Untitled (A Sequel to Animal Farm, written 2003)

Ana's Note:
Man, did I really want to just rewrite this entire thing while I was typing it out.  I thought it was completely awesome at the time (like, nine years ago).  After I finish typing out all of these papers, I think I'll take this story and update it.  So if you check back later and see this story twice, it's because I fixed it up.  Anyways, here it is in all of its 9th-grade glory.

    Ten years passed since that frightful, confusing evening.  After the argument, the animals had witnessed the shooting of several pistols.  They ran inside after Pilkington and his men had left, and saw several pigs - or were they men? - on the floor.  They later found out that Pilkington and the other farmers had crashed into a creek and met up with wolves.
    A few days after the tragedy, the animals got together and agreed that if they were to stay together, they needed a system.  They finally decided they would make a democracy.  There were three candidates: Benjamin, Clover, and a sheep named Dolly.  The votes were cast, and it was decided by majority that Benjamin would become their leader, the president of the farm.  A picture of him, drawn by a hen by the name of Jenny, was posted on the barn door.  After that, things seemed to be considerably better on the farm.  It wasn't perfect, but according to the older animals, it was better than Animalism.
    Two years later, Benjamin had been assassinated via food poisoning.  But even though he was dead, the symbol still stayed as the symbol for democracy.  It was discovered later that two sheep, which were followers of Dolly, had committed the crime.  They were punished by death a week later.  Benjamin was given a funeral and was buried a somewhat short distance behind the barn, about thirty-five feet.  Dolly, having had the second most amount of votes, became the next president.  He had then established rankings, such as vice president and secretary of the farm, and several new rules.

    Back to the present, there was a new president of about nine years.   His name was Richard, and a lot of animals liked and respected him.  He was broad-shouldered and had a face that always looked as though lined with thought.
    Richard strutted around, surveying the area and checking on everyone.  As he did, he thought of Clover.  Thought he knew her for only about a year, she was the most mother-like figure he had ever had.  She had died not long after Benjamin.
    Richard twitched a little.  He hated that stubborn, cynical donkey, and was glad he died.  Richard shook his head and continued looking around.
    That night Richard walked into his stall and tried to sleep.  However, his mind was filled with the thoughts of one hateful being - Benjamin.  He tried to clear his head, but he couldn't.  Finally, he couldn't take it anymore, and he left his stall, heading for Benjamin's grave with kerosene and a lit lantern.

    As Richard finished pouring the kerosene, he laughed in his mind.  His plan was to drop the lantern and run immediately so as not to get burned.  He picked up the lantern and held it over the grave, almost ready to run... when a bleat surprised him.  He suddenly dropped the lantern and didn't have the time to run away unscathed.  The fire seared his underside, and he whinnied in pain.  He ran about fifty feet away, then turned toward the noise.
    It was a young lamb, about four weeks old.  He had seen Richard commit the crime, and Richard had to do something.  He couldn't let the lamb just go; it would tell.  Richard couldn't kill it either, though; it was too young.  So Richard walked up and pleaded desperately to the lamb, "Don't tell anyone, and I will give you extra food for free!"
    And so began a dishonest pact.  Richard would bribe the lamb with food, and the lamb would keep quiet.  The animals eventually got suspicious, however.  The lamb seemed to get fatter and fatter, yet he did almost nothing.  One night, a duck by the name of Canterbury saw Richard and the lamb in conversation.  He then saw Richard give food to the lamb and heard Richard say, "So you won't tell anyone about Benjamin's grave?"  The duck now knew exactly what happened to the grave.
    One week later, Richard stood on a makeshift stand in front of a jury.  He was being accused of bribery and defiling a grave.  He was later found guilty when the lamb admitted their dark partnership and the events that led to Richard's bribes.  Richard was impeached and forced out of office on the grounds that he did not possess the moral fiber required of a president.  He was also banished from the farm and faced certain death should he ever return.