Moo: A Novel

In the prose chapter “Training,” Zep begins coming to Mrs. Falala’s for an hour each day to teach Reena how to show Zora in two events—one which evaluates cows and one which evaluates trainers. Reena is nervous about the upcoming show, but she tries to hide this from Zep. When Zep promises to help her, she betrays her eagerness to spend time with him and ends up embarrassed, but Zep just gives her a wide smile. As they practice moving the cows around the pasture, Reena notices how much more stubborn and ornery Zora is compared to Yolanda. Luke and Mrs. Falala sit nearby, drawing and looking up occasionally. They practice every day, and even though it is hard work, Reena loves it and feels proud of Zora’s progress. Luke begins to enjoy helping Reena with mucking out pens and brushing Zora, and Reena notices that he talks kindly to both Zora and Yolanda while he works. He is becoming more confident around Mrs. Falala, and Mrs. Falala is becoming less bossy with the children.

“Rain Day” is a poem describing a thunderstorm that strikes one day as Reena and Luke are on their way to Mrs. Falala’s. They get soaked as they race into the barn for shelter. They wait out the storm huddled together with Zora and Yolanda, and Reena thinks she could happily cuddle with the warm, soft cows all day long.

The poem “Sad Zep” takes place on a day when Zep arrives at Mrs. Falala’s looking visibly distressed, revealing that one of the cows at Birchmere died unexpectedly. When Luke naively comments that cows shouldn’t die, Zep gently explains that most of the Birchmere cows are killed for meat.

“Whaaaat?” is a poem conveying Reena’s dismayed reaction to learning that the cows at Birchmere are raised for slaughter. She thinks she should have realized this, but she is still shocked and upset.

In the prose piece “Sympathy?” Luke and Reena struggle at dinner. Luke has to be reassured that there is no beef in the soup they are eating. Reena suggests that the family become vegetarians. Their parents ask what this would mean, and Reena and Luke gradually realize how many of their favorite foods this would rule out. When their mother reminds Reena of how much she loves bacon, Luke thinks of Paulie, Mrs. Falala’s pig, and becomes upset.

In the poem “Agitation,” Luke and Reena question Mrs. Falala about her plans for Zora’s future. At first, Mrs. Falala delights in tormenting them by saying she will turn Zora into hamburgers, but when Luke begins to cry, she relents and promises that Zora will never be slaughtered for meat. She says that she will turn Paulie into bacon but takes it back when Luke’s tears resume.

Zep appears, and in the prose piece “Face the Facts,” Reena and Luke pepper him with questions about Yolanda’s fate. Zep assures them that, like Zora, Yolanda is intended to be a breeding cow, not beef. He tells them that they need to accept that people eat meat, however; it is just a fact of life. He himself will someday be a farmer who raises cattle for their meat. He adds that he loves cows and intends to “treat them good as long as [he] can” (195). Luke and Reena lay on a bale of hay for a long time, looking up at the sky and processing this information.

In the prose piece “Show Stick,” Mrs. Falala presents Reena with a long, thin metal rod and demonstrates how Reena can use it to calm and coax Zora when she is showing Zora at the fair. She directs Reena to practice and heads back to the barn, her braid swishing behind her just like Zora’s tail.

“Beauty Day” is a poem about grooming Zora and Yolanda before taking them to the fair. After Reena and Zep spend a full day washing and combing the cows’ coats and trimming their hooves, Zora immediately lies down in a mud puddle.

