Stories from "The Barn" - July/August
Written by Leona NielsenPublished on February 2013
FAMILY
The sun rose over the hills so fast that even Scout couldn’t believe it, as he stood looking out his door. Scout was feeling sad and alone this morning. He had been in the barn for a couple of days by himself. Baby and Joseph had gone to a show in Windsor. The big horses were in the other side. He chatted back and forth but it wasn’t the same as having Baby and Joseph there. They were his family, the only one he had.The day passed rather quickly for Scout and before he knew it the rooster was crowing, bringing in another day. Scout was busy grazing in the field when he heard a familiar sound. He perked up his ears to listen.
“Yep, that’s the truck coming home”, Scout thought to himself.
Moments later he heard another noise that could only be braying from Joseph.
“THEY’RE HOME!!! THEY’RE HOME!!!” shouted Scout as he ran towards the barn.
“Baby, can you get off the trailer quickly?” asked Joseph.
“We’re home Joseph, whats the rush?” Baby replied.
“If you really need to know, I have to go to the bathroom.” Joseph grumbled.
“That was more than I needed to know,” thought Baby.
“In that case I will move as fast as I can Joseph.” Baby answered.
Scout was waiting by his stall to see who would be the first off the trailer. Off came Baby with one jump. Joseph was so interested in getting to the bathroom, that he didn’t say a word to Scout on the way through.
“Oh! Just because you were at the show you don’t have to come back with an attitude Joseph. You could have said HELLO! You aren’t the only one that has gone to a show.” said Scout
“I had to use the bathroom, Scout.” replied Joseph.
Just then Baby came running into the barn.“Hi Scout! What an adventure we had at the horse show! It was scary being in a strange stall, not knowing anyone, only Joseph. Oh, Scout you should have seen all the horses. They were so much bigger than us. In fact, we could have walked under their bellies! Joseph was the only Donkey and some of the people thought that he sounded so funny. Scout, I wish you could have been there.”
Baby chatted on and on. Suddenly he looked at Scout.
“Oh, Scout, I am sorry. I was talking so much I forgot to ask how you are doing,” Baby said in a soft voice.
Scout looked at Baby with a sad look. “Fine, Baby.”
But Baby sensed something wasn’t right. “Scout, what is the matter?” asked Baby.
But Baby sensed something wasn’t right. “Scout, what is the matter?” asked Baby.
“It’s nothing,” replied Scout.
“When something is wrong with us you won’t leave us alone until we tell you. Remember the time you told us that it is easier to handle things when you share them? So, let’s hear it Scout. Tell us what’s wrong.”
Baby looked directly at Scout when he spoke.
“It’s just me being silly, Baby.” said Scout
“Not good enough.” Joseph and Baby both replied together.
“I shouldn’t ask you to do something that I won’t do…..okay, then I’ll tell you…..when you were gone, I had lots of time to think about my family.”
“Where is your family, Scout? I talk about my brother Robin and Joseph about his sister May, but you never say anything about yours.” said Baby
“That’s because I don’t know anything about my family or where they are.” Scout responded.
“How come?” Baby asked
“Yea, Scout?” echoed Joseph.
“I don’t remember too much about when I was small.” answered Scout.
“I remember when I was small…..” Joseph started to say.
“JOSEPH!!!!! You don’t have to remember right now, do you? Let Scout talk and, further more, it is not polite to interrupt when someone is talking.” replied Baby.
“Continue, Scout……did you have any brothers or sisters?” Baby asked.
“To tell you the truth, Baby, I don’t know.” Scout answered sadly.
“Oh Scout, I can share my brother Robin with you and I know Joseph will share his sister May, won’t you Joseph?” Baby asked.
“No problem.” Joseph answered as he filled his mouth with hay.
Joseph became curious so he asked, “Scout did you have friends?”
Turning his head, Scout looked out his door without saying a word.
“Did you hear what I said?” said Joseph.
“Yes,” answered Scout a few minutes later.
“Joseph, can you be quiet! Can’t you see that Scout is very sad?” Baby said as he looked at Joseph.
No one said a word for a few minutes and then Baby asked Scout if he was alright.
“Yep, Baby, I am alright.” Scout answered as he turned back from the door.
“Then can you answer my question Scout,” said Joseph.
“JOSEPH!” shouted Baby.
“It’s alright” Scout replied, “I did have a friend that stayed in the same barn as me. We had lots of fun,” Scout replied as he was trying to hold back the tears.
“What happened to your friend?” Joseph wanted to know as he was remembering the day he came here and how sad he was leaving everyone behind.
“Do you still miss him?” Baby asked from a distance.
“I do, but he had to go to another farm.” Scout replied with a tear in his eye. “I never saw him again. That was a sad day for both of us.” Scout added. “There are times, like now, that I wonder what happened to my family. I think about it for a while, and then it gets better.” “Want to know why?” asked Scout.
“We do,” Joseph and Baby shouted out.
“Because, even though I don’t know my real family, I have one. You are my family. Don’t we share, laugh, be sad together and we even have times we disagree?” said Scout.
“I guess we are.” answered Joseph, “and sometimes we even get on each other’s nerves!”
Scout had to take a minute to think about what Joseph said.
“Yes, Joseph, but isn’t that what being part of a family is all about? We learn how to get along and care for one another.”
No one knew that Murphy the cat had been listening to the conversation from behind the bale of hay until he sneezed.
“Is Murphy part of our family too, Scout?” asked Baby.
“Murphy certainly is as well as the big horses on the other side,” answered Scout.
“That’s good to know,” Murphy answered as he made his way out the barn.
“Now, that’s enough of that!” said Scout. “Now tell me more about your adventure.”
“Scout, that first night away from home was scary. The window in the stall was open and all night blew. I could only see Joseph if I put my face against the board and looked through the crack.” Baby answered.
“I didn’t get any sleep either, with the wind and the other horses talking to each other.” added Joseph.
“How did you like the trailer ride?” Scout asked.
“That wasn’t too bad except for Baby bothering me.” replied Joseph.
“I was nervous, Joseph and I wanted to get close to you.” answered Baby.
“Biting me on the neck was getting close?” asked Joseph.
“Sorry Joseph”
As Scout listened to them, he thought of the days that he was afraid on the trailer and his friend would comfort him. “Someday, maybe I’ll them about my show adverntures and my ribbons, but today is not the time,” thought Scout.
“Did you bring any ribbons home?” asked Scout.
“Not I!” answered Baby, “but Joseph placed 5th in two shows. That was good, wasn’t it Scout?”
“Sure was, Baby.” answered Scout.
“I can only go up from here.” answered Joseph.
“You mean to a ten?” asked Baby.
“No, Baby, what both of you want to do is work towards placing first. Ten is what humans like to be. For your first show you both did well.” Scout smiled as he answered.
“I don’t know about you but I need some sleep.” said Joseph.
They all found a comfortable place in their stalls. Joseph was so pleased to be home that he even said good night to the family of birds above his head.
“It’s good to be home Scout.” Baby said as he gave a big yawn.
“Good night, Baby.”
Good nights echoed throughout the barn.
Hi everyone. Hope you enjoyed another story? We learned that when you live together and care for one another you can make a family. We all came from different places but call where we are home and that makes us a family. Next time will be about another adventure we are doing on. Maybe we will see you?!
Baby, Joseph and Scout