🐗 Rooting Gone Wrong
A Quiet Morning at Lucky Star Farm
Morning settled softly over Lucky Star Farm, the kind of morning that felt slow and careful. Dew shimmered on the grass, and the air carried the earthy smell of damp soil and hay.
Huggy, Fluffy, and Luna stood near the edge of the pasture as Fannie pressed the toe of her boot into the ground, leaving a small mark.
“This is where we’ll dig,” Fannie said gently. “Just a small spot. Not too deep. We only need to loosen the ground.”
Huggy leaned forward. “Small,” she repeated, nodding.
Fluffy tilted her head. “Very small.”
Luna listened quietly, eyes following Fannie’s hand as she pointed.
A Sound That Didn’t Belong
From somewhere beyond the barn came a sound that most definitely did not match the peaceful morning.
🎵 “OH THE DIRT IS NICE AND THE MUD IS GRAND—
DIGGIN’ HOLES IS HARD WORK BUT I’M A PIG WITH PLANS!” 🎵
Huggy froze. “Do you hear… singing?”
Fluffy frowned. “That’s not birds.”
The voice grew louder. Closer.
🎵 “SNORT AND STOMP AND DIG ALL DAY—
IF THERE’S A HOLE I’LL FIND A WAY!” 🎵
Luna’s ears perked. “Someone is coming.”
Then came the SNORT.
The STOMP.
The unmistakable SPLASH of mud.
The ground trembled.
A Very Loud Arrival
Dustin burst around the corner of the barn like a muddy parade float, still singing the last line at full volume.
🎵 “—AND THAT’S HOW A PIG GETS THINGS DOOOONE!” 🎵
“GOOD MORNING, BEAUTIFUL FARM!” he boomed. “I SANG MY WAY OVER!”
Mud coated his snout. Straw clung to his bristles. His hooves left deep prints with every step.
Fannie smiled calmly. “Good morning, Dustin. We could use a little help.”
Dustin’s eyes lit up. “HELP? OH, I AM EXCELLENT AT HELP.”
Huggy whispered, “We definitely heard that.”
Fluffy nodded. “Twice.”
Instructions… Mostly
Fannie pointed again. “We just need a small hole. Right here. Not too deep.”
Dustin nodded enthusiastically. Too enthusiastically.
“SMALL HOLE. RIGHT THERE. NOT DEEP,” he repeated. “I HEARD EVERYTHING.”
Huggy watched closely. “Did he?”
Fluffy murmured, “I think the song interrupted.”
Dustin puffed out his chest. “I WAS BORN READY. DIGGING IS MY CALLING.”
He took one enthusiastic step forward.
“Dustin—” Fannie began.
Rooting Gone Wrong
Too late.
Dustin launched into the ground like it had challenged him personally.
Dirt flew. Mud splattered. The earth seemed to give up entirely.
The hole grew wider.
And wider.
And deeper.
Huggy backed away. “It’s growing.”
Fluffy blinked. “That hole has plans.”
Luna watched carefully. “He didn’t stop.”
“AND—DONE!” Dustin announced, stepping back proudly. “I PRESENT… THE GRAND DIGGITY!”
Everyone stared.
The hole was enormous. Much too deep. And nowhere near the mark Fannie had made.
When Helping Isn’t Helping
Huggy finally spoke. “That… is not what we needed.”
Dustin blinked. “Not helping?” he asked. “But I dug very hard.”
“I know you did,” Fannie said gently. “But you started before you really understood what the job was.”
Dustin looked at the hole. Then at his hooves. Then at the mud dripping from his snout.
“Oh,” he said softly. “I guess I was listening with my mouth instead of my ears.”
Fluffy smiled. “That happens.”
Luna stepped closer. “Listening helps us understand each other.”
Listening Looks Different
Dustin straightened. “Okay,” he said seriously. “I am listening now. With both ears.”
“Even while singing?” Huggy asked.
Dustin paused. “…I can listen between verses.”
Fannie explained again—slowly—showing him exactly where to dig, how deep to go, and when to stop.
This time, Dustin didn’t move right away.
He watched.
He listened.
He waited.
Trying Again
Then Dustin dug.
Still muddy. Still enthusiastic. Still very much Dustin.
But this time, he stopped when Fannie said stop.
The hole was neat. Useful. Exactly where it needed to be.
Fannie smiled. “Perfect.”
Dustin’s chest puffed out. “YES! THIS IS CALLED CONTROLLED DIGGING.”
Loud Lessons Learned
As the sun climbed higher and the farm settled back into its gentle rhythm, Dustin wiped his snout on the grass and grinned.
He stood tall and announced, loud enough for the whole pasture to hear:
“NEXT TIME,” he said proudly,
“I’LL LISTEN FIRST — BECAUSE LISTENING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF GOOD COMMUNICATION!”
The minis laughed.
And Dustin beamed.
Because sometimes, you hear the lesson before you see the change.