(Prose) Chapter 6: This is Jody’s Fawn

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This is Jody’s Fawn

By Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

                This is Jody’s Fawn Introduction

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' lesson "This is Jody's Fawn" is about a fawn whose mother was killed in order to use its liver and heart to extract poison from Jody's father Penny and save his life after a snakebite. Jody convinces his father to bring the fawn home and raise it, then his mother, and finally Mill-wheel to go search for it. The lesson follows  
Jody’s journey from finding the fawn to bringing it home with him.
              This is Jody’s Fawn Summary

The lesson "This is Jody's Fawn" begins with Jody being unable to stop thinking about the fawn. He expresses his worry to his father, Penny, who was resting after being saved from death. He was bitten by a snake, and Jody killed a doe in order to extract poison from his father's heart and liver. Jody was concerned because the doe had a fawn. He desired to take it home and raise it. Penny agreed because he thought it would be ungrateful of them to leave the fawn to starve.
Next, Jody convinces his mother, who is initially hesitant but agrees to let Jody bring it home after hearing Mill-wheel and Doc Wilson's perspectives. She was fine with it if Jody gave it his share of milk because they didn't have anything else to feed the fawn. Jody was riding on Mill-wheel's horse when he realised he didn't want company. He didn't want anyone to see his disappointment if he couldn't find the fawn, and he didn't want anyone to see his joy when he did find it.
As a result, he sent Mill-wheel away. He starts searching for the fawn and comes across a group of buzzards near the dead doe, which he scares away with a bough. He keeps searching until he finds the fawn staring at him with his bright eyes. Jody hesitated to approach him at first and only extended a hand to caress him, but it was only when the fawn approached him that he carried it itself. He carried it through the clearing and to the road intersection leading back home. He kept it down to rest, but the fawn cried out.
He remembered his father telling him that if you carry a fawn for a while, it will follow you. He carried it for a while on the way home and let it follow him for a while. Jody wanted to show his father that the fawn had followed him home, but the fawn refused to climb the stairs. His father could see Jody's happiness through his bright eyes as he carried it up the stairs. Jody then took it to the kitchen to give it his milk. He patiently fed it milk until the gourd was empty.
         This is Jody’s Fawn Lesson Explanation

Every Monday, on his way back from work, Bepin Choudhury would drop in at Kalicharan’s in New Market to buy books. Crime stories, ghost stories and thrillers. He had to buy at least five at a time to last him through the week. He lived alone, was not a good mixer, had few friends, and didn’t like spending time in idle chat. Today, at Kalicharan’s, Bepin Babu had the feeling that someone was observing him from close quarters. He turned round and found himself looking at a round-faced, meek-looking man who now broke into a smile. “I don’t suppose you recognize me.”
Jody allowed his thoughts to drift back to the fawn. He could not keep it out of his mind. He had held it, in his dreams, in his arms. He slipped from the table and went to his father’s bedside. Penny lay at rest. His eyes were open and clear, but the pupils were still dark and dilated. Jody said, “How are you feeling, Pa?” “Just fine, son. Old Death has gone thieving elsewhere. But wasn’t it a close shave!” “I agree.” Penny said, “I’m proud of you, boy, the way you kept your head and did what was needed.”

• Drift back to-go back to
• Fawn- a young deer in its first year
• Dilated- enlarged
• Thieving- the action of stealing
• A close shave- a narrow escape
• Kept your head- stayed calm in a difficult situation

Jody couldn't help but think about the fawn, no matter how hard he tried not to. In his dreams, he held him in his arms. He eventually got up from the table to go to his father's bedside, where Penny was sleeping. His eyes were open and seemed clear but the pupils were still dark and enlarged. Jody inquired as to how his father was feeling. His father responded that he is now fine. He went on to say that it was a narrow escape from death, and that he appears to have gone stealing elsewhere. Jody agreed. Penny praised Jody for not losing his cool and doing what needed to be done while staying calm.

“Pa-” 
“Yes, son.” 
“Pa, do you recollect the doe and the fawn?” 
“I can never forget them. The poor doe saved me, that’s certain.”
 “Pa, the fawn may be out there yet. It might be hungry and very scared.” 
“I suppose so.”
 “Pa, I’m a big boy now and don’t need to drink milk. Why don’t I go and see if I can find the fawn?” 
“And bring it here?” 
“And raise it.” Penny lay quiet, staring at the ceiling.
 “Boy, you’ve got me hemmed in.” 
“It won’t take much to raise it, Pa. It’ll soon start eating leaves and acorns.” 
“You are smarter than boys of your age.” 
“We took its mother, and it wasn’t to blame.” 
“Surely it seems ungrateful to leave it to starve. Son, I can’t say ‘No’ to you. I never thought I’d live to see another day.”

