"Hey, piggy, uh, dang I don't know who else I can talk to about this,"
Beau says with a gulp, "But I got a bad feeling about what Zeb's got
planned for us after the fair."
It's early in the morning and he's just poured you some slop, and
you're eagerly devouring it even though you weigh close to a ton now.
You know the judging is later today, and you feel like you might as
well go for the size prize whole hog - as it were. You momentarily
perk up your ears as you chow down.
"First, he turned your team into swine, and then into slave boys. Then
after they were properly trained by the new Varsity team," here Beau
looks particularly nervous, as he whispers, "He made them all forget.
Then he shipped the slave boys overseas to be auctioned to the high
bidder - thaat's including Zach! I was sure he'd keep him for
himself. Then he said he'd be by to deal with you, when I was done
with you. That I could handle, but he added next years team will make
even better slaveboys. Now, here's the weirdest part."
He's silent until you lift your head out of your suet, and look at
him.
"Nobody remembers any of the guys on the team or Zach for that matter.
Not even Zach's ma and pa wonder about him. I knew Zeb was powerful,
but to make parents forget their only son?" Beau shakes his head.
There's the crunch of foot on the straw from the far end of the barn.
Beau is quiet and then he says, "Yes, siree Mr. Piggy, you're going to
win me a blue ribbon for sure."
"Oh, good it's you, Beua," said Zeb's voice echoing through the
cavernous Fair Barn.
"Who else would it be?"
"One of your competitors looking to improve their chances. Since it's
my pig, I thought I should stop by to check on it. Glad you're doing
likewise."
His shadowy form becomes clear. He comes up to your stall, and pulls
out his iPhone. He snaps a photograph.
"Dang, boy, you've let yourself go! You must be twice as heavy as you
were at the barbecue!"
"Oh, he was only 300, he's just over 800 now."
"Dang, I may just have to let Beau force feed the entire Varsity team.
Did you know that in spite of my incentivization that those stupid
seniors lost their first game. Oh, true it's not part of their
schedule. Just a pre-season skirmish, but still they knew what
happened to the last losing team and you made it to the championships
before losing!"