A Little Goat Story

I have been horse-crazy my whole life. I tried to drive my parents insane begging for a horse. They tried buying me a goat, hoping this would end the horse begging (it didn’t, but that’s another story).

They bought me the cutest, little, white goat. I named her Heidi. Heidi stayed in our fenced back yard until my parents decided that she needed her own pen.

My father set to work. He poured a concrete slab. Next he set posts in concrete and put up fencing. After a long day’s work he completed Heidi’s palace. He even built her a little house of straw bales. We gave her hay and water and locked her in. Then we headed for the house.

Heidi bounced up in front of us. I think my dad looked dazed. He probably cussed. We walked her back and put her in and watched. Like a pinball Heidi bounced up the bales and over the fence and joined us looking in at the now empty pen. I can’t remember what happened after that. I think he tried taking the bales out, but Heidi could still get out.

Eventually, my dad fenced the pasture and built a shed and the animals all stayed where they were supposed to (mostly).

This why comedian Jeff Foxworthy talks about alternative Oylmpic sports, saying, “Let’s see you hem in this goat.”

Photo courtesy of Hannah Markley@hrmarkley