His Oldest Bull Caesar
Once there was this cattle rancher who, after three years, finally found a buyer for his oldest bull Caesar. This new owner happened to be the rancher's closest neighbor, who lived on the other side of the valley across the river.
"Men," the rancher said to his cow hands, "It's time to say our good-byes to this bull, and take him across the river."
So the men roped Caesar, and walked him down to the river.
They were about to put him on the boat to take him across, when the rancher's youngest nephew who helped to raise Caesar, said with a tear in his eye, "Can we take him out for one last munch in his favorite meadow?"
The other hands said, "Sure," and led him just off the riverbank for a snack. Well, with the day as nice as it was, all of the hands took a quick nap.
Four hours later, the rancher saw that the bull was still on his property and ran down into the valley. He shouted and cursed at the men to wake them up.
Once everyone was standing, he said that the beast should have been across the river long ago. "In fact, we've come to ferry Caesar, not to graze him!"
Originally published April 10, 2004.
