Cows.

Having mentioned to Mary how much I’d like to take a photograph of the time machine with a cow, she arranged for a neighbor to stop by before his rounds and take us on a bovine safari! ‘Roy’ is just about what you would imagine a perfect farmer to be. Older, kind, friendly, -and he knows his cows. I worried about how the cows would react to the time machine, and us fearing they would be easily spooked. But Roy was prepared. He didn’t make any promises, but he had a few tricks up his sleeve. He said morning or evening when they’re laying down was a good time, so I hopped in the time machine and followed him slowly off the road, through the gate and into the green pastures. Up a hill and there they were. A whole lot of cows. Or ‘cattle?’ They seemed to recognize his red pickup truck, but were not too sure about the silver car with flip up things. He stepped out and explained that if the cows saw him, they wouldn’t be afraid, and sure enough, they didn’t spook.
One cow approached the hood and decided to take a few licks. I wish John DeLorean could have been there. As foreign as the whole scene was to us, I would have liked sharing it with John, who, I think would have really felt like an alien! And I imagine seeing that cow’s green, grassy, slobbery tongue investigating his stainless steel namesake would have amused him and brought him much joy.