i thought it was an ordinary Monday, went to Alberto's this morning early to pick up the cement irrigation culverts that he told me i could have last week when we were at the Post Office. but one of the men that works for him wasn't there. so it was put off till tomorrow. during the exchange he asked if i had babies coming. i said no, that i didn't breed because i have trouble letting the kids go. Alberto, being 80 some years old and having farmed on his land all his life, raising sheep, made a sound and said yes. there are a lot of people like you. you should not have animals. get a toy.
but he didn't write me off and tomorrow. then Work Away. then home to make sure i can get the Way Back gate open when we bring the culverts. Shoveling. raking. then making sure the Buck gate is accessible. they will get one of the culverts. then, watching Karma. Why is she calling calling calling? Why is she not eating? but CALLING CALLING CALLING and then i see some string of mucous and think it's her first heat and tho it's more mucous than ordinary, i think, it's her first heat. Then she screams. and to spare the details, somewhere around 5:10 p.m. she gives birth to a large stillborn doeling. Karma is 9 months old. and i flash that image of the doe and her little one loose that morning. i'd remembered it as Lucky Star and Celia. but in that moment i realized it was Caroline and Karma. who had gotten out and were cruising the Buck's fence.
so.
Life begets Life. or Tries to.
Caroline's first freshening was only a single doeling, Jude's Magic. so one. but this one stillborn.
it's dark now. i sat outside on the back porch, waiting to try to see the placenta delivered. it got dark. it's all quiet now out there. while waiting i went out by the Raft and dug a buriel hole. but the baby is wrapped in a purple silk cloth in the bathroom. i'll tie the door closed in a while. it won't stay closed on it's own and Tazmeena and Chinche are concerned. So, in a while i'll tie it closed for the night. Bury the little one in the morning. See if Karma is ok.
windthread 
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