Paul H. Williams, Outlook Writer

Kirkland Thompson of Longwood district, St. Elizabeth, feeds a kid form a bottle after its mother rejected it.

The dog is man's best friend. So the saying goes. But for Kirkland 'Biggs' Thompson, it is not true. His best friend is a big, variegated ram goat named Charlie. And should anybody have any idea of coming between them, be prepared to get the butt of their rebuff.

Yet, they are not a figment of this writer's overactive imagination. They live in the quiet rural district of Longwood, near Lovely Point, St Elizabeth. The surroundings are humble - greenish goat droppings abound, and the musky odour of goats is strong in the air. For Charlie is only one in a stock of 45, including 15 bucks and 30 ewes.

first big breed goat

However, he's the king. He was accorded this royal status from the very moment, about four years ago, when Biggs first set eye upon him.

'Charlie is the first big breed goat I ever raise ... When I buy Charlie, some people say to me, why buy this goat for such a dear (expensive) price (but) when I see the quality of Charlie, I say to myself I must get this breed of goat, so I put out every effort to get Charlie," he recalls.

Well, he got Charlie and treats him as royalty, and the animal has come to expect nothing less. "Charlie is a special goat to me and when me talk to Charlie, Charlie tend to react to what I say to him ... when me feed the rest of the goats without Charlie getting feed, Charlie intend to buck down the place," Biggs explains.

CONVERSATIONS

To appease the arrogant beast, he would speak with him. "Charlie," he shouts, "hold on man. Your thing soon come up you know. So you don't have to worry. A coming with your feeding now." And Charlie would calm down.

Charlie, Biggs says, can be quite "mannersable", but like that between two people, their friendship is sometimes very tense, especially in the mating season when Charlie is in 'heat'. He becomes very aggressive and disobedient, especially when he sees the ewes going by. When he's released from his enclosure, he would chase the younger and weaker goats away. "Charlie would even kill every male offspring to get to the females."

And that's why one day, in Biggs' absence, Charlie committed a very desperate act. He butted down the metal gate of his pen and went out to satisfy his primal needs. "I remember keeping Charlie behind this (grille) gate, and I find Charlie buck it and split it in pieces. When I come and see it, believe you me, it was amazing. I have to call the (welder) and show him," Biggs recollects.

A goatherd for as long as he knows himself, Thompson was perhaps destined to spend his life among goats. He was born under the sign of Capricorn! He's half man and half goat. "Right now, if you ask me what would I do apart from this, nothing. You couldn't give me nothing else to do. From I was born I have been doing this. I don't know nothing else."

decent burial

Though business is not as brisk as he would want it to be, he says Charlie has got him to where he had wanted to be, in terms of the number of offspring Charlie has sired. And should Charlie die now by accident or illness, he would be accorded a decent burial. He won't be buried as a dog. No. There is going to be a gathering with food and drinks.

Despite Charlie's contribution to Biggs' well-being, sadly, the two will soon have to part company. You see, Charlie is in his prime, and in the goat-rearing business an animal fetches a better price at this stage, when he is healthy and very productive. Charlie's new owner will have to make a promise to Biggs, not to kill Charlie, at least not now. Whatever happens, he says, "Charlie is my boy, and that's it."

paul.williams@gleanerjm.com