“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.
Buttons spoke up as she watched the transformation taking place before her. “We’ll be your friends and we are not about to disappear. You’ll have a lot of friends here. But you have to learn the rules of the swamp. It won’t be easy.”
“Gosh,” Delph said as he looked from Buttons to Sally. “You really mean it, don’t you?”
Now, it would be unfair to suggest that Delph lacked a sense of gratitude, or that he harbored and thoughts of treachery. However, it had been a long day; his stomach was growling unmercifully, and well, alligators are still alligators. His honor should not be impugned at this time either, for clearly, he was not acting in the least bit precipitously, considering his inner turmoil, and his great brown eyes contained no hint of Machiavellian cunning. He was simply hungry, and now to make it worse, he was facing a situation he had never thought about. Friends? Actual friends with whom he could talk.
He wanted to cry, but he didn’t. He was an alligator, after all. He simply nodded. “I’ll do it. I’ll be the best friend you ever had.” He looked at Ssserek and Milo. “Really, I mean it. I promise.”
Buttons hopped on Delph’s snout and stalked up to his eyes, peering intently into each, one at a time. “I believe you.”
Ssserek interjected softly, “Delph, you must do as you promise. You can’t win with this bunch otherwise. You do know that?”
Delph grinned hugely, with real joy lighting his eyes. “Yes, yes, I do know. And, thank you all.” His nodding in agreement to Ssserek made Buttons bounce up and down, and at the same time, sat Sally back on her back.
They all laughed aloud, Milo’s bellow shaking the nearest trees and making the forest ring. Buttons slid off after one more lick which made Delph blink with sudden emotion.
Milo turned and began making his way back to the grazing field when Buttons and Sally stopped him with a shout. Racing up to him, they both sat before him and stammered their thanks.
“It was very kind of you, Milo,” said Sally.
“We’ll see you again, soon?” asked Buttons.
Delph made his way up to them. “You were great, Milo. You all are.”
Milo would have blushed had he been able to do so. Instead, he bowed, first to Ssserek and then to the two dogs whose eyes glittered with emotion and appreciation. Finally, he nodded to Delph, whose tail thumped the ground in pure happiness and joy.
Delph nodded to the two dogs. “I have to leave now, if you don’t mind.” He turned to Milo. He had never thought of it before, but this was the greatest day of his life. He didn’t quite know what to do. Then, he simply blurted out, “I’ve gotten to know the swamp pretty well. Uh, would you like some great food? I know where the biggest patch of swamp grass that ever was is. Unexpected emotion welled up in his chest, but Sally and Buttons were grinning, sharing his emotion and his marvelous intent. “Well, you know what I mean.” Delph’s voice dwindled as he looked at the moose.
Milo grinned in return. “I know exactly what you mean. Lead the way, old buddy. We both have some eating to do.”
Buttons and Sally watched with mixed emotions as the two moved swiftly offshore. They couldn’t follow, but it had been a swell day. One that they would not forget. Both made their way to Ssserek where he lay coiled. “I guess its time for us to go, too, Ssserek. Thanks again.”
He watched their rapid departure. He looked out over the quiet swamp, listening to the small sounds of bird and insect. “Yessss, time to call it quits,” he sighed.
The End