Opie, the Orphan Calf

By E. O.

“Andrea breakfast!” called Mother.

“Coming Mother,” Andi said half-heartedly as she clamored down the stairs. “What is for breakfast?”

“If you hurry you will know.” teased Chad.

“I am hurrying as fast as I can without Mother telling me to slow down, so do not tease me!” snapped Andi.

After a delicious breakfast of ham and eggs Andi went outside to feed Taffy her beloved filly and do her chores, then she skipped off to the wagon to go to school.

As soon as Andi arrived home from school she saddled Taffy and she took off for her special spot.  Andi pulled Taffy to a stop, then she jumped down from the saddle and went over to the creek, where Sadie kneeled fishing.

“May I join you?” begged Andi.

“Of course!”  replied Sadie. “Did you bring your fishing rod and lure?”

“Why wouldn’t I” demanded Andi teasingly.

Andi sat down beside Sadie and cast her fishing line in the creek. They sat in silence for a while, and then Andi heard a noise. “Hey did you hear tha?”

“Hear what?” Sadie said

“Never mind.” Andi said confused.

A few minutes later Sadie heard the same sound. “Hey I do hear a sound, it sounds like a sick lamb.”  

“Let’s check it out!” Cried Andi they started searching all over the place, trying to find the location of the sound.

When they were just about to give up they found a sickly few day old calf hidden in the underbrush. “Oh my! Poor little calf.” Cried Andi

“What are we going to do Andi? You are the girl that lives on a cattle farm!”

“Just because I live on a cattle farm does not mean I know everything about cattle. We should probably get Chad to help. He knows more anyway!” Said Andi

“I’ll stay with the calf, you go get Chad!” Pleaded Sadie.

“All righty.” Answered Andi.

“Hurry Andi!”

“I will. Come on Taffy!” Hollered Andi.

Andi galloped off toward Circle C Ranch at full speed and did not stop until she saw Chad in the doorway of the house. Andi jumped off Taffy and ran up to Chad.

“What is wrong?” Chad cried in alarm.

“C-c-calf by- my-special-spot!”

“Whoa slow down a bit and catch your breath.” Said Chad, “ok, now tell me what this is all about?”

“Sadie and I were fishing and we heard a sound so we looked around and we found a few day old sick calf!”

Chad jumped off the steps and started off for the barn, “Come on! We have to hurry!” Worry lines crossed Chad’s head as he quickly crossed the yard to the barn to saddle a horse,

“Come on Chad!” yelled Andi

“I’m coming!” Chad shouted.

They took off in a flash. Once they arrived Chad quickly tied up his horse and ran over to the spot that Sadie pointed out. “It’s over there, in the underbrush!”

The calf lifted its head and gave another weak cry then fell back again with a thud.

“Is the calf all right?” was all Andi could moan out.

“I do not know. There is a fifty percent chance it will live and a fifty percent it won’t survive.” Stated Chad

“I hope we are in the fifty that the calf lives, not dies.” Andi said hopefully.

“Me to!” piped up Sadie.

Chad quickly examined the calf and then said with satisfaction “The calf should make it, and it is a girl!”

“YAY!” Sadie and Andi cried in unison.

“Can we keep it?” pleaded Andi.

“Maybe.” Said Chad. “Let’s try to get this calf home!” Cried Chad. “I will ride back to the ranch to get a wagon then we can load the calf into the wagon, I should be back in two hours. You two stay here and watch the calf and try not to name it.” Chad chuckled teasingly.

“You are such a tease.” complained Andi.

Smiling all the way to his horse, Chad jumped on his horse and rode away to the ranch.

“Now what to name you.” Smiled Andi.

“Andi, your brother said not to name the calf.” reminded Sadie.

“Can we just think of ideas then?” questioned Andi.

“I do not see why not.” said Sadie.

“What if we called her Opal, Opie for short. That is a nice name for a girl calf,” thought Andi.

“That is a good idea!” exclaimed Sadie.

“Then if my brother lets me keep you your name will be Opie!” cried Andi excitedly.

Two hours seemed like an eternity for the two friends.

“Where in the world is my brother?” complained Andi.

“Right here!” laughed Chad.

“Let’s get the calf loaded!” cried Sadie.

