STORIES FROM THE BARN

Written by Leona Nielsen
Published on February 2013

OH NO! IT'S NOT ME!

　　
Annie was up at her usual time before the sun. She tippy toed over to the door to see what the day was going bring. The last thing she wanted to do was wake Joseph.
Dealing with the family of birds above his head was enough for him to handle right now. As she breathed in the morning air she couldn’t help but think what a nice day it was going to be. She could see the sun starting to rise slowly over the mountain.
“What are you looking at?â€
Annie jumped up in the air, turning to see who was speaking.
“JOSEPH, you scared me out of my skin coming up behind me like that and furthermore, what are you doing awake so early? You are usually sleeping when the babies are quiet.â€
“Well, first of all Annie, you look like you are still in your skin to me and I couldn’t sleep.â€
“I was trying to be as quiet as I could so I wouldn’t wake you and you were awake all the time.â€
“I was going to say boo! when you passed in front of me but I thought maybe I would get in trouble from TC. Now, that would have been the time you would have come out of your skin.â€
“I am glad you did because this one was bad enough.â€
“Can I laugh now, because it was rather funny watching you?â€
“It’s okay Joseph, go ahead. I don‘t mind because I know I looked funny.â€
Just then there was this tiny noise from the corner.
“Oh, I suppose you were awake too, were you Baby?â€
“Truth or lie Annie?â€
“ Now you know I don’t like lies Baby.â€
“Ok. I not only heard you but was watching just like Joseph.â€
“ Well, that will be the last time I try to be quiet. It was all for nothing. I should have just bounced through like I always do. Hold it for just one minute and let’s back this
train up!â€
“What for Annie?â€
“Joseph, why are you in such a good mood?â€
“Just thought it would be nice to have a smile on my face and a song in my heart for a change.â€
“Smile is good but the song part - you can keep that to yourself. Did you forget I know how badly you sound?†asked Baby.
“That wasn’t very nice Baby. Joseph is trying to be nice and you are not helping him out.â€
“I know Annie, but you have heard him sing haven’t you?â€
“I have but I am thinking it in my head not with my lips.â€
“I’ll take that back Annie. Sorry, Joseph for being negative when you were trying to be positive about getting up in a good mood.†Baby said as he started to think…….
“Ok, Joseph. I wasn’t born yesterday or at night. When you act like this you know of something that is going on. Come on, fess up Joseph!â€
“Now Baby, why would you say something like that?†Joseph asked with a smile on his face.
“See, there you go with that smile. It is a dead giveaway. I know now that something is up.â€

“Well, let’s just say you won’t have to wait long to find out what it is.â€
“What’s that Joseph?†asked Annie.
“Oh, I was just answering Baby’s question.â€
“Oh! I don’t need to know? Is that it?â€
“No, Annie, you will know at the same time as Baby.â€
“This must be something big if you haven’t even told Baby. I bet it is something really good.†Annie said as she bounced around with excitement.
Baby was getting a bit upset with Joseph because they shared everything.
“It isn’t nice to keep a secret Joseph.â€
“Only when someone tells you not to say anything then it is a secret Baby.â€
“Did someone tell you something that you can’t say?â€
“Well …..no Annie they didn’t.†Joseph replied as he made his way to get some water.

