Most of them figured it out, eventually, and it became a running joke. But, I don't think Bobby ever did camp out in the pasture. I guess superstitions die hard for some people ... even tough guys!
And we didn't have to make up stories about what Banjo would and would not eat. He ate everything and anything, if we weren't careful. Some of the more interesting (or disastrous) things he consumed were:
- My mother's house plants - on a regular basis. All he needed was a little opening of the sliding glass door and he was IN. After his snack, he could generally be found "resting" in my parents' bed, upstairs. Apparently, goats will go UP stairs readily on their own, but trust me when I say that getting them back DOWN a closed stairway is a bit of a challenge!
- Three sixty dollar bills, bank envelope and all. There wasn't enough left to get the bank to replace them. Need I say my Dad was ... ummm ... a bit irritated?
- All of the lower fringe on a full clothes tree of kitchen towels and fancy guest towels.
- My "biggest grade of the year" English assignment. The prof was tough. He made it clear that he would accept NO excuses for late or missing work unless it was one he had never heard before. He's been around a while, so there wasn't much chance of that. When I told him - nearly in tears - that, "My goat ate my homework," and showed him what was left of the pages (and my my rough draft) it was all he could do to keep a straight face. I've never seen anyone, before or since, work so hard to not collapse in laughter. I got my extension, an "A "and a friend for years!
- The redwood stain we used to paint the chicken coop goat shed. Goats drink with just the tips of their lips, so he looked like he was wearing perfectly applied lipstick. We tied him out of reach of the bucket, and he wormed/stretched/snuck his way around the corner to lick the fresh paint off the exterior, leaving him with red "blush" on his cheeks, as well. Have you ever seen a 150+ pound goat in drag? That's what he looked like!
- Our hearts ... Banjo was AWESOME!
