Llama Drama. Rose Impey

reassured. He was getting old and, in his long experience, life was full of strange and inexplicable happenings. He just prayed that this wouldn’t turn out to be one of them.

      ext morning, Farmer Palmer came through the field gate even earlier than usual. Latisha and some of the other teenage llamas, never early risers, were still only half awake. But finding his new Guard Llama was an important job and the farmer was anxious to make a start. As he crossed the field he greeted the llamas by name.

      “Hoi, there, Leo. Looking good, Lamar! Mornin’, Mama Llama. How’s Papa doing this morning?” One by one he had a word for them all. “Now then, Latisha, looks like someone got out of bed on the wrong side.”

      “Tchhh!” she tutted as soon as he walked on.

      The farmer always made a point of teasing Latisha, which she secretly loved, but liked to pretend she didn’t.

      “Oh, my! Glad to see you’re still here, Liberty. You look happy, as usual, Lewie.”

      As he toured the field of llamas, Farmer Palmer was followed by his youngest daughter, Millie, who was almost six years old. Millie was followed by her puppy, Pepsi, and her pet duck, Delilah.

      After Farmer Palmer had checked out all his llamas, he gave them new feed and water. Then he turned his attention to the job at hand.

      The farmer couldn’t help noticing an excited buzz around the field. It amused him to think that the animals could tell something important was about to happen. Had he said that to Millie, she would have taken it entirely seriously. She was young enough to understand that animals were every bit as intelligent as humans. Obviously, they would know exactly what was going on.