We had to pull the calf out

stillborn

with a rope.

“Hook her up and drag her near the tree line, would you?

And dig a hole and bury her, ok?

I’ll clean up in here.”

And so I did.

The dead calf

seemed to swim along the ground behind the tractor.

Went back when I was finished.

“Thanks,” he said.

“Now take the rest of the day off,” he said.

“Go down to the river and swim,” he said.

I said, “But there’s work to do” and he said, “You heard me.

Everybody deserves a day off now and then and besides,

I feel like milking alone, ok?”

“Ok,” I said and headed for the river

as he slid the door open

and called our cow friends to the barn.