Wednesday 24 February 2010

The Ram Whisperer

"I'm just going up to Nicole's place.  She's seen a snake just outside of her shanty and wants me to get rid of it" declared the Machinist. 

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"It's alright, I won't be long" (what help would I be anyway, other than the vocals?)

"I don't mind.  I'll keep watch for you ..."

Nicole was standing in the doorway of her settler's hut, not wanting to venture onto the front verandah, nevermind the grass, which would lead to the main family home.  And safety.  The Machinist climbed out of the ute and grabbed the long handled spade which was on the back tray and proceeded to the front gate.  Suddenly, he halted in his tracks. 

"Will this ram go for me, Nicole?"

"It shouldn't.  If it does, just grab it's horns"

"I'm not going anywhere near him.  If he comes for me, I'm off"

With this, the Machinist darted behind a couple of broken down cars and stood cautiously, waiting for the ram to disappear.  The ram decided he wasn't going anywhere.  I called to the ram ...

"Come here, boy.  Come on, then.  There's a good boy..."

I stood stroking the rams nose and talking gently and calmly to him. "You're a good boy, aren't you?  There's a good boy..."

The Machinist ran to the gate, lifted the bent wire over the post and pushed it open.  The snake was nowhere to be found.

"Sorry to have to call you.  I'm terrified of snakes.  I'm really paranoid"

"So am I, Nicole...." 

The ram was moving around me, pushing his hot woolly body against me, "It's allright, laddie".  I continued stroking his nose, while heavy breathing, occasional snorting and exhaling noises came from his nostrils.  Thoughts of my own pet rams back in South Africa came to mind.  I would talk to them in the same manner and they would follow me, wherever I roamed.  I would hide from them, and they would bleat until they could sight me.

"C'mon, Babe.  That snake could be anywhere.  Let's go"

I was keeping the ram entertained, while the Machinist made his getaway to the safety of the ute.  I stopped stroking the ram's nose and as I suspected, he decided he wanted me to continue and nudged me (gently rammed me?) each time I stopped. 

The Machinist started the engine.  I took a sprint to the ute.  The ram chased me.  The Machinist held the passenger side door open to let me in.  The ram tried to get in, too. 

He didn't make it.

8 comments:

Alan Burnett said...

That's a wonderful little pen picture of life in rural Australia

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What a GREAT story! I really enjoyed it.

FlowerLady

Susie said...

What a lovely story - I really miss visiting my sister-in-law in rural NSW - no snakes in our garden in rural Wiltshire! Best wishes, Susie

Vera said...

Lovely writing about the ram.... has made me feel less intimidated about getting close to our sheep when they eventually arrive.

Alex said...

To be honest I was completely lost but still enjoyed it strangely enough.

Ken Devine said...

A smashing sketch of life as we don't know it in surburban Nottinghamshire. Nice to read.

Queen "B" said...

Aloha, I love adventures!!! you go girl
to bad no one had a camera, glad you are all safe Hugs from Hawaii
Brandi

@eloh said...

Helen, I thought you might be interested in seeing this... seems very familiar....your brother in South Africa would probably really be interested in this.

I controlled my "urge" to point out to him that these pictures were from a year ago and a world away. He seems to try to run a good site.

http://forteanzoology.blogspot.com/2010/03/richie-west-new-mexico-dog-lion.html

CATERPILLARS & KEEPING IT REAL

 Table talk amongst our children is and always has been, -  a rabbit warren . We start off in one hole and end up in another -  quick smart....