Every morning on the farm, Clover the cow did one important thing.
She mooed.
Loud. Long. Magnificent.
MOOOOOOOOO.
This was the farm’s alarm clock.
The rooster heard it and crowed.
The farmer heard it and got up.
The dog heard it and started herding things.
Even the cat, who did not care about anyone’s schedule, opened one eye.
Clover’s moo ran the whole farm.
Until the morning she woke up and opened her mouth and —
Nothing.
Not even a squeak. 🐄
🌾 Silent Morning
Clover tried again.
Mm.
She tried harder.
Mmmmmm.
She tried with everything she had.
Mmmmmmmph.
A mouse looked up at her.
“Are you alright?” said the mouse.
“I’ve lost my moo,” Clover whispered. Which came out as a tiny raspy mmm.
The sun was coming up.
The farm was still asleep.
The rooster was waiting for Clover’s moo to wake him up.
The farmer was waiting for the rooster’s crow to wake them up.
The dog was waiting for the farmer to open the door.
Everyone was waiting for Clover.
And Clover had no moo.
🐄 Everyone Tries to Help
The mouse had an idea.
“Maybe we can make a moo-shaped noise together?”
The horse tried: Neeeeigh. Not a moo.
The sheep tried: Baaaa. Not a moo.
The dog tried: WOOF. Very much not a moo.
The cat tried: Mrrrow. Surprisingly close, actually.
The mouse tried: Squeak. Tiny.
All of them together:
NEIGH-BAAA-WOOF-MRRROW-SQUEAK.
The farmer woke up immediately, in a state of some alarm.
Got dressed.
Came outside.
Found Clover standing in the middle of a very embarrassed group of animals.
💛 Levi Brings the Remedy
Levi came running with a bucket of warm water and honey, which was what Clover needed for her throat.
Slurp slurp slurp.
Clover tried.
Mmoo.
Again.
Mmooo.
Once more, with feeling.
MOOOOOOOO.
The rooster crowed.
The dog barked.
The cat closed both eyes.
The farm was properly awake at last.
“Thank you,” Clover said to Levi, in a voice like warm velvet.
“The animals tried their best while you were gone,” said Levi.
“I heard,” said Clover.
She smiled the slow smile of a cow who is very glad to have her voice back. 🐄