Moo by Sharon Creech Page A

ribbon:
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Grand Champion.
    I looked closely at the women and wondered if maybe they were all the same person, growing older.
    I returned to Mrs. Falala and Luke, their heads bent over their notebooks.
    That’s you, isn’t it? I said. In those photographs with the Grand Champions—that’s you.
    Mrs. Falala said, I lie down now . Abruptly, she stood and returned to the house, calling behind her, Don’t take my Zora.

A FRIEND
    When Beat and Zep heard about Mrs. Falala’s refusal to move Zora to Birchmere Farm, Zep offered to bring one of his own heifers to Mrs. Falala’s.
    To keep Zora company, Zep said, to be an example for Zora.
    Beat chimed in, Oh, yes! You should send Yolanda, definitely Yolanda.
    Yolanda was smaller than Zora, quiet and sweet. She didn’t bump us or slobber on us or whack her tail at us.
    We were excited to tell Mrs. Falala about this offer, so excited that we didn’t wait until the next morning. We found Mrs. Falala walking up her drive, trailed by China, the golden fat cat. We told her the news—that Zep had offered to bring Yolanda over to keep Zora company.
    Luke was clapping his hands to try to contain his excitement.
    But Mrs. Falala was not excited. She carried on walking. I am telling you that Zora already has company and besides who would take care of that extra animal? You think I want that extra work? And who would pay for the grain?
    Luke and I stopped. We turned our bikes around.
    And then we heard a loud
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Mooooo
    and then more
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Mooooo, mooooo, mooooooooo.
    Luke said, Zora is calling us, Reena. We can’t just leave without saying hello.
    We left our bikes and walked up to the barn where we found Zora nudging her huge nose against a rail.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Mooooo. Mooooo.
    It was a friendly sound that day, and when we reached her, she leaned her head against my arm.
    Luke patted her side. There, there , he whispered. Don’t be lonely, Zora. We are here.
    Mrs. Falala came up behind us. Okay, okay, okay , she said. The friend cow can come but only for a visit, only a week or two, and you have to take care of it. Are you hearing me?
    Yes, yes! We are hearing you!
    We stayed longer and cleaned out the bay
    and refilled the grain bin
    and led Zora around the pasture
    and hosed her off
    and combed her hair
    and told her about
    the new cow friend
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Yo      land      a
    who would come the next day.
    As we were leaving, Mrs. Falala
    clicked her tongue and said,
    Paulie will be jealous.
    The pig? Luke said.
    Why would Paulie be jealous?
    Because he’ll want a friend, too,
    Mrs. Falala said.
    She turned her back on us
    and swung that long braid
    left and right
    and disappeared into her house.

YOLANDA ARRIVES
    Zep and Beat and Mr. Birch from the farm brought Yolanda in the truck to Mrs. Falala’s. Yolanda was all cleaned up for the occasion: her fur shiny and smooth, her hooves clean, and her head and neck boasting a new green bridle.
    Zep led her to the outdoor pen where Zora was standing, munching on a bit of hay. Both Zora and Yolanda lifted their heads but did not make a sound.
    Zora flicked her tail.
    Yolanda flicked her tail.
    We stood by the fence watching, me and Luke and Zep and Beat. I looked back toward the house and saw Mrs. Falala at the kitchen window, but she quickly ducked out of the way.
    Zora seemed confused. Her head moved slowly, taking in
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Yo      land      a
    and all of us at the fence. She backed up.
    I was so nervous. I feared Zora would kick Yolanda or bellow at her or butt her with her big head.
    The two of