I walked out to the barnyard a couple of days ago. Doink was waiting for me at the gate. “Hey Lady! Um, could we talk for a minute? Maybe somewhere so the others won’t hear?”
When the pig wants to talk, I talk.
“Sure, dude. Let’s go over here. What’s up?” He double-checked that we were out of earshot of the others, and then proceeded to start talking. A lot.
“So first off, I’d like to thank you for a few things. I noticed that you close the gate behind you when you bring me my food and let me finish eating before you open it. I appreciate that. It was awfully hard to keep the goats away from my food before.”
“Of course, man. No problem. I saw them getting all up in your bowl while you were trying to eat. It didn’t seem right. I’m glad you’re happy – and thanks for noticing.”
Dinner for one. Just the way he likes it. Bonus – floaties in his water!
“And I love the apple snacks you and The Man have been giving me. You know apples are my favorite!”
“You do enjoy your apples. And since it’s a bumper crop this year, there’s lots more where those come from. I think The Man really enjoys giving you that evening snack, too!”
The apple is delivered via a skewer, so as not to lose a finger. This is a win-win situation.
Then Doink took a deep sigh, looked up at me and said, “This one is hard for me to say. Sometimes, I feel like you get a little scared when I get close to your legs. Are you scared of me?”
My posture might give away my answer…
Whoa. This got serious fast. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. But he had asked… “Well, big guy, if we’re being truthful, I am a bit scared. You’ve chomped on my leg a couple of times. Do you remember? And it really hurt. I don’t think you meant to hurt me, but you did. And those tusks of yours are pretty big now. I don’t want to be scared, but I don’t want to get chomped on by those tusks, either.” (I’m not going ruin this by mentioning to him that those tusks are getting cut down later in the month – under TOTAL anesthesthia.)
Oh, he just hung his head.
A sad pig needs a little lovin’.
Then he looked up, pointed his squintly little eyes straight toward mine and said, “Lady, I’m really sorry. Of course I never meant to hurt you. I don’t see very good, sometimes I get flustered, and sometimes I just get scared and when that happens I chomp. I don’t know why. But I haven’t chomped in a while, right? Can we work on trusting each other again?”
Like one of the best moments ever.
“Oh Doink, OF COURSE WE CAN! Thanks so much for bringing this up.” What a sweet, brave boy he is! I know that was hard for him to say. Then Doink kinda looked shy and said, “So, as long as we’re talking, I’ve got one problem, one thing I hope you can help me with.”
Well, duh. The answer was, “Anything, Doink. Anything. ”
“COULD YOU PLEASE MAKE THOSE GOATS GO THE BATHROOM OUTSIDE? THEY DO IT IN MY BEDROOM! IT’S JUST GROSS. THEY’RE LIKE ANIMALS! ”
I realized that everything up to that statement was simply him making nice. This was one frustrated pig. And I didn’t blame him. Those goats have no sense of decorum.
It may not be much, but it’s his castle.
“Doink, I get it. They are, I don’t know, like PIGS! (He got the joke and smiled.) But every morning and every evening I clean up in there. I throw the good-smelling Sweet PDZ in there every day. I do the best I can. I could make you a house that’s just for you, with a door to keep them out and everything. Do you want your own space?”
He looked at me and smiled. And then he furrowed his big fat brow. “Like by myself? Alone?”
“Yeah, sure. All your own.”
He looked confused. “But I’ve been with Brandy since I was a baby. Every day. And Jessie has been nothing but nice to me. Those two new boys are the messiest goats I’ve ever met, but they’re barely more than babies. I don’t like the mess, but I don’t want to be by myself, Lady. Those messy goats are my family. I’d really miss them – I’d be lonely at night by myself.”
I’ve used this photo before, but it pretty much sums up the emotion.
Good grief.
“Ok, Doink. I’m thinking I can’t potty train the goats. That’s simply not going to happen. But I’ll double down on the cleaning up. I know you have a sensitive nose. Let’s make a deal. I’ll be the best cleaner I can be if you will promise not to grab a bite of my leg – ever. Ok?”
He smiled. So did I.
This is a pig smile, tusks and all. Nothing. Better. Than. This.
(Shared at Simple Saturdays, Farmgirl Friday, From the Farm Hop, Old-Fashioned Friday, HomeAcre Hop, Simple Lives Thursday, Backyard Farming Connection, Tuesdays With A Twist, Maple Hill Hop, Homestead Barn Hop and Thank Goodness It’s Monday!)
Doink is the cutest! Thanks for a lovely barnyard story – it makes a nice start to my Monday!
Joan, What great communication! I love the give-and-take between the two of you. That is one lucky pig!
Oh Cindy, you should have seen his expression tonight. It’s getting colder and when I went in for last check, he was surrounded by goats. He looked so….like the older brother who loves, yet must tolerate, his younger siblings!
Such a cute picture of Doink smiling! I would feel the same way he does if someone pooped in my bed! It’s funny, but there really is a lesson here for humans: we all like to complain about this and that, but sometimes in the end, we wouldn’t change a thing! Thanks for my smile today.
Vickie recently posted…Trees and Plants in Pots
I totally agree!
I enjoyed the commentary! I talk to my plants and my animals. They really do have personalities!
Wouldn’t it be so fantastic if we really could communicate like that?
Love this – thank you for adding cheer to the week! 🙂
Cath recently posted…Jul 7, Mocha, the hen who loved to cluck.
Perfect story line! Have you ever wondered writing and publishing a book, Joan? Thank you for sharing us what’s dear to your heart…there’s a lot of joy being shared:)
Annie recently posted…Summer Pruning and Home Improvement Begins
Aw, thanks, Annie! I’ve actually been trying to write a children’s book – for two years. Maybe I’ll get back working on it soon!