“To the Fair” is a prose piece describing the process of getting the cows to the fair. Early in the morning, Reena’s parents drive her and Luke to Mrs. Falala’s. Zep and one of the owners of Birchmere arrive, and they load Yolanda and Zora up with six of the Birchmere cows. Zora will not let Zep lead her into the cattle van; she will only go up the ramp with Reena at her side, coaxing her. Reena asks whether Mrs. Falala is coming, but the lights are off in the house, and her parents urge her to let the elderly woman sleep. As they drive away, Reena notices that the attic window is open, but she does not hear flute music. Luke asks if anyone asked Mrs. Falala whether she wanted to come, and Reena says that she always assumed Mrs. Falala would come. She is puzzled and disappointed at the idea that Mrs. Falala might not care about seeing Zora being shown at the fair.“To the Fair” is a prose piece describing the process of getting the cows to the fair. Early in the morning, Reena’s parents drive her and Luke to Mrs. Falala’s. Zep and one of the owners of Birchmere arrive, and they load Yolanda and Zora up with six of the Birchmere cows. Zora will not let Zep lead her into the cattle van; she will only go up the ramp with Reena at her side, coaxing her. Reena asks whether Mrs. Falala is coming, but the lights are off in the house, and her parents urge her to let the elderly woman sleep. As they drive away, Reena notices that the attic window is open, but she does not hear flute music. Luke asks if anyone asked Mrs. Falala whether she wanted to come, and Reena says that she always assumed Mrs. Falala would come. She is puzzled and disappointed at the idea that Mrs. Falala might not care about seeing Zora being shown at the fair.

In the poem “Fairgrounds,” Reena shares the sights and sounds of the fair. The fairgrounds are an overwhelming and wonderful swirl of people, carnival food, rides, games, animals, and crafts.

The poem “More Primping” explains what happens during the first round of judging that Reena sees. Zep and Beat show their cows with an experienced group of teenagers, and Reena and her family stand with Mr. Birch, the owner of Birchmere Farm. He explains what the judges are looking for. Reena panics when she hears the judges ask the contestants questions about their cows, but Mr. Birch talks her through how she might answer similar questions. Reena is particularly impressed with the way Zep handles Yolanda. When Zep wins third place, he thrills Reena by giving her a nod from the ring.

It is finally time for Reena to show Zora; she leads a suspiciously compliant Zora to the ring in the poem “Showtime!” Reena is excited and happy: She loves “the ring, the sawdust,/ the cows, the handlers,” and even the audience she was once nervous about (214). She looks for Zep, hoping to show him how skillful she has become. Just then, Zora bolts.

In the poem “Catch That Heifer,” Zora runs through the fair, creating havoc. People shout as Reena, Beat, Zep, and Mr. Birch all run after Zora. Reena is conscious of her family, the other novice handlers, and the cows standing in the ring staring after her and Zora.

“Showmanship” is a poem that narrates the action as Zora continues to run through the fairgrounds, and Reena and Zep finally catch up with her. Having missed the novice showmanship contest, Reena leads Zora back to a stall, where Zora contentedly slurps water and munches hay.

The poem “Breed” narrates the events of the next novice division contest, the breed judging. Before Reena tries to lead Zora into the ring again, Luke surprises his parents by placing a hand on Zora’s neck and gently telling her that she knows how to be good. They let Reena know how impressed they are with her skills at handling Zora, and Reena realizes that she is no longer just a city girl: She is now just as at home in rural Maine. She leads Zora into the ring without incident and is relieved that Zora behaves herself during the competition. A judge surprises Reena by praising her for her calm during Zora’s brief escape earlier. Reena is able to answer most of his questions about Zora, but she stumbles when he asks about Zora’s lineage, only remembering that she comes from a championship line. He urges Reena to learn more about this before her next show. Zora places fourth out of nine, and Reena receives positive feedback for her relationship with Zora. She is briefly disappointed that Mrs. Falala is not present, but then she wonders if perhaps Mrs. Falala would have criticized her for not placing higher. Her parents and Luke are effusive in their praise, and Zep follows her and Zora back to the stalls to tell her that she did well.

In the prose chapter “Rides,” Zep takes Yolanda and Zora back to Mrs. Falala’s, while Reena and her family stay to enjoy the fair. After a fun-filled day, they begin the drive home. Reena asks if they can stop at Mrs. Falala’s to tell her about how Zora did at the fair but changes her mind. She is afraid that Mrs. Falala will be critical and spoil her happiness. Luke loyally pipes up to say that he will tell Mrs. Falala how wonderful the day was and how well Reena did. Reena’s father suggests that they vote on the question as a family, and they unanimously decide to wait for the next day to go see Mrs. Falala.