When I was a toddler my Daddy gave me the nickname of Pete. It was clear even then that I was a Tom Boy in need of an appropriate nickname. Since I whistled before I talked he tagged on Whistlin and  the nickname stuck until my teens. Several years ago I began to write childhood stories from the perspective of Whistlin Pete. I want to share one of them with you.

It was the bittersweet season of my grown-up years when I first began to ponder my childhood. My change of life issues clouded my memories except for those with my close companions. My Peopledog Tipi and a unique creature called a Horny Toad were my close companions all throughout childhood.  I began to tell the stories and the wisdom fire that burned inside my body far exceeded the heat of those blistering Okie days. The memory of tall grass and cherry popsicles helped me remember stories of sweetness and silence.

The World Book Encyclopedia describes Horny Toads as the Great Texas Horned Toad. She is a lizard shaped creature with protective horns covering her body.  Toad is a gift from the Creator that ventured north just far enough to find the red clay of Oklahoma.  On her journey she became a magical soul who would become the delight of children in the woods and prairies of her new homeland.

Texans would describe a monster of a toad with fierce dark eyes and treacherous horns that covered her gigantic torso.  They would tell the tale of children being carried away by the monster and to never be heard of again. Perhaps Horny Toad had grown weary of the responsibility of living up to a Texas size myth and needed a simpler life. I was blessed by these creatures that were plentiful in the 1950’s.

My Tipi was the first to see friend Horny Toad. All that was seen on that day was the swishing of tall grass and the howl of Tipi taking chase. It wasn’t long until I laid eyes on the creature. She was a light brown almost gray toad silently perched on the branch of a tree.  She closed her eyes and just like that became part of the tree. It took one look to see that this was a special kind of crawly four-legged creature. A closer look made out a body of horns taking on the shape of a suit of armor. The horns were from the tip of her nose to her tale and even toes. Somehow I knew from the first that she was not fearsome or treacherous.

Like most children I wasn’t content to stand and gaze at the creature. I pondered how to get closer and noticed that the horns on her tail were not so sharp. A closer look still was what seemed to be her rib bones and a soft underbelly.  Since Toad seemed to be fast asleep and Tipi was finally settled into a nap, it was my chance to make a move for the tail.  I slowly approached the tree and ever so gently placed my fingers on friend Toad’s tale. She didn’t startle or bolt but just sat there as if waiting for our encounter.  I was intrigued by the creature and felt a sense of connection unlike any other.  I picked up Toad and was drawn immediately to her under belly. It was soft, like the inside of Tipi’s ear. I loved the delicate softness and began to gently stroke Toad’s belly.

I watched as friend Horny Toad’s big brown eyes began to close.  The more I rubbed her tummy the more her eyes fluttered shut. Then they were completely closed and her body seemed lost in a trance.  Horny Toad was off in some dream deep inside.  I felt honored that Toad trusted me enough to relax in dream time. From that point on there was no better spring afternoon than to have Toad go to sleep on my tummy with her tiny feet skywards. I began to learn that creature spirits of various kinds were to be my life connection until I could learn to be with people.