Poppy & Sam

Once upon a time there were two goats named Poppy and Sam. Poppy was a plump and sassy goat with ears that stuck out to the side like wings on an airplane. Sam, her brother, was a large, simple-minded goat with ears that flopped down like a puppy dog.

If anyone were to approach the fence surrounding their field, Sam would plod up to the fence to see who had come to visit, then nervously back up a few paces. You see, being a simple-minded goat, Sam wasn't able to control his curiosity or his anxiety of the unknown. Sam was a kid at heart. Poppy, on the other hand, was all vim and vigour. Whenever she saw Sam approach people at the fence, she would trot over as fast as her stubby legs would carry her, and place herself front and center to assess the situation. More often than not, she would disapprove of the visitor and head-butt the fence in reproof. You see, being plump and sassy, Poppy liked to consider herself queen of the pasture.

One grey autumn morning Poppy decided that it was time to expand her empire. She longed to explore what lay beyond her half-acre parcel and simple barn. A small, weakened area in the meandering farm fence provided the opportunity she was looking for. She stepped back, lowered her head, and threw the full weight of her round body into it. Just as she hoped, the fence gave way and she was able wiggle her way to freedom. Sam, ever inquisitive, craned his neck over the fence and watched from the safety of the pasture to see what his sister was up to now. Poppy was nose to the ground, smelling her new surroundings. She wandered this way and that, congratulating herself for her conquest, and nibbling the grass as she went. She was not only queen, but fearless explorer, too.

Poppy had not been out long when her owner, a sweet, young girl with straight hair and milk chocolate eyes, discovered her escape. The girl ran out, still barefoot and in her pajamas, into the early morning light to lure Poppy back into her rightful field. The girl was the one person Poppy tolerated...liked even. And when she scooped out a savory cup-full of golden grain, Poppy, the plump and sassy goat, was unable to resist following the girl back through the gate and into her half-acre parcel.

Only the queen would not be contained for long. With the grain devoured and the girl gone back to the house, Poppy trotted to the opening in the fence, and once again forced her way to freedom. Sam stood nervously by the opening, bleating to his sister. He finally decided to be brave and follow. There was only time for a few mouthfuls of sweet, autumn grass before the girl, still barefoot and pajama clad, emerged from the house; this time with her mother in tow. The girl scooped a second cup-full of grain and gently persuaded Poppy and Sam to return to their field. Her mother, though not skilled with hand tools, was determined that plump and sassy Poppy would remain contained this time.

So she went to work. She measured and clipped a new section of farm fence. Then, using a multitude of zip-ties, the mother attached the new portion of fence over the warped and broken one. Poppy looked on with disdane, and even tried to head-butt the mothers hand as she worked. The mother, however, was not to be hindered. A few more zip-ties and the patch was complete. Queen Poppy was once again restriced to her original half-acre kingdom. She begrudgingly conceeded the battle. Turning her plump body away from the fence, Poppy trotted off into the field with all the sassiness she could muster...Sam following obediently behind. Perhaps the queen would explore another day.

The End