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#Post#: 31622--------------------------------------------------
"For the Love of a Pig" - MMSA story by DMK
By: David M. Katz Date: October 15, 2025, 12:17 pm
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HTML https://malespank.net/viewStory.php?id=59584
There is an image discussion on the AI forum at MMSA that I will
give the link to: viewtopic.php?f=30&t=10278.
Here is the image:
[img]
HTML https://i.ibb.co/Pv0zGXd7/124.webp[/img]
The AI created a look of sheer terror on his face - rightfully
so. I began to muse wondering what if his "oh s-hit" moment was
less about running from the tornado than it was about running to
something.
So, I wondered what he could be running to. Several things came
to mind but I settled on a pet. I then decided that the pet
would be a rescued piglet.
I started this story in mid-August and kept hating it. I could
not get the opening right. I hated the boy i had written and
hated his father even more. I could not even settle on why he
was running across a field with a tornado in pursuit. I dumped
my entire draft three times. Finally, I started writing on it
again and came up with reasonable to me solutions to all of
that. I had a boy and a family, including Dad, that I liked. The
flow seemed somewhat logical albeit with a few rough spots. I
set the story in 1979 to make things feel more realistic to me.
Speaking of rough spots - I always have them in every story I
write. They are always a combo of typos, spelling errors,
punctuation errors, continuity errors and illogical flow. That
is why I always like to have an editor and one who will be
brutally honest with me. Several have helped over the years: St.
George/Kat, Skater, Jack Wells, Trixie, PaddleMe, PJFranklin and
Adric. For the past three years or so, I have relied mostly on
Skip Trace to be my go to editor. Skip proved his worth again
with this story smoothing out the rough spots. After the edits
are done, i then usually send a draft to 3 or 4 other authors I
am close with to give me more brutally honest opinions. If you
have ever gotten a draft from me pre-release then you know who
you are. I believe that it is absolutely crucial to have another
set of eyes, or multiple sets, look at a story before it is
submitted. If you do not have said set of eyes then find one.
Back to the story, 12-year-old Adam lives on a Nebraska farm
with his parents and a younger brother and it is 1979. It is a
regular Saturday of farm life until it isn't. Everything changes
when a sudden tornado hits the farm. Adam's only fear is for the
well-being of his pet piglet, Herman. The story progresses and
we learn a lot about Adam's father and his strength of
character. The story is told from the POV of a now adult Adam, a
practicing attorney.
Thanks for considering it.
#Post#: 31628--------------------------------------------------
Re: "For the Love of a Pig" - MMSA story by DMK
By: Zyngaru Date: October 16, 2025, 10:57 am
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Ah! Farm boys and their pet 4-H animals.
For those not from rural America. 4-H is an agricultural
organization especially for young people. One of their
activities is raising an animal to be displayed at the county
and sometimes state fairs at the end of summer. These kids take
extra care for these animals. They not only feed and water
their pets but groom them and some even sleep with them. They
get really attached. So, it would be very logical for Adam to
think first for his pet and his pet's well-being.
#Post#: 31632--------------------------------------------------
Re: "For the Love of a Pig" - MMSA story by DMK
By: afinch Date: October 16, 2025, 4:16 pm
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David, I loved the story.
Z, aren't 4H livestock always raised to be sold for slaughter to
the highest bidder? That makes them not really pets, but
something else, making their raising and sale traumatic for
some, perhaps many, 4H kids. A former farmer acquaintance's 10
year old was devastated when his 4H project, a lamb, became
family dinner.
#Post#: 31637--------------------------------------------------
Re: "For the Love of a Pig" - MMSA story by DMK
By: Zyngaru Date: October 17, 2025, 4:02 pm
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[quote author=afinch link=topic=3573.msg31632#msg31632
date=1760649377]
David, I loved the story.
Z, aren't 4H livestock always raised to be sold for slaughter to
the highest bidder? That makes them not really pets, but
something else, making their raising and sale traumatic for
some, perhaps many, 4H kids. A former farmer acquaintance's 10
year old was devastated when his 4H project, a lamb, became
family dinner.
[/quote]
You are correct that most animals in 4-H are bid on or sold
outright. Usually, to be meat for a home or store. Not all of
course. No absolutes on anything. But unless the kid is new to
4-H, they know the end to their animal. Heck, even just animals
they raise on the farm get eaten at some point. Now, kids being
kids, they still make the animals pets and care for them as
pets. It's life on a farm. Raise and eat.
#Post#: 31638--------------------------------------------------
Re: "For the Love of a Pig" - MMSA story by DMK
By: David M. Katz Date: October 17, 2025, 4:09 pm
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Not sure where the confusion is. Adam is not in 4H and Herman is
not a 4H project. The story says nothing about 4H and makes
clear a happy outcome for Herman.
#Post#: 31640--------------------------------------------------
Re: "For the Love of a Pig" - MMSA story by DMK
By: Zyngaru Date: October 20, 2025, 8:48 am
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[quote author=David M. Katz link=topic=3573.msg31638#msg31638
date=1760735379]
Not sure where the confusion is. Adam is not in 4H and Herman is
not a 4H project. The story says nothing about 4H and makes
clear a happy outcome for Herman.
[/quote]
DMK.
I wrote that before even reading the story. It was just my
first impression. Farm boy and pig.
I now have read the story and loved it. Nothing 4-H in this
story. This is about the pure love between a boy and his pet.
That love is true whatever the pet may be. Never personally
experienced it myself, but have witnessed it with other boys.
Which is why a boy will run out into the street in front of
traffic to save his puppy. Herman is lucky to have a boy like
Adam and Adam is lucky to have a pet like Herman.
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