Baby was about to ask Joseph if……..when the owner came into the barn.
“Oh, there’s Annie. Let’s go over to the big side.â€
“My surprise must be over there.†she yelled back as she turned the corner.
Baby was starting to put two and two together in his head.
“Is it what I think?â€
“Yep.â€
“Joseph and you didn’t say a word. That wasn’t very nice at all. Shame on you!â€
“Did anyone tell us?â€
“Well, no.â€
“There you go.â€
“So this is why you were in such a good mood this morning and had nothing to do with the family of birds.â€
“I overheard the owners talking.â€
“You mean you eavesdropped don’t you Joseph?â€
“Well, that too Baby.â€
“Oh, what am I going to do with you?â€
“You can………..†Just then the air carried an old sound that stopped the conversation .
“Should we take a look?â€
“I think we should.â€
“You laugh Joseph and I will…………………..â€
“I promise Baby, I won’t.â€
“Hoof swear Joseph.â€
“Yep.â€
Before they could make their way to the big side they heard gravel moving outside. Quickly they turned around coming face to face with Annie. The look on her face was priceless.
“Will you tell THEM that they have the wrong one!!! I am supposed to be standing where you are - watching NOT doing this!!!! GET ME OUT OF THIS!!!!â€
“We would if we could Annie.â€
“You mean you are just going to let me go down the road looking this is!!!!!????â€
“They have a name and it is shafts.â€
“What are SHAFTS!!!!????. â€
“They are just pieces of plastic pipe tied to your harness. They are the same ones that Baby and I had when we started.â€
Baby poked Joseph so he wouldn’t say any more. It was bad enough Annie didn’t want to be there and then to find out the shafts had been around for a while wouldn’t be good. But it was too late…..
“You mean I have a couple of OLD plastic grey pipe as old as both of you, dragging behind me????!!!â€
“That is the way you learn.â€
“What is it that I am supposed to be learning in the first place? And please tell me something that makes me happy.â€
“You are old enough to be trained to cart and this is the first step in getting you used to the weight and having something behind you!â€
“Just look at me. I look stupid. Why couldn’t I have had new pink plastic?â€
“These are just for training Annie. Once you learn they are put away.â€
“Then I get pink ones?â€
“Maybe, maybe not.â€
“If I have to go through this I deserve pink ones.†Annie shouted as the owner walked Annie down the road.
“Can I laugh now?â€
“Go for it Joseph . I can’t hold mine any longer but don’t let Annie hear you or see you.â€
With that, both of them ran around to the side of the barn away from the road, falling to the ground with laughter. Several minutes passed by as they both shared the memories of when they were pulling the shafts.
“Remember Joseph, you would take a few steps and plant your hoofs in the ground refusing to move.â€
“I wanted out of them so bad. I wasn’t here when you were being trained. What did you do Baby?â€
“My brother, Robin ,was with me then and he stood on the side like we did today and every once in a while he would yell “buck Baby†and when I did the shafts would go up in the air.â€
“Yes, Baby I remember that.†TC said as she came around the barn. “Those were good memories but now we have to support Annie. I think I hear her coming back.â€
A few minutes later Annie turned into the barn. She felt good to see everyone there waiting for her.
“Good job, Annie†everyone said.
Annie came running up to Baby and Joseph.
“Maybe I should ask for the 5th?â€
“Joseph, we both have to face her.â€
“Great job Annie.â€

“Thank you Joseph but that is not going to get you off the hook. You knew what was going to happen and you never shared it with me.â€
“Annie, there are some things that you just have to experience for yourself and that is one of them. We were not told when our time came and we didn’t want to spoil the memory of this day for you. We wanted you to have the same memories that Baby and I have.â€
Annie stood for a moment taking everything in and slowly walked up to Baby and Joseph. She placed her head first on Joseph and then Baby. She realized that what they did by not telling her was give her memories of her own, including how upset she was, at not looking like a girl.
As everyone settled in for night….for once Annie had nothing to say.
“Annie, are you alright?†asked TC.
“I am fine TC. I was just thinking that the next time I look out at the day maybe I better just take it as it comes.â€
“Say good night, Annie.â€
“Thank you for all the support. It made me feel warm inside. Oh! I just put my order to have the next ones pink.â€
“How wonderful it is to be young.†thought TC.

Hi everyone. That is our story for now. We learned a lot from this adventure. The lesson being, no matter how small or big the achievement might be, always let that person know. Who knows? Those few positive words of encouragement might help them in ways you don’t know.
Next time our story will be a Surprise!
Until then, stay safe and watch out for each other.
Oh!! Annie wanted you to see what she looked like during her training.