| Harold and Hettie woke to the rumble and rattle of Cattle Trucks lumbering their way down the tanker track. They wondered what had been going on while they were in hibernation. But they knew full well that Tommy would tell them all the details. They spent a long time chatting, and grooming one another, stretching their limbs..and fussing around their nest before they finally decided to venture outside.The air was crisp and fresh. Two bright headlights shone up the driveway. Harold and Hettie froze. Maree and Bryan were just coming home on their farmbike. Realising that they hadn't been seen, Harold and Hettie slunk back into the grass and watched them. They both looked exhausted.Tommy told them later that the cattle had come back from another farm where they had spent time over the winter. Apparently some of the cattle had come back very weak and sick. There had been a lot of shouting going on in the Cow Shed apparently. Tommy told them of his concerns about Bryan, Maree and Regan, he felt that their dreams and hopes were being taken away from them, and had heard Maree say just that , the other day. Harold and Hettie felt sad for them, and like Tommy, they hoped things would work out. They set off over the field looking for food and chatting with Tommy as they went. They were so deep in conversation that they didn't realise that they were all under scrutiny until it was too late! Harold and Hettie gulped nervously as they looked around. Big pink wet noses attached to huge black and white cows surrounded them. Snorting, sniffing and tossing their heads about. One of them even did a little dance.which Harold thought was hilarious The cows asked Tommy who his friends were. Tommy introduced everyone. They mentioned that hedgehogs were a rare thing in these parts. Number 88 was the friendliest of all the Cows and she explained that she had come from up north too, and was most interested to hear about Harold and Hetties adventures. She explained that it wouldn't be long before she would have a calf, and she hoped that Harold and Hettie would come visit her when the little one was born. They said they would love to. One by one the cows lost interest in the two hedgehogs, and went about their business. Some were lying down trying to sleep, while others were busy eating grass. Harold and Hettie watched them all in amazement, then went about foraging. Tommy had long since gone home and was probably snuggled up on Regans bed for the night, thought Harold. About a week later they bumped into Number 88 again. She was very depressed and ill. Her calf was due any day now, and she was afraid that it wouldn't survive. All the cows had been on a long walk today from the far end of the farm to the dreaded Cow shed and back, and for what reason nobody really knew. Number 88 groaned and rolled her eyes at the thought of it. Harold asked what could be so bad about the shed. Number 88 sighed, and went on to explain about the knee-high mud around the shed, and the smell of dead animals that lay about in the little paddock just over the rails. Hettie shuddered at the thought of it all. But the worst of it all, she explained, was the constant shouting! Harold and Hettie were shocked at some of the stories she told them. They both now understood why Maree and Bryan were looking so run down and not their happy selves anymore. |
| HAROLD AND HETTIE CHAPTER SIX COWS |
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