ReadersDigestAustraliaNewZealand-March2018

March• 2018 | 33

doing some internet research, I found

a few people claiming that “there’s no

such thing as a mini pig” but I was

blinded by my sudden obsession

and my faith in my one-time friend.

She had said the pig was six months

old and spayed and that she’d had

her for a week, having got her from

abreeder.Itseemedthisminipig

would grow to be about 30 kilograms,

maximum. That was pretty close to

the size of Shelby, one of our dogs.

That seemed reasonable.

WHEN WE METthe next day, I watched

the woman handle the pig, and I could

tell there was zero attachment.

The pig was tiny, maybe 20 centi-

metres from tip to tail. The poor

thing had chipped pink nail polish

on her little hooves and a tattered se-

quinned cat collar around her neck.

She looked pathetic yet lovable. I’d

met the pig 12 minutes ago, and I al-

ready knew she needed me. Ready to

drive home with the newest member

of our family, I had only a few hours

to figure out what to tell Derek.

The pig sat in the front passen-

ger seat, skittish and disoriented. I

talked to her and petted her while

we took back roads to our house and

I planned my ‘please forgive me for

getting a pig’ dinner for Derek. (The

likely menu: bacon cheeseburgers

and homemade garlic fries.)

When we got home, the cats were

their typical curious but uninterested

Always eager to help, Esther checks on what Steve’s got cooking. (No, it isn’t bacon)

ALL PHOTOS: COURTESY STEVE JENKINS AND DEREK WALTER