STORIES FROM THE BARN - BEING DIFFERENT

Written by Leona Nielsen
Published on March 2013

The trees on the mountain were standing straight and tall as the snow provided them with a new look. Baby was looking out the window when a snow flake fell gently on his nose. As Baby was trying to take a closer look at the snow flake, his eyes crossed.
“Baby, you look so funny. What are you doing with your eyes?â€
“Oh, nothing Annie. Just trying to get a closer look at the snowflake. They say that no two are the same.â€
“There is only one on your nose and how are you going to compare it with another one?â€
“Easy Annie. You have one on your ear.†added Joseph.
“That’s not fair because I can’t see my ear. I am going to have to tell them to land where I can see them.â€
“I can’t wait to see that!â€
“See what?â€
“You telling a snowflake where to land.†Baby laughed.
“ Okay Joseph, I know what you can do. You can look at both of them and see which one is the prettiest!â€
“Annie, I am not going to look for the prettiest one but I am going to look and see how much they look different.â€
“What did I hear about being different?†asked TC as Havier and her joined the Little Ones.
“Oh, TC. We were just having a discussion on how no two snowflakes are the same.â€
“I have heard that as well.â€
Annie took off running towards the door. She stopped suddenly, looking around.
“Do you have any idea how many there are!†Annie shouted as her eyes got bigger and bigger.
“How can they all be different?â€
“You would have to ask Mother Nature that one Annie.†answered Joseph.
“But she is not here.â€
“I know and my point being that everything in this world doesn’t always have an answer Annie.â€
“Then how am I going to find the answer?â€
Moments later Annie walked back from the door.
“We are like snowflakes you know.â€
“How is that?†asked Havier.
“We are all different like they are. I am a mini girl donkey, Joseph a mini boy donkey, Baby a mini boy horse. TC you are a big girl horse.â€
She looked at Havier from his head to his tail saying,
“Havier, I don’t know what you are except your parents were both a horse and a donkey.â€
“You are right Annie and just as you are called a mini donkey, I am what they call a Muleâ€.
“You have to admit, Havier, you certainly are a bit strange.â€
“Annie, where are your manners? You shouldn’t say that to Havier, it may hurt his feelings.â€
“Well Baby, I have to ask questions to find out what something is.â€
“Yes, I know Annie but you can do it in a kinder way.â€
“Sorry, Havier, if I hurt your feelings by saying you were strange.â€
“That is all right Annie. I understand what you are trying to say but Baby is right as well. If you said that to someone you didn’t know, you may hurt them by saying they were strange. Looking around at all of us, we are all different in our own ways. Annie, I think it is time that I try and help you to understand who I am.â€
“Havier, I think that would be a great idea! Come Little Ones and gather around us.†TC added.
“Baby, let’s start with you. I have heard guests come into the barn and call you a pony.â€
“I know Havier and I wish they could hear me when I tell them I am a miniature horse. The only difference with me isthat I am small. I still think, and can do, the same as a big horse.â€
“What happens when you get afraid Baby?â€
“Oh Havier! I take flight! I don’t wait around to see what it is or if it was going to hurt me or not. Then there are times when I have run away from something and wished I had stayed. Because what I ran into was something worse than what I left behind.â€
“Like the time you ran into the geese in the field.†TC answered as she smiled.
“Exactly, TC.â€
“Joseph, you are very careful about where you step to make sure that it is safe. You also want to know what is going on around you because you want to protect your surroundings.â€
“You are so right Havier. I am not going to step somewhere that is not going to be safe for me just because someone wants me to. Check twice, step once, is my motto. My surroundings - well, I have to know that nothing is going to hurt me or what I am protecting.â€
“I remember the time you stood up to that dog when it wanted to come out into the field where we were.†answered Baby.
“That’s what makes me ..me Baby.â€
“Annie, you are still learning about life and I have to say you look like you are having fun. You are going to have great donkey qualities once you learn them.â€
“Thank you Havier for the kind words even though my words were not as kind when I said you were strange. I do my best and try to learn something every day, especially about being a girl.â€
There was no way to hold back the laughter after Annie spoke about being a girl.
“TC, you are a lot like Baby in being a horse, but you have the wisdom and you are the glue that holds us together in good times and in bad times.â€
“I try Havier and being blessed with such a good teacher as Missy I learned a lot. She gave me a lot of tools to deal with whatever would come our way.â€
“ I guess it is time to tell you about me. I am a mule. Sometimes things are always clear to me. There are times I think like a horse and want to run, finding myself stopping suddenly when the donkey side of me kicks in. You have to understand if I can’t understand it or someone can’t tell me what it is or I don’t know what to do, I shut down and do nothing. Humans might say that I am stupid but far from it. I am smart because if I can’t see any reasoning for doing it or there is an outcome that makes no sense at all, then I am not moving. You might say that I err on the side of caution.â€
“Oh wow!!!â€
“What Annie?â€
“Those two words - different and strange.â€
“What about them?†asked Joseph
“One can hurt if you say strange and the other shows the differences between each other.â€
“You got it Annie!†Baby said with such a proud look on his face. So many other horses, big and small, had always taught him about…..never treat someone else any differently than you would like to be treated. He felt somewhat like a big brother to Annie in helping her with understanding.
“ Havier, you are a mule of few words most of the time but when you have something to say it is worth listening to. I think we have all learned something about each other today.†TC added.
“I know I have because my brain is in IOL.â€
“Joseph ,what in the world is that?†asked Baby.
“Information OverLoad.â€
“That’s it! Time for some fresh air. Can we go now TC? asked Baby.
As soon as TC gave the word the barn was emptied in seconds.
“I know what we can do! Let’s go play in the snowflakes before supper.†Annie suggested.
“I don’t know. It was them that gave me this IOL in the first place!â€
“Joseph!!!!!!â€
“Just kidding.†shouted Joseph as he chased a few flakes.
After supper was finished, everyone settled down next to TC and Havier who were having a sleepover with the Little Ones. Annie found herself a place behind a hay bale.
“Annie what are you doing behind the hay?†asked Joseph.
“Well, being a donkey I have the protective genes, so I thought I would stand guard tonight and protect everyone while they slept.â€
TC looked at Havier.
“Missy never gave me a tool for this one.â€
“Good night Little Ones wherever you are.â€
“Good night TC and Havierâ€
“Have a good sleep everyone, I got your back.â€
“I give Annie five minute tops and she will be asleepâ€
“Joseph!!!†whispered Baby.
Hello Everyone. We hope you did enjoy our story. Choosing the words you use can make all the difference in world.
Next time we will have another adventure for you. Until then, stay safe and Be Kind To Others.
　Baby, Joseph, TC, Havier and Little Annie

Just a reminder about our new project this year. If you know someone who is having a birthday, hasn’t been feeling well or feeling alone, etc. and you want to brighten their day, send along a card from us. We certainly would love to send one out to them. Just drop a note with the person’s name, mailing address and the
occasion for wanting it sent to
Storiesfromthebarn2@gmail.com