Pig Story

Pig was asleep. The creatures of the night were awake, but Pig couldn’t keep his eyes open. He had intended to. His plan was set. His plan was flawless. His plan would have worked.

He would be bat pig! The wings he had imagined sprouting from his back, strong and furry just like the bats in the farmyard would appear. He was going to be the pig that flew.

And now, the Sandman had ruined everything. Pig had been overtaken without his consent, even worse, without his very knowledge. When Pig awoke with a start, the sun had risen, the night creatures had retreated to their lairs, and his brilliant plan had been foiled. Clearly, he would have to improvise. Perhaps, he thought, it might be time to involve some co-conspirators – Bray Donkey, Henrietta Chicken, Neighbour Horse?


Henrietta stretched her wings as she walked down the coop ramp into the morning light. For a young hen mid-way up the Pecking Order, she was doing well. Laying an egg every night, she was trying hard to get her BET (between egg time) down as much as she could, and every week saw modest improvements. A good sign. Pecking her way into the yard she saw Harold Rooster standing on a fence post keeping a keen eye on the surrounding terrain. Old for a rooster, huge and battle scarred, standing in the morning sun, Henrietta was reminded of how he’d saved her life twice before. Once from a hawk and then again from a feral cat that had snuck up on her while she ate blackberries. He had nearly died. 

“Going outside the fence again Henrietta?”

“It’s where the berries are.” She replied. 

“And the cats.” He grunted, though not unkindly as she saw his tail feathers twitch in a slight smile. “Try near Two Pool spring, I heard the Jay boys talking about a find there.”

Thanking him with a broadly waved smile, she hurried in the direction of Two Pool. It was going to be a wonderful day.

Neighbour horse shook his head as he watched Henrietta scrabble under the fence. He watched her with a mix of admiration and trepidation. How could she leave the relative safety of her enclosure knowing the cats were out there! He wished he had her courage.

“Good morning!” Brayed Donkey, true to his name as he trotted up to the trough for a drink. Neighbour Horse, startled out of his reverie, replied:
“Good morning BD. I wish you wouldn’t sneak up on me like that.”
“Oh yes, Donkey, master of stealth. Stalking prey through the night as the silent hunter.” He replied sarcastically. Turning away excitedly, he continued “come with me for breakfast, they have apples!”

With a sigh, Horse turned and followed Donkey out of the barn. At eighteen hands high, Horses’ ears nearly brushed the doorframe as he clomped along the path towards the pavilion. Everyone was arriving for breakfast, chatting pleasantly together about the coming day or whatever interesting gossip was going around. The Flockers were already there, quacking animatedly about their latest investments. Baa-ing a prayer, the sheep huddled close saying Grace before eating. As Horse chewed an apple, he noted that Pig wasn’t with his brothers and sisters who were noisily digging through their trough. “Where is Pig?” He asked Donkey.
“Not sure. He mentioned something yesterday about a Grand Plan and gave me one of those looks where he kind of cocks his head, looks at you sideways and touches his nose twice with his hoof. I have no idea what that means.”

“I’ve seen that look!” Exclaimed Horse. 

Donkey continued, “I speak Piglatin and I am telling you that is not any Piglatin I’ve ever seen. Or any other language for that matter. Where is he learning this?”

Horse stammered “do you remember last year when he came out wearing that..what did he call it?”
“Cape! He called it a cape! And before that it was that thing around his belly he called a “Belt”. We need to find out what Pig is up to and where this stuff is coming from.” 

Horse hesitated. This seemed dangerous. Pig was always saying or doing something crazy. Asking strange questions like “who am I?” or “what is real?”. And Horse had even seen him shouting into a dark barn for no reason. He had called it “echolocation”. Whatever that means.
“I’m not so sure thats a good idea BD. Pig is always getting into things.”
“I know! That’s exactly why we need to find out what’s going on. Maybe he needs us.”
With a wary look, Horse nodded. Together, they turned from the pavilion and went to look for Pig.