“What’s an optimist?” asked Opie the tiniest goat of the farm.
“An optimist makes your eyes clean!” said Ollie the goat.
“That’s an optometrist,” said Earnest the pig. “You’re an optimist when you see that the glass is half full, not half empty,” Earnest explained.
“What’s a glass?” asked Opie.
“It’s a people bucket,” said Henneth, the blind chicken.
“The point is, Opie, you have to look at the situation with optimism– someday you will be able to visit your elder friends again at Coves Edge,” Earnest said.
Just then Harry the llama walked into the conversation.
“I enjoy looking into their windows, they smile at me,” he said. Harry has been going to Cove’s Edge to walk by windows so the residents can see him and wave.
“I’m too short to walk by the windows,” said Opie sadly.
“You need a ladder like the one in the shed,” said Earnest the pig.
“That’s a great idea,” Opie said. And he scurried off to the main house. In minutes, he returned, forlorn.
“Boss lady won’t let me use the ladder,” Opie said.
“You can’t visit your elder friends right now, Opie, but maybe you can make a gift, and then when you do get to go back to Cove’s Edge, you can give it to them,” said Earnest the pig.
Opie thought for awhile.
“I know, we’ll have a parade!” said Opie.
“Fabulous idea!” said Earnest. “We’ll need a marching band!”
Ollie ran in with a stick and began twirling it. “I saw a girl doing this in a parade on TV. She had white boots and fringe on her shirt. I will need a costume,” and he ran off to the house.
I returned with Ollie to the barn to find that the animals already had a sign up sheet on the wall. Earnest had been nominated as Director, Producer and Location Logistics Manager. Henneth the blind chicken was in charge of instruments.
Old Friede came out, she was one of the elder, crippled goats. Friede is very quiet and shy.
“I would like to be a clown,” she said.
We all grew quiet because we were surprised Friede would even want to partake.
“You will be the most wonderful clown!” Earnest told Friede. “Will you be a happy clown, or a sad clown?”
“I will be sassy and laugh out loud and twirl and dance,” said Friede, “just like when I was young.”
“We need someone to lead the parade,” said Earnest.
And everyone looked up, to Harry the llama.
“I’d be honored,” said Harry.
By the end of the day, the donkeys had been chosen to take up the rear of the parade, the ponies would carry flowers to be tossed to onlookers, and The Goose was also asked to take care of crowd control.
“And Opie, what will you do in the parade?” I asked.
“I will run up to all the people and tell them I missed them and that it is a wonderful day,” said Opie.
