A Hero

Written by Leona Nielsen
Published on February 2013

Hi everyone.
We are back after having some time off for the summer. Usually we do this at the end. This time we felt it was necessary to tell you in advance that things turn out all right even though there are times it may seem they won't.
Enjoy and we will tell you more at the end.

The warm summer breeze blew through the barn as everyone slept. Baby wiggled his nose as the wind tickled it as it passed by. A few seconds later Annie opened her eyes and gave a big yawn.
"Baby are you awake?.....Baby can you hear me?"
"Yes, Annie, I can and yes, I am awake."
"I know Joseph isn't and if he was he would be a grump."
"Oh, you think so, do you Annie!"
"Joseph, you are awake!"
"Yes I am plus, I am not grumpy!"
Annie looked at Baby not believing what she was hearing.
"Yes, it is going to be a nice day, I can just tell."
"Is that Joseph talking Baby?" asked Annie.
"I think something must have hit his head in the middle of the night." Baby answered as puzzled as Annie was.
"You are close Baby, it was above my head.....listen."
"I don't hear anything Joseph." Annie added.
"That's it, they have vacated the barn."
"Who, Joseph?"
"The birds that have been above my head for the past couple of months."
It took a few minutes for both Annie and Baby to realize that the birds had, in fact, left. When something has been around a long time, you don't hear it after awhile.
"I think I'll just stroll over for some breakfast and later check out what is happening in the field." Joseph said as he disappeared thorugh the door.
"I don't know what you think Annie, but I feel I have been a witness to a new Joseph!"
"Something happened, that is for sure Baby, but you know I kind of miss that grumpy side of Joseph too. Let's gt something to eat as well." Annie added as she and Baby walked together to the hay pile.
TC and Havier had also noticed Joseph's attitude as they finished eating.
"What are the two of you going to do today?" Joseph wanted to know.
"Gee, Joseph, I haven't given it much thought." TC answered.
"Me, I don't know, but whatever it is I do it isn't going to be much." Havier replied.
"I knew I was going to like you Havier."
"Oh, why is that Joseph?"
"Well, with what you just said, I see you are thinking more and more from the donkey side of you instead of the horse.
"Oh, by not wantin to do much?"
Joseph smiled as he started towards the field.
Havier was standing with such a puzzled look on his face that TC couldn't help but ask what was bothering him.
"TC, not until now have I ever thought about being half donkey or horse. I was just me."
"You still are Havier, but Joseph sometimes has this way about him that makes you stop to think."
As hte morning passed, Annie and Baby decided to check out the patch of clover they had seen in the field last evening. After leaving no trace of clover ever having been there, they both went their own way. TC and Haver had decided to chill out under the big tree for a bit. As for Joseph, well, he was off doing something with his new-found energy resulting from the empty space above his head. It had turned out to be what one would call a perfect summer day. The crickets were singing..........SUDDENLY - Annie came running into the barn completely out of breath. So much so that she couldn't talk. She took a deep breath..........
"BABY! BABY! JPSEOH! WHERE ARE YOU!!!!!SOMEONE ANSWER ME! I NEED YOU!"
Just then Baby appeared from behind the hay.
"Annie, what is wrong?"
Baby tried to calm Annie down enough so he could figure out why she was so upset.
"WE HAVE TO GO TO THE BIG TREE BABY!"
"Annie, we are not allowed there unless TC says we can."
"WHERE IS JOSEPH? I NEED HIM TO COME WITH ME!!!!!"
By this time, Annie had worked up such a sweat that she looked like she had just had a bath.
"all right, Annie, I will find Joseph for you and maybe by that time you will be able to tell us what is wrong and why you want us to go to the big tree." Baby answered.
Just then, Joseph came around the corner of the barn.
"What's up? I heard my name being called."
"JOSEPH! YOU HAVE TO COME WITH ME TO THE BIG TREE."
"Okay Annie, I think it is time you tell us what is going on." Baby said in a stern voice.
"HAVIER IS BEATING UP ON TC. SHE IS ON THE GRUOND AND HE IS BEATING HER ON THE HEAD!!!" Annie yelled as hard as she could.
