Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Funny (10/04/12)
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TITLE: Obsolete Appellation Numerations | Previous Challenge Entry
By Beth LaBuff
10/08/12 -
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The Worthington siblings came from a lengthy and proud line of military families. Each Worthington man was named using a title or military rank. Names like Colonel, Baron, Duke, and Admiral were used as Christian names. Then each successive generation reused the names, recycling them as one might recycle glass or plastic. Some families reversed the order; others repeated the names and added a Roman numeral. They were a prestigious family with a proud heritage; that is until Margrave Caesar Worthington IV shattered tradition. That break didn’t scatter fragrant blooms that needed regathered and water sponged. Margrave Caesar Worthington IV announced to his father, Duke Viceroy Worthington II, that he was going to be a farmer. Not a furrow farmer, but a farrow-to-finish hog farmer. The ensuing eau de cologne smelled anything but sweet.
When Margrave put his mind to something, he immersed himself, it became his passion, he went whole hog, so to speak. In his first year of farming, he perfected the skills of clipping needle teeth and docking tails of the piglets, along with giving the necessary vaccinations. He married during the summer of his second year and was pleased when the farm made a small profit. He expanded the herd . . . and his family during the fourth year. The succeeding years saw profits or losses, depending on the mercurial markets. Three additional children completed the family of Margrave and Mattie “the wife.” Hamp was the oldest, followed by Rocky, then Chester, and one little sister--China.
With the lighter tone of their meeting, the siblings told escapades from their father’s hog farming days. Chester recounted a story that occurred during his high school years. They had a tame boar named Behemoth. One crisp fall afternoon as he’d helped move the boar to another lot, his dad decided to ride Behemoth, sans rope, sans saddle, just a bolting bewildered boar at their own private rodeo. The piggyback ride lasted a full five seconds before his dad’s backside created a smooth depression in the craggy loam.
Then a memory resurfaced, that of a dog long-gone. She was a white German-shepherd named Lark who was aptly dubbed a “hog dog.” Each sibling added to the memory. “Remember how Lark rode in the back of the pickup with her head to the wind.”
“Don’t forget the time Dad and Mom were away for a week and Lark never left Dad’s pickup.”
“Who would have believed that a dog could shepherd hogs, but Lark just instinctively knew what Dad wanted by the tone of his voice or a short command.” Lark’s white fur was usually stained from the mud of the hog lot. The family jokingly referred to the color of her coat as “dark white.”
The fragrant lilies in the newly recruited Mason jar were now safely situated in the center of the scarred farmhouse table. In their final moments together the siblings said a prayer for their future and gave thanks for their heritage. The memories of their father, Margrave Caesar Worthington IV, were like a sweet aroma.
Margrave had three passions in his life: his faith, his family, and the hog farm. He broke with tradition when he chose a hog farm over a military career. But he demolished tradition when his love for raising hogs gave him inspiration in naming his children; Hampshire Worthington, Duroc (Rocky) Worthington, Chester White Worthington, and Poland China Worthington. There was no need for Roman numerals to follow their names.
Author’s note: Hampshire, Duroc, Chester White, and Poland China are all registered breeds of swine.
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It's neat when something funny happens to relieve a little of the tension at a sad time.
God bless~
PS - I can see why the progenitors need not have worried about numerations after their names : )