Bull What???

I may have mentioned that I live in a rural town in Eastern Oregon.

How rural, you ask?

Well, we have a Starbucks so it’s not like I’m having to drive across the river in search of a latte. Still, there’s only one high school, although it is pretty big, about 1,400 plus students.

And one bull on the loose.

Yep. You heard me. A lone bull.

Melissa teaches PE at the high school. She was about to herd the kids outside when the boy’s coach called her aside and told her that they were going to have to keep the kids indoors. Not wanting to alert the kids to the hoopla going on outside at the track, he mouthed to Melissa that there was a bull on the loose.

A what? Melissa yelled. Did you say BULL?

Yes, he nodded.

Bulls are illiterate far as  I know. Maybe the bull misread the sign outside the high school. The one that says “Home of the Bulldogs.”

Thankfully, the high school is located on the same street as Hermiston’s very fine and capable police department. These are boys and gals who grew up watching the mutton-busters at the Farm City Pro Rodeo. They know a thing or two about bulls.

Like how to chase one down.

Melissa said the first officer on the scene pulled his patrol car right up next to the field — like he was going to block a whole field with one patrol car, she said. When backup arrived, the two officers attempted to tandem rope the bull.

There’s a steer roping contest at all the rodeos around these parts. Granted roping a steer is a bit less daunting that roping a bull, but technically the process is the same.

But there is a reason why rodeos don’t sponsor bull roping events.

Turns out it doesn’t work all that well.

Melissa said one officer would lasso a rope over the bull and then the other would. As soon as the second lasso hit that bull, he turned and charged one of the cops, always breaking free of one rope or the other.

After toying with the cops for awhile that bull grew bored. I reckon’ since it is track season after all,  he decided to go for a little jog.  Melissa said he ran right past her house and straight for town.

But he stopped short of getting there, took a detour at the Eastside Market instead, adding a whole new perspective to the notion of Bull Market.

Melissa couldn’t confirm it but rumor has it that Bull walked up to the counter and asked the attendant for a pack of Camels and can of Red Bull.