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Write 2 The Heart
January 6, 2005
Welcome to your latest issue of Write 2 the Heart.
Take a moment to browse our new bookstore at:
http://www.write2theheart.com/html/book_store.html
You will find wonderful books written, or include stories by many
of our talented writers. You will also find books that aide the
budding writer. I highly recommend “Sally Stuart’s Christian
Writers’ Guide,” and “2005 Writer’s Market.” Both are must haves
for all serious writers. They are great tools to find that perfect
market for your writing.
When you have animals, you never know what is going to
happen next. Add human error and you will definitely have
humorous situations!
Lyin' Dogs
By: Pamela Jenkins
It was a warm, autumn day. The children were away at
Grandma's house for the afternoon. My husband and I were alone
in the barn with Lemon, my daughter's Yorkshire sow. Lemon was
a 4-H project that had been so successful she became a permanent
resident on our small farm.
Lemon lay on her side in the stall. My husband sat next to her
in a lawn chair while I stood nearby holding towels and waiting for
the next baby pig to make its way into the world.
We hovered like mother hens over the first three piglets who
were already up and taking those stumbling baby steps around their
mama. Lemon had been the best show pig in our children's 4-H
group and had filled a wall of our home with trophies and ribbons.
Besides that, she was just plain lovable. We weren't taking any
chances that something might go wrong.
"Honey, run to the house and get me a pair of scissors, will
you?" asked my husband. I hurried out of the barn and walked
along the drive to the house. As I walked, I admired the fabulous
fall colors of the trees overhead. What a beautiful day, I thought to
myself. Then I saw something black and white rushing towards my
feet.
"Oh, Bubba! You rotten rooster!" I told him as I dodged to the
side. I picked up a fallen stick and shook it at him. "Almost got me
that time, didn't you?" Bubba ruffled his feathers and flapped his
black wings at me. The stick did the trick, though. He kept his
distance and left me alone, although he watched closely as I
walked away from him backwards. I made it to the house with no
more trouble from him.
Walking back to the barn, scissors in hand, I kept a wary eye
out for Bubba. He tried another sneak attack but I was still carrying
the stick. Bubba had a phobia about things whizzing through the
air, and just the threat of a stick being flung in his direction was
enough to put a halt to his devious plans to flog. It didn't stop him
from giving me the evil eye, though.
"I wish someone had warned me about mean roosters before I
got that Lakenvelder," I whispered to my husband. He just
chuckled. We had long ago learned to live with Bubba's contrary
ways. He had his good points, too. He kept the hens rounded up,
and he had a beautiful crowing voice in the mornings. Still, a
person had to be on their toes when we trespassed in "his"
barnyard.
A couple of hours later, Lemon had finished her labor and had
ten nice, healthy babies. All were eating and looking fine. The
litter was off to a great start. I began to gather up the towels. My
husband was busy scooping up the afterbirth and dropping it out of
a nearby window. It fell into a box I had set on the ground for that
purpose.
It was at this time that my two small dogs, Ty and Carly, started
to bark. I thought perhaps someone was paying us a visit. I poked
my head out the window and looked up the driveway. No cars
were to be seen. I checked in the direction of the house. Still, I
couldn't see any visitors. The dogs barked again and I craned my
neck as far as I could to see what was causing all the commotion.
"I don't see what they're barking at," I grumbled as I pulled my
head back inside. "I don't see any..."
SPLAT!!! My words were cut off mid-sentence when
something warm and gooey smacked me on the side of the head.
"Oh, honey! I'm so sorry," my husband said. "I never meant
to..." The rest of his words were muffled as cool, wet fetal juice
filled my ear canal and ran down my neck. A placenta rolled off
my shoulder and hit the ground with a squishing sound.
Well, a more squeamish person may have run screaming from
the barn. A less self-controlled gal may have just smacked my
husband back. I had never been more shocked, however, and could
do nothing but stand there wide eyed, openmouthed and silent.
"Here, let me help," my spouse began as he grabbed a clean
towel. I held up my hands and shook my head. No, no, just leave
me alone, I managed to convey. My mind in a blitz, I left the barn
and began walking to the house.
Maybe it was the blood that was now drying on my face and
making my hair stick out in spikes on one side, or maybe it was the
wild look of shock on my face. Whatever the cause, Bubba's new
ambush was suddenly aborted. With a look of disbelief, he turned
tail and ran at the sight of me, sounding retreat and alarming the
laying hens. I wouldn't have cared anyway. At that point, all I
wanted to do was hit the shower. As I walked past Ty and Carly,
they sat back on their haunches and cocked their heads as if to say,
"What's up with Mom?"
That evening over dinner in my favorite restaurant, my husband
took my hand and apologized once more. I assured him that it
wasn't his fault. He hadn't known I was standing in front of the
window when he was cleaning up the barn. I should have been
paying more attention.
One thing is for sure though, I'll never again trust those lyin'
dogs!
Pamela Jenkins
calicoblessings @ aol.com
Pamela Jenkins lives on a farm in Oklahoma with her husband
of twenty-four years and their four children. She is the office
manager of a veterinary clinic and enjoys writing in her spare time.
She is a contributing author to several books including “Chicken
Soup for the Grandparents' Soul,” “Chicken Soup for the
Fisherman's Soul,” “Chocolate for a Woman's Dreams” and
“Angel Cats”.
You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know
what you think of their story. Have a comment on today's story?
Send it to: moderator @ write2theheart.com
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Military Prayer Reminder
As you read over this list of names, please take a moment to
pray for these young people and their families:
Chris Speir
Tim Speir
Alan
Todd Holland
Graham
William
Julie Sagel
Jessie
Marshal Thompson
Jason
Eric Hernandez
Kristin Danielson
Ryan
Larry Miele
Daniel
Amy
John
Joanne
Gary Boardwine
Josh
Hadassah
Chanz Wackerly
Robert Henderson
David Habighurst
Tonia
Melissa Bair
Matthew Nutter
Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and
our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military,
or who are being called to go overseas, send their names
(first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer
reminder.
Copyright © 2005, Write 2 the Heart
Nothing may be reproduced or published without
the written permission of the individual author or
copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.
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