No Bull! Don't Mess With Moe

By C. MacDonald

They said Old Moe was harmless but nobody told him so since this huge bull had been "king of the country" in Mendocino County. However, Moe was really old and only "a shadow of his former self" by the time my parents rented a cabin which overlooked a valley where Moe had roamed all his life.

Despite his advanced years, Old Moe still commanded respect with a herd of cows and led them from the pasture to the barn every evening. Even a young bull, Monarch, who was twice as big, admired the old bull and never challenged to lead the herd.

Unfortunately, Moe's reputation did not stop an unforgivable guest in another cabin from sneering at him and even teasing the old critter by waving a red blanket, while standing safely behind a field fence.

Being the gentle bull he was, Moe did not pay attention to the jerk, who paid no respect to his "elders." But the heckler was persistent and every night for several days, when Moe and his gang came moseying home, the same fellow kept jeering and waving the red blanket at the former County Fair prize winner.

One night, having put up with this indignity for as long as he could, Moe finally glanced over at the heckler in indignation. But instead of ceasing his jeers, the obstinate fellow increased his taunting, with added vigor.

For the first time, Moe stopped and faced his opponent, who continued to shout as he sat on the fence railing.

In an instant, Old Moe, forgetting his age, lowered his head and quickly charged up the hill crashing into the fence. The shocked heckler just barely managed to escape to the safety of his cabin.

The elder bull had once again risen to the challenge and let all know, who was "king of the country." As I watched Moe and his group return to the barn the next evening, he did not even glance up the hill where his noticeably absent adversary used to jeer.

As far as I know, no one ever again messed with Old Bull Moe.

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