Ellis the Ram takes Piper aka Eggplant to Ellis the Original

posted upon return by Ellis the Ram

As Esme had requested I immediately went in search of our HC who regularly saw our MTF, Ellis the therapist. {For which we are eternally grateful!!!} When I told her of Piper's disappearance~into an Eggplant, she seemed puzzled. "Eggplant? Are you sure he isn't teasing you? He had asked me to help him make an Eggplant costume for last nights Trick or Treat, that's all. Its just a costume." Again I explained to her that since Piper had lost the Eggplant, the one she had made long ago, he had become increasingly withdrawn. As she still stood there looking puzzled I must admit I began to get annoyed. Finally, and it just came out I swear it did, I fussed in a raised voice at her saying, "If you hadn't made and then allowed Piper to find that silly knitted Eggplant to begin with, then let him carry it around, Then take it with him that day when he lost it, THEN helped him secretly make that costume~~~~Maybe I wouldn't be here having to convince you our Piper is in need of Ellis the Original HELP!" She just stood there with that typical 'Who ME?' look on her face......but finally shrugged and said "OK, I'll call Ellis and see when he can see Piper or Eggplant....What am I supposed to call him now anyway?" {I turned and went back to the pasture to wait for her to call, muttering inappropriate Baa'^%$s and Bleat*&(^s the entire way}.

But a short while later my HC came to the pasture and said that MTF Ellis had free time the next morning, actually right before her appointment. I immediately told her we would be waiting at the gate at the designated departure time. And Piper aka Eggplant and I soon arrived at the office of our MTF Ellis the Original. Piper aka Eggplant climbed into a seat across the room from where HC and I were seated. And we waited to be called.

And we waited....... And we waited.......until finally MTF's door opened and he called out "Ellis the Ram?" I hopped off the chair and bounced over to him where we had a whispered conversation and I detailed the situation with Piper or Eggplant. Fortunately unlike our HC, no puzzled look and no further questions.......Ellis winked at me and stood up calling out "EGGPLANT? Please come on into my office." Piper aka Eggplant hopped of his chair and followed our MTF into the office and the door shut behind them. {I had asked our MTF that although he couldn't reveal the actual conversation without permission perhaps photos would ease the minds back at the flock}. I did see Piper aka Eggplant hop onto a couch, where I have sat myself a few times in support of my HC. With a deep sigh I returned to my seat next to my HC and we waited. About an hour later the door opened and MTF and 'whoever' exited the office. MTF walked over to my HC and I, he smiled and nodded at us and handed us an envelope. Saying his 'client' had given permission for us to know all about the visit and the results. And if we had any further questions he was always happy to see us or speak to us on a phone. Ellis the Original then asked after Esme and everyone in the flock. Then he and my HC went into the office and closed the door for their appointment. Piper aka Eggplant hopped up into a seat, this time next to me and actually spoke to me. "Good Morning Ellis and I'm sorry I worried everyone. I didn't realize how badly the loss of my friend, my Eggplant, effected me." I asked him if he felt better and he said, a little better. "Are you going to take your costume off? And is it alright if we still call you Piper?" Quiet for a moment he said "Yes of course my name is Piper, I understand that. And.....I will take my costume off.....soon.....or a bit later. Ellis said I could wear it a bit longer if I wished, maybe tonight take the top off my head, then maybe down to my middle........I will take it all the way off........soon." "Sounds good to me Piper" I said. "Whenever you want to do those things is fine. And you know we all love you." Finally, the first smile from our Piper......in a long time began to peek through. I opened the envelope and inside were 2 photos of Piper's time in the office with Ellis and a folded piece of paper. I would save the paper for later when back in the pasture with Esme. But the photos made me feel good. On the back of each MTF had written words. They were: I listened very quietly and carefully while the young Ovine told me of his sorrow over the loss of his friend. After that I asked many questions which he answered honestly. My diagnosis and treatment plan is contained in my letter. When our HC emerged and we all said our goodbyes to our MTF we went home. Ellis the Ram

OVERWHELMED WITH CHOICES

posted by Ellis The Ram

As each day passes since our return from the beach, the flock has been bombarded with several issues, some of which have been written or alluded to in previous posts....from previous posters. {The author sort of poster not the paper ones of various sizes on endless subjects} Ah yes, the issues.

1. We are still debating the selection of who in the flock will get to travel to Malice Domestic which is the end of this month. Esme and I are 'old hooves' at this wonderful weekend so the fact we are actually going to take a few of the flock has created quite a bleating throughout the pasture. Which has now resulted in a missing ovine. Yes, Callopie seems to have disappeared. No we don't believe she has been lamb~napped. She had, in her usual non stop way, begun asking to go to Malice. After several times telling her we would consider it but she have to wait with the flock and would know when the others did....well she had a baaa'd tantrum. The next morning Sullivan, who is normally quite calm, woke us quite frantic. When he woke his little sister Callopie wasn't with him, they sleep side by side. Sullivan apparently searched throughout the pasture with no luck. With good fortune we will soon post of finding Callopie and the reason for her disappearance, but I suspect she is safe and simply hiding.

2. Yes, Piper seems to again be afflicted by his VDD {Vegetable Detachment Disorder}. After our session with Ellis, after which our MTF had a session with Piper, things seemed to be returning to normal. But just yesterday we woke up to find him sitting in his usual spot in the pasture in his EGGPLANT outfit. When Herzig tried to speak to him, she said he made strange noises. And wouldn't respond as normal. Apparently Herzig hadn't been aware of this, a symptom noticed during Piper's last VDD problem. Others in the flock since have told Herzig that Piper was speaking in EGGPLANT. {A language our Piper seems to have developed himself-that is our guess as we have never heard an Eggplant actually speak. Come to think of it none of us has ever heard a carrot speak, or a cabbage speak, broccoli? No, radish? No.... Come to think of it, I can't think of a vegetable we have ever heard utter a sound. Except a sizzle from the pan-Piper would be very upset if he read this so I'll leave it at that, sizzle!} So a post or several will be coming dealing with this issue.

The First Dairy Queen Blizzard

3. The KOO have been progressing quite nicely in their world of firsts. And GFBFHD, newly returned from her POO {Point of Origin-Devon, England}, has conveyed that Mr Sparkles~of the Dennison Flock in California seems to be thrilled at learning of the KOO. Which means we may be selecting them as part of the Adventure to Malice Domestic for Mr Sparkles pleasure. We may speak to Noah and Ovi about more intensive EDUCATION to prepare them for interacting with numerous HCs as well as Ovines from several flocks.

Well, those are just 3 of the issues Esme and I are juggling at the moment. Being the head of flock is most certainly a FULL TIME job. Esme and I hope to assign the reporting on these and other situations to others in the Pasture very soon, in order to keep all informed of life in our Pasture.

Stressed but undaunted,

ELLIS THE RAM