AN OLD FRIEND PAYS A VISIT
Written by Leona NielsenPublished on January 2018
The smells of spring fill the air while the birds are busy gathering food to feed their young. The birds had returned to their nest from last year over Joseph’s stall, making for very little sleep.
“Oh, it’s so exciting having spring here. Don't you think so Joseph?” Annie said.
“Annie, I think that was the wrong question to ask.”
“Why, Baby?”
“The noise of the birds kept Joseph awake last night.”
“What noise Baby? I didn't hear anything.”
“You mean you didn't hear the birds!”
“No.”
“Haven't you noticed how Annie sleeps Baby?” Joseph muttered.
“She…. Oh I know now, why she doesn't hear anything.” Baby laughed.
“That’s right, I don't keep my big ears up in the air like Joseph does. I keep them down close to my face. You should try it sometime Joseph.” Annie shouted as she ran outside to see what was going on.
“She has a point there Joseph.”
“I am a donkey and it is my duty to protect. You know that Baby and Annie, well, she’s still a donkey in training.”
“Yes, Joseph you are good at protecting us.”
Joseph smiled to himself thinking how nice it was to hear that he was doing a good job.
Just then, the sound of a trailer coming from the direction of the barn, caught the attention of everyone. Annie came running into the barn as if she was being chased by something.
“Hurry everyone, there is a horse trailer coming up the road and it looks like it may be coming here.” Annie shouted as she ran into the wall.
“I wonder what is going on?” TC thought to herself as she turned to Scout asking him if he had heard the owners talking.
“This one is a total surprise to me TC. I haven't heard a thing.” Scout answered.
“Are we going to a show TC?” Baby asked.
“Well, none that I know of. Maybe someone just took a wrong turn.” TC replied.
Annie stretched her neck as far as she could but still was unable to see. “Can you see anything Scout? I can't. Maybe we are getting a new trailer.”
“The trailer does appear to be empty. You may be right Annie. We could use a new trailer.”
“We need a bigger one because I will be going to the shows soon.” Annie answered proudly.
Scout opened his mouth to reply when the truck hauling the trailer started to slow down by the driveway. Suddenly, everyone knew the trailer wasn't empty.
“TC, someone is in the trailer! Did you hear that call?”
“I certainly did Baby and it sounded familiar.”
“Then it’s not just me. I swear I have heard that call before.”
“Why don't you just ask who it is? I will…..HELLO in the trailer who are you?” Annie yelled.
After the trailer stopped, the owners chatted with the driver as they walked towards the back of the trailer. They told him they certainly won't mind helping out. Just then the doors opened. Baby looked but couldn't believe what he saw.
“TC!!!!…….SCOUT!!!!!! shouted Baby.
Joseph and Annie couldn't figure out what all the commotion was about. It was just another miniature horse.
“Do you know who that is Joseph?” whispered Annie.
“Not really. Wait….. I may have seen him a couple of times at the shows. Still don't know who it is.”
After Baby got over the shock he went running towards the trailer. “ROGUE, is that really you? What are you doing here? Are you coming back to live?”
“Baby. It has been a long time. Hello TC and Scout. It has been even longer since I have seen you.”
“I am always being told to have good manners towards others and here we are, Joseph, standing here and no one has said a word to us!!” Annie said.
Just then, Baby realized that Joseph and Annie had not met Rogue before.
“Come, Rogue and meet the donkeys.” Baby said.
“Donkeys! Hey, I know all about them. We have a donkey at my barn too.”
“I still remember that day you left. It was a sad time for me.” Baby said.
“I remember it like it was yesterday Baby. I had a lot of sad days not being able to see you.”
“Rogue, this is Annie and she’s still quite young.”
“No I am not Baby. I am going to be two in a couple of days.”
“To Rogue you’re a youngster.” Baby answered.
“Why are you older than dirt Rogue?”
“ANNIE!!!! Where are your manners!!”
“I just asked a question Baby.”
“It’s alright Baby, I may be old to Annie.”
“Then how old are you Rogue?”
“Annie, it is not nice to ask about age.” Baby added.
“I told him how old I was so what is wrong with me asking how old he is?” Annie answered back.
“I’ll answer you Annie, but like Baby had said, it isn’t nice to ask someone how old they are, especially a girl. I am in my teens.” Rogue replied.
Annie looked long and hard at him before saying, “Wow Rogue, you are old aren’t you! Would that make you an antique or a relic?”
