I couldn’t describe the sound to you, and we never found out what made it, because our campsite was a ten-minute walk to the highway, and my arthritic foot had been acting up since Sunday.
Kay’s chair was in shade; mine in sun. The creature sounded its death rattle, and we turned our faces at the same time.
“Did you hear that?”
“Yes.”
“A bear?”
“I’d bet a cow crossing the highway.”
“Want to see?”
Kay knows that silence means no. We wait in the stillness that follows, should the animal have a cry left in its lungs.
About the Creator
Jennifer A. G.
🇨🇦 Canadian Writer, Painter & Embroidery Artist
♾️ Métis Nation
🎓 University of Victoria Alumna
📝 Publications: The Malahat Review, Freefall Magazine, Geist, Best Canadian Poetry 2026
Keep reading
More stories from Jennifer A. G. and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Getting out of the house can be hard
"Come on Jack, wake up. It's 7:30 already. You'll be late. Don't you wanna have breakfast?" "Mmmmm." "Yeah I know, you probably stayed up till 2 again, playing that stupid game. Whatever, you're not 12 anymore. You do you. But don't say I didn't try when they kick you out of school for too many missed classes."
By Paul Finglabout 19 hours ago in Fiction
Wild Card Weekend Recap: What Happens Now?
I think I figured out why I love Wild Card Weekend so much. It's because it's the first playoff anything of the calendar year. The NFL season starts in the fall, and once upon a time, the champion was crowned either on or slightly before New Year's. The evolution of the NFL schedule has resulted in the playoffs starting just into the New Year, and currently, the final week of the season falls on the first weekend of the New Year, with Wild Card Weekend coming a week after that. So yes, chronologically, the NFL's Wild Card Weekend serves as the first playoff anything of the calendar year.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout 20 hours ago in Unbalanced
Comments (3)
I couldn't stop reading. Your writing was really well done!
Ooh, I have little hairs standing up on my arms! A death rattle from a cow brings such vivid, almost grotesque imagery to mind. I felt like I was there in the story.
Wow! 😩👏