Cow Concert 2025

A Christmas devotional utterly unlike any other, it was a very moo'ving miracle.

“What are we going to do?” Elma Whatkins, chorus leader of the local (and only) church whispered at the good Duitin A. Pinch. She wasn’t trying to keep secrets or honor beautiful stain glass windows with quiet respect. Her voice was giving out due to the flu. Her whole choir was equally quietly singing the blues.

They’d been practicing for the Christmas special all year. “Surely you had a backup plan. Your’s isn’t the only gospel choir,” Reverend Pinch whispered. He did so, on the other hand, out of respect for the solitary church member kneeling and praying from one of the benches nearby. That, and he didn’t want word of this catastrophe spreading like wildfire. The church member happened to be Alvita Snow, the most renowned gossip monger in three counties.

“I checked. They are all booked up.” Elma turned her head in the direction of Alvita and sprayed a sneezy “Achoo!” at her. The woman changed her prayful tune. She started praying for good health, instead for having a better listening ear to catch Elma and Pinch’s conversation. A second “Achoo” unleashed in her direction brought her to her feet and out the door.

“One problem solved. Thanks.” Reverend Pinch whispered.

Elma squeezed her nose with a sodden hanky. “It’s up to you Reverend. You’ve got the heavenly connections. I’m sure you’ll come up with something.” Elma’s next sneeze blew her backwards towards the still open church doorway. She disappeared with the musical sound of her shoes tap dancing down the stairs.

Alvita Snow didn’t waste a step. She was on the phone in no time. “Spread the word. The Christmas Program is going to have a big, big surprise.” The word spread. Alvita said she’d heard the choir director and reverend whispering together but hadn’t caught what they were talking about.

Reverend Pitch got a call from the head of his board of directors asking what the surprise was. “We don’t like surprises.” The last surprise had been the previous reverend stealing the church’s savings and eloping with a barely legal youngest daughter of Alvita Snow. It was the only time in recorded history that Alvita didn’t have a word to say.

“The whole choir has the flu. None other is available.” Reverend Pinch sighed.

“Yikes. We don’t even have twenty-four hours. What about some soloists? I’ll get the board right on it. Keep looking.” And with that the two hung up.

Miracles do happen. Instead of Reverend Pinch being put out to pasture for not showing up to church on Christmas morning, a note (causing many a whistled one) had been tacked up on the locked church door. ‘ 9 A.M. Devotional at the manger, Farmer Smith’s Barn. Surprise Heavenly Choir- The Holy Cows’

The note was barely legible, it had been scrawled so fast the letters almost fell off the note. It took Alvita Snow a solid minute to decipher the code and start spreading the good word. Excitement mounted. Everyone in three counties who could make it wanted to know about The Holy Cows.

Scriptures were searched for a reference without result. Elder church authorities gave no clue. The board of directors was not only mum, they’d hummed, hawed, and finally left a sour note of their own, stating they had an emergency and wouldn’t be back until after the devotional.

“Too many. Please be patient.” Reverend Doitin A Pinch closed and locked the barn doors and pointed towards Farmer Smith’s large pasture where cows were munching on sweet grass and mooing softly.

Farmer Smith waved and bowed as he moved twenty-five of his prized cow herd into the shape of a choir. Laughter broke out, but the hell fire and damnation look in Reverend Pinch’s eyes and solemn features as he stepped up to a hastily made podium brought expectant silence.

“Close your eyes. Every one of you who is a good Christian. Let us pray before our devotional in God’s own church begins.”

Whispers faded as the request was followed by bowed heads and eyes shut, better to hear the heavenly sound vibrating in the air. Reverend Pinch hadn’t believed Farmer Smith, until he’d heard the cows singing, himself.

Each cow moo’d in harmonious chords with the others, chewing on their cud between notes. The music carried far in the morning breeze, as one holy Christmas carol after another arrived to each worshiper’s ears.

One after another joined in until the air swelled with the lyrics sung by the worshipers to the background heavenly music of twenty five holy cows. No-one asked how this miracle could be. It was. You either had to accept it or think you were losing your mind. No-one wanted to do that in front of everyone. For the second time in her life Elvita had nothing to say.

Of course cell phone videos went viral. Smith told News hounds he used Christmas music to calm the cows while milking them. They’d come up with the rest themselves. Rough at first, but with a little fine tuning and munchy rewards, it changed for the better. “Now they are utterly perfect at it.”

Smith milked it for all he could, splitting half the money with Reverend Pinch who said a few Holy Cows of his own. He now had enough money to ask Elma Whatkins to marry him. They are now raising a young choir of their own.

The twenty-five cows no longer need to horn in on the Christmas Choral trade.Cow Concert 2025, according to all the critics agreed their music is very moo’ving.

Contest Prompt

Write a short story or poem about a group of 25 singing cows. Title should be 2025 Cow Concert.}