Cannibal 4H Chapter Nine: Patty's Lesson by Eurytion
	
TWO WEEKS HAD PASSED since the cannibal fair. Joey had won his third Blue Ribbon for
Best of Show, even though it seemed anti-climatic after all the hard work and preparation.
Tomorrow cow 701, formerly known as Joey's 13-year old neighbour girl Valerie, would make
her final trip from the farm to Crenshaw's Superior Meats.  By Sunday she would be served for
dinner on fancy china all across the county, including as set at her Aunt Janet's and Uncle John's.
Both Joey and Linda had been invited to the family dinner. Joey wasn't sure about going since
cow 701's former parents were to be there too. But Linda Sue was insisting that it would be rude
to decline.
	
He still had time for decide but, for now, he needed to give cow 701 her final meal. While Billy
had come by on the average of once a week to help with the feedings, tonight he and his parents
were in their last session with the grief counsellor who was helping them come to closure with
Valerie's conversion.  Cow 701 would still have special visitors for her terminal night on the
farm.
	
Standing inside the veal pen with Joey and the human cattle were Peter Barton and his young
step-daughter Patty.  
	
Mr. Barton, who had been one of the judges who awarded Joey his third Blue Ribbon, was
having trouble with his step-daughter.  She had not warmed to his marriage with her mother and
was continually trying to break up their union. 
	
Before her conversion from human to human cattle, cow 701 had been Patty's favourite
babysitter. Joey had agreed to let the agricultural implement dealer bring his step-daughter to the
barn and to the slaughtering to show Patty what could happen to her if she didn't change her
ways. Implicit in the agreement was that Patty would be sold to Geryon & Son Cattle Farm for
veal if she continued to cause problems within the family.
	
"Does that cow look familiar," Barton asked his step-daughter. "Do you know who she used to
be?" The prepubescent 10-year old gazed at the complacent cow in shock. She tried to look
away. Barton grabbed her head and turned it back to cow 701. "Patty, I asked you a question. Do
you know that cow?"
	
In a thin voice Patty replied "That's my sitter Valerie."
	
"No Patty. That's not Valerie. That's a cow that belongs to Joey here."
	
"That's Valerie," the young girl said stubbornly.
	
"She used to be Valerie. But she wouldn't listen to her parents. She was bad. And so they sold
her to Joey and his dad and now Valerie is a cow."
	
"No that's Valerie."
	
"Joey, you can see what I'm up against. Maybe it would help if you gave that cow her feeding,"
Barton said.
	
Joey moved over to the shelf and got the tin feeding bucket. After mixing the formula, he brought
the teat over to cow 701 who accepted it into her mouth and began sucking greedily.
	
Patty's eyes widened as she watched the cow empty the bucket. Within minutes cow 701's
vigorous vacuuming had allowed her to ingest the full measure of formula.
	
"Patty, who is that?"
	
No answer.
	
"Patty, I asked you who that is?"
	
Softly and with just a hint of uncertainty "Valerie?"
	
"If you really think that's still Valerie and not a cow, go to her. Get her to talk to you," said
Barton pushing his juvenile ward towards the animal. Joey's protest was stopped by Barton's
raised hand. 
	
I hope the conditioning McCains did holds, Joey thought. We've never used her name or actually
treated her as anything other than a cow. If Valerie reemerges now there'll be all hell to pay.
	
Patty stopped in front of the human cattle. "Valerie, It's Patty. Talk to me. Say Hi. Please
Valerie, you know me. You used to babysit me." The cow did not respond. Patty started to cry.
	
"All right Patty, come on back here." A subdued Patty returned to her stepfather's side. "Now
who is that over there?"
	
"A cow," said Patty between sobs.
	
"That's right a cow. But who did that cow used to be?"
	
"My babysitter Valerie."
	
"That's right she used to be your babysitter. Now, why is she a cow?"
	
"Because she wouldn't listen to her parents and she was bad and they sold her."
	
"And what happens to cows?"
	
"We eat them."
	
"We eat them. Do you want to be a cow Patty? Do you want someone to eat you?"
	
"No."
	
Peter Barton reached into the back pocket of his blue jeans and pulled out a raft of papers.
	
"Patty, look at me." The frail shaken youngster looked up. "Your mom and I went to see the
judge today. And your mom signed these papers. So did the judge. I haven't signed them yet.
These papers let us sell you to Joey and his dad. If I sign them, you'll become a cow just like
Valerie. And someone will eat you just like they're going to eat Valerie. I don't want to sign these
papers, Patty. If you behave and do what I tell you and what your mother tells you, I won't. But
if you don't obey, if you continue to be a bad girl, I will. Do you understand?
	
"Yes."
	
"Yes who?"
	
"Yes, sir."
	
"That's better Patty. And, just to make sure you know what it's like to be a cow, I'm going to
let you pretend to be one for a little while." Joey's eyebrows raised at Barton's pronouncement. 

"Joey, could you put Patty in the veal cage while you wash your cow up?"
	
"Sure, Mr. Barton," said Joey playing along, "I'd be glad to. Are you sure you don't want to sell
us Patty right now? This cow's going away tomorrow and we'll have room for another one. You
could just leave Patty right here. We'd keep her in a stall out in the barn tonight and move her
into the cage in the morning."
	
"Please," cried the little girl. "I'll be good. Don't put me in the cage. Let's go home."
	
"I guess we won't need to put Patty in the cage tonight after all," said Barton. "All right Patty,
you can come home. But remember there's always going to be a cage waiting here for bad young
girls."
	
Barton had a cowed Patty wait in the Ragnarok room while he talked with Joey.
	
"Joey, I appreciate your helping me with my Patty problem. I think from what happened here
tonight we can consider it solved. And I want you to have these."
	
Joey accepted the papers from Barton. "I know you may not have approved of everything you
saw here tonight. But I also know that you're a businessman who understands how to serve his
own best interests.
	
"I wasn't quite honest with Patty tonight. I did sign those papers. However, it's not quite what
we talked about. Patty will remain my ward until she's 16. At that time I have the option of
buying her rights back from you for $500 or allowing you to have her for a mutually agreed upon
price. The judge felt this was a better solution to the child's lack of discipline. I can also tender
her to you at anytime before she turns 16. You have the right of first refusal. If you do she goes
up for auction.
	
"The judge is a bright individual. He not only convinced my wife this best for the whole family,
including Patty; he's got her going into partnership with him on a foster home. Patty could just
be the first of a number of children we'll be raising with an eye toward eventual conversion."
	
After Barton and his step-daughter had left, Joey thought about what he had said. Using a foster
home as a sort of feeder lot for a human cattle operation made a lot of sense. I think I'll give his
wife or the judge a call next week and see if we can enter into some more formal arrangement
maybe like the one for Patty.
	
Geryon's Foster Home and Feeder Lots, the name needs a little work but it might be the next
innovative step forward for the farm.
