It’s vaccination day, all the herd passing by the narrow aisle, the cattle chute; it starts early and there’s no time to finish. They have to squeeze a dozen cows into this little space and give them an injection. Cows, of course, don’t collaborate; it’s a war to put them in there. One climbs on top of another, interlaced legs in seemingly impossible positions to happen. Needles, horns, bumps, pull one’s tail, slap another in the face, a fight.
At the end of the day, heat and dust are unbearable, the men are tired. Everything is more difficult for cowboys and cows; and there is always a more temperamental animal.
– Beware! – Juliano alerts. – Cowboi comes along and she is furious!
He was right, the cow bumped on against one side of the fence, then on the other, stuck a leg out of the chute, another cow fell on top of her. Cowboi broke her hand.
– What the fuck! Must be Cowboi?! That stupid cow! Oh my God! Hurry! Remove the other cow off her – Juliano says.
What a sorrow! Accidents are part of the deal, but a hurt animal is always very sad. It doesn’t understand what is happening and keeps looking at you, confused.
Juvencio, who is watching in silence, finally speaks.
– Come on, folks, there is nothing to do, separate her from the others, give her some water to drink. Juliano, call the butcher, he must be in lack of meat, the day after tomorrow will be a holiday.
– Seu Juvencio – Juliano insists – let's try to fix the bone, it’s the hand, maybe it heals, Mariana loves this cow.
– Time waste, you know that, Juliano. I understand your concern, but it will be money, time and misery for nothing, she’ll only get worse.
– But ... to the butcher?
– Well, Juliano, this cow is still healthy by now. She is Dutch! European cattle, Mariana is always saying that they are softer, the best stuff to eat, isn’t it? Turning to the men, he still says:
– Back to work fellows, I’ve just remembered that, in the middle of this week, we’lll have this fucking holiday, only to mess up our work.
And there goes Cowboi!
Well, these things are sad, but they do happen. The cowboys were disappointed, but anyway, soon they are back to work.
There is nothing better than get into a corral full of angry cows with pointy horns to maintain concentration. All unnecessary thoughts are magically vanished from their head. They were back to the routine.
Vaccination lasted all the next day. A few cows needing some healing were separated. Juliano would take care of them in the holiday.