First one, then another paused as if
surprised to see it there. They dipped their
heads, taking huge bites, soon forgetting
they’d ever been afraid.
This pasture’s normal occupants were great
white woolly sheep. Dad sold off the last of our
flock the fall before, and now in the warmth of
spring, decided to replace the sheep with goats.
As he’d explained it to Mom and me the week
before, “Goats are a lot less work than sheep
for almost the same money.”THIRTY WHITE-AND-BROWN
SPOTTED goats churned in a knot just
inside the gate of our front pasture. With
large round bodies, small heads, and spiked
horns, the does circled and bleated as if
shouting to one another their concern over
their new home. I hung on the top rail of the
fence and wondered how long it would take
them to notice the knee-high alfalfa grass that
grew all around in a lush green carpet.
Different
by Robin Roberts
Illustrated by Rupert Van Wyk
text © 2019 by Robin Roberts, art © 2019 by Rupert Van WykFEMALE GOATS ARE CALLED DOES.39