“Her name is Opie!” piped up Andi.

“You named her.” Chad said in annoyance.

“It’s a cute name.” Andi replied sheepishly, “so can I keep her?”

“Before I even think about keeping her on a permanent basis I need to figure out if anyone owns the calf, or knows anything about her.” explained Chad.

“So when will I get my answer?” questioned Andi.

“No idea.” replied Chad.

After the calf was brought back and unloaded, Chad sent a ranch hand to summon the veterinarian to fully examine the calf and see if there were any internal injuries or broken bones. There were none.

When the vet left Sadie spoke, “I have to go. My parents are going to start to worry. Oh and Andi give me updates on Opie and I will come back when I can.”

“All righty!” smiled Andi.

“Come on Andi lets go have a late supper.” Chad said.

“Yes lets!” exclaimed Andi tiredly. So just the two of them ate a late supper, for the rest of the family had already ate while the hub-bub of the evening took place.

Andi fell asleep at the table with her chin in her mashed potatoes and Chad carried sleeping Andi up to her room and laid her down under her warm patchwork quilt.

The next morning when Andi woke the house was silent. There was no smell of breakfast either. Andi was puzzled. It was not that late in the morning, so Andi got up and dressed then she went down to investigate. Her work led her to a note on the table which said, “Andi, we are all outside come and join us.” Love, Mother.

Andi walked outside and she saw Melinda standing by the barn door. Andi ran over and asked, “what’cha doin?”

“It is what are you doing, not what’cha doin, it is an incorrect use of grammar.” rebuked Melinda.

Andi rolled her eyes “Whatever. So what is going on?”

“Chad called us all out here because that little calf that you brought home yesterday.” Melinda paused then she continued. “Is the cutest thing you could ever see!” she squealed.

“Really?” Andi looked amazed.

Chad never called the family out ever to see new or cute cows, it was just not him.

Chad sent fliers everywhere and he asked everyone he knew if they knew anything about the calf. No one did and Andi was happy because then maybe she could keep Opie. She hoped that Chad would soon say that the calf was abandon and that Andi could keep her.

And Chad did “Andi, you can keep Opie.”

“THANK YOU!” shouted Andi.

Early the next morning Andi woke up to the sound of Chad calling for her. She whipped some clothes on and barreled down the stairs. “I am here!”

“Andi, someone is here for the calf.” Chad whispered gravely.

“NO!” cried Andi.

“Shhhh. I know, you will have to be brave Andi.”

“But you said I could keep her.” whimpered Andi.

“I know I did, but the rightful owner is here and wants the calf. What if you were in the man’s shoes and you wanted your calf back?”

“I will miss her.” whispered Andi.

“We all will.” Mother answered, as she walked in.

“Even you Chad?” questioned Andi.

“Even me.” replied Chad.

“Let’s give this gentleman his calf.” Mother demanded gently.

“All right.” sniffed Andi.

They all walked outside to the barn to retrieve the calf and then they walked over to where the old man was standing.

“Good-bye!” sobbed Andi.

“Here is your calf Sir.” spoke Chad.

“Thank you. Sorry it took so long to find you I hope she was not any trouble.” replied the man

“Not at all.” answered Chad

“Good.” Said the man flatly. “Good day.”

“Bye Opie, I will miss you.” whispered Andi sadly.

“Mooooo.” cried the calf.

“Did the calf just moo?” questioned the man.

“I think so. Andi call the calf again.” demanded Chad

“Opie!” called Andi.

“Moo!” whined the calf.

“Oh my, I think the calf really likes you, young lady, and what did you call the calf?”

Andi paused. Mother gave her overalls a push and then she answered, “Opie Sir.” Andi started to cry.

Then the man whispered to Chad, “Would this young lady like to keep the calf? The calf really likes her and I take it she likes the calf. I would pay for feed and vet all you have to do is take care of her. What do you say?”

“Thank you.” was all Chad could say.

“Young lady, would you like to keep Opie?” questioned the man.

“Really?” Andi answered amazed.

“Yes, really!”

“THANK YOU!” shouted Andi. She ran up to the man and hugged him.

“Oh my!” the man said surprised.

Andi spent the rest of her summer playing and taking care of Opie. They turned into the best of friends, and Andi could not ask for a better summer.