ONE OF THOSE DAYS
Written by LeonaPublished on March 2019
Hello Everyone:
Before I start, I would like to say, “it feels great being back with the Stories from The Barn. I had to take some time off to deal with my time for healing and getting back to the stories”. Leona.
ONE OF THOSE DAYS
A heavy cloud hung over the mountain as Baby stared out of the window. He was wondering if that cloud was filled with rain or snow.
“Good morning, Baby.”
“Oh, and good morning to you too, Annie.”
“I see you are keeping an eye on that cloud over there. I hope we can get out of here today.”
“It doesn’t matter to me because I intend to sleep the day away.”
“Joseph?”
“Well, it is important that I get my beauty rest.”
“Beauty rest, Joseph? You are not a girl!”
“I don’t want to get wrinkles, so I have to keep on top of the matter.”
“You better not let Annie hear that because she will be driving us mad looking for wrinkles.”
“Maybe I should put the bug in her ear”
“Joseph, I give up. I need spring to get here!”
“Did I hear my name?” Annie asked.
“Yes, Annie, but it was all good.”
“Okay.”
Just then Havier and Jake came around the corner.
“Do you think we will get to go out today, Havier?”
“I am not sure Annie. Eugene has to make sure it is safe enough so we don’t get hurt.”
“We have gone out before when it has been like this.”
“Yes, Annie, we have but we have had a lot of ice and sometimes it hides.”
“I know about the ice but I don’t have to like it, Havier.”
“I have that feeling that it is going to be a boring day. I don’t like being shut in like this.” replied Jake.
“Jake, you have to think positive, like me, and find something to do.” Annie told him as she bounced away for some water.
The door opened and Eugene came in.
“Well, let’s see, what would be the best way to do this…”
Baby looked at Havier……………..
“Best way to do what?”
“I have no idea what Eugene is talking about.”
“Maybe he doesn’t know either, as he is talking to himself.” added Joseph as he bounced away.
And then………………………..
“Come Baby, Annie and Joseph to the other side” – then the stall doors opened.
“What is going on Baby?” shouted Annie.
“I guess it means just one thing – the Vet is coming!!!!!”
Annie’s eyes got really big and a worried look came over her face.
“You have to go in the stalls. Jake and Havier, you are next.”
As each door shut, everyone had their own version of what was happening. A few minutes later the answer came.
“Sorry everyone but there are times that work has to be done in the barn and the ground outside is not safe for you today so you have to be stalled for a bit.”
Moment later, his cell phone rang.
“No problem. I will be right there. Sorry, everyone, I have to help the neighbour out a bit. I won’t be long.”
“So, it is bad enough that we couldn’t go outside, now we are locked up indoors. Cell phones!!! What did humans do before the mobile phone came out?” asked Annie.
“They did their work and depended upon something called an answering machine to take any messages, if someone called. There is nothing we can do but wait this one out and hope he is back for supper. In the meantime, I am going to sleep and sleep.” replied Joseph as he curled up in the corner of the stall.
“What are you going to do, Baby?” asked Annie.
“Just stand here and dream about the green pastures that are coming.”
As time passed, things quieted down, then through the silence came a chewing sound.
“Jake, is that you chewing on something?”
“Nope. You must be hearing things, Havier.”
“Jake, I was born at night but I wasn’t born yesterday. I know chewing when I hear it and it is coming from your direction.”
Moments later there came a tap-tap-tap sound.
“Jake, I know now you are doing something down there. Are you getting bored?”
“Nope, Havier. Just hanging out like you.”
BANG!!!!!!!
Havier turned around to see if he could see what was going on down by Jake’s stall, when he came nose to nose with Jake.
“Jake! What on earth are you doing? You were fastened in just like me!”
“Let’s just say I was.” replied Jake.
“What is going on over there, Havier?” came a yell from the other side.
“Nothing, Baby, just talking to Jake.”
“Jake, have you lost your marbles? You just broke out of your stall. Why in the world did you do that?
You know you are going to get into trouble.”
“I’m already in trouble, Havier, because if I did go back I can’t lock the door up again an Eugene will know I was out.”
“I knew you were bored even before we got stalled, but I didn’t expect you would do something like this! JAKE!!
