I rushed around in panic as my mother’s limp body was dragged away. That night the farmer piled silage in the corner. I looked up and with a sullen expression, I turned away. I won’t eat till mom is back, I thought to myself. But I did. It had been three nights since she had gone and, even though I was still grief stricken I took a mouthful of rich sugary silage and chewed it up half heartedly.
The next morning Ted, I had learnt the farmers name by now, and another strange figure strode briskly over to my pen and peered over the gate. As soon as I saw that man I decided I liked him. He had kind but watery eyes, which glistened in the sunlight of a clear but freezing morning. They began to speak but I only caught snippets of the conversation.
“Well Ted she’s pretty enough, but what did you say happened to her dam (means mum)?”
“Oh nothing to worry” … he paused to cough then he began to speak more quietly so I couldn’t hear. Some people think us cows are stupid, but I am telling you now if I was so dumb, how come I could understand what they were saying.
“Ok then Ted, how much do you want for her?” I shook with excitement how delightful. I was going to leave this gloomy place after all. “I have several other youngsters at my farm which includes some of the countries finest bulls, she won’t have to worry about being lonely”.
I didn’t listen to the rest so all I knew was that I was leaving this place for good! However I soon realised that my trust had been misplaced- this “kind” man was a downright liar!
The first thing that hit me was the stench, and the second was the animal’s conditions. I was surrounded by scraggy skinny flea-bags. I glared up at the man, who was now attempting to drag me down the yard, with hatred.
It took three men to carry my thrashing body to the young stock barn. Even with my legs firing in all directions. The men managed to dodge every shot I made. This angered me greatly.
They soon had me in the barn and I stood shivering in the corner. As the tired men walked away all the little animals crept over to investigate. All of them seemed wary of me, apart from one. A young, leggy lamb bounded towards me.
“Maaaaaaaaaaaaa”. What a peculiar sound. The fluffy little creature, with a clumsy elegance like a hippo doing ballet, wagged it’s tail a million miles an hour. Chickens raced round the pens exterior, and young goats bleated and frolicked in excitement.
I soon became good friends with these friendly little creatures. In summer we were let out in the meadow. It was a good life but I was to learn that good things can’t last long. It was a dull autumn day and my sheep friend Seamus, who I had grown quite fond of, was grazing by the gate. The farmer swung open the gate and quick as a flash he snatched up Seamus and cruelly dragged him off to the slaughter house. I was gripped with sadness “why him of all the sheep, why him” I moaned.
“They are having a feast tonight squealed a fat snorting pig, that is why they are taking us all”. I was shaking now. “D-d-d-does that m-m-mean we are all going to die” I wept.
“Yes” cried back all of the animals. I heard the soft crunch of straw behind me. I knew who it was and what they wanted. I was driven by fright and anger. I was rocket flying around the pen. It was round so he could not corner me. I was tiring fast. Three other men leapt over the gates and wrestled me down. My legs were strapped together tightly so that the ropes dug into my frail little legs.
When we reached the slaughter house they dragged me through a wide door and into the “red room”. What hit me first was the stench of death. I stared around, my pupils dilated. There was the body of my beloved friend splayed out on the floor, a heavy flow of blood drained from the hole in his little black head.
My head was strapped to the floor. The man picked up the gun and rested the barrel on my head. I saw the sadness in his eyes and then a click. In a flash the gun was whipped away from my head and up to his own. He pulled the trigger. I was soaked in his blood. No-one came to me. I just lay there shaking and waiting to end my pain.
