Mike was lost in the pleasure of the taste of this delicious grass, and he didn't hear the door to the house open. He didn't hear his father coming out, checking the chores were done. He didn't hear him approach the fence.
"Morning, Mike!"
Mike nearly jumped out of his skin, and whipped his head around, mouth still full of grass.
"DAD??"
Mike's father laughed.
"Easy, son, swallow your food before you talk or you could choke! Sorry, didn't mean to startle you, Mike, I see you're busy with your breakfast now you've got all the animals seen to - good boy."
Busy with breakfast? His father could clearly see Mike's tail, and that his son was eating grass - but he was acting like it was normal? Mike was stuck somewhere between being elated and being deeply, deeply confused.
"I just wanted to let you know I was headed to town to the feed store and to run a few more errands, may be gone a few hours. Keep an eye on the place - I know you will, but I wanted to let you know anyway. Oh!"
His father snapped his fingers like he just remembered something.
"And I'll grab that feed you said you liked the taste of so much - the organic one with the molasses. I figure if you like it, the cows do too - and unlike them, I can understand my son when he compliments it!"
His father laughed, and Mike felt even more at sea. His father buying feed on his recommendation - that is, because *Mike* ate it and it tasted good?? He liked to eat with the cows, sure, but...again, his father was acting like all this was normal! Mike was starting to feel cautiously optimistic about this.
"Uh, yeah, thanks Dad! That stuff was great."
{I don't remember having eaten it at all, but I'll take the word of the me you seem to remember...}
"Perfect. Oh, and it's supposed to get really hot today - don't be a little priss about drinking from the trough and get dehydrated, alright? Be back after lunch."
And with that his father left. Mike watched him go, dumbfounded, but increasingly happy. He didn't have to hide his tail! He could eat grass and get away with it! This was- hrk!
Mike blinked in shock as a mouthful of partly-chewed grass worked its way up his throat and back into his mouth. He was even more shocked that he started chewing it immediately.
{Holy Cow - no pun intended! I can chew my cud, just like the cows!}
Mike felt like things were getting better and better.