Don’t Look Them in the Eye

By Izy

            When I was six years old my dad was telling me about the different animals living in our forest. He told me about deer, and how you should never look a male deer directly in the eye because they might see that as a challenge or as a threat. I said I understood and that I would never do that. That day I decided to take a ride on my new bike. I live in the middle of a forest with an extremely long driveway, so there’s always been plenty of room to ride bikes. I asked my sister and my mom if they wanted to come out with me, but they both said no. So I went by myself. I had never been afraid of going outside alone. What could hurt me in my own forest?

            So I got on my bike and started riding up my driveway. Since I was new with bikes, I was kind of wobbly, therefore I had to keep steadying myself with my feet. As I rode down my driveway I stared at the ground, avoiding any sticks or stones. I must have felt like I was being watched or something because I suddenly stopped half way down my driveway and looked up. About 25 feet away from me was I giant buck with huge antlers. In my moment of shock I could do nothing but look the deer straight in the eye. I just kept staring it in its large black eyes. I noticed the deer start to scrape at the ground with its front hoof. I saw the deer take one small step towards me and I went berserk. Fear coursed through me, and without seeing if the deer was running after me, I got on my bike and tried to peddle as fast as I could away from the deer. But since I was not the best at riding my bike, I was stumbling too much and I figured it would not be a good get away. So I got off (or fell off) my bike. Taking one more glance over my shoulder I saw that the deer was closer than it was before. I ran as fast as I could back to my house. I closed the garage door and ran downstairs to my dad’s office. I was bawling my eyes out, and not just because I was scared but also because I disobeyed my dad and looked directly in the deer's eyes. When I got to my dad’s office, and stopped crying I told him what happened. I bet he thought it was pretty funny but he told me it was OK and to go get my bike from outside.

 I was nervous to go back outside, but I knew I’d have to go back out eventually. What if the deer was still out there? Just waiting for me, all because I looked it in the eyes. Then I thought “No you must face your fears!” So I went outside and very slowly walked down my driveway to get my bike. Once I got to my bike I looked all around me and saw that the deer was gone. I just stood there for a moment looking around, feeling stupid that I made such a big deal out of nothing. Then I laughed hysterically for a couple minutes and went back inside. When I got back inside I told my dad how brave I was then I told everyone in my house the story. My sister didn’t believe me and I got upset so I went upstairs to take a nap, exhausted from being so awesome and brave.