11

HOME IN THE WILD

For Wendy, the week and the wedding seemed to pass in a blur. She supposed the wedding was a success because everybody said so, but she was glad when it was over.

“I guess I’m like a wild animal,” she told Kyle. “When I feel like I’m being stared at, I get nervous.”

“Speaking of animals, when are you going to bring over the ones you left at the apartment?” Kyle asked.

“Right now,” Wendy said. “This afternoon.”

“Do you need my help?”

“No, Danny’s all the help I need. And the animals are used to him.”

• • •

When Wendy arrived at the apartment, she found Danny where she expected to him to be, out in the backyard with the animals.

“We’re not going to take your raccoons out to the farm,” Wendy said. “They’re old enough to be released. Shall we do that first?”

Danny looked at her as if she had slapped him. “Not take them to the farm?”

“No. Get the pet carrier off the back porch, and we’ll take them to that state park I told you about. Then we’ll come back and move the others to the farm.”

Wendy walked over to look at the raccoons. When she turned around, Danny had disappeared.

“Danny?” she called, but he didn’t answer.

She got the carrier herself, put some food in it, and set it in the pen. The little raccoons rushed in, and she quickly closed the door. Then she picked it up and carried it out to the car, still wondering what had become of Danny.

She saw him sitting on the curb, hunched in a way that told her he was miserable. Wendy didn’t have to ask what was wrong. She knew he was mad at her, just as she had been mad at her mother when she made Wendy get rid of Bandit. Still, it annoyed her that Danny was acting like this. After all, she had told him from the start that the little raccoons would be released as soon as they were old enough to look after themselves.

“Come on, Danny!” she called sharply.

He didn’t move.

For a minute Wendy sat in the car, thinking she just might go without him. Then she remembered how much time Danny had spent taking care of the little raccoons. He probably couldn’t help getting attached to them.

Wendy sighed, got out of the car, and went and sat down on the curb next to Danny. “I know you love them,” she said. “But wild animals aren’t toys. They have feelings, too. We should do what’s best for them, not just what makes us feel good.”

She waited a minute, then said, “Why don’t you ride out to the state park with me and take a look at the area where we’re going to release them. I think you’ll see how much happier they’ll be there than they could ever be living in a cage.”

Danny pushed the hair out of his eyes, stood up, and got into the car. On the hour-long drive to the park he stared straight ahead and didn’t say a word. Wendy remained silent, also, because she couldn’t think of anything to say. She knew Danny understood why the raccoons needed to be released. It was just that all those good reasons didn’t stop his heart from hurting at the thought of losing them.

Wendy knew the park well and avoided the part set aside for camping and picnicking, instead driving down a dirt track to a place where a small stream widened out to form a dark pool where fish collected.

She parked the car and turned to Danny. “This is it. Pretty, huh?”

“It’s okay,” Danny mumbled, without lifting his head to look around.

“Get the carrier out of the back and set them free.”

“Me?” He glanced up sharply.

“You’re the one who saved their lives. You ought to be the one to give them back their freedom.”

Slowly, Danny got out of the car, went to the back, and lifted the carrier out. “What now?”

“Pick a spot,” Wendy said. “Open it and stand back.”

For the first time, Danny looked carefully around the area. He walked down to the pond, and looked at the big old trees with their branches hanging out over the water.

“Here,” he said at last.

He put the carrier on the ground and peered in at the two raccoon kits. Wendy, waiting by the car, could see his lips moving. She knew he was saying goodbye.

At last, Danny opened the door of the carrier and backed away. The raccoons scurried out, took a quick look around, and headed for the nearest tree. Up they went, climbing faster than a cat. Only when they reached the first branch and had their arms wrapped securely around it did they stop and look down.

“Wow!” Danny exclaimed. “Can they ever climb! Where did they learn that?”

Wendy walked over to where she could see the raccoons up in the tree. “Their mother might’ve taught them to do that when they were really small. Or maybe climbing comes natural to them when they’re scared.”

“Why would they be scared of me?” Danny sounded hurt. “I’ve never been mean to them.”

“It’s not you they’re afraid of,” Wendy explained. “It’s being in a strange place.” She glanced at the carrier, “And they’re probably afraid of being put back in a cage.”

Danny looked at the small carrier. and back up at the little raccoons, whose four black eyes were looking down at him. “I guess it’ll be more fun for them, living in the wild,” he said finally.

“For sure,” Wendy said. “I mean, would you rather live here —” She waved toward the creek, the pond, and the big trees that surrounded them. “Or in a cage?”

One of the raccoons went a little way out on a branch overhanging the water and looked down. A small smile tugged at the corner of Danny’s mouth. “You said raccoons fish, right?”

“They can,” Wendy agreed. “And I don’t know if you noticed, but over there’s an old crabapple tree. They’ll have no trouble finding food here.”

“They’ll definitely like it here,” Danny said, then grinned at Wendy. “But I’d rather live on your farm.”

“Me, too,” Wendy said, with a laugh. “So let’s get back and move the rest of the critters out there. Next week we’ll let that old possum go, and the week after that, the fox should be well enough for release. But don’t worry, Danny — it won’t take any time to replace those animals with others that need us just as much.”