Hey y'all!
Still working away in my creative writing course --- thought I'd post the fiction piece I'm working. It's entitled "If Not A Goat, Then What?"
Enjoy,
-WG4
If Not A Goat, Then What?
My name is Beauty and here at Happy Acres is where my home. But beyond that, I can’t say more. I couldn’t tell you what I am. I live with the creatures that are called “goats”, but I’m not one of them, or so I’m told.
“There is no way you are one of us,” the herd tells me, laughing. “You don’t butt heads, have no long beard, and do not eat the prickly weeds set aside for our kind. A goat you are not.”
But if not a goat, then what? What could I be? The other goats often stare at me, circling, trying to decide what I could be. One day the queen of the herd finally came up with an answer to this long pondered question.
“A chicken,” she declared, feeling quite proud of herself. “Yes that’s it. Chickens roam the open grass such; they browse the weeds, and run in flocks --- all things you do. A chicken you are.”
A chicken? Could it be? All these years of living with goats and I am chicken? I do roam the open grass, browse the weeds, and enjoy large groups, much like they do. Perhaps I am just an oversized chicken? One who grew bigger than the rest? Yes, I could just possibly be a chicken!
And so began my journey in discovering my identity. I roamed the barn in search of the flock of chickens and quickly discovered them scratching away at some dirt. Chickens of all colors and sizes roamed there freely. Maybe they can help me. I thought. Surely a chicken would be able to recognize their own. But none of them seem to notice me. Perhaps this was a sign I belonged?
“Excuse me sir,” I asked the mighty rooster. “Can you help me?” I asked.
“Why certainly,” he replied in his dignified voice. “What is it I can do for you?”
“Am I chicken?” I inquired, quite hopeful. The rooster shook his feathers as he let out a loud “cock-a-doodle-do”.
“A chicken!?! Why that is impossible,” He declared. “Why just look at you! Four legs, fur as soft as lamb’s wool, and not a feather in sight. I bet you can’t even fly. Sorry ma’am, but a chicken you are not.”
“But if not a chicken, then what?” I asked. He stared at me for a moment, circling me many times as the goats had done, almost making me dizzy.
“I’ve got it!” he proclaimed. “Why it’s obvious! That soft fur, four legs, stubby tail---- you, my dear, are a sheep!”
My eyes lit up in excitement. Of course, a sheep! Why had I not thought of that? They graze the open fields, run and play, and enjoy the sun, such as I. A sheep I am. I thanked the rooster and made my way to sheep pen to find my new home.
There, in the middle of the barn was the place I’d soon call home. Dozens of sheep came in and out of the barn, grazing on the grass, playing in the sun. I approached the leader to ask my question. But the ewe just laughed at the idea.
“A sheep – you silly thing,” she began. “Why there’s not a spot of wool on you. Just look at that fuzzy tail of yours. And that brown fur; sheep are white my dear --- I’m sorry, but a sheep you are not.”
“But if not a sheep, then what?” I asked, disappointed yet again. She looked me over as the others had done, inspecting my every detail.
“Hmmm…,” she thought aloud. “A horse! Yes! That brown fur, the tail, four legs --- you are a horse indeed.” A horse? I never thought I could be a horse. They’re so tall, but perhaps I am just a dwarf horse or something?
I thanked her and ran out to the large pasture where the horses grazed. As I gazed upon the giant animals walking about, it became clear to me – I had to be a horse. The way they grazed, the way they stood, and the way their tails moved in the wind, they matched me in every way. There was no doubt about it, I was a horse! I approached one of the giant animals and again inquired about my identity. The gelding did not see me at first, so I spoke louder. Upon hearing my second cry, he lowered his long neck as he let out his hot, sticky breath.
“You? A horse?” were the words that slowly poured out his mouth. “Why that is preposterous! Your tail is much too short and you lack a mane. Your hooves do not join, and the hair upon your head does not form a forelock. A horse you are not.”
“But if not a horse, then what?” I asked, wondering if there were any animals left. But he did not even look me over as the others had done.
“I haven’t a clue, but you are cutting into my grazing time,” he said. And with that, he left to finish his grazing.
I’m not a chicken, a sheep, or a horse. What else could there be? I sat myself under the giant shade tree and pondered my destiny. What am I? As I sat there, the farmer soon came along to see my long face.
“What’s troubling you?” he asked, sitting near me.
“I don’t know what I am,” I explained. “I’m neither a chicken, sheep, nor a horse. What then?” He sat back against the tree and let out a little chuckle.
“You silly thing,” he said, petting the top of my head. “You’re a goat!”
“But I’m nothing like them,” I proclaimed. “I do not butt heads, have a long beard, or eat the prickly weeds set aside for their kind.”
“You may not be like the other goats and probably never will be, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re a goat,” he said. “You’re just different, but I love you anyways. You’re my goat and my goat you will always be.” I smiled and thanked him. A goat. Could I really be?
As the day drew to a close, I finally made my way back to my home, causing a look of surprise from the other goats.
“You’re not a goat,” they began to tell me. “Why have you returned? Have the chickens declined your admittance?”
“I may not butt heads, have a long beard, or eat the prickly weeds set aside for our kind, but a goat I am,” And there I remained. My search was over. I may not be like them, but I’m still a goat. In light of this recent discovery, allow me to begin again.
Hello. My name is Beauty. I’m a goat, loved and owned by the farmer of Happy Acres Farm.
Replies
Thanks Glenna! :) Right now, I have three publishing queries out....just waiting to hear back from somone! Keep y'all updated if I hear anything.
Thanks,
-WG4
Yes, it will be a beautiful children's book. That photo on the cover would be perfect. She looks like she is asking.
Let us know what you decide, I would definitely get it for my granddaughters.
Yes and no, Margaret. She does seem to keep to herself, but only because she is last in the pecking order so the more she stays out of their way. :) Because she keeps to herself, she often times wanders about the barn and tries to live elsewhere, only to discover she doesn't belong.....well, sometimes she discovers it; other times we have to "tell" her. :P She doesn't like to go into her stall and would rather live in the sheep pen, until the sheep arrive and she high tails it back to the stall! Hehe.
Thanks for all the comments you guys! I am exploring some different publishers right now to see what I can do about getting it published!
-WG4
Beautiful story about Beauty! I have to wonder if the inspiration comes from the fact that this goat stays to herself. Because I have one that does. Gennie is 9 months and is sometimes with the others eating, sleeping etc. but a lot of the rest of the time she is on the opposite side of the pen or off in another direction in my yard etc. I know that is not really the norm, but just how unusual is this? It kind of scared me at first, but I soon realized that 1) she was not sick and 2) she was not being picked on. Is your goat Beauty like this or not? Do any of you have or have had goats like this? Just curious about how common it is?
I so enjoyed reading your wonderful story and yes I think this would make a great childrens book!
Here's the picture I shared with the class of the darling little girl that started it all! :) My classmates think I need to send this story off for publication! We'll see. - WG4
Thanks guys! It's the start of a children's story that I've based around my little "odd" goat Sleeping Beauty. I ommitted "Sleeping" from her name, as not to confuse children. I'm hoping to do well with this one! :)
-WG4
Wow, you did really well! That's so cute!
Oh, I love it! What a sweet story!!!