NEVER SAY NEVER
Written by Leona NielsenPublished on October 2015
The morning had the making of another warm and muddy summer day as a cricket chirped in the distance. Annie had started this day off differently than most. Every now and then she gets homesick for her family. This happens to be one of those days.
"What's wrong Annie? You are not your cheerful self. Can I help in any way?†asked Baby.
"You know Baby, I wish you could but this is one thing I have to work through myself.â€
"Annie, you don't have to go through whatever it is by yourself."
"I miss TC at times like this. I feel so alone, sometimes, being the only girl in the barn."
Joseph had been listening and even though he tried to be tough he is so soft-hearted – “I think we should call a town hall meeting.â€
"Joseph, first of all, we are a barn and not a town and secondly, Annie is missing her family!†Baby answered with concern.
"That was just my way of saying we need to get everyone together and help Annie.â€
"I really appreciate it because there are times that I can do this all on my own but today is not one of them." Annie said.
"Ok! Let’s all go and find Havier and Jake.†yelled Joseph.
“Well. This is a nice surprise.â€
“Well it may be Jake, but then I have this feeling that something is not quite right.†answered Havier.
“Havier has a feeling that something is wrong. Is he right in thinking that way?â€
“Well, sort of Jake.†You see, Annie is having a ‘miss my family sort of morning’ and she just needs us to help her through it.â€
“We all have those moments when we wish to see our family. We wonder if they are still in the same place or if they found a new family like we all have. It is natural to want to see your family. Annie, would you like to talk about it? It may help.†asked Havier.
“Sometimes I get lonely and before I realize it, the feeling is gone. Today is different somehow. I find myself thinking about being at the Fair, people looking at me and my Mom. Then we went home and a few days later a truck drove in and took me away. I was lucky because the people who came were our owners now. I was too young to understand what was going on. I wish I knew then what I know now.â€
“What would you have done Annie?â€
Annie took a few minutes to respond looking off into the distance. Then she turned looking at the others.
I would’ve said good-bye to my mother.â€
With those few words each drifted off into what they remembered about their own family.
“May I speak for all of us Havier?â€
“You certainly can, Baby.â€
“Annie, each of us, in our own way, feels what you do. We all have something that we would have liked to have said before we left but didn’t get the chance to say.
Annie, if I may, I would like to say that we are all very lucky to have this as our home, each other and good owners who care for us. I know that doesn’t take what you are feeling away, but it might help. I want to say that we are all here for each other when we need an ear to listen.â€
“Joseph, that is so kind! I always knew you had a soft side.â€
“I know Annie.â€
“Did talking about it help Annie?†asked Havier.
“You know it did! I don’t feel so sad now.â€
“Caring for each other makes us family and I guess we are ready now, Annie.â€
Everyone looked at one another and smiled.
They had been so involved in helping Annie that the other activity in the barn went unnoticed.
“Ready for what!!!? yelled Annie.
“I guess you are off to a show, clinic or something.†Baby answered.
“I love having someone else on the roster besides just me. Guess I will go and have a nap.â€
“JOSEPH!!!!â€
“Just kidding, Annie.â€
“Can anyone tell me where we are going?â€
“This is one time that we don’t know, Annie. I guess this one is truly an adventure.†replied Jake.
Moments later Annie was loaded and on her way to parts unknown. Being by herself made her a bit nervous as to was ahead.
After everyone had wished her luck, the barn settled back to a normal routine. A few days later a familiar sound could be heard in the distance.
“Hey everyone!! The truck is home!!!!†shouted Baby as he ran around making sure everyone heard.
The barn has a tradition, which was to be at the gate waiting when the doors to the trailer opened.
Without fail, Annie started to bray just as the truck turned into the barn. Once the doors opened, Annie walked off truly excited to see everyone.
“Wow, Annie! Did you go to a spa or something? You look so happy!!â€
“I am happy and so excited to tell you about my trip.â€
“What do you think happened, Joseph?†whispered Baby.
“I don’t know but whatever it was, I missed it.â€
“What do you think about feeding now?†one of the owners asked.
“Now, that is music to my ears!†Joseph yelled as he ran for the feed bowl.
“Well, I see someone is hungry!†said one of the owners.
“Is there EVER a time when he doesn’t want food?†asked the other owner.
“Let’s eat and afterwards we will meet by the hay bales in the corner so we can hear all about Annie’s adventure.â€
After everyone found a spot to relax, Havier said, “Annie, the spotlight is on you.â€
She looked at Baby and Joseph, almost reading their minds, thinking they were waiting for her to do or say something girlish.
“It was a clinic and a good one too! Joseph, I thought about you because I had to work and work. On the way to the clinic we stopped to help someone load their horse. Where I was, I could not hear or see anything. I just thought it was Leroy. When we got to the arena, the other truck pulled in as well. I knew then that whoever this was, was coming here as well. We all had our own stalls and by the time the other horse came in I couldn’t see over the door. I wanted to say something but got cold feet and decided to wait. Ok, Joseph and Baby. I see that look. You can’t believe I could keep my mouth shut now, did you?
It wasn’t until the next morning, when I was in the arena just finishing what seemed to have been a “forever classâ€, when the door opened and believe it or not, in walked a donkey! Yes! A real live donkey, just like us Joseph! Well, I didn’t know what to say but before I knew it, I was back in my stall. I just kept hoping that we could get back in the arena together, when sure enough, we did! At first, all we did was eyeball each other. Then I thought, ‘one of us has to make some kind of a move to break the ice.’ Then I heard, “Why are you looking at me?†All I could come up with was, ‘I don’t know.’
Boy, did I feel stupid!! “Haven’t you seen someone like me before?†That was it!! I was done feeling stupid. This Donkey had to know a few things!
‘I am Annie and no, this isn’t the first time I have seen someone like me. In my family, we have two donkeys, and a horse who are all
miniatures, plus two full-grown mules. Do you know what a mule is? You can stand your ears up now because I am not going to bite you or
anything like that. I just want to be friends.’
The donkey stood there looking at me as if I had two heads!
“Sorry if I was rude to you but everything is so new to me that I am not sure if I am safe or not. I have never been away from home since I arrived there a few years ago. Can we start again?.......I am Sunny. Pleased to meet you Annie.â€
I didn’t know what to say for a minute. All I could think about was how I felt when I took my first solo flight. The rest, you could say, is history except for one thing - you see, I found out that Sunny is my brother!!â€
“WHAT!?!?!?!?†shouted Joseph.
“NO WAY!†yelled Baby.
“What on earth?!?!?!?†replied Jake.
“WELL, WHAT DO YOU KNOW….†whispered Havier.
“We were finishing off a class and the owners were talking and the lady who had Sunny said something like, ‘…..for being brother and sister they certainly don’t look alike.â€
‘Sunny and I looked at one another not believing what we had just heard. Yes, I have a brother! Now, when I have one of “those†days, I will know that I have Sunny out there with another family and I have my family here.†stated Annie.
“I think, after all that has happened, we need to say good night and give us all time for this great news to sink in.†said Havier.
“Annie, we are so happy for you.†added Baby.
“I am so glad I went because I may have never found Sonny. Even though I have a brother, you are still my family too. Family rocks, doesn’t it Baby?â€
“It sure does, Annie.â€
Good Night Everyone!
Hi Everyone! That is our story for now. We learned that it really doesn’t matter how a family is made, as long as you all care for each other because that is what makes families work.
Until next time, be kind to each other and stay safe on Halloween.
Baby, Joseph, Havier, Jake, Annie and the Cats.
