Short Stories
This was written a couple of years ago, when our local writer's group was invited to write stories on the theme of 'Intergenerational Learning', with the prospect of having them featured in the newspaper for Adult Learner's Week.
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Old Tom pushed the sheep towards the yard, barking out orders: “Go on! Get in there!” The flock veered away in fright, bumping into each other as they ran.
“Pull back a bit, Dad,” Jimmy called out, himself waiting at a cautious distance.
Tom snorted, moving closer. “If you hold back, they’ll get away! Get in there!” he ordered. The flock huddled together, refusing to move along the fence-line.
“Dad! Back off,” Jimmy insisted from behind him. “Let me have a go.”
Tom eyed the woolly creatures. “Go on, ya stupid beasts,” he growled.
One sheep darted off to the left, away from the gate, and like a swarm, the rest followed down into the paddock. The hot sun beat down relentlessly, sapping his energy. Jimmy followed the flock, which was vanishing in a cloud of dust.
“Cheeky young fella,” Tom thought, watching his son round up the sheep gently but swiftly. No curses or loud noises came out of his mouth to alarm the flock, yet they still responded to his commands. He seemed to know intuitively what their next moves would be. Tom could see Jimmy’s mother coming out in the way he worked. She was a quiet soul, that one.
The sheep came back over the rise and approached the holding area. Jimmy kept his control over them, subtly pushing them so that before too long, they were inside the wooden yards and the gate was closed. Tom sank down to rest under a shady ironbark tree. He had no comment as Jimmy walked back from the completed job.
“It’s not that hard, if you know how,” Jimmy pointed out. He gulped down a drink, water running down his hairy chin.
“Huh! In my day there’d be no drama – just get in and get the job done.” Tom rubbed his shoulder against the tree. “Those cattle are better to work with, but.”
“Maybe,” Jimmy said, gazing across the paddock. “But the business is changing. Different stock. We need to do things differently.”
“I dunno….” Tom groaned. He scratched at a fly on his head. “Maybe I’m getting too old for this.”
“Nah! You’ll be right. Just take some time to watch.” Jimmy looked for a response from his father. Tom’s brown eyes were half-closed in contemplation. Jimmy took this as a cue to continue.
“Don’t just barge in there thinking you’re in control. Sit back and figure out what works and what doesn’t.” He gave a stretch.
The Boss stood at the fence and whistled. “Come on boys! Back to work!”
Tom stood up slowly and yawned. “They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
Jimmy wagged his tail and bounded off. “Well, they’re WRONG!” he called back over his shoulder. “Come on!”
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