• Doe- a female deer
• Hemmed in- (here) caught in a situation where one can’t say no
• Acorns- small brown nuts

He then asks his father if he recalls the doe and the fawn. Penny responded that he will never forget the poor Doe who saved his life. Jody expressed his concern regarding the fawn who might still be out there, hungry and frightened as he was separated from his mother. His father agreed. Jody goes on to say that he can take care of him and that he no longer needs to drink milk because he is a grown-up boy. He asked for permission from his father to go look for the fawn. His father asks Jody if he wants to bring the fawn to their house, to which Jody agrees and adds that he wants to raise it as well.
As his father gazed up at the ceiling, he expressed how Jody had put him in a position where he couldn't say 'no.' Jody tried to convince him further by pointing out that raising it would not be difficult and that it would soon grow up to eat leaves and acorns. Penny added that Jody was smarter than the other boys his age. Jody mentioned that it was them who took its mother, and now it will suffer as a result of them, despite the fact that it is not to blame. His father expressed how ungrateful it would be to let him starve. Penny couldn't say no to Jody because he had given up hope of ever living another day.

“Can I ride back with Mill-wheel and see if I can find it?” 
“Tell your Ma I said you can go.” Jody asked his father if he could ride back with Mill-wheel to try and find the fawn. His father agreed and told Jody to convey to his mom that he has given him the required permission. 
He sidled back to the table and sat down. His mother was pouring coffee for everyone. He said, “Ma, Pa says I can go bring back the fawn.” She held the coffee pot in mid-air. “What fawn?” 
“The fawn belonging to the doe we killed. We used the doe’s liver to draw out the poison and save Pa.” She gasped. “Well, for pity sake—” 
“Pa says it would be ungrateful to leave it to starve.” Doc Wilson said, “That’s right, Ma’am. Nothing in the world comes quite free. The boy’s right and his daddy’s right.” 
Mill-wheel said, “He can ride back with me. I’ll help him find it.” She set down the pot helplessly. “Well, if you’ll give it your milk—we’ve got nothing else to feed it.

• Sidled back- walked back quietly, trying not to be noticed
• Gasped- catch one’s breath with an open mouth, owing to pain or astonishment

Jody returned to the table in such a way as to avoid being noticed. While his mother poured coffee for everyone, he told her that his father had given him permission to bring the fawn. When she heard this, she paused, held the coffee pot in the air, and asked which fawn he was referring to. Jody informs her that he plans to bring the fawn from the doe they killed to save his father's life. He went on to say that they used doe's liver to extract poison in order to save his father. She sighed and said, "He can bring him home out of pure compassion." Jody told her that his father thinks it would be ungrateful and unappreciative of them to starve the fawn.
Doctor Wilson maintained his point of view by agreeing with Jody and his father. He believed they were both right. He went on to say that there is nothing in the world that is free. Mill-wheel offered to give Jody a ride and assist him in finding the fawn. Jody's mother sat down feeling helpless after hearing all of this. Even though she was opposed, she knew they were right and agreed if Jody would give the fawn his share of milk because they didn't have anything else to feed it.

Mill-wheel said, “Come on, boy. We’ve got to get riding.” 
Ma Baxter asked anxiously, “You’ll not be gone long?” 
Jody said, “I’ll be back before dinner for sure.” 
Mill-wheel mounted his horse and pulled Jody up behind him. He said to Mill-wheel, “Do you think the fawn’s still there? Will you help me find him?” 
“We’ll find him if he’s alive. How you know it’s a he?” “The spots were all in a line. On a doe-fawn, Pa says the spots are every which way…”

• Mounted- riding an animal, typically a horse
• Every which way-in different directions

Mill-wheel asked Jody to accompany him and said they needed to go as soon as his mother agreed. Jody's mother, Baxter, asked for reassurance that he would not be gone for long. Jody stated that he would return before dinner.
Mill-wheel mounted his horse and assisted Jody in sitting behind him.  Jody asked Mill-wheel if he thinks the fawn was still alive and if he would assist Jody in finding him. Mill-wheel assured him that if the fawn was still alive, they would find it. He did, however, ask Jody how he knew it was a male. Jody assured Mill-wheel that he was sure because his spots were all in a row. His father had told him that a female deer has spots that point in different directions.

