“The Birth” was shortlisted for the 2024 Best in Rural Writing Contest by judge Dr. Chea Parton. Learn more about the contest here. * I met Aubrey at the big barn in the morning. It wasn’t our usual meeting spot, but Dubby was calving. She wasn’t supposed to be calving. It was July. “No one has July calves,” Aubrey said as soon as she became aware of my presence, “this is so embarrassing.” I looked through the bars of the...
