Left Dumb,
Right Numb
man child,
Its a story as old as
the hills almost -
An ancient bonding
a fresh warmth."
Be part of the scene
The rolling hills of Wiltshire were subjected to the business of canal-making in Georgian times. During 2004 the 12 year old blonde-haired and petless Gregory Gray arrives at a canal towpath on his bicycle.
"Birdlegs" gentle ways endear him to the farming community, waterfowl and the herd of beef cattle.
One female moorhen, Madcap is “outrider” for the beef cattle and she vets the humans as they appear on the towpath. This is the initial entry point for the boy.
Greg discovers life is not routine for the farmers when the cattle are as mischievous but lovable as any group of people. One calf falls into water and later escapes from the field with his mother, another makes a drama out of a polythene bag and seven steers enjoy a midnight romp which causes their banishment from the rest of the herd.
Coff the black calf, with his mother Giggles, encourages the humans to compete the duo in a class at the local Agricultural Show. Before the Show the lad becomes a hero when persons unknown flood the towpath and cause huge dismay to 20 broody hens and their chicks. His timely warning to Mrs Flintoff and help to remove the wet wooden homes takes the Rhode Island Reds out of imminent danger.
A second moorhen family thoroughly impresses Gregory. The second family show Greg their bodily lightness takes them both in and out of danger when humans and black calves share space. Bread is to engage him in conversations with a mother chinstrap and her none chicks. There is never a shortage of rewards within the system. A skein of chinstrap geese fly over his head one day and matron at the head of the formation demonstrates her dexterity by flying low and removing his cap. Gradually his isolation and insulation are removed by the almost daily bonding that occurred on the hillside.
The challenge of the Show is faced and life returns to normal for the calf.
The Village holds a Treasure Hunt. The route is across the fields and around the towpath Gregory loves. Ten items to find in a timed situation leaves the Gray family victors. The prize is a grocery voucher, which sends Greg to the Village Store. The adventure turns sour when an obscure person lures him into the empty Parish Church. For reasons not known the darkened figure pushes him out of the way. The Police are called in to consider the action against the boy. They discover the act is the tip of the iceberg for the village. That one swift shove from an unknown would eventually lead Greg and friend John to hunt down the culprit. For P C Andrews the only incriminating clue, a size 7 wellington print would enlighten but not lead him to the owner.
Greg’s grandparents are based in Birmingham. Early in the summer the retired couple’s invitation to holiday with them clashed with the village Flower Show and Fete. Greg learnt to overcome the emotional divide it created. Perhaps the Church incident worried them for they surprise Greg one day when they arrive at the hillside in a rented holiday canal-boat. Temporarily life without Greg returns to the canal when he enters their boat to share their Wiltshire holiday. The community must surely miss the beloved.
Also included in this 43,970 word (approx) text is a plump pony rider called Hetty. She loses a silver bracelet one morning and rather than suffer agonies searching the field has the great idea of calling in the Police Alsatian. Luckily P C Smith and Warrier were free that morning and a traumatised red faced Hetty watches the dog anxiously as it follows her scent.
The canal also has a caring team of engineers who are kept busy when the scene is full of novices, tethered canal-boats and waterfowl. They annually hope to keep a low profile during the hectic summer but greenness takes its toll.
Paragraphs centred on the group of 7 steers brings out the best of the landscape and the beasts. Many meeting the 7, the moorhens and chinstrap geese have loved the shy presences. Mrs Gray dared enter the hillside and she ended up working hard to eradicate the dreaded and poisonous Oxford ragwort. She didn’t lose a son; she gained deeper perspectives and a healthy lifestyle that would benefit all. The nuisance at large? I leave you to judge...