II
Jody gave himself over to thoughts of the fawn. They passed the abandoned clearing. He said, “Cut to the north, Millwheel. It was up here that Pa got bitten by the snake and killed the doe and I saw the fawn.” Suddenly Jody was unwilling to have Mill-wheel with him. If the fawn was dead, or could not be found, he could not have his disappointment seen. And if the fawn was there, the meeting would be so lovely and so secret that he could not endure to share it.

• Gave himself over to- to spend all your time and energy doing or feeling something
• Abandoned- having been deserted or left
• Clearing- an open space in a forest, especially one cleared for cultivation
• Endure- (here) handle

Jody engaged himself with the fawn. They passed through a deserted portion of forest. Jody gives directions, telling Mill-wheel to turn north, where Penny was bitten by a snake. He'd killed the doe and only seen the fawn there. Jody suddenly became unwilling to be with Mill-wheel. He didn't want Mill-wheel to see his disappointment if the fawn was dead or couldn't be found. On the other hand, if he found the fawn, the union would be so beautiful and personal that he couldn't bear the thought of sharing it.

He said, “It’s not far now, but the scrub is very thick for a horse. I can make it on foot.” 
“But I’m afraid to leave you, boy. Suppose you got lost or got bitten by the snake, too?”
“I’ll take care. It might take me a long time to find the fawn, if he’s wandered. Leave me off right here.” “All right, but you take it easy now. You know north here, and east?” 
“There, and there. That tall pine makes a bearing.” “So long.”
 “So long, Mill-wheel. I’m obliged.”

• Scrub- small form of a plant
• Wander- to roam
• Makes a bearing- acts as a compass and helps to identify directions
• Obliged- be grateful

Jody told Mill-wheel that the place where he saw the fawn was not far away. Jody suggested that he continue on foot because the scrubs ahead are too dense for a horse. Mill-wheel was afraid to leave Jody alone for fear of him becoming lost or being bitten by a snake. Jody assures him that he will handle it, but that it may take some time to find the fawn if he has wandered further. He told Mill-wheel to leave him alone. Mill-wheel follows him and tells him to take it easy. He asks Jody as to his awareness of the north and east. Jody told him by pointing out the directions he is familiar with, and that the tall pine acts as a compass that aids in determining directions. Mill-wheel comments on the pine is long , to which Jody agrees and expresses his gratitude.

He waited for the sound of the hooves to end, then cut to the right. The scrub was still. Only his own crackling of twigs sounded across the silence. He wondered for an instant if he had mistaken his direction. Then a buzzard rose in front of him and flapped into the air. He came into the clearing under the oaks. Buzzards sat in a circle around the carcass of the doe. They turned their heads on their long scrawny necks and hissed at him. He threw his bough at them and they flew into an adjacent tree. The sand showed large cat prints but the big cats killed fresh, and they had left the doe to the carrion birds.

• Hooves- the horny part of the foot of a horse
• Crackling- sharp sound
• Twigs- a slender woody shoot growing from a branch or stem of a tree or shrub
• Buzzard- a large hawk like bird of prey with broad wings and a rounded tail, often seen soaring in wide circles
• Flapped- (of a bird) move (its wings) up and down when flying or preparing to fly; flutter
• Scrawny- thin and bony
• Hissed- make a sharp sibilant sound as of the letter s
• Adjacent- nearby
• Bough- a main branch of a tree

Jody waited for the sound of hooves to stop, then let the horse go a little further before turning right. The scrub in front of him came to a halt. In the silence, only the sound of a few twigs could be heard. Jody wondered for a moment if he had gone in the wrong direction. In front of him, a large bird, similar to a vulture, appeared and fluttered into the air. From beneath the oaks, he made his way to the abandoned clearing. They sat in a circle around the dead doe. They hissed at him while looking at him with their heads resting on their long necks. Jody threw a branch at them, and they flew into a nearby tree. The sand sowed the imprints of large cat footprints that had recently killed it and left the doe for the carrion birds.

He parted the grass at the place where he had seen the fawn. It did not seem possible that it was only yesterday. The fawn was not there. He circled the clearing. There was no sound, no sign. The buzzards clacked their wings, impatient to return to their business. He returned to the spot where the fawn had emerged and dropped on all fours, studying the sand for the small hoof prints. The night’s rain had washed away all tracks except those of cats and buzzards.

