MYRNA'S MOOSE story

A huge Bull Moose came into view. Its broad, spoon-shaped antlers lifted above dewy grass. Cow-pie shaped hooves splashed quietly in the pond’s soft mud.

Watching from her backyard tree, Myrna wondered if lily pad roots were tasty. Her favorite birds flew about, Finches, Sparrows, and Blue Jays.

A Pileated Woodpecker made his regular visit. They didn’t mind the strange visitor who came each morning, from nearby woods.

The moose also sensed there was no danger here.

Everyone at school, including Myrna’s parents didn’t believe she saw a moose in her back yard each day.

Now was the time to put her plan into action.

From halfway up the Maple tree, she tossed a wide loop reaching around the antlers. The rope settled onto the moose’s long neck.

He thought they were playing a game and followed the little girl home. Myrna led him through the double sliding doors on the patio.

Hooves clumped across the carpet, and thump thumped up the stairs.

"Did you hear anything, dear?" her father said from the next room.

"Go back to sleep. You must be dreaming," Myrna heard mom answer.

"You’re right," Myrna's father said sleepily. "But it sounded like a moose in our house."

"It is a moose!" Myrna shouted from the hallway. "Quick, come see."

They were used to their daughter bringing home fur or feather friends. First, it was a Chick-a-Dee with a damaged wing. Then it was a baby Raccoon. But this time it was a huge, monstrous, Moose!

"Better get some sleep Myrna,” they said. “It's only five o'clock in the morning. And please keep that moose quiet until breakfast.”

So she jumped into bed, and pulled up the covers. The moose did the same on his side and the bed sagged to the floor. It was too short for his long legs and moose hooves hung over the end.

This was a funny situation, but Myrna didn't laugh. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. He might be a giant to her but he was still her friend.

At breakfast the moose broke his chair. After all, he weighed more than a ton. The moose needed a napkin, so Myrna tied her mom’s large apron around his neck.

His mouth was longer than a loaf of French bread. Two gulps later, both loaves disappeared.

But Myrna didn’t laugh. She knew it was not polite.

As the school bus arrived each window filled with eyeball-popping faces and wide-open mouths. Myrna stood proudly beside her friend, holding a lead rope.

"It's true!!" Everyone shouted. Myrna does have a Moose!!"

She rushed up the bus steps. But the large moose couldn't squeeze through the door. Myrna went around the bus and passed his tether through an open window.

She held on tightly from inside. It wouldn’t do to have her moose run away after all the work getting him here.

Children laughed and pointed as the moose trotted beside the bus. Myrna didn't laugh with them since it would be rude. She was proud of her Moose.

Myrna discovered there was another problem. “No animals allowed in school,” said the Principal, “especially a huge moose.”

“But…But,” Myrna stammered.

"Rules are rules," he said, looking up at the huge furry face.

“He’s special!” everyone howled. “He’s a friendly Moose!”

“No…No, and NO,” the Principal said. "Besides, he might scratch the hallway floors. Or knock decorations from the walls, or..."

"Fall on his tummy!" children laughed.

“Well, alright,” the Principal said, with a shake of his head. “He can stay outside, only for this morning.”

Myrna opened the classroom window, pulled her lasso through, and tied an end to her desk. Now there was no wild moose on the loose.

The moose poked his head in, and watched everyone at work. If only he was back in the pond.

At recess a boy pulled the moose’s flap of skin that hung beneath his throat.

“It’s called a ‘bell,” said Myrna.

“He looks like a grandpa!” one boy shouted.

Children climbed onto his back and yelled "Giddy-up." Except, he wasn't a horse. Nope. He was just a moose, a friendly moose.

Some children did chin-ups on his antlers. Others slid down his sides. After all, he was almost eight feet tall.

His moose call sounded like, “OUAAAHH.” Teachers took snapshots of the huge animal. Children made fun of his short tail.

Myrna knew he wasn't having fun.

Finally, it was time for lunch. Myrna climbed out the school window to get her moose. She tried to pull him to the school bus filled with students.

Except the moose began to trot, then picked up speed, with Myrna behind him. She didn’t need the school bus. The moose was pulling her home.

They rushed past a crowd at MacDonald’s. Then passed the school bus, and Myrna hung onto the lasso-rope like a kite.

The large animal did the moose-trot all the way to Myrna’s house. He went right to the backyard pond, for a meal of leaves and twigs.

Finally, the moose had peace and quiet. No more teasing children. No more jokes, nor pointing fingers at his tail, nor his bell, nor his wide antlers.

Myrna climbed the maple tree again, reached over and removed the lasso.

Her moose happily waded into the pond. After a little snack, he looked back at Myrna, grunted then strolled into the nearby woods.

She was certain he would come back. And she was sure of something else.

Finally, everyone knew about Myrna’s Moose!

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© 2008 Richard & Esther Provencher
All Rights Reserved

URL for Richard L. Provencher
http://writers.ns.ca/Writers/rprovencher.html