STORIES FROM THE BARN - CHANGES PART 2

Written by Leona Nielsen
Published on February 2013

Changes Part 2

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

And now on with the story…..

Let’s just take a moment to refresh your memory on what has already happened. The annual Christmas ride wasn’t going to take place because the kids would not be home when it was going to take place. The barn had already come to terms with having no guests at Christmas. Just before TC could answer, the barn door opened…………….
Baby looked at Annie, trying to get the point across for her to keep her teeth shut. It was going to be bad enough. Just then Joseph caught the look on Baby’s face.
“What?â€
“What do you mean Joseph?â€
“Oh, I might have been born at night but I wasn’t born yesterday!â€
Baby didn’t answer.
“Annie!â€
“Sorry Joseph, Baby gave the look to keep my teeth shut.†Annie answered wanting so much to tell Joseph what she knew,
“Then, I guess I will have to find out for myself.†Joseph said as he turned towards the door.
You could have heard a pin drop as everybody waited for his reaction. There it was, in the hands of the owner…………………THE HAT!
“Baby, I can’t keep still any longer. Does the hat mean the Christmas ride is back on?†asked Annie.
“I really don’t think so. Furthermore, it is Christmas Day. We never ride on this day. Maybe she is putting it away.â€
“Both of you figure out what’s going on. The only thing I know for sure is that I AM OUT OF HERE.†Joseph yelled as he took off to find the farthest corner to hide in.
“There’s the harness and Santa is attached. Something certainly is going to happen.†Baby replied.
“Do you think the people are coming anyway?â€
“No Annie, I don’t think they are coming but I can say that someone is.â€
“Who?â€
“Sorry Annie, I don’t have my crystal ball to answer that one. We will just have to wait and see.â€
“That’s too bad Joseph is missing everything.â€
“I think he is missing this because it involves him and you know how much he hates wearing those hats.â€
“I do Baby buttttttt!â€
“But what Annie?â€
“Maybe it is one of us that is going.â€
“That’s not going to happen either Annie because it is Joseph’s harness and we all have our own.â€
“Oh, so we do. I want a front row seat for this one so I can see who is coming and see Joseph being Joseph.â€
“Hi Annie. Hi Baby. I guess Joseph saw what was going on and decided to leave.†said one of the owners.
“This is one time I am so glad they can’t hear us.†Annie whispered.
“Me too. It would be like being between a rock and a hard place. I wouldn‘t want to tell him where Joseph was and I
wouldn‘t want to tell a little lie either.â€
“Maybe you could do like you asked me…keep your teeth shut.â€
“Oh, Annie!â€
Moments later the other owner came through the door but he wasn’t alone. There was a lady as well.
“Who is that Baby?†asked Annie.
“I haven’t seen her before.â€
“I am going to ask TC, she will know.†Annie shouted as she ran to find TC and Havier.
Upon finding them she didn’t waste any time telling them what was going on. When they arrived back where the owners were, TC couldn’t shed any more light on the situation.
“Oh, that is why Joseph has himself in the corner. I thought at first he wasn’t feeling well.â€
“Yep, that is why TC. As soon as he saw the hat, he was gone.†replied Baby.
As the conversation continued with the lady, they found out that she couldn’t get home for Christmas with her family and the owners had asked her to join them. Two of the girls had managed to come home just for the day.
“I’ll go and see if I can find Joseph and get him ready.†one of the owners said.
“OH NO! Not on our watch! It should be us to tell Joseph what is going on. Come on everyone, let’s go!†Baby yelled as he took off in Joseph’s direction.
As they arrived ……………..
“Oh great! With all of you here they are going to figure out where I am!!!â€
“Joseph, that was rude! You don’t even know what is going on.†Baby answered with upset in his voice.
“I saw THE HAT didn’t I!â€
“Joseph, it would be nice if you would turn around and face us.†TC said in her stern voice.