Without another word everyone was running towards the big tree. Just as they reached the top of the hill they could see Havier with his fron tlegs bent down leaning over TC.
"HAVIER! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO TC!!!" Joseph shouted as he ran closer.
"HAVIER, YOU ARE HURTING TC. LEAVE HER ALONE!!!" Baby shouted out.
annie was running as fast as her little legs could carry her to get to TC's side.
Havier was lifting TC's head with his mouth and dropping it to the ground. TC's body didn't move.
Baby turned around and gave Havier a kick to get his attention to stop. Joseph did the same but Havier was still lifting TC's head up and letting it fall. Just then Havier caught something out of the corner of his eye and realized the Little Ones were there.
"GET THE OWNER!!! NO!!!" Havier shouted.
"What is the matter with TC?" Annie yelled.
"TC was fine and all of a sudden she fell to the ground and I can't get her to get up. We have to get the owners right now!!!!"
"I can bray the loudest Havier, I am on my way for help. Baby, you stay here and Annie you bray with me to get the owners' attention." Joseph shouted as he and Annie ran as fast as they could.
At the fence.........
"Joseph you go first and I will bray after you."
Joseph the let out the biggest bray Annie had ever heard and being a girl, her bray was different. They hoped it would be enough to get the owners outside but nothing happened.
"Let's try again Joseph." Annie said.
Still there was no movement at the door.
"Annie I got it! Let's bray as hard as we can and run back and forth. That always gets their attention."
"Let's do it Joseph. TC needs us!!!!"
With that, Annie and Joseph started running and because they were donkeys they could bray while they were running. Just as they were about to give up, the door opened. With not much bray left Joseph told Annie to keep going and he was going to run towards the tree and back.
The owner stood in the doorway not knowing what to make of the donkeys. Joseph kept running towards the big tree. Just then, Baby shouted that he would do the running if they could keep braying, hoping this would catch the owners' attention. Usually something like this happens when there is a thunderstorm but it was a beautiful day.
“Joseph, what is the matter? Annie, you are so wet
from running so much and Baby you never do this.â€
Joseph stopped braying for a minute and shouted…..
“If I had just one wish now it would be that humans
could understand us.â€
“I better take a look and see if everything is alright.â€
“Oh Joseph your wish came true!!!!!†yelled Annie who
was jumping up and down.
“We better come up with a plan to keep our owner
interested in what is going on.†Baby added.
“I know. We will make it look like it is a game until we get
our owner to the big tree.†Joseph replied.
“I will run ahead and see what’s going on with TC.â€
Annie shouted.
Nothing had changed with TC except that Havier had a
very worried look on his face and his sweat was dripping
down his forelock to the ground.
“Are they coming Annie?â€
“Yes, Havier, we made it work.â€
“Well done kids.â€
The owner experienced somewhat of the same reaction that
the Little Ones had when they had reached the big tree.
The owner shouted out to Havier loud and hard.
Help had arrived. The owner still wasn’t sure what had
happened.
“Come on TC you can do it. Yes, TC, you must get up.
I know you can do it.†everyone shouted.
“I feel so funny. I am having a hard time getting my
body to work right.â€
“Do your best TC, we are right here with you and let our
owner help you too†Baby whispered.
As everyone started walking back towards the barn, their
owner still kept an eye on Havier. It still wasn’t clear what
Havier was doing.
“TC, it is not much further.†Baby replied.
“I hope not Baby.â€
When they arrived at the barn, the owner took TC inside
and closed the door.
“That is rude. Why can’t we go in.†asked Annie feeling a
little disappointed.
“It’s alright Annie, our owner’s first concern right now is
TC.â€
Annie ran to the window and looked in.
“Is that why our owner is on the phone?â€
Suddenly, there were four heads looking in the window.
“Our owner is calling the vet.â€
“Oh! This is serious, isn’t it Havier?â€
“It is the best thing to do Annie, because the vet can check
TC over and find out what happened.â€
“What did happen Havier?
“I wish I knew Baby, but I don‘t. All I know is that TC had
to somehow get up.â€
“I heard our owner say that the vet was coming.†Joseph
added.
