Said the Mama Cow, the oldest, most experienced cow in the barn, to her friend, "Is today the day?"
Tucking her head down, Elsie licked her front leg before looking up, softly lowing. "I think so." The littlest black calf, Davie, came over then to Mama Cow, nuzzling against her leg making his furry head even fuzzier. He looked up, blinking wide-open dark brown eyes, "Mama, I'm hungry." Mama Cow shifted her position and Davie settled in to get his breakfast of milk, warm and steaming.
Over in the corner, in their usual spot, stood two heifers, Ada and KC, standing close to each other to stay warm. Chewing her cud, Ada said, "Do you want a glass of milk?" She paused only briefly to swallow before letting out with a loud, "Moohahahaha."
KC glanced over at her friend and replied absentmindedly, "Stop talking with your mouth full. You know, you always chew in the back of your throat, making that sound." She was too busy checking out the rest of the barn to joke around. This duo knew everything about every cow, every calf, and even the bull, or at least they liked to think they did.
Rubbing her neck against the post, getting in a good scratching, KC asked Ada, "Did you notice how quiet Elsie is today? And Mama Cow is being especially hovering today. Do you think…?
Ada looked thoughtfully over in that corner where the two older animals stood, heads close as they conferred. " I do think!"
At that moment, Annie, Ada's younger sister, wandered over to these two older, not necessarily wiser, heifers. She shivered as she said, "Please, oh please, put me in the house. It's not fair. The new babies get to go in the basement when it's this cold." As she talked, her breath came out in puffs, giving her the appearance of a steam engine.
Ada snorted. "Oh puh-leeze! That's because they're babies. You're not a baby, or are you?"
Annie turned to leave, swishing her tail with just a touch of attitude, and collided with Amiee, the middle heifer of few words. Amiee buffed Annie back and the two scuffled for just a bit, all in good fun, before Annie went on her way still looking for a warm spot to lie down.
"You really shouldn't pick on her," Amiee admonished Ada, her older sister.
"I know, I know, she just can't take a joke." Ada continued chewing her cud thoughtfully. "I'll start tomorrow." As she tilted her head, KC, who had been watching the other cows intently, bumped her shoulder against Ada excitedly.
"Look! Over there…Mama..Elsie…a new baby!"
And it was. There, in the hay was a glistening, steaming baby, only just minutes old. Elsie was licking the steaming fur in a way that could look like she was being rough, as each lick pushed or rolled the calf. As they watched, the fur went from being slick and close to the skin to being a new style of literal cow-licks, sticking up in all manner of direction.
Annie returned to the group of heifers, watching the maternal moment, and they all wondered what it would be like when it was each their own turn. Then, as a group, they all turned to look at the new commotion just coming in the barn door. It was the humans.
The human mother, daughter and son were also checking out the new baby, discussing how best to get the calf and it's mother into the pen where the other new babies and mothers were being kept. All kept their eye on the rooster and they all looked a little foolish as they went about the barn, climbing over numerous gates while armed with broom handles and rakes, all to avoid this same rooster. Silly humans.
"Watch this," said Annie to Amiee. As the human mother got closer to the new baby, Annie kept licking at her pants legs and staying as close beside her as possible. Soon, the human was perched atop a gate, keeping the curious heifer off her legs while keeping an eye on the new baby who was now standing on wobbly legs, taking a few hesitant steps. Mama Cow kept licking and once or twice, the baby got knocked over with an especially strong swipe.
The humans tried to open the gate but couldn't figure out the knots in the maze of gates the farmer had tied. They watched Mama Cow, finally figured she knew what she was doing and they soon made their way back over and under gates in an awkward game of rooster roulette.
The barn soon settled back into it's quiet routine of eating, sleeping, staying warm. Ada and KC invited Annie and Amiee to stay with them to cow-watch. Ada made sure Annie was in the middle, the warmest spot and all was good.
Love,
Dianne
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