we’ll need to have something under the trap so that it’s not simply buried?”

  Ssserek measured Milo’s hoof and the soft ground. “You’re probably right. Though just how we’re going to manage it will take some thought.”

  Sally stepped forward. “Perhaps we could just have Delph roll over and hold the trap on his chest.”

  Delph started to follow through on the suggestion before he noticed the bland stares the two dogs were giving him. He stopped. He surveyed Milo, carefully took in his splayed hoof and the weight they bore, then said, “Thanks, morsel, but no thanks. He’d squish me flat.”

  Buttons giggled, “Well, Delph, it was only a suggestion.”

  Turning to Sally, she said, “Come on. It’s up to us to find something. Let’s go.” Off the two raced, leaving small prints in the soft dirt.

  Sally was back in minutes with a shout. Skidding up to Delph, Sally announced, “We’ve got a big flat rock, but we can’t move it. Come on, Milo. Back in a sec, Delph.”

  As an afterthought, she turned to Delph and said, “Don’t go away.”

  Milo bellowed and moved after the fleet four-legged figure of Sally. She was right. Only a scant seventy yards down the edge of the swamp and slightly inland lay a flat stone. Buttons was digging furiously. She looked up, with mud encasing her face from snout to ears. “It doesn’t go very deep,” she announced, “but Sally and I can’t move it together. That’s for sure.”

  The two friends moved about it, measuring the rock from all angles. Milo smiled at their serious demeanor. Moving up to the stone, he nudged it with one great hoof. It moved slightly.

  “Hey,” Buttons shouted, “Milo, you’ve got it.”

  He was about to ask her what she meant, when it dawned on him. “Humph . . . Yes, indeed. Watch.”

  He kicked at it, spraying muck and leaves in all directions. But, the stone had moved perceptibly.

  “Do it again, Milo, but this time aim it,” Buttons shouted excitedly.

  Milo muttered to himself, “Aim it? What does she think I am?” He looked down as Sally danced about his hooves. “Easy there, Sally. I can’t always see you, you know.”

  “Don’t worry, you big ox. You’re not that lucky.”

  Milo’s disgruntled retort was lost as the two dogs put their heads together, resting them on the rock as they looked down the beach. “Yep, that’ll do it.”

  Buttons moved out in front of Delph so that she could speak directly to him. When she had finished and carefully informed the moose of his part, she moved away.

  Milo waited patiently until the two had backed off, then he swatted at the stone once again, but this time taking careful aim and using more strength.

  The result was more than gratifying; it was spectacular. The rock lifted into the air, like a discus, sailed down the shore, and skidded to a stop ten yards away.

  “Wow,” Sally muttered, “Now, that’s strength.”

  Milo beamed his appreciation and jogged nonchalantly toward the stone, where he repeated his previous action. After several such attempts, both Delph and Ssserek were amazed to see the flat stone sail into view and come skidding to a stop a few feet away. Milo’s booming came clearly to them as he appeared around the reeds lining the swamp, the two dogs yipping and laughing at his heels.

  “Hey, Ssserek,” Sally shouted, “did you ever see anything like that? He’d be a fantastic place kicker.”

  “He sure would,” Buttons agreed, “the Bears sure could use him.”

  Milo frowned. Now, what would he want with a bear? Biff was bad enough, always wallowing in the shallows and making a mess of the water plants. Buttons guessed his thoughts and added, “The Chicago Bears, you know.”

  He looked down at the impertinent young Scottie and had to smile. The reference escaped him, but he would get it all later. Milo was beaming at Sally’s compliment as he skidded to a stop in front of Delph who reared back to avoid the mass of muscle coming at him.

  “Easy,” Buttons said, as she mounted Delph’s back. She stopped between the two large eyes that crossed in their attempt to see her.

  Delph didn’t know what to do. Ssserek rested to one side. Sally bounced back and forth along the shore. Milo beamed down from his great height.

  Buttons scanned the group from her position atop Delph. “Now, look. This is how we’re going to do it, so pay attention because I have to get there where the rock is going.” With that she leaped to the ground and wiggled down the hole so that she could view the trap, Delph, and rock.

  “Delph, raise your paw. Keep the trap off the ground.”

  Delph slowly raised his sore leg as he partially rolled onto his side, partially squashing Buttons in the process. “No, no, you big twit. Higher, and keep off of me.”

  “Sally, do please keep an eye on him. He’s the pits.”

  Delph grinned impudently and rolled slightly more toward Buttons. Her yell of dissatisfaction was most gratifying.

  “Milo, if you will, just nudge that rock forward. Ssserek can tell you just about when to stop.” Buttons grunted with effort as she freed herself from between Delph and the side of the hollow. She glowered at the saurian who only smiled blandly.

