Cattle: A Short Story

Words: 1264
Pages: 6

All was dark, and then, suddenly, it was bright—almost too bright. The newborn calf opened its eyes for the first time to a beautiful Midwestern summer day; there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The yellow sun shone directly overhead, and the blue heavens spread out in all directions. Cattle’s eyes only have these two color receptors, which made the sight even more marvelous, crowning a world filled only with shades of gray. What colors!
The fact that the calf was born along with a brother and sister was exceptionally rare. His mother was so proud, but also profoundly sad; this was not her first time giving birth, and she knew she had at most a few days with her two new sons before her babies were taken away. In the wild she may have nursed them for a year or more, but there are practically no wild cattle.
She gave her infants every drop of love and nutrient-rich milk she had, and the unique bond that exists between parent and child and across so many species was formed. The calf didn’t understand it then, but those initial days of life would be his most joyous. Discovery and nourishment filled each moment. What wonders this world must hold!
On the third day they came for him and his brother, dragging them away as their mother cried, which she would do for days—a loud, low bellow, as she wandered the pasture, searching in
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He didn’t dare kiss him or speak audibly; the child was in a rare moment of deep sleep, and if he woke up now his mother would lose well-earned shuteye taking care of him. James had been lucky to get four hours himself. He fired up the 1997 Ford Ranger—still running great with 200k miles on the odometer thanks to his handiwork—and drove off towards the factory as the clouds in the east began to glow a spectacular pink and gold. He was too tired to