OBSTACLES
Written by LeonaPublished on September 2019
Baby had just completed his first yarn of the day when Annie came bouncing through as if something was chasing her.
“Annie what are you running from so early this morning? It is not 6 o’clock yet!”
The next thing Baby saw was Annie splashing water all over her face.
“Did something bite you Annie?”
“No Baby. The flies, they are waiting for you to appear and they yell TARGET Attack! Dive Bombers.” answered Annie as the water was dripping off her face. “Oh it is going be another hot one. I think I will find myself a shady place.”
“Jake, are you talking about a shady spot? What do you think about all of us going to the Big Tree? We haven’t been there for a while, plus there is always a breeze and no flies. It is too hot for anything else.” replied Havier. “Did I hear a trip to the Big Tree? Now, someone is thinking with all cylinders this morning.” Joseph said as he rolled out of bed shaking the sleep from his body. “Yep I was in when I heard ‘no flies’. You didn’t have to ask me twice.”
“Can I count you in too, Baby?”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
“Then it is settled. Be ready in 15 minutes.” shouted Jake.
“Be ready for what?” asked Momma Kitty from the loft.
“The Big Tree!” yelled Annie.
“Can we tag along? Even the birds up here are complaining about the heat.”
“Come with us. It is going to be fun.”
“Yes, Annie it will be. There is a theme as well.”
“For real Havier?”
“Yep.”
After everyone grab a drink and a mouth full of hay they were off.
“Everyone find a comfortable spot in the circle and we will start.”
“I am more curious about what this theme is that you spoke about Havier. You know us donkeys have this thing about knowing in advance.”
“Is that what you call a polite way of saying you’re nosey Joseph?”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far but enquiring minds need to know.”
With that answer everyone laughed. They knew Joseph too well.
“Now it would be nice if we had story time, as we always do, but this time, can we tell about something that you maybe are afraid of or you don’t like?. If it is alright I will go first and then you will see what I mean. Here goes.”
HAVIER
“You know how much I like to have my chest rubbed by our owner in the morning before starting my day. It feels so good and there are times I don’t want to move. Then one day, he came with a bottle. Interesting, I thought, but why is he showing me the bottle? Then it happened! I was in total shock when something started hitting my body. It didn’t feel good. In fact, it felt like something was crawling over my skin. I started prancing to get away from it, but that didn’t work. Seconds later, he was standing beside my head with a cloth. “I am just going to wipe around your head so the flies will leave you alone. It is not going to hurt you, but it will make you feel better. It’s just fly spray.” I looked at him as he looked into my eyes and BINGO!!! I thought, “why not turn the charm on like Annie does?” I started fluttering my long eye lashes and sure enough, I got another chest rub before going out. I find the fly spray is tolerable if I think about no flies plus another chest rub. That is what works for me.”
“Who wants to try it next?”
“I will.” said Annie.
ANNIE
“You know that lately the Littles, not us but the Human Littles, have been going out for short drives with me and Grampy. Our owner has a lot of names. I would like to see either Baby or Joseph go but they are boys and me, being a girl, I fit the bill. It is nice when we are in the field but when we go to get the mail it isn’t fun at times. There is this spot that sometimes has these things - you know, the bags that the garbage man picks up. These ones aren’t picked up because they found their way into the ditch. There are times when you go by that they move like they are alive! It scares me and I want to jump and run. Then I remember I have the Littles in the cart. I don’t want to hurt them. When it happens, I just move over closer to Grampy for protection and it works. He always tells me it is not going to bite me. Now, when I see one of those crazy garbage bags when I have the Littles, I think in my head - they aren’t going to hurt me and I have precious cargo on board that I have to look after. It works.”
“Who is next?”
BABY
"Oh boy! I have a big one and I am still working on how to deal with it because I can’t escape it. It has even given me new hairdos. I know you are all thinking that it is the geese. I am ok with Momma goose and her family now if they give me a couple of honks to say they are going to stop for a visit. I sort of look forward now to seeing them. This is something you can’t see except for what it does. It can come without warning. I know you have seen me running for the barn a lot of times and you have thought it was for nothing. I am really running from the wind. I really don’t like it when the wind is loud and blows hard. I think it is due to me not being able to see it. I haven’t been able to handle it like I should even now. I think I am going to have to get you to help me overcome my fear of the wind.”
“Awww Baby, we will help you with this. You know I got your back Buddy. I think I will give it a shot if I can.” answered Joseph.
JOSEPH
"I had been gearing up for this parade for awhile and finally the day came. Just think, all those people watching you as you worked your charm walking down the street. I was looking at the crowd, when down the street a bit, I saw something I hadn’t seen before. I had to keep going. It was, after all, a parade! The closer I got I got the shakes and when that happens there is only one gear and that is a full stop! I felt so silly because the rest of the parade was depending upon me moving. I knew I had to find out what it was first because donkeys are like that. Finally, I put a hoof out and touched it gently. Well, it didn’t bite me back, but now there was another problem. There were two of these things! Then I noticed that everyone was watching us but not for my charm! Our owner had gotten out of the cart, took hold of my halter and walked me over the railway tracks! Of course, I helped with that little jump I do. The crowd started clapping as I made my way across. They accepted me and my silly actions. Now, if I come across something like that I know whoever is watching is not going to judge me but accept me as I am."
“Next one is me.”
JAKE
"You all know protecting our home is something that means a lot to me but I had an encounter with something that set me back on my hooves. This day, our owner came into the barn with something huge in his hand and just like magic, it was small! He laid it in the hall. I didn’t pay any attention to it as I ate my supper, until it popped open on the floor. Goodbye supper - I was gone! Our owner had to show me that it was alright by sitting it on the bench in the barn so I would come in and finish eating. The next day it was still there and I swear it grew legs as it moved from place to place in the barn! Sometimes it was big, other times it was small. After about a week I got the courage to stand my ground and have a head to head meeting with this thing. I smelled it and took my hoof and pushed it. I was about to get a little closer when our owner picked it up saying “Sorry, Jake you can play with it another day. It is raining and I need the umbrella.” Yep, that is what it was that caused me all that worry. Now when I see it coming I give it lots of room just in case it wants to open.”
“Momma Kitty, we haven’t heard your story yet.”
SPRINGER
"Our Momma has taught us how to look after ourselves and has always given us praise when we do so. This day, I was out checking around, as I did each day, when, just by the tree line the grass moved! Now, I wanted to know what was there, and sure enough, I did! As I was running towards the barn, I noticed that the door to the house was open. Why not? Leona would be just as proud of me, I bet, as my Momma would! She was in the kitchen and I laid my prize on the floor………. “EUGENE, come here quick, I need help! Springer brought me a live snake and it is on the move.” For a minute it was like watching a movie. Leona had the dustpan, trying to contain it from getting lost in the house, while Eugene got something to transport it back outside. Now, get this and it has to be a mother thing, because she praised me too! Now, I give a loud cry to let her know I am coming so she can shut the door and meet me outside.”
There you have it and the start of another round of stories. I think we have learedt a lot, wouldn’t you say? Sharing, caring and understanding is so important. I hope you all had a safe and happy summer!
See you next month.
Baby, Joseph, Annie, Havier, Jake and the Cats.