Home Alone - Almost
Written by Leona NielsenPublished on February 2013
The sun didn't have a chance to clear the tops of the trees on the mountain when there was a scurry of footsteps in the barn.
Baby opened one eye just enough to see that morning hadn’t quite arrived. Joseph and Annie were stirring as well.
“What’s going on?” Annie asked.
“I have no idea Annie but maybe Joseph is going to another show.”
With that comment Joseph was on his feet before his eyes were completely open.
“Oh no Baby, I don’t think so! I have done my time in the arena for one season. There could be all kinds of reasons they are here but I‘m not waiting to find out!!!!” Joseph shouted as he ran outside to the mud hole“If they see how dirty I am, they won’t want to take me anywhere.” Joseph thought as he rolled and rolled in the mud.
A few minute later, Baby and Annie arrived to join him.
“Joseph!! You are sooooo dirty. Who would want to take you anywhere? You even have mud in your big ears.” Annie said with a funny look on her face.
“I have a face that only my mother could love with me looking like this.” Joseph replied.
Baby was watching, wondering if he should get in as well.
“You know Joseph, this might not be a bad idea not knowing who could be going.”
“Come on in Baby. There’s lots of room.”
Annie decided that it might be in her best interests to step back. She really didn’t trust Baby and Joseph.
After doing a few good rolls Baby shouted, “Come on Annie, this is fun.”
Annie lowered her head and arched her neck looking back at Baby from the tops of her eyes.
“You have to be kidding me! You think I am going in that disgusting stuff and getting myself all dirty like the two of you! For all you know it may be me going this time. I have to look my best just in case.”
“You have a lot more to learn before your day comes to go on the trailer Annie.”
“How do you know and why should I believe anyone who is sitting in a mud hole covered in mud?”
“Well, I am older and know more.” Baby answered with a smile
“Oh, really!”
“Yup that’s right Annie.”
“Then if that is the case why don’t you know what is going on if you know more than I do?” Annie answered back.
“I guess Annie stopped you in your tracks Baby!? I want to see how you are going to get out of this one.” Joseph whispered.
“Could this be called “putting my hoof in my mouth” Joseph?”
“That’s saying it mildly. You stuck both hoofs in Baby.”
Baby started to say……….Annie!!!
Just then Scout appeared on the scene.
“I would call that “saved by the bell”.”
“You mean saved by Scout, don’t you Joseph?”
“Baby, you better think of something to say real fast before she comes back at you for an answer.”
Baby knew Joseph was right and had to act fast but before he could get his thoughts ready Scout saved him again.
“What are you all doing up so early?”
“We could ask you the same question Scout.” Baby replied.
“Better yet, WHAT IS GOING ON!!!!” Annie shouted.
“Oh, is this what this is all about?”
“What do you mean Scout?” asked Baby.
“Well, the two of you looking like you have been in with the pigs.”
“You see, Joseph was afraid that there was another show and he would have to go. Baby jumped in because he might be going and didn’t want to go without Joseph. So you see, Scout, they thought if they got dirty they wouldn’t have to go. I stayed clean because I want to look my best if it is me who is going. That is how it all went down.” Annie answered, looking so proud.
“Well, thank you very much Annie for filling me in on what has been going on. I am afraid that all this preparation has been for nothing.”
“WHAT !!!!!” Joseph shouted.
“Afraid so. You see, our owners are going away for a couple of days.”
Baby and Joseph looked at one another while Annie stood with a puzzled look on her face.
“You mean that I wasted all this energy on nothing!? I could have been in the barn eating hay.” Joseph yelled as he climbed out of the mud hole.
“ I am just as bad as you Joseph. Now I need to get this mud off me.”
“I don’t have that worry because I was smart and stayed clean.”
“Annie!!!! ……..”
“Let it go. Remember what just happened when you answered too quickly” Joseph reminded Baby.
“Girls.” Baby muttered.
