The Quickest Calf

 by Ella M. 

Ages 9-12 Runner Up

Fall 2023 Writing Contest

It was an early spring morning when Andi was riding to her special spot and saw a brown lump on the hill. She could not make it out until it mooed. She saw that it was a cow laying on its side. She must be giving birth, Andi thought.

The cow was laying in the middle of a clump of scrub oaks. Andi tied Taffy to a tree and carefully crept around to the other side of the clump, hoping the cow wouldn’t see or hear her. She did not know if the cow could smell her, though. But even if the cow could smell, she probably wouldn’t move because the calf’s head and front legs were sticking out. Andi had seen other calves being born but nothing like this.

“That must be a record time for a calf to stand up,” Andi whispered to herself. The mother stood up, too and started licking her calf. After staggering around a little, he found his mother and started nursing. Only then did Andi notice he had a little white patch on his rump.

At least I’ll be able to tell little…oh gee, what should I name him? she wondered. Andi decided it should be Flash because he was so fast.

When Andi rode in for breakfast, Mitch was mucking stalls.

“Hey Andi,” Mitch said. “What are you doing up this early?”

Andi said, “I thought the fish might bite better in the early morning, so I went out, but there was this weird brown lump on the hill, so I…”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa; slow down,” Mitch cut in. “Some brown what? And who told you fish were easier caught in the morning?”

“Well, Justin did. How did you know?”

“Father took me early in the morning and told me the same thing,” he answered.

“Breakfast!” Justin yelled from the porch.

“You can tell me about this brown lump inside Andi,” Mitch said.

A steaming bowl of oatmeal was waiting for Andi at the table when she walked in.

“Well, you’re up early,” Chad said to her.

“She was fishing ‘fore the fish were even up,” Mitch winked at Justin. “She also saw a weird brown lump.”

“It was a cow!” Andi cut in. “She was giving birth to a calf, who stood up in five seconds.”

“Really, Andi?” Justin asked.

“Yep. I saw it myself. And that’s why I named him Flash,” Andi replied happily.

“Speaking of calves,” Chad started to say, “I think we’ll have another rodeo this year.”

“Really? We will?” Andi asked excitedly.

“Yep. And this year kids can compete against each other too; that is, if mother will let you,” Chad replied.

“Oh, can I Mother, can I?” Andi begged.

“May I,” she corrected Andi. “And yes, I’ll let you compete with the children.”

“Oh, thank you Mother!” Andi jumped up and hugged her.

“And even though Flash is probably too young for it, there will be calf roping for kids and adults, too,” Chad stated.

“Oh, this will be the best rodeo ever!” Andi exclaimed.

“But this rodeo won’t even happen if you don’t finish your oatmeal and do your chores,” Mother pointed out.

“Can we invite Sadie and her family to come again?” Andi asked.

“Sure we can,” Chad replied.

“But what about what happened last time?” Mother sounded concerned.

“I’ll just tell them the same thing I did last time,” he said. “If you forget the Golden Rule, you many leave.”

After breakfast Andi went outside to do her chores. When she was done, she decided to go to the creek and see if Flash was still there. She might even ask if Sadie wanted to see Flash.

Andi rode up to the creek and found him and his mama still there. Then Andi rode to Sadie’s and asked if she’d like to see Flash.

“I will if you see the lambs,” Sadie replied. She showed Andi a special black one.

“I had one like this once,” Andi remembered. “Well, almost had.”

“I thought you raised cattle,” Sadie said.

“We do, but I won little Inky at the fair. My friend Riley actually gave Inky his name. He made up a whole nursery rhyme and said ‘His fleece was black as ink’”.

They rode to Andi’s special spot and saw Flash napping under the big tree.

“Aww, he’s so cute!” Sadie exclaimed. When he heard them, quick as a cat he ran to his mama. “Wow, he is fast!”

“If he’s in a rodeo someday, I wouldn’t want to be matched with him,” said Andi.

 

 

 

 

Andi was very excited about the rodeo. She practiced with Taffy as much as she could and even more when school was out. Sadie didn’t think coming to the rodeo was such a good idea, but Andi convinced her Chad would take care of it.

A few days later, when Andi rode into the ranch after being out for a ride, she saw Mitch, Chad and some of the cowhands.

“Have you branded Flash yet?” she asked.

“Si, Senorita. You must be talking about that fast little calf that took five minutes to lasso and another five to brand. Then he scurried back to his mama like a bear was chasing him. You were right to call him Flash,” Diego chuckled.

“Sure hope he never gets out,” Chad commented. “Be mighty annoying if we had to catch him.

 

 

 

 

The day before the rodeo seemed to drag on. Andi could hardly wait for supper to be over.

“May I be excused now?” Andi asked.

“Well, someone’s eager to leave the table,” Justin raised his eyebrows.

“About as eager as Flash was to not be roped,” Chad grumbled. “I mean, this guy is lightning! And he’s nearly as stubborn as he is quick. At least we won’t have to deal with him tomorrow.”

“So…may I be excused?” Andi asked confused.

“Yes Andi, you may,” mother responded.

 

 

 

The day of the rodeo finally came. Andi was glad that this year she didn’t have to wear company clothes. The Flanders and the Jenkins were the first to arrive; then the Hollisters. Chad told them he would talk to everyone and things would be okay. Soon more and more people filed in. Andi and Sadie wandered around, looking at everything and smelling the delicious aromas of food.

Soon the rodeo started off with team roping. Mitch and Clay almost won, but two Triple L cowhands beat them. Bronc busting was next. Firebrand was brought for the bronc busting because he was tamer this time.

The bull riding was when everything went wrong. Mr. Flanders had a bull who was even worse than Montana. Black Jack, as they called him, let no one stay on him, not even Clay. Even after he threw him off, he went crazy around the arena. As soon as the cowhands were about to get him, he was gone. They chased him around until they got to the calf pen; then he started bucking when they roped him. Crash! right into the fence.

“Oh, God please let them be okay!” Andi prayed.

The calves went scrambling and one went right through the fence.

“Oh no – Flash!” Andi gasped.

Chad saw him run, jumped up and tripped. Andi knew he wouldn’t make it to Sky in time. Andi launched off the bench and ran to Sky, who was already saddled. Andi jumped into the saddle and pulled Sky after Flash. He was a little confused at first, but soon ran for the calf. Andi twirled the lasso three times, tossed it, and missed. She tossed it again and missed again.

“God, please help me catch him,” Andi prayed. Andi tossed it one more time and…yank! The rope dollied and Sky planted his feet.

Andi was leading Flash back when she heard claps and cheers. A couple of cowhands took Flash into the pen and started fixing the fence.

“Everybody, give it up for Andi Carter and that amazing calf roping demo!” Chad shouted. Whoops and yells came from the audience as Andi reined Sky over to Chad.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Andi yelled in a whisper.

“Giving you the credit you deserve. Now go out and take a bow!”

Andi reined Sky into the arena, squeezed her legs, and launched him into a tremendous rear for the crowd.