Rogue laughed saying, “What would make you say that Annie?”
“Well, your mane and tail are white and your body has got white spots.”
As TC listened she knew it was time to step in. “Annie, come to me. First of all, let me explain that when Rogue was born, these were the colours he was given. Just the same as you were given a brown. Just because Rogue has a white tail and mane doesn’t make him old. Do you understand?”
Annie lifted her eyes and shook her head. “Sorry Rogue. I didn’t mean to accuse you of being old.”
“That’s alright Annie. You certainly have an interesting way of looking at things.”
“You could say I am just a youngster trying to grow up.”
“Rogue, this is Joseph. In fact, we are buddies. We have had a lot of adventures together. Some good and others not so good. You know what I am saying?”
“Nice to meet you Joseph and while I am here I’m looking forward to hearing about some of those adventures.”
“Sounds good to me. By the way, what has brought you to our neck of the woods?” Joseph asked.
“I am here for a couple of days before I take part in a championship show.”
Annie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Are my big ears hearing right TC?”
“Yes Annie. Rogue has been training for awhile now and he came here to have some quiet time before the show.”
“TC, does that mean I have to be quiet?”
“No, Annie, it means that Rogue will not be training.”
As the birds flew back and forth feeding their young, Baby and Rogue caught up on old times. There was a lot to talk about. Joseph hung out with TC and Scout while Annie was entertaining herself.
“Baby, can I join with you and Rogue? I am tired of playing by myself” Annie said.
“Not a problem.”
“Can Joseph join us too?”
“Well, I think Joseph is down under the big tree with TC and Scout.” Baby answered.
“I bet he thinks he is special!!” Annie answered with that tone that means she doesn’t like it.
Rogue was learning more about what barn life was like now when the others returned from the big tree. It was then that Annie had an idea….
“What is it that you do Rogue?”
“Well Annie, some of the things I do are timed obstacles, jumping, relays and pleasure driving.”
“Can you show us because I have never been to a show?”
“Annie, do you remember me saying that Rogue was here for quiet time?”
“Yes TC, I do, but I would like to see just a little bit.”
“It’s okay TC, I would love to show Annie. What would you like to see?” Rogue asked.
“Obstacles, whatever that is.”
Within no time at all a small course was set up. TC explained the course so everyone would understand. Scout was going to keep score.
“Okay Baby, you’re first. Ready? 1-2-3 GO!” shouted Scout.
Baby gave his all as he ran to the finish. Next came Joseph. He gave it all he had.
Annie went out and gave it the best she had. Rogue was the last to go. Everyone lined up to see him finish.
“Wow Rogue, that was fast and smooth running!”
“Thanks Baby but I am just doing it to show Annie how it is done. The actual race was between the three of you. What was the score Scout?”
“Very close Rogue.”
“Well, who won, Scout?” Annie wanted to know.
“Everyone won Annie because it was for fun.”
“We are all winners TC.”
“Yes, Annie you are.”
“Rogue?”
“Yes Annie.”
“Why did you hold your head so funny when you were racing?”
“It is just the way Rogue holds his head. Just like you when you put your head down and you are looking up with your eyes. That looks funny but it works for you, doesn’t it Annie?” Baby asked.
“No, Baby, this is different with Rogue.”
“It is not my place to tell you. You have to ask Rogue.” Baby replied
“Will you tell me Rogue?”
“You see Annie, I have only one eye.”
“How can that be when I am looking at two eyes?”
“What I meant Annie, is that I am blind in one eye which means I can only see out of one. That is why I hold my head the way I do when I am racing because I can only see what is on one side. I have to turn and lower my head to be able to see what is on the other side. I have what you call a handicap, Annie.”
“Doesn’t that mean you have something wrong with you and because of that you can’t do things?”
“I do have a handicap in having only one eye to see with but that doesn’t stop me.”
“You can’t do the show with a handicap?”
When he heard what Annie had said, Baby stood straight and tall by Rogue’s side. Looking at the others he said, “Rogue is not defined by having a handicap. He is defined by what he has accomplished. I am so proud of him for what he has done over the years and what he is doing now.”
A tear came into Annie’s eye as she said, “Baby, am I right when I say a handicap doesn’t mean you can’t do something, it means you learn to overcome your handicap and try?”
“Annie, all the times you got things wrong, this time I am so proud of you for getting this one so right.”
“Me too.” Joseph added.
