A VISIT FROM A SPECIAL FRIEND

Written by Leona Nielsen
Published on November 2016

The day started with a loud ‘good morning’ call from the rooster from across the road. Weekends, everyone has a chance to sleep in – even Annie – who is always the first one up. Joseph went to change his position when his belly started to rumble.
“Did anyone hear that noise?†asked Annie.
“Hey Annie. Are you still sleeping? Are you feeling alright because you are up before all of us?â€
“I’m okay, Joseph. I think it must be the weekend. Even our owners are late and that is a sure sign in itself. I still have no idea what that sound was a few minutes ago.â€
“Ha! Ha1 Annie, that is my alarm clock.â€
“An alarm clock, Joseph!†Where did you get one of them in the first place?â€
“Oh, I have had it for a long time now and it is one of those built-in ones.â€
“What is a “built-in†alarm clock, Joseph, or are you kidding me?â€
“Oh, Annie, Joseph is talking about his belly. It is hungry.†answered Baby who had just joined the group.
“JOSEPH!!!!†Annie yelled. “One of these days………..â€
“I love it when Annie falls for my jokes.â€
“You know she will get you back.â€
“I know, Baby.â€
“You also know that if you play a joke on someone, you have to be able to take a joke back?â€
“I will be ready.†replied Joseph.
The owners had arrived to serve breakfast.
“Not often that everyone has that sleepy look in the morning. Now let’s have breakfast and get our day started.â€
“What is so special about this day? Does anyone know?†asked Joseph.
“Maybe it is because of it being the weekend.†answered Jake.
“I hope that’s it. I have some plans of my own.â€
“Joseph, you always have plans, but I still have to ask what this one is.â€
“Nothing. Just doing nothing.†replied Joseph.
“OH! I should have known.â€
“Have to keep up that donkey imageâ€. Joseph laughed as he finished his hay.
Just as everyone was finishing their breakfast, one of the owners appeared with a brush and a hoof pick.
“I have a bad feeling Baby, about what I am seeing.
Something is just not right with this picture.â€
“OH Joseph, you are always thinking the worst.â€
Just then the owners picked up Joseph’s halter.
“See Baby. What did I say!!!!â€
Before Baby could answer, Joseph was being brushed, making him look handsome.
“See, Joseph. That didn’t take long.â€
“Looking good.†shouted the cats as they passed through.
“I just want to know why I get cleaned up and no one else does? I wasn’t rolling in any mud or anything!â€
“Okay, Joseph – off you go.â€
“WHAT!!!!! You are letting me go out after this? HELLO!! ARE YOU SURE?â€
“Wow! This is strange, I have to say Joseph.â€
I’m out of here before they realize they might have made a mistake. “See ya!!†Joseph yelled as he ran for the pasture.
Everyone in the barn was starting to feel as if this day is not what you would call normal.
Just before noon……………
“Hurry everyone. We have visitors and I don’t know who they are!†yelled Annie as she shouted for everyone to hear.
Havier and Jake were the first ones to greet the visitors as they were by the fence near the house. Shortly after, they made their way up to the barn. When the barn opened, Joseph’s eyes became as wide as dinner plates! Annie looked at Joseph.
“Are you alright? You like you are in shock.â€
Just then, a hand came over and touched Joseph on the neck.
“How are you Joseph? How are you doing?â€
Joseph just moved closer and the visitor rubbed his neck.
“Can you believe this! Joseph is speechless.†whispered Annie.
“I know, but there are such things as miracles.†replied Baby.
“I wonder if he is going to tell us who this is before too much longer.â€
“I will. Just another minute.â€
“Just give me a minute and we can do a card ride if you would like.â€
“I would like that very much if it is not too much trouble. answered the visitorâ€.
“Okay. Tell us who the visitor is now, please.â€
“That is my friend Caitlin. She has come to almost every
Exhibition that I have gone to. She always makes sure she comes and says hello to me. She makes me feel special and here she is today, coming for a visit. I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!â€
The cart was ready and so was Joseph. Caitlin got in the
cart and the smile that came across her face told the whole story. They took a couple of short rides and then came the time that Caitlin had been waiting for……she had the reins for the very first time.
Joseph could feel the difference in the reins. It has such a gentleness. Then came something that he had to have a lot of trust to do and that was back up. Backing up for a donkey doesn’t come as easy as it does for a horse. I have to do it because she had cheered for me when I was in the arena. Carefully, he placed his trust in the reins and back he went. From there, they took a drive down the road.
“Did you see that? Joseph must like her for him to back up like that! He has shown another side of himself today for sure and one that I really like!†whispered Annie.
“You got to love him!†answered Baby.
Once the ride was over, Caitlin and her dad came back to the barn where she met Annie, Baby, Havier and Jake. They had treats and posed for a lot of photos. It was over too soon and Caitlin had to go.
“I hope I can come back again when you aren’t busy and visit again. The next time I see Joseph or Annie in the arena I am going to know what it feels like to be in the cartâ€.
Our owners told her that could be arranged for sure.
The afternoon passed so quickly and before anyone realized, it was time for sleep.
“Wow! That was nice of Caitlin and her Dad to visit you today, Joseph! I wonder if she was there in Bridgewater and Lawrencetown when I was there?â€
“I don’t know for sure, Annie, but I bet she was.â€
“I hope she liked my moves in the arena too.â€
“Caitlin came to see all of us, not just me.â€
“I like her a lot, Joseph. She treated us so nice. I hope she does come back soon.â€
It certainly was one of those crazy days which started off with nothing making sense. It certainly had a great ending.
“Good night everyone. Oh, and by the way, did she get your best side Joseph?†shouted Momma Kitty as she was handed to bed with her kids.
“Oh, Momma Kitty, I hope so.â€
“It’s that time Littles. Good night.â€
“No worries Havier and Jake. I need to get my beauty sleep.â€
“â€JOSEPH!!!â€
“Just kidding Annie. Gotta love me.â€

Hi Everyone! That is our story for this time. Hope you liked it? One of the most important things that we can do is to do something for someone. It makes their day as well as yours. “Thank you, Caitlin for your visit. We have had a great time tooâ€. Until next time……oops, it will soon be Christmas!!!!!

Baby, Joseph, Little Annie, Havier, Jake and Catsville