The Third Young Hog

Mom told us it was time to move on.

“You are grown now, becoming young hogs”

I told her that I was ready.

She wanted me to watch after my brothers

She didn’t have much faith in them like she did me.

“The world out there is rough, especially for prey like us”

I won’t be anyone’s livestock.

Mom taught us to be resourceful

And to stay hidden from predators.

After seeking a reclusive foundation in the forest

I began building.

I sat at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee and my notepad

Build a house was crossed off on my list titled,

Plan of Action.

I was startled by a bang on my front door.

I grabbed my shot gun that was concealed in a compartment by the fireplace.

Slowly making my way towards the source of disturbance,

The door rattled once more with three more pounds.

“Who is it?” I yelled.

“It’s me” screamed the familiar voice in panic

I immediately opened the door.

My brother, the second youngest, rushed in.

He slammed the door behind him, slid the latch to secure the door

And looked out the front window.

“What is going on?” I asked.

“ I haven’t seen you in about 5 months and you are suddenly here, acting bizarre”

“He got him” he said with sorrow

“Whose got who?” I asked

“The wolf. He got younger brother” he replied while staring at the floor.

My eyes grew wide. “When did this happen?”

He sat on the couch and started to explain.

“Do you remember that storm we had about a month ago?”

I nodded.

“Well it completely destroyed little brother’s house”

“How does a storm like that destroy a brick house?” I asked.

“It doesn’t” He pointed out. “Brother made his house of straw”

My face froze in disbelief.

Straw? Who builds a house out of straw?

I knew my brother was a little slow and he didn’t pay attention much during mama’s lessons.

He would be too busy chasing butterflies and looking at the clouds.

But I didn’t think he would ever resort to straw for shelter.

After five minutes of complete silence, he continued.

“I told him he could stay with me”

“Then he came up with the idea of having a house warming party”

“I agreed, and we started sending invitations out to all the forest animals”

He looked at me in guilt knowing my presence wasn’t requested at the function.

“So then what?” I asked.

“The day of the party came and the house was packed”

“It became too hot, so we decided to continue the party in the front yard”

“I went back into the house to grab more snacks and drinks, when I heard a commotion coming from outside”

“Everyone was in a panic, running in all directions. That’s when I saw the wolf.”

“I saw brother trip over a rock sticking out of the ground and the wolf pounced”

His face sunk and his eyes started to water.

I knelled under him and wiped his tears with my hoof.

He sniffled, “I was paralyzed. I barely let out a scream when the wolf saw me”

“I ran back in the house and shut the door”

“The next thing I knew, there were sticks falling all around me”

“Sticks?” I asked.

“He blew my house to the ground”

Sticks. I shock my head.

“I know, can you believe this happened?”

Yeah, I cant believe you made your house out of sticks.

“How did you escape?” I inquired.

“I hide in a fallen tree for a couple days. When I felt it was safe, I made my journey in your direction”

Before I could process the straw, the party I wasn’t invited to, my dead brother, and the sticks,

We heard a gentle knock on the door.

Could that be mother?

There was no way I could face her now. I promised I would watch over my brothers and I had failed.

I picked up the gun once again and rushed to the door.

“Who is it?” I questioned.

“Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in”