Hearing TC ‘s tone, Joseph knew it wouldn’t be a good idea not to do as she asked. Slowly he turned around.
“Sorry, TC.†he answered looking at the floor.
“Joseph, we have a lady visitor. She’s an orphan, Joseph.â€
He looked at Annie trying to figure out what she was talking about.
“Orphan?â€
“Yes. She couldn’t get home for Christmas.â€
Baby started smiling.
“What’s so funny Baby?â€
“Annie, sometimes you have such a different way of expressing yourself.â€
“Is that good?â€
“Yes.â€
“Oh good Baby. For once I said something right.â€
“She wants to go for a ride Joseph and I know Christmas for her would be a whole lot better.†TC stated.
“We, or I should say you, Joseph, could be a part of an act of kindness. How about it?â€
“Seeing where you explain it that way, I guess I can tolerate that red hat for a little while Baby.â€
“Guess what Joseph it………….
“ANNIE!!!â€
“All I was going to say Baby is that I thought he looked handsome in the hat even if it had lights on it. Oooops! I guess I didn’t get my teeth shut in time.â€
Everyone, even Joseph, had to laugh.
“That’s alright Annie. It is not taking someone for a ride that I don’t like. It is those hats. You have to admit they look funny, especially when they restrict my ears from standing upâ€.
Joseph stood for a moment in deep thought. Slowly he lifted his head high, stuck his chest out………
“Let’s get this show on the road and do something good.â€
The owners were about to go looking for him when they turned around to see everyone coming towards them. Joseph in the middle with TC and Havier on each end. Baby and Annie next to him. When he looked and saw the lady’s eyes light up, he knew then he had done the right thing.
For about an hour they rode up and down the road, stopping to take some pictures. One of the last ones taken was with everyone from the barn. That evening, the barn had a cozy warm feeling. Christmas supper was served with its apples, carrots and mash that warms the belly.
“I am so fill.†stated Havier.
“If you have some leftovers I can give them a good home.â€
“Joseph.â€
“Just kidding, Annie. Then you could say I am like our weather - wait five minutes and I have room for more.â€
“I bet you could, Joseph.†smiled Baby.
Before we say good night I would like to say how proud we are of you Joseph, putting your own feelings aside today to make someone happy. Baby and Annie, we are proud of you also in helping Joseph to understand.†TC said.
“I felt all warm inside when I saw how happy she was.â€
“I think we all did Baby.†Havier replied.
“I have a question Annie. Why did you call the lady an orphan?†asked Havier.
“Don’t you remember when the girls were here in the fall and they were talking about an Orphan dinner. It is where all the people that couldn’t get home to be with their families for a special occasion get together and cook a meal. Well, the lady couldn’t get home. Wouldn’t that make her an orphan?â€
“Nicely put Annie.†Havier said.
“I remember that now.â€
“I knew you would Joseph and just like you being like our weather, well I am like an elephant and never forget.â€
“I think she nailed you to the wall again Joseph.â€
“I have no comeback for that one Baby.â€
As the silence was closing in on the barn everyone was curling up for the night.
“Does anyone know if Murphy got his Christmas dinner?â€
From the loft came -
“Yes, I did, and I am going to chill out up here for the night. I am too full to take that long walk to the house. Good Night everyone.â€
“Good Night Murphy.â€
“Remember that picture they took with all of us in it?â€
“Yes Annie. Why do you ask?â€
“Well, Baby, I was just wondering if they happened to get my better side.â€
“Good Night Annie!â€
　
Hi Everyone! There you have it. The end of our story called Changes. The ride happened but in a different way. We learned that it is alright to step out of your comfort zone to do something for someone else. If you get a chance to do an act of kindness, don’t pass it up. You will feel as good as the person you helped. Stay safe and until next time when our story will be…………..pick up a newsletter and discover for yourself.
Baby, Joseph, TC, Havier, Little Annie and Murphy the Cat