Bad Management? – Stories Retold

Hurty waited for his first born to reach him. He was restraining himself from throwing a tantrum, yet he still could not hide his rage – it escaped through the ferocity of his breathing. It was not the first time he had warned him, nor the second. This time the warning would be coupled with a beating, perhaps then the lesson would sink in.

It was not that he was a brutal ram. He loved his offspring but when it came to Favad, everything changed. “How many times have I warned you not to play with Favad’s lambs?” He yelled. The young lamb shocked by his father’s rage was dumbstruck. Nevertheless, Hurty was a ram of his word and a beating the lamb got – a heavy beating to be precise.

The young lamb sat at the corner of the shed trembling with hurt and pain, a look of disbelief on his face. The look seemed to ask for answers. Hurty would not give them to him, not today. He was still young, he wouldn’t understand.

Hurty had gone over the incident again and again in his mind and though it happened a long time ago, he could vividly remember every detail. He had never liked Favad before the incident but on that day, everything changed for the worst.

He reminisced.

Favad was the kind of sheep that if you spent time with, you would know why some animals eat their young ones. He never would settle down – always the one left behind or the one wandering off following a butterfly. Some sheep said that it was a personality issue but for me, it was “a not so well in the head issue”. So I made sure our lines never crossed.

However, on that day Favad did something that was the straw that broke the ram’s back – my back. Yes, it affected everyone but I took things personally. The Master had a habit. Every sunset when the sheep came from the pastures, he would count them. When the number was right, he would smile. Then he would lie down at the door of the makeshift shed because he was the door of the shed. His presence was always a great comfort to the sheep. He was our defender and help. You could tell he loved the sheep dearly and would do anything for them.

That day the Master counted once, twice and at the third count, all of us turned our heads towards the path we had come from. You see, it was not the first time that Favad delayed in coming in at sunset. Yet, never had he lagged behind for so long. I knew this was troubling the Master but I didn’t think it would drive him to the point of heart break – especially not for Favad.

I was horrified when he picked up his staff and rod and begun heading toward the pastures. We were stunned and glued to the ground you couldn’t hear hoof trot. Who would guard us? You could see the terror on the faces of the ewes and the rams that had offspring; it was double worry for them. No one wanted to be at the edge of the shed peradventure a wolf came and you became the first course in his dinner. No! Perhaps his dessert. Goodness no! Even Rufus, the flock clown was quiet.

That night I never slept a wink. I can’t say I was the only one. We imagined the worst of every sound. At every corner of the shed petition was being offered, even Sid the atheist ram seemed to have converted.

At dawn I heard a sound up yonder. It was not as distinct but it was a laugh. Immediately I thought the worst; perhaps a hyena. It was Choppy who had told me about hyenas. It was said that he was the most learned sheep in the flock, he seem to know almost everything. The laughter drew nearer and we drew nearer to a heart attack. Had we not also have heard the Master’s laugh, we would all have scattered left right and centre – every lamb, ram and ewe for themselves.

“Its Favad and the Master” someone shouted.

The relief that swept the flock was amazing. It was not relief that Favad was alive but rather that we would not end up in the stomach of some animal that was higher than us in the food chain. Why were they laughing? Were they not considerate of us?

We were all waiting for Favad in the flock. We would hurt him badly and wipe that laugh from his mouth. The Master was carrying Favad on his shoulder. No one could miss his joy. He was overwhelmed with gladness. Furthermore, he called the other Masters and they had celebration. All this time Favad was on the Master’s shoulders. I saw them dancing, singing and eating merrily. Speaking of eating, many of us had no appetite the next day after such a terrible night of worry – we preferred to sleep.

Now you understand where I get hostility towards Favad from. Why did the Master risk all of us just for him? He left us alone to go and rescue just one sheep? Favad. I have never understood it. I think it was a case of bad management or bad math.

I cannot change the happenings of that day but I can influence the present and future and that’s why none of my blood will associate with Favad’s offspring.