A goat named Cornelius: ‘In fairness, you can’t be giving a dog’s name to a goat’

Cornelius: A story by writers at Drogheda Youthreach, which supports young people outside mainstream schooling, offering creative and vocational learning opportunities

'Cornelius? That’s an odd name for a goat.' Photograph: iStock
'Cornelius? That’s an odd name for a goat.' Photograph: iStock

Paddy makes a wish. For a goat. No, seriously. Out of all the things anyone could wish for, Paddy just wants this goat. It must be a very special sort of goat, right? No. It was just a goat that he milks.

Then John comes along and sees Paddy with the goat. John thinks: “He has a goat and I have nothing.” So John tries to steal the goat from Paddy.

“Here, what are you at?” says Paddy when he sees this.

“Gimme that goat,” says John.

“No, go away,” says Paddy.

“No!” shouts John.

So Paddy says: “If I give you some milk, will you leave me and Cornelius alone?”

“Cornelius? That’s an odd name for a goat,” says John.

“Yeah, I think he looks like a Rex, but that’s a dog’s name,” says Paddy.

“Yeah, in fairness,” says John. “You can’t be giving a dog’s name to a goat.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” says Paddy.

After a sufficiently awkward silence, John says, “right, give me some milk and I’ll be off.” Paddy hands him a bottle and everyone is sorted.