| Show A SWEET BARGAIN Mary Ann Swenson Non Professional First Place Short Story He pulled the old cow into the stable half-mad that no one had noticed her still in the pasture the night before He had come home later than usual and more weary too Mr Hunsaker had kept him until way past dark hoping to finish cleaning out the shed next to the barn The night wind outside had whipped the branches of the willow against the wood of the hovel and forced its way through the cracks making it seem more cold inside than out The one small lantern made it hard to see if the job he was doing wasgood one He wanted to please Mr Hunsaker He knew he was lucky to have the job and it brought infew pennies that made his life nearly bearable Now it was morning and that meant chores wouldnwait Lady was notpatient cow and she let him know he was runningfew minutes behind The cow let outstream of steam from her nostrils and makinggruff noise let Clark know she was not about to make his task an easy one He tugged on her rope but his twelve-year-old frame was no match for the cowenormous torso Come on Lady he pleaded She moved reluctantly toward the right side of the stable where he had spread out fresh straw only moments before He tied the rope to the inside post and grabbed at the worn pitchfork Heaving fresh hay into the feeding box he pulled the milk stool close and sat down next to the cow and began to milk The yellow cat that Mama called the Butterscotch moved cautiously into the barn She was always there when he began his chore mewing loudly fordrink He made her beg momentarily then pointed the teat in her direction and let the milk shoot right for the catmouth She always got the first drink It wastradition that Papa had started when she was onlywee ball of fur in the spring Butterscotch had never missedfeeding in six years although she movedbit slower of late 111 |
