Petting Farm

PETTING FARM

"Oh, Daddy, Daddy. Look at the cute bunny."

"Don't love it too hard, Erin, we don't want to hurt the baby rabbit."

Farmer Bob smiled a thank you. These babies were more than a living.
Their health and happiness were important to him. Young children could not
appreciate the fragility of the small animals. Bob preferred they hug the calf or
the young goats.

Farmer Bob's Petting Farm was a going concern located on the state
route. A constant stream of cars unloaded crowds of children. The parents
stopped at the entry way and paid Bob's wife, Olga, while the children swarmed
into the pens of farm babies to pet and nuzzle.

Olga was twelve teeth short of a full mouth, but had learned to smile with
her lips closed. She beamed as the youngsters squealed and laughed. Life was
good. People paid their money for this. She was certainly lucky to spend her
days at the petting farm.

Bob and Olga worked hard to keep the farm clean and smelling good, and
to feed and curry the animals. The baby rabbits were the greatest worry. So
small. So easily over handled. Bob kept twelve bunnies this year. Each had a
name, and he rotated them so they had every third day off to rest in a secluded
farm pen. Presently Mr. Wiggley was feeling ill and was kept isolated from the
others. Both Grandma Olga and Farmer Bob made frequent trips to check on
Mr. Wiggley, and bring him a leaf of lettuce or a small carrot.

Other favorites of the children were Bo Peep, a fuzzy lamb, Mr. Britches, a
lovable calf, Salt and Pepper the adorable kid twins. Small pigs and chickens
and ducks roamed the farm.

It had not always been like this. At one time the farm was a run-down,
falling down collection of buildings from the Nevers homestead. Farmer Bob
Nevers and his ugly but nice bride Olga took over the farm--with a dream. A
place where children could run and play, and happiness would reign.

They fixed up the buildings, sometimes paying more attention to barns
and coops than to their own house. But that was OK. After all, the animals
would bring in the money.

They started out the petting farm with only a meager number of babies to
display. But parents appreciated the cleanliness and well cared for animals.
They appreciated the concern of Farmer Bob and the lovable Grandma Olga.
They came in droves.

The entrance price was kept low and included free feed the children could
give the animals.

"After all," said Farmer Bob, "if you don't help me feed them, I'll have to do
it all by myself."

No animals went hungry at this farm.

November 15th was the end of the season, and it had come so quickly.
Farmer Bob and Grandma Olga hated to see it, but you can't run a petting farm
through the winter. As the last car pulled away they waved good-bye then
looked lovingly at each other and then at their charges.

There was Mr. Whiskers twitching his nose and roly poly Porky with his up
raised snout. Bo Peep and Salt and Pepper frolicked on the grass. Mr. Britches
came to the fence and Maaa'd contentedly. Goosey Girl honked and paraded in
measured step.

"Well, Olga, this is it. Tomorrow is butchering day. The smoke house will
be full this winter."

Arm in arm they walked into the house.
END

Story ID:	435
Written by:	Dick Dunlap (bio, contact, other stories)
Story type:	Fiction
Location:	Rural Freeport Illinois USA
Year:	2005
Person:	Farmer Bob Nevers