Moo: A Novel

“Employment” is a prose piece describing Reena’s parents’ search for work in Maine. Reena’s mom gets a job teaching at a private school, and she is pleased that her job will not start until September, giving her more time to get the family settled. Reena’s father is still looking for work; he wants to do something completely different from his reporting job in New York, perhaps landscaping or another outdoor job. Luke asks whether they will be able to buy food if their father does not find work, and their father jokes that he and their mother can eat the children if necessary. Luke is so frightened by this joke that it takes half an hour for their father to calm him down.

Reena and Luke ride their bikes past the farm in the poem “Misty Morning.” Luke asks Reena what she thinks the cows are mooing about, and she jokes that the cows are gossiping about them. Luke notices three cows tied with their necks outstretched and worries that they’re in pain. Zep overhears and assures Luke that they are not in pain: This is a training technique to help them keep their heads up during shows. Reena is tongue-tied in Zep’s presence. When she and Luke ride away, she notices that Luke’s neck is outstretched like the cows, and he is mooing quietly at them.

“Rocks” is a poem describing the rocks that Reena encounters. She says that she can feel energy coming from the rocks. It seems to travel into her feet, through her body, and up into the sky.

Reena and Luke’s father sends them to take more books to Mrs. Falala in the poem “Back to Twitch Street.” Their father reminds them to be respectful and insists that they are mature enough to go on their own. Reena lists the elements of their route that have become familiar to her. As they approach Mrs. Falala’s house, they hear flute music. It stops abruptly. The children see a large black snake, as well as seagulls on the roof. When they hesitate on the doorstep, Mrs. Falala opens the door and yanks them inside, asking what they were “spying” on (63).

The prose chapter “The Books” explains that the children’s mother met Mrs. Falala on their second day in town. She learned that Mrs. Falala is Italian but lived in Africa with her late husband. Mrs. Falala mentioned her interest in drawing, so the children’s mother sends over library books on drawing. This time, Mrs. Falala is briefly interested in the books. When Mrs. Falala notices Luke’s thumb between his teeth, she flicks his thumb with her fingers, telling him he will get “horse teeth” doing this (67). Luke tells her not to touch him. She flicks his thumb again, and Reena sees that he is close to tears. She tells Mrs. Falala to leave Luke alone. Mrs. Falala is visibly offended by her tone and orders them to leave.

The prose piece “We Went” describes the children’s flight from Mrs. Falala’s house. They pedal away quickly. When they are some distance away, they stop to talk. Luke, still trembling, calls Mrs. Falala crazy. Reena agrees. They sit, and Reena calms Luke down.

In “Disrespect,” a prose piece, the children return home. Mrs. Falala called their parents to complain, and their mother and father are waiting disappointedly. Reena defends her actions, but her father helps her see that her tone was rude. However, Reena is still angry at Mrs. Falala.

The poem “Prickly” begins with a conversation between Reena and her mother. Reena suggests that her mother visit Mrs. Falala next time. Her mother agrees, admitting that she didn’t realize that Mrs. Falala “could be so prickly” (74). The next day, Reena’s mother goes to see Mrs. Falala. Reena and her father unpack more boxes while Luke draws scary images of snakes, pigs, and Mrs. Falala. He gives his picture of Mrs. Falala huge horse teeth.

“Charming” is a prose piece detailing Reena’s mother’s report of her visit with Mrs. Falala. To Reena’s dismay, her mother says that Mrs. Falala was “charming” (76). She says that they sorted out the “misunderstanding” and that she knows now how the family can be helpful to the elderly woman (76). Luke grips Reena’s arm; she thinks that he is worried, too. Their mother says that they can start helping Mrs. Falala the very next day.

“Meltdowns” is a poem structured as a dialogue between the children and their mother. Luke says “no” over and over, and Reena asks if they must go to Mrs. Falala’s and whether her mother saw the snake and other creatures. Finally, their mother puts her foot down; she is not offering them a choice.

In this prose piece, the whole family heads to Mrs. Falala’s. Luke holds Reena’s arm tightly all morning and will not speak. Reena is angry about being volunteered. She feels that her mother does this often, and it always bothers her. She is especially upset because she does not even know what task she has been volunteered for.

In the poem “The Barn,” Mrs. Falala speaks sweetly to Reena’s parents and makes a show of how hurt she was by Reena and Luke’s behavior. Reena and Luke offer the apology their parents made them rehearse beforehand, and Mrs. Falala stares at them. Their mother reminds Mrs. Falala that the children are there to be helpful, and Mrs. Falala takes them out to her barn and directs them to shovel manure. Reena and Luke are disgusted by the smell, and Luke looks like he might cry. Reena straightens her back and looks Mrs. Falala in the eye.

Reena and Luke clean the cow pen in the poem “Scoop and Shovel.” Their parents go inside with Mrs. Falala and drink lemonade in the cool kitchen. The children are not allowed back inside because they are dirty. Mrs. Falala does not thank them; she simply indicates that they should return tomorrow. Reena and Luke’s parents do not intervene. Mrs. Falala says “Tomorrow: cow!” and goes back inside (90). Reena realizes that she and Luke have been volunteered for an indefinite period. Luke and Reena protest that they know nothing about cows, but their father replies that this is a good opportunity to learn.

“Cow” is a prose piece that recounts the next day. As the children head for Mrs. Falala’s house, Luke begs Reena not to let Mrs. Falala be mean to him; Reena wishes her parents would ask the same on her behalf, too. Finally, she resolves that she is old enough to stand up to Mrs. Falala. When they arrive, Mrs. Falala barks orders at them. They get water for the cow and fill a feed bin. Luke asks where the cow is, and after teasing that there is no cow, Mrs. Falala points Zora out. She mocks them for being afraid, so Reena opens the gate and ushers Luke in, determined to go see the cow. Zora is a Belted Galloway, and she moos as they approach. Luke urges Reena to touch the cow to show that they are friendly; she gives Zora a tentative pat. Zora moos loudly, and they scurry back to the gate and out of the pasture. After completing more chores, the children learn that their parents have committed them for three mornings every week. Mrs. Falala tells them that they can meet Zora officially tomorrow. As they walk away from Mrs. Falala’s house, they hear the flute music again.

Reena begins the poem “Zora” with “As I said way back at the beginning,” signaling that the flashforward at the beginning of the book was to this day at Mrs. Falala’s, when Reena and Luke first try to handle Zora (101). She describes Zora as moody, stubborn, and filthy. Mrs. Falala instructs them to bring Zora in from the pasture and tosses them a halter. Reena remembers seeing the teens do this at the farm and decides that she can do it, too. Luke stays behind his sister, offering advice about speaking gently to the cow as Reena approaches and tries to get the rope halter around her neck. Zora turns and chases the children back to the gate. Luke gets through, but Zora catches Reena and bumps her into the air. Reena lands on the other side of the gate and sees Mrs. Falala’s smile. Mrs. Falala calls them babies. Luke angrily slips the halter over Zora’s head. Mrs. Falala tells them to finish bringing Zora in, but Reena cannot budge the stubborn animal.