Megan's Charm
Written and Illustrated by Kathy Wright
Megan sat on her front porch soaking in the crisp sunlight of a winter's day. She was waiting for her dad to come out so they could go to the
lambing barn together. As dad came out the door Megan noticed his supply tote full of medicines anticipating the newborn lambs in the barn.
lambing barn together. As dad came out the door Megan noticed his supply tote full of medicines anticipating the newborn lambs in the barn.
Dad and Megan walked together to the barn in the cool December air. The winter birds were in the trees overhead and the sound of winter's frost lifting was in the air. The lights from the barn shone invitingly warm around the cracks in the doors and shuddered windows of the barn.
As Megan entered the barn the smell of new lambs and fresh hay hung in the air mixed with the sharp scent of iodine. The sound of mothers caring for their new babies was a soft bleating sound that soothed. The rustling of the straw was gentle and peaceful.
As they moved through the barn Megan noticed the first new mother. She was
softly licking her new baby lambs encouraging them to stand and her soft bleats
were returned by tiny sounds from the new lambs. The twins were wobbly but doing
well standing and trying to nurse.
softly licking her new baby lambs encouraging them to stand and her soft bleats
were returned by tiny sounds from the new lambs. The twins were wobbly but doing
well standing and trying to nurse.
Megan helped Dad hold the lambs while he dipped their navels and together they
moved the mom and the new lambs to a small pen called a lambing jug where they
can bond and won't be bothered by other sheep.
moved the mom and the new lambs to a small pen called a lambing jug where they
can bond and won't be bothered by other sheep.
Then Megan noticed a lamb in the corner all alone and still wet. She was cold
and shivering in the dark corner of the barn. Megan moved towards the tiny lamb
as dad called for her to help. Quickly she swooped up the lamb and hurried off
to help dad.
and shivering in the dark corner of the barn. Megan moved towards the tiny lamb
as dad called for her to help. Quickly she swooped up the lamb and hurried off
to help dad.
Dad was with a young ewe nearby who was taking care of one lamb. He had treated
the new baby and was trying to move the mom into a jug. She was afraid and
didn't want to go. Dad handed Megan the lamb and told her to put both lambs in
the jug as he grabbed the mom and pulled her towards the small pen.
the new baby and was trying to move the mom into a jug. She was afraid and
didn't want to go. Dad handed Megan the lamb and told her to put both lambs in
the jug as he grabbed the mom and pulled her towards the small pen.
Dad told Megan to watch her with the babies while he went to take care of another ewe with a
single newborn lamb. Megan noticed the mom liked the one lamb. She licked and talked to it,
but the cold baby was knocked around and stepped on. The mom didn't like it.
single newborn lamb. Megan noticed the mom liked the one lamb. She licked and talked to it,
but the cold baby was knocked around and stepped on. The mom didn't like it.
When Dad got the last pair in a jug he came to stand by Megan. They watched
together as the cold wet baby stumbled towards the mom only to be butted or
kicked away. Finally Dad said that this would be the first bum. Megan climbed
into the pen and gathered the baby in her arms.
together as the cold wet baby stumbled towards the mom only to be butted or
kicked away. Finally Dad said that this would be the first bum. Megan climbed
into the pen and gathered the baby in her arms.
Dad and Megan worked together to help the new baby get her first drink of rich
colostrum milk from her mom before they head for the house with the cold lamb
to warm it up and give it a bottle of milk replacer.
colostrum milk from her mom before they head for the house with the cold lamb
to warm it up and give it a bottle of milk replacer.
As they walked towards the house Megan was aware of the warm damp baby tucked
inside her coat. She felt the quick rhythmic breathing and the tiny heartbeat
thumping away in the baby's chest as it rested on her arm.
inside her coat. She felt the quick rhythmic breathing and the tiny heartbeat
thumping away in the baby's chest as it rested on her arm.
Inside they warmed the baby in a box near the fireplace and fed her when she
cried to be fed. When she was warm and dry Dad said it was time for her to live
in the barn under the heat lights. Megan knew it was best but she was sad to
return the lamb she called Charm to the barn.
cried to be fed. When she was warm and dry Dad said it was time for her to live
in the barn under the heat lights. Megan knew it was best but she was sad to
return the lamb she called Charm to the barn.
For the next few weeks it was Megan's job to visit Charm three times a day with
a bottle of warm milk. When the holiday break was over
she turned most of the feeding over to her mom and dad. Megan had to return to school.
a bottle of warm milk. When the holiday break was over
she turned most of the feeding over to her mom and dad. Megan had to return to school.
She still feeds Charm and plays with her after school. Megan doesn't mind though for she loves the sounds and smells of the lambing barn.
Lambing will soon be over and the barn would be empty until the next year.
Lambing will soon be over and the barn would be empty until the next year.
Except for Charm and other babies like her who would find safety there until they are big enough to join the herd.