• Clacked- make a sharp sound or series of noises

Jody separated the grass from where he saw the fawn the day before. He couldn't believe it was only a day. The fawn was not present there. Jody searched the abandoned land but found no trace of it. The buzzards, on the other hand, made sound with their wings in desperation to resume what they were doing. Jody looked around the area where the fawn had appeared and began reading the small hoof prints in the sand, but the rain from the night before had washed away all tracks except for cats and buzzards.

III
Movement directly in front of him startled him so that he tumbled backward. The fawn lifted its face to his. It turned its head with a wide, wondering motion and shook him through with the stare of its liquid eyes. It was quivering. It made no effort to rise or run. Jody could not trust himself to move 
He whispered, “It’s me.” The fawn lifted its nose, scenting him. He reached out one hand and laid it on the soft neck. The touch made him delirious. He moved forward on all fours until he was close beside it. He put his arms around its body. A light convulsion passed over it but it did not stir.

• Startled- feeling or showing sudden shock or alarm
• Tumbled- having fallen or collapsed
• Quivering- trembling or shaking with a slight rapid motion
• Delirious- (here) extremely excited
• Convulsion- shiver

Jody was shocked when he noticed movement in front of him and fell backward. The fawn was the culprit. Judy was shaken as the fawn lifted his face with a wide and curious motion to see Jody and stared at him with his liquid eyes. The fawn was shaking in a quick motion. The fawn sat motionless, making no attempt to run. Jody, on the other hand, was unable to move, but he softly whispered, "It's me." He was sniffed and smelled by the fawn. Jody reached out and placed his hand on his soft neck. The fawn was excited by his touch and moved forward to get closer to Jody. Jody put his arms around the fawn, causing him to shiver slightly but not move, indicating that he was not frightened but rather comforted.

He stroked its sides as gently as though the fawn were a china deer and he might break it. Its skin was very soft. It was sleek and clean and had a sweet scent of grass. He rose slowly and lifted the fawn from the ground. Its legs hung limply. They were surprisingly long and he had to hoist the fawn as high as possible under his arm.

• China deer- a clay deer that is easily broken
• Sleek- smooth and shiny
• Limply- lacking stiffness
• Hoist- an act of raising or lifting something

Jody gently caressed the sides of his body, as if it were as delicate as a china deer. The fawn was soft, sleek, and clean, with a pleasant grass scent. Jody lifted the fawn from the ground, hung his limbs in the air. Because the fawn's legs were so long, Jody had to lift him as high as he could under his arm.

He was afraid that it might kick and bleat at sight and smell of its mother. He skirted the clearing and pushed his way into the thicket. It was difficult to fight through with his burden. The fawn’s legs caught in the bushes and he could not lift his own with freedom. He tried to shield its face from prickling vines. Its head bobbed with his stride. His heart thumped with the marvel of its acceptance of him. He reached the trail and walked as fast as he could until he came to the intersection with the road home. He stopped to rest and set the fawn down on its dangling legs. It wavered on them. It looked at him and bleated.
He said, enchanted, “I’ll carry you after I get my breath.” He remembered his father saying that a fawn would follow if it had first been carried. He started away slowly. The fawn stared after him. He came back to it and stroked it and walked away again. It took a few wobbling steps toward him and cried piteously. It was willing to follow him. It belonged to him. It was his own. He was light-headed with his joy. He wanted to fondle it, to run and romp with it, to call to it to come to him. He dared not alarm it. He picked it up and carried it in front of him over his two arms. It seemed to him that he walked without effort.

• Bleat- the weak, wavering cry made by a sheep, goat, or calf.
• Thicket- a dense group of bushes or trees
• Vines- climbing or trailing woody-stemmed plant related to the grapevine
• Stride- walk with long, decisive steps in a specified direction
• Dangling- hanging or swinging loosely
• Wavered- move in a quivering way; flicker
• Bleated- make a characteristic weak, waving cry
• Enchanted- filled with delight, charmed
• Stroked- move one’s hands gently over a surface, repeatedly; caress
• Wobbling- move unsteadily in a particular direction (particularly from side to side)
• Fondle- Stroke or caress lovingly
• Light-headed- Unable to think clearly
• Romp- play
• Alarm- frighten

Jody, filled with delight, promised the fawn that he would carry it after a short rest. Jody remembered his father telling him that a fawn will follow you if you carry it for a while first. Jody began walking slowly, and the fawn observed him as he continued. Jody came back to caress it before moving on. As Jody cried, the fawn took a few weak steps in his direction. Despite his wobbling, Jody was overjoyed that it was willing to accompany him, making the fawn his own. He was so excited that he couldn't think properly or clearly. Jody wanted to caress it, play with it, and call it to him right then and there, but he didn't want to frighten it. Then he picked up the fawn again and walked effortlessly (or at least that is what he thought).

