Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Mom? Why the hell did you dye his hair green?” Marigold’s brother Blue asks.
“He was feeling down. He wanted a little something to jazz himself up. Besides I think the green looks good with his spots,” Ida Sue mutter.
“How did you manage to get the green everywhere but his spots?” Meadow asks, holding her and Blue’s child close to her chest.
Marigold and I aren’t ready for kids, but as I watch her holding the baby, I can admit that’s something I want in the future. As if my woman can pick up on my thoughts, she gives me a look.
“Slow your roll, Bat-Boy. That kind of stuff is in the future, remember?” she whispers for my ears only.
“I know, Ace. I know. “I give her a wink and squeeze her tightly in a hug.
“It wasn’t easy,” Ida Sue says.
“What’s that cow doing?” Ryder asks. And I turn my attention back to the field.
Most of the team is here today, but it has nothing to do with baseball. The field has a silk runner down the middle and there are colored lights and music. It’s a giant runway for animals. Our team is hosting an animal beauty contest as a charity fundraiser. I don’t know whose idea it was, but I’m pretty sure Ida Sue is the mastermind. The Huntington foundation is backing it money wise, so we have Parker and Mike to thank for most of it.
We’ve had dogs, cats, Turbo the Guinea pig, hell we even had a snake and a parrot. Rooster’s pet chicken Gladys just came through. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a rooster wearing a hot pink feather boa, a matching hat, and sunglasses. Hamburger is ending the show. He’s got the green dye with his large white spots. Jewelry that glitters like rhinestones have been woven into his tail, too.
“I don’t know,” I answer Ryder.
“Hamburger! Get up off that ground right now! You’re going to get your pretty fur dirty!”
The cow ignores his owner and falls on the ground, rolling and scratching his back with the ground. Gladys flies out of Rooster’s arms who is in the sidelines of the runway. Gladys lands just a couple feet from Hamburger and hops to jump on Hamburger’s belly.
“What’s the chicken doing?” Marigold whispers.
Hamburger lets out a loud yell that I’m not sure can be classified as a moo. It sounds like he’s in pain.
“Is Gladys hurting him? I ask, watching the show in front of us.
“Hell no,” Cyan—Marigold’s brother—says.
“What’s happening?” his date says. “I think Hamburger is crying for help,” she adds.
“Not a chance,” Blue laughs. “Hamburger’s in love.”
We watch as Glady walks up the cow’s torso until he’s at Hamburger’s neck and begins pecking there, making the cow cry out louder this time, his entire body twisting in what I guess is the cow’s way of showing pleasure.
“Well hell… there are going to be a lot of chickens disappointed that Gladys is off the market,” Ryder laughs, and we all join in—at least everyone but Ida Sue and Rooster who are currently yelling at their pets to get up.
I look at Marigold who is laughing, her eyes sparkling with happiness, and I find myself thinking I hope the poor old cow is just and eighth as happy as I am. Because this kind of joy is what makes life worth living.