The Peak

It was a little after seven when Doug heard the shot coming from his dad’s direction. Doug was ready, in case the deer came his way. He watched and listened; he waited for anything from his father. He stood and listened and stayed there, just like he had been taught. He remembered his dad telling him to watch after shooting and wait, in case a deer was down, and not to push it away from you. Doug waited until nine-thirty, and his dad still had not come to pick him up. He headed up the trail, following William’s footprints in the snow. He walked for about twenty minutes; when the tracks left the trail, he followed. About fifty yards off the trail, he saw his father face down in the snow; the snow had turned a dark red. Doug ran up to him and dropped to his knees.

“DAD! DAD!” Doug yelled, shaking him.

William Sparrow did not move. Doug could see a hole in his back. Doug, still on his knees, called for his father. He shook all over and cried; he finally headed down the trail for help.