The Slop Shop

I read an interesting story once about a pig who decided to build a slop distillery just below a large birds’ nest (Think Animal Farm). He didn’t even get a chance to pitch the idea to the birds and their posh pig friends before they pecked at his flesh and tore holes into his equipment. “We don’t want that horrible shop in our neighborhood! The property value of our nests will decrease as soon as you put up the first brick!”

The wealthy pig was not discouraged, but he couldn’t understand why the bare-breasted birds and mud-pampered pigs objected so. There were several pigs that lived in the area who drove to other neighborhoods to purchase their slop. Why not have a slop shop in your own neighborhood? It made sense to him. Why not save yourself a trip to the other side of town where the barns aren’t as well kept. If you wouldn’t want to live there, why would you purchase prime merchandise from the area? Mr. Pig was puzzled.

After an arduous conversation with his friend, the fox, Mr. Pig slowly began to see where the birds were coming from, even though he still disagreed with their reasoning.

“My dear man,” said the fox, “It is not a matter of convenience as much as it is appearance. To you, it makes sense to have the shop close by to save time and travel, but the birds and pigs are willing to sacrifice both because they know that such an establishment in their pristine neighborhood would alter the ambience that they have worked so hard to cultivate. A façade it is, of course you and I know that, but they would prefer to have the slop shop in what they would consider a less prominent neighborhood. One that has little to no feed stands and poorly funded tutelage towers for their young. In the minds of our dear fellows, the birds and pigs, these villages we speak of are already impoverished, so the slop shop will fit right in.”

“But that’s absurd,” cried the pig. “Why would I further oppress such an area. It would be more beneficial for all of us to gather to improve such villages.” This seemed a noble and necessary cause to the pig. The fox, however, understood a bit more how the animals on the other side of town thought.

“My good man, I know that your sentiment is sincere, and while I agree with you, the others certainly will not. There are some kind birds and a few suitable pigs, but the lion’s share of them will not become involved in such a task unless it brings them more money or power, or perhaps a nice photo in the Barnyard Gazette. This you should know by now. Improving the smaller villages takes time and money. It is more advantageous for our fair fellows to wait until the last of the villagers die out and seize their property to create larger barns that bring greater profit. ‘Tis the way of the world, my boy. ‘Tis the way of the world,” sighed Mr. Fox.

Pig sat and mulled over his conversation with Fox. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, he knew that Fox was right. Pig knew that he was not the only one who felt the way that he (pig) did, but he also knew that this small group was outnumbered by the others.

I sat the book down and stopped reading so I could properly ponder Pig’s situation and how it is much like many I know. Food deserts, liquor stores, and laundromats, oh my! Makes me wonder how the story will end.