“I don’t have to get a bath like you have to.” Annie added.
“Hey! The owners are going away! I’m home free! They are getting ready to leave. I’m good and besides, after a couple of days, it will have worn off.” Joseph answered with a smile.
Baby tried to roll the mud off his coat. He wasn’t like Joseph. He doesn’t care to get this dirty.
Suddenly what Scout had said hit Annie.
“How are we going to get fed? Are they going to leave the feed and hay bins open so we can feed ourselves?” Annie was starting to get worried.
“If they did that we would over eat and get sick. Remember that time I ate too much grain and got sick, TC?” Scout added.
“How would I ever forget that one!
Slow down Little One. Everything is going to be just fine.” TC smiled.
“But how, TC? We are going to be HOME ALONE!!!!!! With no one to look after us!!!” Annie shouted.
“They went away last year. Murphy will be here.”
“Real funny Joseph, but I am serious. I really am!!!!!!! I don’t remember our owners going away…..EVER!!!!!’
“You were too young to remember Annie, but things were fine then and will be again.” TC answered.
“How are we going to get fed, TC, and don’t tell me Murphy is going to do it!”
“Do what?” Murphy wanted to know as he made his way through to the loft for a sleep.
“We will not be alone Annie. You see, Angie will come and look after us.”
“Angie?? Who’s that? I have never heard that name before, TC.”
“Angie has always looked after us if our owners were not here.”
‘What is she like? Will I like her?” Annie wanted to know.
“Yes, you will like her. She’s a nice kind person who likes us a lot.”
“How does she know what we like and need? Does she know I like to have lots of water with my food and my door open at night?”
“Our owners will be telling her all our quirks, I am sure, before they leave, if they haven’t already.” TC answered.
“It will be fun seeing Angie again. She loves to cuddle me. One thing for sure, we will receive lots of hugs and kisses while she’s here.” Baby said.
“Will she groom me?” asked Annie.
“If you ask right she will.”
“You mean she can hear us talk!!!!! WOW!!!!” Annie was so excited.
“No, silly, I mean if you use your manners if you want to be groomed.” Baby told her.
“Oh.”
Just then, another voice could be heard in the yard. Baby ran to the fence to have a look.
“Angie is here and she is talking to our owners.”
After a short conversation the owners were on their way. Angie made her way into the barn to see everyone. Just as Scout had mentioned, she stopped to say hi to everyone.
Sometimes she had to bend over and other timess she stood on her tip toes, like with TC. Annie was watching closely.
Even though Angie had looked after her last year, this was like a first for her.
“Oh, Annie, you have grown since I have seen you last!” Angie gave Annie a hug.Then it was Joseph’s turn, but Angie stood back looking at him.
“Joseph, what happened to you, you are so dirty? We will have to fix that. You look so handsome when you are all cleaned up.”
“WHAT!!!!! You are supposed to feed us, not do anything else. Oh, this is one time I wish humans could understand what I am saying!!!”
“I have to give you a hug even though I can’t find a clean spot on you, Joseph.”
With that, Angie put a blanket around Joseph’s neck, giving him a big hug.She gave them some hay, saying that she would be back later for supper. As the car pulled out of the driveway, Baby looked toward the house.
“The house doesn’t look the same with no one in it.”
“I hope they left the key so Angie can feed me as well. I better let her see me so she knows I am around.” Murphy shouted as he ran out of the barn.
“What does she mean, Joseph, by “having to do something about that” and what is “THAT”?” Annie asked.
“I don’t want to go there Annie and I hope she will forget all about it.”
“I don’t get it Baby!”
“Take a moment and think about it Annie.”
“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh I got it. Joseph…” To be continued
Hi Everyone! Hope you enjoy the start to our story and remember to get the next Newsletter to see what happens in those two days the owners are gone. Let’s just say the Little Ones test the waters. See you then. Stay safe
Baby, Joseph, Scout, TC and Little Annie