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| They're cute, (but you should smell their 'poo!') |
This story took place one sunny, spring, morning in the year 2000. I was on my way to work (I was a teacher) with my friend Carol when we spotted a small pig trotting down the center of the road, in town! We couldn't believe our eyes and, since we both were animal lovers, I pulled past the pig and stopped. Amazingly enough, she came directly to me snorting and squealing. Not knowing what else to do I popped the hatch and lifted her into the back of my small car. She screamed holy murder when I picked her up but quickly settled down into squeaks and grunts as I headed on to school.
Now, my students knew to expect the unexpected from me, however, when I showed them the pig in the back of my car the news spread throughout the school like wild fire. The principal told me to get rid of her fast. I knew if I turned her over to the animal control officer the owner would have to pay a whopping fine. So, one of my students volunteered his back yard as a temporary holding pen.
I rushed to his address, parked out back, and hefted this fat pork chop out of the car and through the back gate. When I began to leave she ran at me and started biting my ankles. So, much for thanking me from keeping her from being pork pate'. (I probably spelled that wrong)
Doing a galloping goose step I managed to flee the yard, jump into my car, and race back to school in a few short minutes. The day settled into a normal routine except for the thousands of questions I was fielding from teachers and students alike. I put a FOUND PIG add in newspaper and hoped for a call in a day or two, but in the meantime worried about putting her back into my car for the long trip home after school.
Have you ever seen a greased pig contest. Well, I found out that they are hard to get hold of even if they aren't greased. My friend stood at the gate cracking up as I chased this little ankle biter all over my student's back yard. Finally, I tossed a blanket over her and tackled the darned thing. I am sure that the squealing could be heard for blocks, but I got her into the car and headed home (60 minutes away).
Once home I constructed a make shift pig pen, called around for advice about feeding and congratulated myself for being such a nice person. Three days later, I received a phone call from a relieved lady who was almost in tears over finding "ARIEL." She drove over to my house that day and the reunion was monumental.
Ariel started squealing the minute her owner drove up. I opened the makeshift pen and the little pig ran like a jack rabbit, straight for her owner. Now, the lady started squealing also and yelling, "Ariel, Ariel, sweet, Ariel." The woman had her arms stretched out, and they both rushed toward each other (you know, like two star crossed lovers meeting up in a field). Any way, the lady dropped to her knees just as she got to Ariel and the darned pig rushed into her arms like a long lost child. The grunting and cooing (from both sides) was unbelievable.
Apparently, Ariel was a bit of an escape artist and the animal control officer had threatened to remove the pig from her owners care. So, Ariel was whisked off to a farm a short distance from where the owner lived and we all lived happily ever after.
kt 4/22/12
COMING ATTRACTIONS:
#237 - GAS ALMOST GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK
#238 - GOOD AIM, GIRL
#239 - AN ACCOMPLISHED THIEF
