CLARA Chapter 4 In The Pasture

Clara crossed the meadow and wiggled under the fence and into the pasture
by the pasture gate where Karla the cow was munching on grass and clover.

“Hi, Karla", Clara called out pleasantly.  "I'm taking a walk to the duck pond. Do you want to come with me? I'm looking for adventure."

“Hello Clara. What are you doing here in the pasture? You should be back in the barnyard in your pen behind the big red barn. Little pigs shouldn’t be wandering so far from home all by themselves. It is not safe. You could get hurt or lost. Go back to your pen behind the big red barn.”

“I don’t want to,” Clara said stubbornly. “I have decided that I am going to be the first adventure seeking pig in the whole wide world. It is no fun being a pig in a pen all day long with nothing to do but eat and sleep and eat again. I don’t like being a pig. I want to be a hound dog like Henry or a wonderful cow like you. You come to the pasture every day and get to see lots of things and visit with all the other animals and do lots of things that pigs never get to do. I don‘t like being a pig.”

“Oh, Clara, I think you are a very nice little pig but cows do what cows were meant to do and pigs should do what pigs were meant to do; and Clara, little pigs should not go wandering off all by themselves. Pigs are not cows and cows are not pigs but we each have our own special purpose in life and your’s is being the best little pig you can be. Go back to your pen behind the big red barn where you belong.”

Clara plunked herself down on the grass and stared at Karla. “I can’t. I won’t,” Clara said stubbornly. “I can’t go back or I won’t be the first adventure seeking pig in the world. I will never find adventure behind the big red barn. Come with me Karla, please. Please come with me and help me find adventure.”

"I can't right now," Karla mooed softly. "My baby is taking his nap. I belong here in the pasture taking care of my little calf."

"All right," Clara said, peeking at the little calf sleeping in a bed of ferns. She thought the little calf was very cute indeed. "I'll just be on my way then. I‘m going to the pond. Maybe that is where adventure is." Clara said and tip-toed away as carefully and quietly as she knew how. She didn't want to wake the little calf.

“Clara,” Karla called to her, “You are going the wrong way. The duck pond is over there.” Karla nodded toward the other side of the meadow from where Clara had been talking with Peter.

“Oh, thank you”, Clara called back.  “I've never been to the meadow or pasture or duck pond before.  I'm having a wonderful time. This is so much more fun than staying in my piggy pen all day.”

“Be careful you don’t get lost. What if you get lost wandering so far from home? I think perhaps it is not a good idea for a little pig to be wandering around out here alone. I think you should go back to the barnyard where you belong. Go back to your piggy pen where little pigs should be. It is not safe for a little pig to go wandering off all by herself,” Karla the cow said to Clara.

Clara just rolled her eyes. “I won’t get lost. Henry never gets lost. Peter always knows his way back to the barn. You always come back from the pasture before the sun goes down.” Clara walked a little farther away from the pasture.

“What if you got hurt and there was no one to help you? What if the bobcat comes to the meadow or the wolf or the mountain lion? The meadow is not a safe place for a little pig all by herself. Go home Clara. Go back to your piggy pen where you will be safe.”

“I won’t get lost, and I‘ll be careful so I won‘t get hurt,” Clara said. “I can still see the barnyard from here. I can find my way home again. I’m going to find my very own adventure. It is no fun staying in my piggy pen all day.”

Clara wandered through the meadow toward the duck pond.  She was having a wonderful time on her walk. She wasn't the least bit afraid.

“I don't know why I didn't think of doing this before,” Clara thought to herself. “A walk is a wonderful thing.” Clara hurried off toward the pond in the direction that Karla the cow had told her to go.

Clara ran and walked and ran and walked as she made her way toward the pond. It was a grand day to be out seeking adventure.

"I think", Clara said aloud and to no one in particular, "I think I shall take a walk every day.  Walking can be a wonderful adventure.  I shall be the first adventure seeking pig in the world."