For the next while no one left the window. TC was
having trouble standing once in a while and the Little Ones
tried to comfort her even though she didn’t reply.
“When is the vet going to get here Havier?†asked Annie.
“I know it seems like forever but the vet will get here
soon.â€
“I hope so, because I don’t like to see TC like this.â€
Baby grunted.
The sound of the vet’s truck could be heard in the
distance coming in the direction of the barn.
“I thought I would never hear myself say this, but this is
the first time I will be happy to see that truck pull in the
yard.†Joseph remarked.
“You aren’t the only one.†the others replied.
The vet didn’t waste any time before she started taking
blood.
“Oh, I got to turn my head. I don’t like needles.â€
Annie whispered.
“That’s alright Annie. When you are sick like TC is you
don’t mind needles if they are going to make you feel
better.â€
“I know Havier.â€
The vet went on to check TC from head to toe, even taking
her temperature and again, Annie turned her head.
“Can you hear what the vet is saying, Joseph.? This is the
time to use those big ears of yours.†Baby said.
“Oh Baby, believe me I am. I want to hear everything.
The vet is going to give TC some medicine for her stomach.
It seems that she has an infection but TC will be better
in no time, she thinks. BUT if she doesn’t, then she will
come back this evening to see her.â€
“I am going to keep everything on my body crossed so that
the vet doesn’t have to come back. The rest of you can
too.†Joseph added.
“Oh, we will for sure!â€
Moments later the barn door opened. It was like a traffic
jam at first because everyone wanted in.
“Oh TC, how are you feeling?â€
“It’s okay everyone. I don’t feel like I am drunk
anymore.â€
“Is that what happened TC? You got into some bad
apples under the tree? You always told us not to eat
those apples and then you did.†Annie added.
“No, Annie. What I meant was when I could stand up
straight I felt like I was going to fall over.
No, Little Ones, I didn’t eat anything that I shouldn’t have.
It was just one of those things that can happen and it
happened to me.â€
Annie pushed herself as close to TC as she could…..
“I am so glad you are feeling better.â€
“Me too, Little Oneâ€
The owner came back in the barn and walked up to
Havier.
“Havier, I wish you could understand what I am saying
because if it hadn’t have been for you trying to get TC
up, it might have been worse than what it is. I thought you
were hurting her when I first saw you and all you were
doing was trying to help.†said the owner as she gave
him a hug.
“HELLO!!!!!!!! We can understand you but it‘s you that
can‘t understand us!†Annie shouted hoping that the
owner would understand.
“It’s okay Annie, the main thing is that everything
worked out right.†TC said as she leaned her head towards
the owner for a rub.
As night fell, TC felt much better. The vet did call but
she didn’t have to come. Just keep taking the medicine
and things will be alright.
“TC, can we sleep where we can see you tonight?â€
“Are you worried, Baby?â€
“Yes, we are You are our TC.â€
“Of course you can, but before we go to sleep I want to tell
each of you how proud I am of you . The three of you
went above and beyond to get me help. Havier, being
half donkey and half horse doesn’t matter. You showed
me that you are a loyal friend and I am glad you chose our
barn to call home.â€
It was hard to hold back the tears but the hug TC gave
them wiped the tears away.
“Can I say something before I go to sleep TC?â€
“You certainly can, Annie.â€
“What’s this - calling us kids - Havier! Aren’t little
goats called kids?â€
“I guess I sort of messed up there Annie.â€
“I forgive you.†Annie answered as she looked at Baby.
Shall we tell Joseph now or later?â€
“Tell me what Baby?’
“I guess there is no right time. The baby swallows in the
loft hatched today.â€
“WHAT!!†yelled Joseph
“Does that mean grump is back Baby?â€
“What do you think?â€
“Good night Little Ones.â€
“Good night TC and Havier.â€
“Sorry we kicked you Havier.â€
“All is forgiven Little Ones.â€
　
Welcome back to another season with us. This is one of
our experiences this summer. TC recovered completely.
We learned that because we worked as a team we
managed to get TC help when it was needed. We also
learned that when you have to try really hard you
can succeed. We hope in school you will test yourself and
see how well you can do this year.