The Wild Child

The wild child grew up in a small cabin with his Momma and Daddy. He had a forest as his backyard, an adventure around every corner. The wild child knew when a storm was coming by watching the birds & listening carefully to their songs. He went to school in the woods, where he learned things beyond "normal" schooling. The deer taught him how to be light on his feet. The birds taught him how to whistle and call the other birds. The bears taught him which berries were good to eat. The raccoons taught him to be silent in the stillness of the night. The foxes taught him how to clever and sly. The wolves taught him how to run fast. So many wonderful lessons he learned growing up in his beloved woods. In the night, he went to sleep by the whippoorwill's call. In the morning, he awoke too the sparrow's song. It was a simple life, but a very good life. The wild child never hurt any of his friends. For the only friends he had were the animals, of the woods. All day, he would play with the baby animals, all while a mother was watching close by. The wild child had lots of wild animals that were his "pets" and loyal friends. A black bear, named Samson, who was orphaned after poachers killed his mother. A raccoon, named Bando, who joined the family after a freak storm destroyed his home. A hawk, named Osi, came into the family as a fledgling, and never left. His most precious "pet" was his wolf, named Thunder, who was rescued by the boy from a trap. Thunder was all black, except for a white blaze down his nose. Thunder and the boy grew up together and also grew old together. Then a very sad thing happened, the wild child grew up. He had to move into the city, where he had to teach others about survival in the woods. The wild child would never forget his special childhood, in the woods. He would never forget the lessons of hope, fear, courage, love, and faith that he had learned as a child; taught to him by his parents and his animal friends. Never would he forget his childhood home of happiness, where his happy childhood years were spent. A home where he knew he'd always be welcomed and loved. A place he could always go back too, where he was always wanted.