His arms began to ache and he was forced to stop again. When he walked on, the fawn followed him at once. He allowed it to walk a little distance, then picked it up again. The distance home was nothing. He could have walked all day and into the night, carrying it and watching it follow. He was wet with sweat but a light breeze blew through the June morning, cooling him. The sky was as clear as spring water in a blue china cup. He came to the clearing. It was fresh and green after the night’s rain. He fumbled with the latch and was finally obliged to set down the fawn to manage it. Then, he had an idea — he would walk into the house, into Penny’s bedroom, with the fawn walking behind him. But at the steps, the fawn balked and refused to climb them. He picked it up and went to his father. Penny lay with closed eyes.

• Balked- was unwilling

Jody came to an abrupt stop as his arms started to ache. As he walked again, the fawn followed him. Jody would only let the fawn walk a few steps before picking it up again. Home was getting closer. Jody could have picked it up and followed it all day, but he was exhausted and sweating. On that June morning, a light breeze helped him dry his sweat. The sky was so clear that it was like spring water in a blue china cup. He finally arrived at the clearing, which was green and fresh after the night's rain. It was a little difficult for him to open the house latch, but once he set the fawn down, he was able to do so. At first, he thought making the fawn follow him into Penny's room and surprise him. But because the fawn refused to climb the stairs, Jody had to take him to his father's room. His father was resting with his eyes closed.

Jody called, “Pa! Look!” Penny turned his head. Jody stood beside him, the fawn clutched hard against him. It seemed to Penny that the boy’s eyes were as bright as the fawn’s. He said, “I’m glad you found him.”

• Clutched- to grasp something tightly

Jody woke his father and approached him as Penny turned his head towards him. The fawn gripped him tightly. Jody's eyes were as bright and glowing as the fawn's. Penny expressed his delight that Jody had found the fawn.

Jody then went to the kitchen. The fawn wobbled after him. A pan of morning’s milk stood in the kitchen safe. The cream had risen on it. He skimmed the cream into a jug. He poured milk into a small gourd. He held it out to the fawn. It butted it suddenly, smelling the milk. He saved it precariously from spilling over the floor. It could make nothing of the milk in the gourd.

After that, Jody went straight to the kitchen, and the fawn followed him with his shaky steps. A pan of morning milk was kept reserved in the kitchen, but cream had formed on it. He skimmed the cream and poured it into a jug while pouring the milk into a small gourd utensil. As Jody saved the milk from being spilled, the fawn sniffed it. The fawn was unable to drink the milk from the gourd.
He dipped his fingers in the milk and thrust them into the fawn’s soft wet mouth. It sucked greedily. When he withdrew them, it bleated frantically and butted him. He dipped his fingers again and as the fawn sucked, he lowered them slowly into the milk. The fawn blew and sucked and snorted. It stamped its small hoofs impatiently. As long as he held his fingers below the level of the milk, the fawn was content. It closed its eyes dreamily. It was ecstasy to feel its tongue against his hand. 

• Frantically- in a hurried, excited or disorganized manner
• Butted- hit something with the head or horns
• Ecstasy- an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement
• Gurgling- making or characterized by a hollow bubbling sound

So Jody dipped his fingers in the milk and put them in the fawn's soft, wet mouth, which the fawn sucked greedily. He was hungry, which is why it cried and hit Jody with his head when Jody took his fingers out of its mouth. Jody gently lowered his fingers into the fawn's mouth the next time, bringing them close to the utensil. The fawn became impatient and blew the milk as he sucked it, making sounds. The fawn remained calm until Jody placed his fingers inside the milk and drank with his eyes closed in satisfaction. Jody was overwhelmed when he felt its tongue against his hand as his small tail moved back and forth. The milk quickly disappeared, leaving behind foam and a bubbling sound.

About the Author

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (August 8, 1896 – December 14, 1953) was a rural Florida author who wrote novels about the richly detailed natural settings of the Florida backcountry and the hardscrabble lives of those who settled it. Her most famous work, The Yearling, about a boy who adopts an orphaned fawn, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1939. The Yearling was converted into a film in 1946, starring iconic actors Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman, who both were nominated for Academy Awards.