Snowball's Chance Read Online Free PDF Page A

the elevation of an overturned wash-bin (placed several feet frontward of the back wall) Snowball addressed the entire barn. “Ahhh,” Pinkeye was heard to whisper, “an orator of the days of yore.”
    But Snowball, having only just lifted his foreleg to clear his throat into his hoof, found his place of esteem declining—as the wash-bin was wrinkling beneath hisvery trotters. In only a moment, he stood atop what looked to be a crumpled birthday cake.
    “Aha,” said Snowball, “well perhaps we might amend the situation … with this!”
    Having heard their cue, two bulls suddenly banged through the barn doors. Before them, they pushed a monstrous construction of marble, granite, and chrome.
    Shortly, the bulls had positioned the goliath, and Snowball, having mounted it, explained—
    “Now this is a proper soapbox.”
    Indeed, most of the animals had heard something about speaking from a soapbox—and if that’s what a soapbox was, well, without question, it far exceeded any turned up wash-bin. To stand nestled in that cradle of shining stone was definitely attention getting.
    No doubt about it—quite authoritative.
    Without a word, Snowball waved his hoof as if to say,
a gift, think nothing of it
, and the barn let out a hurrah of approval for the bedazzling marble thing—and then the meeting was underway.
    “Your Leader, Minimus,” said Snowball, and here, he paused to allow Minimus the Leader to eyeball the ensemble, “has set forth his goal—a total overhaul of our way of life! And better days, every day, for every one of you!”
    The sheep burst out into “Better day, every day,” and only quieted after several long minutes.
    “But first, we must decide—who shall lead us in this quest? Will it be Minimus, who himself has envisioned this new and better day? Will it be Minimus, who is what you might call ‘pigheaded’ in his absolute determination to guide us to this new and better day?”
    “Minimus! Minimus! Yes! Yes! Better day! Better day!” enjoined the sheep.
    Snowball continued on the subject of a new leadership position titled “Prize Pig” and a new method of choosing the leader, called election. After a brief explanation as to what a candidate was, Minimus took a moment on the soapbox to read a brief statement which Snowball passed off to him. The barn animals seemed to like it, then Minimus got back down, and Snowball resumed his place—
    “We call for a vote! Vote Minimus for Prize Pig!”
    Ballots were distributed. The animals were instructed that they were free to vote as they wished, and on how to scratch out the single perforated box without leaving a hanging chad. The ballots were collected and tallied. Then the results were in—a landslide! Minimus, nodding smugly, read another prepared statement, congratulated Pinkeye, who would assume the role of Next Prize Pig, then ceded the soapbox to Snowball.
    And Snowball—he raised his hooves high.
    Almost as high as his ears!
    “Minimus thanks you for your support—and for this opportunity to make a difference for all of us! What he proposes now is nothing short of a new rebellion. And in that rebellion, we shall follow our Prize Pig, Minimus, to victory!”
    Minimus, behind Snowball, was still nodding—his double chins still shaking.
    “First on Minimus’s agenda—our illustrious anthem shall be returned to its place of honor in our hearts! So let us now sing
Beasts of Earth
.”
    At this, the animals shifted uncomfortably on theirhocks, for while most had heard that there was once an anthem of some kind, none knew it. Fortunately, Snowball had taken the appropriate steps, and pages with the printed lyrics were distributed. The animals who couldn’t read too well were helped by those who could. Only Benjamin looked at the words with a leery eye—always suspicious, that old donkey.
    Led by the pigs and dogs, who had evidently reviewed the anthem, the animals began to sing—
    Beasts of Earth, it is our fate
    To live in one