11-14-08...CHEWING THE CUD
I was sitting in the dining room this morning looking out at the pasture. Cows were lying down chewing their cud. I will not explain that it would take too long but probably some of you understand what I am talking about. Anyway my mind was transported back to a time when I was young and innocent. (WELL I WAS!!) Brendas Daddy had an old Jersey milk cow that we called PET. She was the most cantankerous thing I have ever seen. Like an old balking mule with a bur in its backside. There was a gate about middle way in the lane between our houses. That ol' battleax would stand there and take the chain loose and walk right out. She got in our gardens and just messed up things. Since it was usually Brenda and I who went after her we were wishing that one day she would just take on off never to be seen again. Now we weren't thinking about the butter and milk she supplied all of us. Heck no. Fartherest thing from our minds.
Well gettin' to the cud story. Pet was laying out in the pasture one day busy chewin' her cud and looking too comfortable for us. Ol' bag didn't deserve to rest now did she? Hateful ol' thing anyhow. Brendas brother Paul had gotten a Daisy BB gun that year for Christmas but it was taken away from him because he killed one of Auntie's chickens. Yep, lucky shot. We were happy about that too because he wasn't careful where he shot and my ankle was stung once by it.
Brenda Where did Auntie put Pauls BB gun? It is in Mama's closet. Why? I was thinkin' we could shoot a few BBs at ol' Pet and make her get up. Maybe she'll go on down in the pasture and we won't have to worry bout' her gettin' out. I dont know Clydene, what if we hurt her? Brenda didn't you hear Daddy and Uncle Frank talkin' about leather was made from cow hide? Yep I did Clydene but whats that got to do with it? Brenda didn't you see Paul shootin' at that ol piece of boot? That was leather and it never even made a scratch on it. Then why shoot at Pet. It wont bother her. Well shoot fire Brenda we can try! HUH OH! Wrong decision again!
Brenda went afrer the Bb gun while I asked Auntie for a drink of water. Oh we were sneaky all right. Yep!! We had about 4 bb's and we were gonna' shoot two each. Brenda lets get over there so when she gets up she wont go toward the gate. OK.
Oh My! Were we ever headed for trouble. DOUBLE TROUBLE to be exact.
I shot first and Ol Pet didn't even flinch. Well Shoot fire Brenda, lets get closer. Which we did. Brenda shot next and Ol Pet flinched a little but kept on peacefully chewing that cud. Brenda moved on up right in front of Pet and let one fly, I grabbed the BB gun outta' her hand just as Pet was gettin' up and boy was she bellerin'. Brenda it was my turn durn you. I started to put my last BB in the gun just as Ol Pet tore out right tward' the dad blamed gate. At the same time Auntie was comin' to see what Pet was bellerin' about and there I stood with the evidence. Foot, durn, heck fire. (that was the worse thing I could think to say). Brenda grabbed me by the arm with that vice grip of hers and drug me outta' the way of Ol' pet who was movin' on. ( now when did she start takin' care of me?) Don't know but I spect' we were both protective of the other at some time in our lives.
What in the world are you doin' Clydene. Brenda done it too Auntie. Of course she did, I'm not stupid, and I know what you did too. (Well why the heck did she ask if she already knew?) We didn't think it would hurt her, we were just foolin' round. But Pet was headed down the road bellerin and she stopped and lay back down. See She is Ok. No she is not Ok Auntie said. You girls made her lose her cud and she could die. Now this was gettin' serious and we were gettin' scared even though we had no Idea what it meant to lose her cud. I wont explain that either for fear of turning someones stomach. But if a cow loses her cud she is in danger of dying. We both got our butts busted and Auntie took care of Ol' Pet and she didn't die but we were sooo sorry. And isn't that what learnin' the hard way is all about? Sure nuff' it is. We were so Blessed to have the kind of Parents who allowed us to learn our lessons but to always be there to pick us up and dust us off once we learned. And of course Brenda and I were lucky that we had each other during this time. We fought like cats sometimes but our love for one another never allowed anyone else to hurt us. NOPE. Later on Our Brothers were in on our capers and helped us out of scrapes just as we did them. Don't mess with our gang. We stood togrther. Still do.
By the way I will explain about the cud and what Auntie had to do to help Pet to anyone who wants to know. Let me know OK?
