The Bull

Ernest worked down in the sewers.

When he was heading home from work each day, the local flies flocked to Ernest, buzzing around him.

If one could measure companionship by flies, Ernest was the most popular man in the world.

Ernest certainly had no problem with the flies.

In fact, he was quite fond of the company.

Speaking of:

Ernest’s wife, Ethel, was just back from the stables, having spent the day mucking out the horses.

She smelt like a farmyard, Ethel, and from a fair distance, too.

To those horses she was a matron, a mother; solid, selfless and dependable; there with them every morning before sunrise, and all the day thereafter.

If anyone were to ask her, Ethel would tell them that she needs those horses at least as much as they need her.

When they returned home from their respective jobs, every day Ernest and Ethel had their tea together, without fail.

If one of them was running late, they would wait for the other. And they always had.

No one could argue that they weren’t a couple that was in love.

But O, the stink.

They had each other, but they had few visitors, Ernest and Ethel.

Because of their solitary work, making human friends was tricky.

But mostly no one came because of the overwhelming stench of shit.

vss #55

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