Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Hear / Here (01/26/23)
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TITLE: Mud Wrestling | Previous Challenge Entry
By Bonnie Kronberger
01/30/23 -
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Not the kind of news one wants to hear on a day like today. The rainstorm started early in the morning and hours later showed no sign of letting up. My husband and I were glad our morning feeding of the herd was done. The fireplace put off a warmth and glow that invited us to our recliners. We were comfortably settled in, coffee in hand, when the call came.
“I’m over here at the north drainage ditch. A calf slid down the embankment and mama can’t help it out.” Rich, our hired hand, lived in view of the field, and went to investigate what he’d seen from his kitchen window.
The ground was saturated from weeks of Oregon’s normal winter rainfall. A sloping pasture, green in spring, was now a brown mire. It seemed every square foot had a hoof-sized indentation tearing up the ground. Glistening cow pies, puddled with rainwater, added texture to the hillside. Other cows had found more suitable places in the large pasture to give birth, not on the edge of a ditch.
It’s amazing, the resilience of newborn calves. Minutes after birth, they’re on their wobbly legs, butting mama’s body, searching for a teat of life-sustaining milk. Mama interrupts, every now and then, turning to resume the licking stimulation and cleaning of her baby. The conditions for winter births come with challenges. Yet God, in his creative wisdom, gave the animals instincts and strength for survival.
“Okay, we’re on our way.” Grabbing a jacket and rain slicker, we quickly pushed our feet into the essential Muck boots. Hopping on ATV’s, we drove to the field, parked the four-wheelers and made our way across the pasture. We were dripping rainwater and breathing hard by the time we got to Rich. The three of us manhandled the seventy-five pound angus calf up the incline. With all the slipping and sliding, it was a regular comedy. Throughout it all, mama cow paced and bawled loudly, circling us and her baby.
The calf was drenched from laying in the drainage ditch. It needed a dry place to warm up. We decided to herd mama toward a gate into a corral. Two of us flanked the cow, not crowding her, moving her toward the gate. She’d juke and jive, wanting to return to her baby. We needed to be quick on our feet to keep her headed in the right direction. Rich was behind the calf, pushing her along toward mama, but progress was slow.
“Head her over here,” my husband shouted. The pounding rain on our headgear made it difficult to hear. We hollered ideas back and forth, playing defense against a cow who had her own ideas. In theory, it should have worked, but the ground was soft and mushy. Muddy suction grabbed our boots, making movements slow and restricted, each step an awkward dance. Mama cow pivoted, made a break, and returned to her calf. We were back to square one.
On dry, level footing, it’s possible to scoop up the newborn calf, gripping one arm around the front legs, the other arm around the back legs, and walk a reasonable distance. Also driving our ATV up the field and loading the calf on it, would solve the problem. Mama would follow us to the corral. However, soggy, rutted ground made each option impossible.
What a mess. Regroup. The three of us attempted to drag and push the resistant calf forward. No one could keep a decent grip. Our saturated, mud-soaked gloves were useless. Exhaustion eventually called a halt. Out of options, we drug our worn out selves home, leaving mama and baby in the field. We tried. Yet here in the field they would stay, left to God’s care.
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I'm not sure you focused on the topic word, though I saw it a couple of times.
I did the same thing with the first of these challenges. It's not enough to use the word, the story must wrap around it. I know better now.
But you tried and entered. Good for you!
I can see the use of "here" being the muddy hillside, but I have trouble finding the "hear". I also see very little ties to Christian beliefs. The last sentence seems to be tacked on.
Overall a good job. Keep writing.