ost," she said sharply, "who be you the ghost of? For I have heard of nary death close by (160)." Her eyesight tricks her into believing that it is a ghost, or perhaps, the Grim Reaper that has come to take her away. When Phoenix gets no response from the "ghost," she bravely touches the figure and realizes that it is only a scarecrow. The relieved woman kicks up her dependable feet and dances with him. Phoenix acknowledges that it is nature's job to stall her. However, she makes it clear that she has no time for the barriers that are being thrown across her path. She knows that her life is limited and she has no time for obstructions. When she finds herself snagged on a thorn bush, she talks to it as she patiently frees herself. "Thorns, you doing your appointed work Never want to let folks pass-no sir (159)." As Phoenix wobbles along, she comes across a sitting buzzard and in three simple words she lets him know that he will not dine upon her. "Who you watching (160)?" She slowly sways past him and continues her journey, while nature carefully plans the next obstacle. Sure enough, as Phoenix stands and ponders, a big black dog creeps up behind her. "Old woman," she said to herself, "that black dog come up out of the weeds to stall you off (161)." She accepts the fact that the black dog is merely following nature's orders. Phoenix's old body is not as quick as her wit. When Phoenix is startled by the huge mutt, her mind reacts much faster than her body, causing her to drop into a weed-cushioned trench. The old woman is discovered by a young hunter who quickly snatches her out of the ditch. As they converse, Phoenix catches a glimpse of a shiny nickel that drops out of the hunter's pouch. Her mind reacts; her face lights up and she claps her hands. "Look at that dog! She laughed as if in admiration. He ain't scared of nobody. He a big black dog (161)." Knowing that her old body needs plenty of time to grab the nickel, she uses her wit t...