What are you doing?”
“It’s simple. If I can get mine open, I don’t see why I can’t do yours.”
“Well, what if I don’t want to come out?”
“That is your choice and since when did you NOT like an adventure?”
“Just stop and think for a minute Jake. We are supposed to be looking out for the Littles and setting examples for them.”
“We won’t tell them”
“Oh boy, and how do you think you are going to keep this quiet?”
Jake continued twisting his lips, tongue and mouth in every direction possible trying to open the latch on Havier’s door.
“It’s not moving.”
“Then leave it alone, Jake.”
“I think I am going to need some of that ‘chap stick’ stuff for that work. I am not giving up. Who knows, this skill of mine might come in handy someday?”
“I don’t think it is today, Jake.”
“I think I am going to need some of that ‘chap stick’ stuff for my lips when I am done.”
“Don’t let Annie hear you say that. She will want some for her lips.”
“Did I hear my name being spoken?”
“Oh Miss Annie, your ear aren’t long for nothing, but it was all good.” replied Havier..
Just then there was a pop and the latch flew open.
“Oh! Jake, I don’t know about this.”
“Just wait until you see this.” whispered Jake.
“It better be good.” Havier said as he reluctantly took a step out, following Jake around the corner to a part of the barn that no one goes to.
“Wow! This is the icing on the cake.”
“Yep Havier, it is.”
“I wonder why it is way over here and not with the rest of the hay.”
“I don’t know Havier, but I do know it is PARTY TIME!!!!”
“Shhhhh, Jake. I still don’t feel good about this.” Havier said. The hay was so good and sweet that there wasn’t another word spoken until…………….
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”
The sudden shock of the human voice froze Jake and Havier in their hooves. They knew they were busted!
Not making eye contact, they just started backing up and heading to the stalls.
“It is a good thing I came back when I did. That hays is too rich and that is why you only get it as a treat once in a while.”
“Baby, did you hear that? I think Havier and Jake are in trouble over something.”
“I did, Annie, but I don’t know what.”
“Did I miss something?” Joseph asked as he woke up.
“The big barn is in trouble. That doesn’t make sense because we are all in our stalls.”
“Maybe there is a Houdini over there..”
The Littles looked at each other and could tell the famous line was going to come from Annie.
“We will tell you later about Houdini.” Baby added.
“It’s too late in the day to start that job. But, I better block off that hay before someone else gets the same idea.”
Soon, the stall doors were unlocked and everything started to return to normal. The Littles came around the corner side by side with “that look” on their faces.
“I think we have some explaining to do, Jake.”
“Yep.”
“I had a good sleep, Baby. I was dreaming of summer and Annie was looking for ways to pretty herself up. What did you and Jake do, Havier?” Joseph asked.
“Come on everyone! This is going to take a while and we should get comfortable.” Havier replied as he led them to the corner.
“Jake, would you like to start?”
Jake explained to the Littles what happened and that he took full responsibility.
“I learned two lessons: one, I shouldn’t have done it to start with. Second, I should not have brought Havier into it when I knew he didn’t like it. I got him in trouble too.”
“Jake, yes, you opened by door but it was me who stepped out on my own. Littles, just because someone wants you to do something and you don’t feel comfortable doing it, just say, NO.”
“I just want to add that Havier said I wasn’t teaching you to stay out of trouble either.”
“Havier and Jake – everyone should be able to have one mistake as long as they learn from it. We understand and you still guide us in what we do.” Baby replied.
After supper and the events of the day, Joseph just had to be Joseph.
“Annie, the reason why I had to have a nap today wasn’t because I was tired but I am trying to keep the wrinkles away.”
“Oh Joseph, do I have WRINKLES?”
“No, not yet but when you do, I can be your manager.”
“JOSEPH! OH NO, YOU DIDN’T!”
Hi Everyone. Hope you enjoyed the story. Remember, it is okay to say NO to your friends if you don’t want to do something that you don’t feel is “right”.
Stay safe, help someone when you can, and we will see you next month.
Editor’s note: On behalf of all our readers and “friends” of the “Stories from the Barn”, we welcome you back with open arms and would like you to know that we missed you and the animals and your wonderful stories very much.