The royalty of Addie Acres are King Dillon and Queen Sierra. They rule with an iron hoof. They know when the food is coming and make sure they gobble their share before allowing the large animals, despite the fact that the larger animals outweigh them by 200 pounds.They will push, grunt and butt with their heads, willing the others to let them eat first. More like the Robbing Hoods of the farm, they often resemble bandits than beneficent royalty.
When in the pastures, they walk side by side commanding the chickens to remain in their place or the royal couple will head butt them back over the fence. Once the peasant chickens are in line, King Dillon and Queen Sierra turn their attention to the nobility, lady-in-waiting Laci, and our mini-horse and knight of the round table Sir Dunkay. They chase the brave knight away from anything that might resemble food or shaded soft green grass that hasn’t turned brown in summer’s heat. With Laci, they keep her “in-waiting” as they dare her to cross the invisible line that protects the ‘goats only’ side of the pasture realm.
Neighboring kingdoms are not safe. I have seen them raid the peaceful duck lands with typically serene ponds disturbed as one goat gobbles and the other stands guard for enemies who may want to share in the plundered treasure. Even reinforcement protectors-of-the-realm dogs are turned away with head butts, and beggar kitties, who mistakenly sit on their bale of hay, are shown no mercy.
The four mystic llamas and lone monk-like alpaca are the only inhabitants of Addie Acres seldom encountered. The llamas’ ability to keep out foreign invaders such as coyotes and neighboring looting dogs are usually left to accomplish their tasks in peace. Only occasionally, have I witnessed nose to nose encounters as goats bleated and llamas lowered heads with spit ready to fly. Suspicion and plotting are ever present with the royal two.
The king and queen live in a castle with a tower containing special sleeping quarters up and away from the larger animals. They rule from on high and enjoy beds overlooking their subjects. With smug furry faces, they know that they rule while the others drool (no really, they drool). I’m sure that before they fall into slumber, they get nose close, planning out revenge on all who dare to impede the royal will. Yes, King Dillon and Queen Sierra, goats who came to us as paupers from the petting zoo, have ascended and conquered the subjects of Addie Acres.
I’ve often wondered why the goat keeper at the zoo was so willing to hand them over and “for free.” Why she steered me to the only two goats out of a hundred that were standing alone next to the climbing rocks with others seemingly keeping their distance. However, they were free after all and how can you pass up a free animal or two?
