STORIES FROM THE BARN

Written by Leona Nielsen
Published on February 2013

OPEN WIDE
The sun was working extremely hard to shine as it struggled to get ahead of the clouds that were rolling over the mountains.
Annie woke up rubbing her nose in her fur to get it warm.
“That’s it! I’m going to find a way to go south if it gets much colder.†were the words coming from Joseph.
“Just do what I do and warm your nose.â€
“Oh no! I want the full meal deal.â€
“And that is going to cure everything?†Baby asked.
“No, I will still have to return home and get cold all over again.â€
“Did anyone see Jack last night?†asked Baby who appeared not to be bothered by the cold.
“Jack who?â€
“You know, Annie. Jack Frost.â€
“Oh. Is that who can be blamed for the cold?â€
“Well, that and winter.†muttered Joseph.
“Joseph, let’s just say that you did get down south. What would you do there?â€
“Pose and have my picture taken with tourists.â€
“JOSEPH!!â€
“Baby, you know I can be charming when I want to.â€
“I hope they don’t take any pictures in the morning.â€
“ANNIE!!â€
“Okay, but a girl has to speak her mind sometimes.â€
“I don’t think anyone saw Jack Frost last night.â€
“Why aren’t you complaining about the cold?†Joseph asked Baby.
Before he could answer, Annie came running back from the other side of the hay.
“I know why Baby isn’t saying anything about the cold. He made his bed between two bales of hay.â€
“Yep and was it ever warm. That is what you call keeping one step ahead of Jack Frost.†Baby said with a sense of accomplishment.
Just then TC and Havier came to join the Little Ones.
“Has anyone else noticed that we haven’t had breakfast yet, not that I am hungry or anything like that.â€
“Come on Joseph, someone that didn’t know you might buy that!!! Baby laughed.
“Nothing has happened. Our owners will be here in a minute.â€
“How do you know that TC?â€
“Well, Annie, let’s just say it’s that time of the year.â€
“Time for WHAT!!!! Annie replied.
Baby looked at Joseph.
“Oh, I got it! Did you?â€
“Yep Baby.â€
“Well, what is it Joseph and why is our breakfast so late!?!?! Annie shouted.
“I think you will find out very soon Little One. Our owners are coming now.†TC answered.
Annie turned around to see the owners coming with a bag.
“Oh, I got it. It is treat time. YIPPY!!!!â€
“Oh, what a surprise she is going to get.†Baby whispered to Joseph.
“I know and it is going to be so funny.â€
“Joseph, that’s rude. You shouldn’t be saying stuff like that.â€
“Baby, you know I don’t mean it.â€
The owners were in the feed room getting things ready when….â€Who should we start with? Joseph?â€
“Oh, remember the last time when he clamped his mouth shut.†answered one of the owners.
When Annie heard those words her eyes looked like they were ready to explode.
“OH NO!!! I know what it is now and IT’S NOT TREATS! I’m OUT OF HERE!†Annie said.
Not missing a beat, Annie was running as fast as she could towards the barn door when it slammed shut.
“Thought you were going some place?’ Joseph asked as Annie passed him.
“You know what mood swings are? Well if you don’t, you are about to see one!â€
“Joseph, I think you have said enough and Annie, you didn’t have to answer Joseph in that tone of voice either.†TC added.
“Sorry Joseph.â€
“Me too Annie.â€
“I have a question TC. Why do we have to have that awful tasting stuff anyway? I never understood why.â€
“Baby, that is a very good question indeed and I will try to answer it as best I can. We are always running in and out between the fields and the barn. We get into a lot of different things when we are eating the grass. Our bellies can handle a lot, but just like people who have to wash their hands a lot to stop picking up germs that could make them sick, it’s our bellies that can make us sick. Remember the time I got sick? With the help of Havier and the vet I got better. My belly, at that time, digested a germ that made me sick. So that is why we have to take this stuff a couple of times a year. It helps our bellies to “not†get sick.â€
“I understand much better now TC. I don’t want my belly to feel bad so I am going to take the medicine.â€
“I will too because if I do get a chance to go south, I don’t want to be sick either.†Joseph smiled.
“Joseph, your chances of getting the medicine are far greater than a trip south.†Baby said.
Annie stood with her head between her front legs looking at her belly.
“Annie, is anything wrong? asked Havier.
“I am just looking to see if there was something there that doesn’t belong.â€
“No need to worry, Annie.â€
“That’s alright for you to say, it’s not your body TC. I remember how sick you were. I WANT TO GO FIRST TC and get some medicine in my belly!!!! Annie yelled.
Just then the owners noticed how anxious Annie had become.
“Maybe we should take Annie first before she gets too upset.â€
“YES!!! Take me. I am sooooooo ready to do it.â€
“Open wide Annie. This is going to taste like apples.â€
Annie looked over at the rest saying…
“WOW. I think our owners can hear what I am saying after all. Yippy!!â€
“I don’t think so Annie. It just happened that way.†answered Baby.
“WHAT!!??â€
The owners took advantage of Annie’s open mouth and in went the medicine. They held Annie’s head for a few minutes just to make sure she swallowed it and didn’t spit it out.
Annie started rolling her tongue around and around thinking how much it didn’t taste like apples. She didn’t want anything else living in her body besides herself and on the count of three Annie gave a big swallow and it was gone. She felt so proud of herself.
Baby was no problem at all. Havier and TC were so used to it that it didn’t matter. That left Joseph.
“Oh, I ………..â€
“Joseph, we can’t understand you.†Havier said.
Without saying a word Joseph walked over to the wall.
“Joseph, did you swallow all of it?†asked TC as he walked closer.
Joseph was still facing the wall.
“Joseph, show me your teeth.â€
Instead of pushing his lips open, he puckered up like he planned on throwing a kiss.
“Joseph, taking your medicine means taking all of it. Pucker down and swallow!!â€
Joseph swallowed and afterwards he opened his mouth showing TC that it was all gone.
“It was just a wee bit, TC.â€
“I could tell Joseph, but you have to take it to the last drop.â€
“I was going to swallow it later.â€
“Helloooooooooooo. It’s us Joseph.†Baby whispered.
Joseph started rubbing his lips on the barn boards trying to get the taste out of his mouth.
“Maybe if I don’t get south I could become the taste-tester before they mix in the medicine to make sure it tastes like apples or whatever. If that was supposed to taste like apples, my chances of getting south are slim indeed.â€
Everyone started laughing with Joseph.

As the day wore on things got back to normal and the ordeal of having medicine was nothing but a memory.

“Winter is going to be over before we know it.â€
“Why do you say that TC?â€
“This morning I saw some crows flying overhead with sticks in their beaks to rebuild their nests. Hopefully, Jack Frost has a short stay with us.â€
“Oh, great news.†muttered Joseph.
“why do you say it like that Joseph? Oh, I got it! That means the family who has the home above where you sleep will be coming back as well.â€
“Yep!â€
“I think, on that note, we should settle down for the night. It has been a long day. Good night Little Ones.â€
“Good night TC and Havier.â€
“I just remember the…………..â€
“Good night Annie!â€

Hi everyone. This was another one of our adventures. Even as animals we have to have medicine to stay healthy. Like your medicine, it may not taste good. Remember to keep your hands clean of germs and we will watch what we eat. Next time, someone new.