The woman stood in line. Her eyes stared
vacantly. Her face was gaunt. A thin film of dust covered her clothing.
The weight of the world lay on her shoulders. She was muttering under
her breath. A fly touched her cheek. She brushed it off, unthinking.
"So, how's it going?" I asked,
interrupting her quietude."Clint just showed his pig, Tanya can't find
the sheep clippers and Justin's rabbit was disqualified 'cause it had a
black toenail."
"How much longer you think the hog judgin' will go on?" I asked.
"Ten or eleven. Who knows? It doesn't matter because we've got to be here to close the petting zoo for the night."
"Look out!" I shouted as a loose pig shot
by her blind side followed by a sweaty boy with sawdust on his pants
and a number flapping on his back.
She didn't pay it any mind. She looked past me.
"Tanya. Where have you been? I told you
to check with me at 8:30. You need to work on your lamb—I don't know who
has the clippers—Borrow somebody's. Where are you going? You check with
me at 9:30! The last two sentences were spoken to her daughter's
disappearing back.
She turned and spoke to the two kids
manning the Purple Circle 4H Club Food Booth, "How's the ice holding up?
Set out more cups."
I drifted back to the bleachers to watch
the hog judging. It looked more like kids and pigs at the Ice Capades!
Only a parent would be able to match the careening swine with their
pursuing herdsman.
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