"Doe Season" by David Michael Kaplan

Andy took comfort in the familiarity of the woods. They were the same from her house to anywhere she went. Being in them reassured her and connected her to her comfort zone. However, the hunting trip was a new experience that aided in her transition from childhood to adulthood.
While Andy was in the woods she had many new experiences. She drank coffee for the first time.(459) She had to engage in sarcastic conversation and defend herself against Charlie Spoon and Mac. They jokingly said "that's about your size"(458) in reference to the backpack she had to carry. She was constantly worried she would say something dumb and not fit in. As the day went on she noticed the wind was strong and sounded like the ocean. She remembered going to the ocean with her family. At that time the ocean scared her because it was "huge and empty, yet always moving."(459) Everything was hidden. She was scared to go in and disappear. As she walked through the woods she started to cross into unfamiliar territory and the woods started to change. This journey represents her growing and maturing. While at the ocean Andy remembers her mom's top falling off and exposing her breasts.(459) At the time Andy was embarrassed but her mom calmly fixed it without any cares. Andy got a glimpse of what adulthood will be like and she was scared to face it.
Andy had debated shooting the deer in the first place and later regretted it. She saw the results of her actions and wasn't ready to handle it. The next day the woods seemed different "more beautiful then she had ever seen them."(466) That day she changed as well. She watched when her father cut the deer open and she experienced death. She ran and they were all calling to her...Andy, Andy(but that wasn't her name, she would no longer be called that. (467) The forest transformed into the ocean and it was a though the water was calling for her to come in. She lost part of her childhood forever. Adulthood was inevitable and she had to grow up.