“Annie, I am so impressed with how you picked up on that. There are many horses that I have known for years that still have no idea I can see out of only one eye.”
“You don’t tell them, Rogue?”
“Only if I am asked because I want others to see me for me.”
“You did it all by yourself Rogue?” Annie asked.
“I have a young girl who believed in me. I had to learn to trust her when I was asked to turn or jump because I couldn’t see. She in turn had to believe in me that I could do it.”
“You have to trust her?”
“Yes Annie, I did and with the trust we formed a team.”
“Yep, that makes sense. Just like I have to trust Joseph and Baby sometimes when I explore where I shouldn’t. After all that I still want to know what Rogue’s score was Scout?”
“Let’s just say enough to place.”
“Place what?” Annie asked.
“Annie, come with me. I want to show you something. The rest of you can come as well. Joseph, I don’t think you have seen this either.”
Way in the back of the big barn is a door that is always shut but TC knows how to open it. As the door opened TC said to the others, “You are now in a special room. Here on the wall are all the ribbons and trophies that have been won by horses big and small, that have stayed at the barn. Rogue, would you like to show us the ones that belong to you?”
“I would rather you do it TC, if you don’t mind.”
“It would be my honour.”
As TC pointed to each ribbon and trophy that Rogue had won, the others looked on in awe.
“WOW!!!! I have a lot of work to do if I am to get something on this wall!” Annie yelled.
“Yes, and one day you will, Annie. Just remember not to let anything hold you back, trust someone and believe in yourself like I am doing now going into this show. If I win it will be nice but each time I go to a show I am there for me first and whatever comes after is a bonus.”
“You are leaving soon aren’t you? How are we going to know what happens?”
“That’s easy Annie; I am coming back here before I go home.”
“Sweet.” was all Annie could say.
Rogue left early in the morning before everyone was up. The next couple of days were tough waiting to see how he had done. Dusk was about to settle in the barn on the third day when the sound of the trailer could be heard in the distance. Everyone ran outside to await Rogue’s return. The doors opened and there was Rogue with a shiny trophy and ribbons.
“Did you win the big one Rogue?” asked Annie.
“I did, but better than that, I beat my own record. That, I am very proud of.”
“A job well done, Rogue.” TC added.
“He did it as a team TC. Rogue said you have to work as a team with someone you trust.”
“You are right Annie.”
The trophy and ribbons were placed in the special room while everyone watched.
“I am so pleased to know you Rogue, not for what you have just done but first for who you are.” Joseph said.
“Coming from you, Joseph, that means a lot.”
“What a nice ending to your visit Rogue.” Baby replied.
“Now Annie, didn’t you say you were having a birthday soon? How old will you be? ”
Oh Rogue!!!!! Donkeys don’t forget, you should know that ….plus you should never ask a girl how old she is.”
Everyone laughed out loud at Annie.
“I guess I’m busted.” Rogue said as he rubbed noses with Annie.
“I learned another lesson too.” Annie said.
“And what was that?” TC asked.
“Well, when I saw Rogue, I just thought because of the colour of his coat he was old. That wasn’t right.”
“You learned a lot in a couple of days, haven't you Annie?” TC added.
“Yes, I have.”
As it turned out, supper was a celebration of Rogue’s win and Annie’s birthday. There were apples, carrots and a special grain mix.
“I can’t eat another bite.” Joseph said.
“I never thought I would ever hear you say that, the way you love to eat Joseph.” Baby whispered.
“You may never hear it again either.”
“Little Ones, it is time to say good-bye to Rogue. He will be leaving before sunrise.”
The little ones found it hard to say good-bye but knew that Rogue would return to have some quiet time before the next
show. The birds were quiet and Joseph was settling in for a nice sleep when………….
“ANNIE what are you doing!!!!!!!”
“Practicing for my coming-out debut for when I go to the shows.”
“Goodnight, Annie.”
“I get to have my name in lights too.”
“ANNIE!!”
“OKAY!
Hi everyone. Hope you liked our story. We learned an important lesson about trust, believing in yourself and living with a handicap. When you meet, or see, someone with a handicap remember to see them for who they are first, not for the handicap they have.
It is time now to enjoy summer. Stay safe as you enjoy your vacation. Do something good for someone else. It doesn’t hurt. Maybe you will see us at a show. See you in the fall with some more stories.
Baby, Joseph, Scout, TC and Little Annie