Chapter Three

Deep within the woodland clearing, a miracle!

Although along the level of being lucky enough to see toenails grow, the 2-foot long antlers grew to four feet. Manley was, with horns, about eight feet tall at this point.

Point was the word! Actually Manley had twelve distinct horned "points"---or places where his antlers could easily hold yesterday's after the morning after Christmas ornaments.

Manley could see that he was becoming different. Yet, he would not allow himself to be afraid. After all, he had the blood and rubbings of Colonel Conrad Joseph Canterthumpy, U.S. Soldier! "WOW!" he said. "Look at how light they are, and move from side-to-side!"

Manley scratched his heels against the dirt and took-off on a gallop!

"I have horns!" Manley said. The forest seemed to echo "...horns, ...orns, ...orn".
As he was amused by this, it was quickly forgotten for the wild rotations of the antlers. "Look, they move about!"

Manley dropped the antlers to the ground, digging-into the soft dirt and pine straw.
Just as fast he zoomed his head to the sky! "These are mine, truly mine!" the boy exclaimed.

His time of personal fascination could have fit into an aluminum Vienna Sausage can.

A slow trail of "concerned" Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Knuckleheads trailed-in, with cameras and plenty of advice.

Some ooohed and ahhhed.

Others Hmmmed and Wellled.

"Get 'em removed" One said. "I know a doctor."

"Take a pill" said another.

"Go to France" said an Aunt, who Manley had never seen before.

Manley and the group of homeopathetic relatives gave her a look, ---which surely meant they were kin to Momma.

One uncle asked "...what could that do?"

"France is beautiful. Good for the soul. I always like to have the option!" she exclaimed.

To that, the relatives shoooed and boooed!

As the sun made long shadows out of small trees the crowd dispersed, back to wherever family goes after a big event; some weeks away, others mere minutes. But gone from sight and situation.

Manley awoke to his mother and brother asleep next to him.

The three were covered in a huge brown blanket. Because of the chill, Momma and Mike had each taken separate sides of Manley, and their faces were almost covered completely by the comforter. With Manley's antlers at half mast, his sleepy head occasionally bobbing---from a distance the three resembled an undiscovered forest species mix of moose and Jersey cow.

In the calm that happens right before some Early Riser does something loud, a man in a lab coat appeared. He had a stethoscope, and a black bag of instruments. "Good Morning!" he exclaimed. "What have we here?"

Momma, who still had her face under the brown blanket, said "Move, move!"
"...Good thing Doctors still make house calls."

To the doctor it sounded like the words "Moose, Moose! Gosh dang it has claws!"

And within two seconds, the doctor ran away.

"Wait!---Come back?" As Momma watched the man disappear, she whimpered "Oh Manley."

Little brother Mike reached-up and grabbed the lowest rungs of Manley's antlers and climbed. They were a proud pair, twelve pointers worthy of any grand Buck. "Up, Up!" Mike said. For added effect, Manley moved his head from side-to-side. Amazingly, this did little to increase the weight of the horns.

"I love you." he giggled. This was all fun and games, and just another day of adventure beginning for the smallest brother.

"Me too Mike" Manley said.

"My two boys!" Momma said, reaching inside her pocket for a tissue, and looked away to keep herself from gushing again.

"What are we going to do?" She whispered to herself.