This dinner date coincided with calving season. After an hour of civilized conversation about French painting, Brexit and the condition of the rodeo arena in Ponoka, Don invited his date to go with him to check the cows.
She didn’t exactly squeal with delight, but he explained how scientific livestock raising had become. “Almost like visiting a human hospital maternity ward,” he said authoritatively.
They drove his F-250 out into the calving pasture and immediately spotted a Braymer cross cow tryin’ to calve. “We’ll watch her for a few minutes to see if everything comes out OK,” suggested Don, sliding an arm around her shoulders.
They sat in the warm cab, moonlight mixing with Don’s elaborate discourse of bovine parturition. After half-an-hour, he decided to assist the cow. Partly for the cow and partly to show off.
The calf appeared to be hip-locked. His date prepared to see her date save the day. Don drove up to the head end of the cow and left the headlights shining in her eyes. Sneaking out, he slipped around behind her. He slid the O.B. chains over the calf’s protruding front feet. At first tug, the cow arose like a bee- stung buffalo.
She whirled to mash Don. He was jerked off his feet but clung to the straps as the cow chased him like a dog chasin’ its tail. He was alternately upright, flat out, levitating, scooting, skiing, sliding, screaming and squirreling as the three of them circled like a shaky ceiling fan. His only hope of survival was to hang on and stay behind the helicoptering cow. She managed to land enough blows to win the round and tromp his fallen hat to a pulp.
On one mighty jerk, the calf popped out. Don executed a complete cartwheel and landed on his back. The cow rolled him once and headed off into the darkness.
His date, who had watched Don’s calving technique from the cab, was not impressed. “Less than professional,” she had commented as he climbed in his cab after giving the departed cow a four-alarm cussing.
Don tried to regain his composure and recapture the mood by explaining that he had been in control the whole time. However, it was not very convincing, what with the big glob of manure plastered on the side of his neck and the piece of placenta dangling from his ear. 
