The Sheep Farmer and His Work

There was once a sheep farmer who lived on a sprawling piece of land at the edge of a quiet village. His farm was modest, but it provided him and his family with a steady income. He tended to his herd of sheep, raised crops, and sold wool, meat, and other products at the market. Life was simple, though it came with its share of hard work.

One of the more challenging tasks for the farmer was to control the breeding of his sheep. Every year, a few of the male sheep would become a problem. They were aggressive, stubborn, and not ideal for breeding purposes. These sheep, though healthy, were simply not the right fit for the next generation of his herd. He needed to castrate them to keep them from mating with the females, ensuring the quality of his sheep remained high and his farm thrived.

The task, as anyone who has ever worked on a farm knows, is not pleasant. Castrating a sheep is a tricky and time-consuming job, requiring precision and experience. The sheep farmer, being a man of practical skills, knew how to perform the task himself. However, as the years went by, his age was starting to show, and the task became more difficult to handle alone. His hands ached, his back hurt, and he found it harder to manage the entire herd by himself.

One day, he decided to hire some help. He advertised for a farmhand to assist with the castrating, someone who could take on the more physically demanding tasks while still performing the work that needed to be done. After a few interviews, the sheep farmer hired a Frenchman who had recently arrived in the country. The man didn’t speak much English, but the farmer wasn’t too concerned with communication. What mattered most was the man’s strong work ethic. The Frenchman was known to be a hard worker, and that was exactly what the sheep farmer needed.

The first day on the job, the Frenchman was quick to pick up the task. He had a calm demeanor and worked diligently. Together, they castrated 14 sheep that day. The farmer was impressed with how well the Frenchman worked, his attention to detail, and the way he took direction. At the end of the day, as they finished the last sheep, the Frenchman picked up the ‘parts’ to dispose of them.

“No! Don’t throw those away!” the sheep farmer yelled, causing the Frenchman to pause mid-motion.

The Frenchman, confused by the sudden outburst, looked at the farmer with a raised eyebrow. The farmer continued, “Those are the best part! My wife fries them up, and we eat them. They’re delicious. We call them ‘sheep fries.’”

The Frenchman, still unsure about the whole situation, nodded politely and went on with his work. The farmer chuckled to himself, shaking his head at the cultural differences. He was used to this. After all, the Frenchman didn’t know much about the local cuisine, but soon enough, he would learn.

Later that evening, the Frenchman was invited to dinner. The farmer’s wife prepared a hearty meal, and sure enough, there on the table were the infamous ‘sheep fries.’ The Frenchman, still unsure about what he was about to eat, hesitated at first but then gave them a try. To his surprise, they were quite tasty — tender and savory, with a unique flavor that he had never experienced before. The Frenchman quickly learned to appreciate the quirky delicacy.

The farmer smiled, pleased that his new helper seemed to enjoy the meal. “I told you they were good,” he said, grinning from ear to ear. “Now you’re part of the family tradition. Welcome to the farm!”

Part 2: The Routine Sets In

The days went by quickly, and the routine became familiar. The sheep farmer and his French worker spent their mornings out in the fields, carefully tending to the herd, making sure to separate the males that were to be castrated from the rest. The work was hard, but it felt good. The Frenchman, though not yet fluent in English, learned to understand the farmer’s gestures and mimed instructions. The sheep farmer, in turn, got used to his helper’s quick, efficient movements.

By the end of the second day, they had castrated 16 sheep. As was becoming the tradition, the Frenchman was invited to dinner that evening. The farmer’s wife had prepared another meal of ‘sheep fries,’ and once again, the Frenchman was impressed by how well they tasted. It had become a running joke between him and the farmer. The Frenchman would eat the fries with gusto, and the farmer would laugh, calling him a “true farm man now.”

“I think I’m getting used to this,” the Frenchman would say, chuckling as he took another bite.

The sheep farmer was proud of how quickly the Frenchman had adapted. His work ethic had earned him the respect of the family. Over time, the language barrier became less of an issue. They found ways to communicate, whether it was through gestures, simple phrases, or a few words they had taught each other. The Frenchman’s hard work and the warmth he brought to the farm made the difficult tasks much more manageable.

Despite the hardships, the farmer noticed that there was a sense of camaraderie between the two of them. They had both learned from each other in their own way. The Frenchman had shown the farmer how to make the job more efficient, while the farmer had taught him the local customs and helped him settle into life on the farm. It was a mutually beneficial relationship that brought both men closer, and each day, the work seemed a little less daunting.

Part 3: The Unexpected Incident

One day, after another successful round of castrations, the farmer returned home to find that his wife had made a large batch of ‘sheep fries.’ However, something was off. The farmer’s wife had been in a hurry and had not had the time to prepare the fries as carefully as usual. When the Frenchman sat down to eat, he immediately noticed the difference. The fries were thinner than usual, a little overcooked, and perhaps just a little too salty.

As he chewed, he tried to mask his discomfort. He didn’t want to offend the farmer’s wife, who had worked hard to prepare the meal, but he couldn’t help but grimace. The texture was off, and the saltiness overwhelmed the taste. He looked over at the farmer, trying not to make it obvious that he wasn’t enjoying the food.

The farmer, noticing his helper’s discomfort, laughed and slapped him on the back. “Don’t worry, my friend! We’ll have some fresh ones tomorrow. It’s just the end of the batch, nothing special.”

The Frenchman smiled weakly, but it was clear that he wasn’t as enthusiastic about the ‘sheep fries’ as he had been in the past. That night, after finishing dinner, he went to his small room to rest. His stomach churned slightly, a strange sensation he couldn’t quite place. He had been eating these fries without issue for the past couple of days, but something about tonight’s batch wasn’t sitting right with him.

Later that evening, the Frenchman went to bed, but his mind raced. He lay in bed thinking about the situation and whether he could continue working for the farmer. There was a sense of unease that had settled into him, and he wasn’t sure if it was just the strange taste of the food or something deeper that was beginning to bother him.

Part 4: The Unexpected Reaction

The next morning, as the farmer and the Frenchman prepared for another day of work, something strange happened. The Frenchman, who had been feeling off the previous night, had become jittery and anxious. His stomach was still unsettled, and he had trouble focusing on the task at hand.

The farmer, noticing his helper’s strange behavior, stopped working for a moment and looked at him. “You don’t look so good, my friend. What’s wrong?”

The Frenchman hesitated, unsure of how to explain. He didn’t want to offend the farmer or his wife, but he couldn’t ignore the way his stomach was rebelling against him. “I’m not sure,” he muttered. “I think it’s the ‘sheep fries.’ Something… something wasn’t right with them last night.”

The farmer frowned, clearly puzzled. “What do you mean? They’re the same as always.”

The Frenchman took a deep breath, trying to put his thoughts into words. “They were overcooked… too salty. I think it might have upset my stomach.”

The farmer’s face went pale. He stood there for a moment, processing what the Frenchman had said, before his expression turned to shock. “You mean… you didn’t know?”

The Frenchman blinked. “What do you mean?”

The farmer looked away, suddenly avoiding the Frenchman’s gaze. “I thought you knew. The fries… they’re not just from the sheep.”