Time-out

I didn't mean to look, but I just couldn't help myself. Our two year old Granddaughter had just been placed in time-out, a little corner of the rug behind where I was sitting. I was trying not to acknowledge that she was in trouble with her Momma, but I had to take a peek. She was sitting obediently, looking straight ahead with the cutest little expression, somewhere between being guilty and being innocent of whatever the offense was that landed her in time-out. She didn't turn her head, but instead turned her eyes and caught me watching her while trying not to laugh.

I saw that same look yesterday, while chasing Daddy back to his own pasture. Our farrier visited and somehow Daddy got into a pasture he was not supposed to be in. Since another jack was in the next field, Daddy took full advantage and ran to the fence to assert his presence! I grabbed a feed can and shook it, which brought every donkey in that field to me, except for Daddy, who began running the fence line with Crocket on the other side doing the same. Each time I got close to him, he turned and ran in a large arc with me chasing behind him, trying to get him to turn away from the fence. This soon became a game to him. As I approached, he stood very still, allowing me get about 6 ft from him before he took off in the opposite direction. Several times I saw him look just like our Granddaughter in time-out, head held straight, but eyes watching me, so he could take off again at just the right time. I was getting worn out and mumbled a few threats, wishing I could put HIM in time out and leave him there for a couple of days! His hunger finally got the best of him and he got in line behind the girls as I led them all to the gate and put him back into his pasture. I scolded him for being such a bad boy and told him he was lucky I didn't lock him up in the stall. Or, at least make him sit on a rug somewhere in time-out.