Good Listeners

Last night, the girls were asking me what our next pet should be.

My first response was that we’re full up on pets for the time being, but as they worked on me a bit – and erring to my imagination – I said that our next pet should be a fox.

I understand that they’re not domesticated and any and all stories about people owning them as indoor pets have been shared without including the cons of having one as a pet.

That said, I have a long history with foxes.

Some kind of acceptance that was formed through years of wandering in the woods quietly – as to not disturb them. They watch me until I see them – and then they bounce off – but they make sure I’m sure I saw them.

Maybe a bit of a free pass because I grew up on a farm with them running around in the orchard where I was running around? A kid with some kits just being free before any of us knew the horrors of society and reality.

Then there was the night I hit one with my truck coming out of the woods. I was a teenager. I wasn’t paying attention. Neither was her or she. I shared a moment with this poor creature while it lay dying and I crouched crying before I put it out of it’s misery.

I dreamt about that fox off and on for twenty years after.

Either way, back here in the real world – where I have to make responsible decisions about what I get into in my life, and what I put my kids up against, I know that we can’t own a fox as a pet. And, though they’re a bit sullen about the facts, they’re alright with it.

Pulling in the driveway tonight, there was a beautiful fox waiting for me by the edge of the fence. A fence put up by a complete idiot of a neighbor, that is now keeping me from making an idiotic decision and inviting this fox in for Christmas.

I haven’t see a fox in the wild in twenty years. Now, after having considered one in the midst of light conversation last night, there’s one playing out in the yard with my dog.

Like I called upon the stars to deliver one.
As if my imagination had that much influence.

There are no coincidences in life, just occurrences.
And good listeners..