Some say you can learn best from a child. Their innocence and simplicity can see truth in ways that more mature and experienced minds cannot. Same is true in animals. They don't seek absolute truth, they live it . I am not sure why God decided to go beyond designs of the original animals to make us, the human animal. I have my ideas, but that's all they are, ideas.

Why was there a need to create a human mind, far beyond that of the mere critters, tempting us with visions of creative endeavors while that same mind can concoct destruction; both of the body and the spirit. Perhaps I will have a chance to ask Him one day. Today, I just don't get it...so, what else is new.

Someone told me once, I guess I could call him a mentor, that if you want to accomplish anything in this world you have to face politics. Politics, he said, is only the task of getting along with your fellow humans. If you have more than one animal, human or critter, you have some definition of politics in play, which means you have to figure some way through it all to survive.

Here on the farm we have a regular assortment of critters; species and personalities. Our population is fluid from time to time, be it part of the business, to add or subtract, or the natural call to move on to their eternal-whatever. These critters span from personalities that grace the landscape to integral parts of our family. All together they well exhibit those natural political tendencies in all animals, yet there seems to be less time acting politics and more time living, and what politics arise all seems reasonably efficient. I guess the same can be said of the human population around here in this rural universe.

There are some very smart folks who put their roots here in Parrot County. I don't know why that is so. Oh, we have our share of stupid folks here as well but, I guess the trendy thing to say is, It's not their fault if they are stupid. Now, if someone is smart, and does something with their smarts, some people might charge it is their fault and they should know better. I figured I'm covered either way cause I ain't so smart, but I also ain't stupid either. No one can ever accuse me of nothing, because if asked my position on a matter, I can always claim that I'm not really smart enough to have an opinion on the matter. You'd be surprised how many jams such a defense can get you out of.

Folks around here don't wear their smarts on their sleeve. If you saw them standing in the street you might figure they can barely write their name. But if you find them with some time on their hands, and get to talking to them about some weighty topic, they will stretch even the brightest citified mind. I don't think that is a coincidence. Intelligence is important to them, they desire to grow, but for the purpose of easing their mind and solving practical problems. It is not something meant to pump themselves up to deflate others.

This county is animal country. Critters outnumber folks probably five to one. If you add in the wild critters, I guess that ratio is more like ten or twenty to one. Someone told me once that there are at least two deer wandering around this county for every one human. See, I like those numbers because I like the balance of living among smart people and animals of all kinds... If you listen, you can always learn.

When you listen to enough smart folks you soon distinguish stuff which they agree and that which they differ. One thing they all agree on is Breeding-it's all in the breeding, for all animals. If you want a coon dog it has to be bred that way. Charity is part coon dog. I have another dog, Pucker, who is a good water dog. If Charity sniffs a coon, she'll find it. If a coon walks up to Pucker he probably yawns. Now, if I threw a stick out into a freezing pond, Pucker would be halfway there before the stick hit the water. Cows and horses are the same, it's in the breeding. The aptitude to be boss is probably in the breeding as well.

If two folks were alone on an island, it wouldn't take long for one to become the boss. It is just natural politics. Here on the farm it is no difference. There are two territories that politically constitute the Farm: there is the Farm Republic and the United Pastures. Charity is queen of the Republic, Winston the king of the UP. Since the Republic includes all property, buildings and animals (also human ones), Charity rules with the most authority, which through her personality and breeding is well equipped to handle. I could also credit her sex for such an advantage but that might take this story progression on a sharp detour well beyond the intended path. Besides, I ain't smart enough to have an opinion on the matter (See, I told you it comes in handy).

One might ask is the work worth the pleasure each critter brings. If you knew all the effort that goes into maintaining the population you might wonder further. Simply put, the critters are the personality of the farm. Without them it is just land and buildings. It is the opposite of being alive. It is like an empty schoolyard without the laughter of children, or a Congress without debate.

Winston rules the pastures, which includes Sterling, the other horse, and a growing population of cows. The UP is for the most part integrated between horses and cows while managing between six pastures of various acreage.

Now it seems that one key attribute both the King and Queen have in their respective positions is curiosity. Nothing happens in the Republic without Charity's involvement and consent, including the UP. Everything in the pastures occurs within Winston's watch. You can foresee the issues that might arise from such an overlap between Pasture's Rights and that of the Republic. Most often they all just work it out without human intervention.

Once in a while Winston will inspire greatness, though he is without proper pedigree...like we all are, I guess. As he sprints across the front pasture, tail up, almost weightless, cruising at impressive speeds, I don't think there is another horse in the world that could beat him in a race. I am wrong of course. But he looks the part, especially when compared to running alongside the older Sterling.

If I let my human imagination lose grip on reality, I could dress Wiston all fancy and take him up the Kentucky road to where the big horses run. Sure they would be sleeker and taller but they've never seen Winston in a sprint.

But Winston knows. Any pride he has in his humble pasture kingdom is gone, leaving only the fright of knowing he is outclassed. He looks at me from those curious, dark eyes, "You stupid human. Your pride has gotten me into this... take me back... back home, please!" In that moment I still think I know best. The race begins with a tornado of sound and fury. Clouds of dust and grit envelope me and Winston, but I feel him running... running faster than ever before.

It is not enough. As the dust diminishes, I can see the pack, now clear on the other side of the track. For them, the race is half over. For Winston and me, the race has just begun. I learn what he already knows. He knows who he is, and is happy with such. He is nothing more, nothing less. It is this dad-gum, smarter human who thought illusion could overcome reality. It never does.

Ah, to know who you are. It must be nice to be so stupid that you can figure out such an elusive truth. Critters do every day.