Flint Dog

  Chapter 4: Youngest's new pet

  The villagers were soon all benefiting from the new, baked baskets. Basket Maker was generous in saying how Youngest had helped her to make the discovery. By trial and error she had eventually hit on the best way and length of time for baking them. She showed all the Birth-givers how strong these new baskets were. Even the Hunters were impressed at this new invention.

  A few days' later, Cow Keeper's bitch had her puppies, but she was a bad mother and all but one of them died. And that puppy had to go to the village chief, Strong Man. So there was no new dog for Youngest. Youngest tried to put a brave face on it, but he was very disappointed. He still missed White Tail very much.

  Father felt sorry for Youngest. Then he had an idea. A new, sharp knife would take the boy's mind off dogs. So, he may be spoiling the child a bit, but what harm. He was a good son and one day he'd be a fine Hunter. So he set off for one of the good outcrops of flint where he obtained the lumps he needed to make weapons. He poked around and filled his large goat-skin pouch with some suitable stones. He was just turning to leave when his eye was caught by a very unusual looking rock. He stooped to look at it more closely. He smiled, and then he laughed as he picked the lump of flint up. It was a knobbly, misshapen piece, no good for weapons - but it had the form of a dog! It looked like a small, grey puppy. Here was a find indeed.

  Squatting down on his haunches, he pulled his shaping pebble out of his pouch. It only took a few skilfully aimed blows to refine this stone animal. Father added eyes, and tidied up the 'tail' a bit. He held it up and admired his handiwork. Youngest would be thrilled.

  Father hurried back to the hut. The evening meal was ready and the rest of the family were waiting for him. Hazel Eyes scurried to fetch the basket of fruit and nuts she had gathered that day.

  "Wait!" Father held up his hand importantly. "I have a special present for Youngest."

  "What is it?" gasped Youngest in excitement. This was a real surprise.

  "Well," Father went on. "Since you can't have a puppy just yet, I thought I would make you a knife. But then I had another idea - and here it is!"

  With a flourish he drew his work of art out of his pouch.

  "For you, my youngest son. This pup should last forever!" And with that he placed the stone dog in his son's outstretched hands.

  For a few moments, Youngest was too amazed to speak. All he could do was stare at this creation. It was incredible! It was brilliant!"

  "It's a flint dog!" he croaked at last.

  Hazel Eyes and First Born crowded round to look. Even Mother came to look too. They all murmured their amazement. Hazel Eyes couldn't help feeling jealous. Father saw her expression.

  "Come here, pretty one!" he smiled. "Next time the traders from the sea shore come I'll be sure to get some shells from them to make you a necklace."

  Hazel Eyes' face shone with pleasure. "Oh thank you, Father! Mother, did you hear that. I'm going to have a shell necklace, just like you."

  "Well, you'd better give your father a big hug then, to say thank you!" laughed Mother.

  Father disappeared under a flurry of arms and flying hair as Hazel Eyes ran to hug him. Youngest laughed at the sight, and even First son allowed himself to smile.

  "Thank you for my dog, Father!" Youngest beamed his appreciation as soon as Hazel Eyes had finished her cuddle with Father. "I shall call it Flint. Can I go and show my friends now?"

  "No," said Father firmly. "Now it is time to eat and do the evening jobs. There will be time enough tomorrow!"

  Tomorrow was a long time coming for Youngest. Curled up in his corner that night, he kept looking at Flint. And when it got too dark to look any more, he gently stroked the rounded contours of the stone animal. He was too happy to sleep!

  Next day, Youngest was the envy of all the other children. He showed them Flint and spent most of the day swaggering around with a gaggle of followers at his heels. Father found his favourite spot for flint invaded by children that afternoon, all searching for strange shaped rocks. Soon all the junior villagers were carrying animal-shaped rocks around. Long Legs had what he said was a fish, and Red Hair had a deer. The others had horses, cows and even birds. Some of them didn't look much like animals at all, but no one minded. But Flint was by far the best!