It was a crisp, but sunny May morning at the goat show and both little Spotlight the goat and owner were anxious yet excited for the show. The time was around seven am and the sun was just starting to rise over the beautiful Virginia Mountains. The humidity was low and this was going to be the first show that Spotlight was going to be shown in, as show season had just begun and little Spotlight was only three months old. There were almost sixty other goats peeking over their stall walls in the barn, to see what their owners’ had in store for them.
Most goats knew the every weekend show routine but to little Spotlight, this was all new. The only dread of this show was another goat owner and her goat Prim. The first thing Spotlight’s owner, Blair, did was feed her, next she grabbed Spotlight’s halter and put it on her before leading her out of the stall to give Spotlight her pre-show bath. Spotlight being extremely stubborn as she had no intentions of getting a cold bath this early in the morning. After the bath was finished, the next thing to be done was Spotlight needed to be was blow dried and have her hair properly fluffed up.
Blair began to lead Spotlight over to the grooming stand when she was stopped by this young goat owner, Casey, who happened to also be leading her show goat, Prim back to her grooming stand. Anxiety began to rise in Blair as she knew this other young goat owner disliked not only her, but also little Spotlight and owned a much bigger goat, although not necessarily better quality goat. A greater sense of fear began to rise in Spotlight as she saw Prim’s hair begin to rise and attempt to come at Spotlight.
Blair quickly pushed back on her rope to push Spotlight away from her. Casey slightly smirking saying “I guess we’ll see you in the show ring” as she pulls her goat away and off to their grooming stand. Spotlight and Blair trailed off to their grooming stand, owner being slightly aggravated and Spotlight feeling imitated. After much blow drying and combing, Spotlight and Blair feeling extremely anxious but finally ready for their big debut. The temperature was beginning to rise in the mountain air, and it was officially show time.
Spotlight peeking over her stall door waiting to see what would happen next and then she sees Blair coming toward her stall with the show chain they had used for weeks to practice with. Blair clicked the chain around Spotlight’s neck and patted her on the back saying “Okay girl, here we go. ” Spotlight seemingly like she understood nudged her in the leg almost like a love rub. Spotlight suddenly became stubborn on the way to the show ring as she was beginning to become fearful for what was about to happen. The first thing when Blair did upon arriving at the show ring was check the class list, to see which class they were in; class two it was.
The show attendant began to ask all goats to line up for class one, and for class two to be nearby the ring. Just their luck as Blair and Spotlight were standing by the show ring, Casey and Prim were prancing their way up the aisle. Blair trying to be pleasant, looked at Casey and said “Prim looks great, you did a good fitting job on her. ” Prim’s owner snapped back saying. “Well she better for all the time it took to get her ready, we’re hoping for first place you know. ” Blair just smiled back, not really knowing how to respond to such remark. Class one concluded and it was now time for class two, both Spotlight and Prim’s class.
Spotlight and Prim were as show- prepped as they could be, and were held by their show chains in their owner’s hands. As the class went on, there was tension rising as the judge began placing the goats one by one, and then it came down to the last two goats, Spotlight and Prim. Suddenly the entire show area grew quiet as everyone knew that this was a big deal as to who would win first place and who would fall to second. Then the moment came, the judge reached out his arm and pulled Prim into second place and Spotlight into first. Casey’s face instantly became enraged.
Spotlight and Blair walked into the first place slot, and Spotlight knowing she had done well and receiving a pat on the back by her owner. Following the end of the class, Casey stomped off back to her stall area and pushed her goat into the stall, and ran off to the bathroom and began to pout. Spotlight and Blair headed back with smiles. Then something transpired, everyone began to notice it was becoming oddly dark, extremely fast. A voice from the announcers stand began to say that a severe, quick moving spring storm was on its way and several severe weather warnings had been issued.
All goat owners began to panic and attempt to get all their supplies and goats under cover. Unfortunately for Casey, she was too busy off pouting in the bathroom to hear this announcement; and Prim was located on the far end of the barn where there was hardly any cover. And then the storm hit. The winds were extreme, the rain poured; dust and branches were flying everywhere. It seemed like an eternity to those outside for it to end, but it finally did minutes later. Unknowing what had just happened, Casey returned to her stall area from the bathroom to find it not only entirely flooded but, Prim to be soaking wet and shaking.
The girl began to fall to the ground crying saying this was the worst day of her life. Blair noticing her, began to walk over and attempt to comfort her and offer any sort of assistance. Then Casey looked up saying “Why would you want to help me? I have been nothing but rude to you. ” Blair responded saying, “That’s the way I’ve been taught growing up showing like this, not everyone is always going to be nice to you, but that doesn’t give you any reason to reciprocate those actions. I am kind to anyone and anything, and it gets me pretty far in life.
Casey obtained a smile on her face as Blair began offering to move Prim into the stall with Spotlight after getting her dried. Casey agreed, and surprisingly enough, seeing that the two owners had settled their difference; the two goats sensed this and instantly clicked and settled down in the dry stall together. Laying their heads on top one another, the girls smiled as things were looking up between the both of them, and their goats. It was soon to be time for the second show. It was time to start the preparation all over again, this time with a lot less tension.
