The great outdoors

AN EVERGREEN MEMORY

Some 50 years back, yet still the memories remain evergreen. My sweetheart and I had just become engaged. We were both medical students. One of the common bonds between us was our love of animals. "One day", my beloved would say longingly, "One day, a dog will become part of our family life".

We celebrated our engagement by spending time together on the Eastbourne Downs overlooking the sea, away from hospital life. It was a glorious day. The jagged teeth of the cliffs towered far above the whiteness of the waves. Bushes of wild blackberries stretched through the greenness of the grass; hiding places for the scampering rabbits, their white scuts gleaming in the sun. Overhead the seagulls swooped and dived in play, their wild piercing cries making a strangely peaceful lullaby blending with the sound of the sea.

It was for us, both separated from the stresses and strains of hospital life, like heaven on earth. We were in love with each other; in love with life. We could only stop and listen, feeling at one with nature; at one with creation.

Suddenly the peace was broken. The sound of horns shattered the silence. The baying of dogs drew nearer, fearfully frightening. Men, resplendent in their hunt wear; gleaming muscled horses; all filled our horizon. The dogs drew nearer. We stood stock still, our eyes fixated upon the panting body of a young fox. Golden brown eyes looked into mine. Reddish fur was upright.

Fashionable all those years back were long full dirndl skirts almost sweeping the ground. Proudly I wore mine. It made me feel very feminine. The eyes of our fox looked haunted. Then the miracle happened; a kind of language, unspoken but deeply felt, passed between the fox and ourselves. Unhesitatingly he tucked himself beneath my skirts; out of sight. I felt his warmth. We both stood there, gazing silently at the puzzled hounds eyeing us first from afar; then from a short distance.

Baffled, the huntsmen gazed around; stared at us. My beloved kept his arm protectively around my shoulders, and I did not feel afraid, convinced that the scent from my body had confused the hounds. Finally the hunt withdrew. It seemed like a miracle. We both assured the fox that he was free. Free to go. Free to love life once again.

I will never, until my dying day, forget that fox; the look of love given to us both; two human being; ones that perhaps he considered his natural enemies. We both watched his bushy tail flee into the bushes; the beauty of his body scuttle out of sight. We knew we would never see him again, yet he remained in our thoughts and coloured our lives.

We married, and in time were blessed with two children, a boy and a girl. We all loved our labrador bitch. She was kind and loving and would never harm any animal, however small and however defenceless. Our fox will never be forgotten. To us both, his survival seemed like a miracle.

We assured our children that with increasing maturity he would only become wiser and fleeter of foot. Within our family we know that the story of his amazing escape will be passed on from generation to generation.

by Alanna David

© Copyright 2001 Newsquest Media Group - A Gannett Company