  Buttons returned to the hole, stepping down into it so that only her small rump showed. Her voice was partially obscured by alligator, trap, and chain as she carefully surveyed them. “Delph, please, cooperate. After all, it’s your leg.”

  Everyone did as requested. Milo slowly nudged the stone forward until Ssserek asked him to pause. Sally saw to the final placement. And finally, Delph could heave a sigh of relief as he lowered his paw, the trap clinking as he did so.

  Both Sally and Ssserek slowly measured the stone and the placement of the trap, and when it met specifications, nodded simultaneously to Buttons.

  “Well,” she said, “that’s that. Good job. That was great Milo. Couldn’t have done it without you.”

  She glanced down at Delph, whose tail was twitching fretfully to and fro. “Getting anxious, water moccasin, old friend?” She rubbed his knobs gently.

  Delph sighed deeply. No one had ever been so gentle with him, or spoke jokingly as though he were one of the group. It was a nice sensation.

  Ssserek moved back so Sally could watch Milo’s hoof as he slowly advanced it toward the trap. Delph shuddered, but quieted as Button crooned to him. “Easy, Delph, easy. Milo’s really very gentle.”

  Delph glanced at her. She really meant it. The tone of her voice was soothing and reassuring and Milo was moving very slowly. It was surprising just how slow he could move such a large hoof. He liked it. He enjoyed being the center of attention, not being kicked or yelled at, much less being beaten. As badly as his leg ached, another, deeper ache was slowly disappearing from his heart.

  Sally cocked an eyebrow at her friend and thought of the blow to her rump Delph had delivered earlier, but kept her thoughts to herself. There were more important matters at hand.

  Delicacy, not muscle, was needed here. Sally slowly guided Milo as he picked up one hoof and then swung it forward to hover just over the trap. Delph could not move further away and Milo could not directly see the trap which was partially hidden from view. Thus, he had to depend upon the eyes and judgement of the two dogs. Buttons was reassuring Delph and Sally was guiding the leading edge of his hoof so that it contacted the lever which could release the jaws of the trap. Twice Milo had to stop and move his hoof as it slid off the rusting metal trap.

  Sally’s nose was almost in continuous contact with the hoof or the trap as she guided Milo. Finally, he had the purchase he needed. With scant pressure, or so it seemed to him, the lever was depressed and the jaws flopped open. With a shout of glee, Delph bounded away from the frightening contraption and rolled over and over in the shallow edge of the swamp, sending geysers of mud and water flying into the air.

  “Wow, wee, woo, wow,” was all he shouted for several moments.

  Buttons carefully approached Ssserek,
butted him with her head, and said, “You were great, Sssserek. Thanks, again.”

  He quietly beamed and nodded in agreement.

  Both Sally and Buttons sidled up to Milo, rubbing themselves against his huge legs. “You were great, Milo. Really, no one else could have done it.”

  He smiled hugely. Rather nice, for young dogs. Not always barking for no reason at all. “Well, I couldn’t have done it without you. You were very good. Great teamwork. Anytime you need me, you know where I am.”

  By this time, Delph had recovered himself and was watching the four friends. Slowly, his stout legs carried him silently forward until he stood next to Sally. Tipping his head so that he could better survey the small beagle, he very slowly brought his jaws to her side, his lips slowly writhing up and down at her proximity.

  His growling, grumbling stomach gave his presence away. Both Sally and Buttons leaped away, whirling to confront the alligator.

  Buttons scrambled onto Delph. Slinking up his long snout with her belly dragging on his ridged and rough hide, she paused before his luminous eyes. “Will you never learn?” She sat and pondered this new and fascinating addition to the swamp. As she did so, Milo moved up so that he stood over the alligator. The shadow of the huge moose made Delph nervous and he began to fidget. However, he didn’t move. He simply waited to hear what Buttons wanted.

  “You know, Delph, friends don’t behave like you do. You don’t eat friends. They help one another, like we did. So what’s it going to be? Friendship or . . .” She glanced upwards, but said nothing more.

  Delph gulped. He started to speak but Buttons’s weight, slight as it was, prohibited him saying much. She jumped to the ground and sat beside Sally, the two waiting to hear what he had to say.

  “It won’t matter what I say, if it’s simply to eliminate a threat.” He glanced upward, but his demeanor had changed. He was different and thinking differently than ever before.

  Milo grinned knowingly at the two small dogs who faced the alligator alone as he stepped aside. It was their show.

  Delph grinned in appreciation. “I’ve never had a friend, much less any like you all. I have sort of fended for myself, and when I escaped, I vowed to never get caught again and to have nothing to do with anyone else. They never lived long anyway.” He drooped at the sad thoughts racing through his mind.