STORIES FROM THE BARN - Watch Me

Written by Leona Nielsen
Published on February 2013

It seemed that the sun never went to sleep these days. Joseph wasn’t complaining, it meant that he didn’t have to practice for the upcoming Exhibition if it stayed this hot or hotter. It certainly was the lazy days of summer.
“Good morning everybody.†Annie shouted out as she ran into the barn.
“What are the plans for today, Joseph?â€
“I don’t have any plans, Annie.â€
“What! There has to be something that we can do today.â€
“Yep. Nothing.â€
“You have to have some kind of plan for us today.â€
“This is my plan. - sitting here doing nothing but breathing while it is so hot.â€
“What’s your brain doing while your body is doing nothing Joseph?â€
“Nothing…. like the rest of me.â€
“You still have to think no matter what.â€
“I am thinking, Annie, and it goes like this…..my comfort zone is 10 degrees. Anything beyond that is uncomfortable with this coat on. So let the temperature rise!!!â€
“BUT!!!! You just said…….â€
“You see, my way of thinking is, the hotter it gets the less chance there is of me being hooked to the cart to practice for the upcoming shows.â€
“Well, I never thought about it that way.†Annie said.
“Yup. Not only am I handsome but smart as well.â€
“Oh, Joseph I think the heat is starting to corrupt your thoughts.â€
“Annie, you might as well give up because that is what Joseph intends to do today ….nothing.â€
“Oh! Then I’ll do something on my own until later.†Annie sighed as she stomped out of the barn.
“Why does she always have to know what she is doing all the time?â€
“Why do you have to do nothing on a hot day?â€
“Because I am a donkey and that is what we do Baby.â€
“Annie always has to know what is going to happen. It is just the way she is.â€
“Was she born a Capricorn? They always have to know where they are going.â€
“Joseph, what am I going to do with you?â€
“Love me.†Joseph laughed as he went for a drink. All this chatting had made him thirsty.
At this point all Baby could do was laugh. It was one of those days with Joseph when, if you didn’t get up early enough, forget it.
TC and Havier had also decided to ride out the heat until evening. The barn had a cool breeze blowing through which was too nice to leave. A few minutes later Annie came bouncing into the barn. The only reasoning Baby had in his mind for her energy was, simply, being young.
“Oh Baby and Joseph I have been everywhere and both of you haven’t moved from where I left you!!!â€
Baby smiled to himself as he looked at Joseph waiting for a reply and it came…..
“You’re a donkey aren’t you Annie?â€
“Yes Joseph, I am but why do you ask? Plus I am a girl.â€
“Well, Annie, it is like this - donkeys have this thing about doing only what they feel like and need to do. We never do anything beyond that. Now when you see horses not doing anything, you know it is HOT!!!! They don’t have self-preservation like we do. Well, most of us.â€
“Joseph, that’s not nice to say about Baby and TC!!!!â€
“I’m not being mean Annie but it is the truth. Baby and TC would run for miles if our owner wanted it and it wouldn’t matter how tired they were. As for donkeys. they only go as far as they want. End of story.â€
“Joseph is right Annie. That is the way we are made.â€
After a few minutes of thinking Annie turned to the others saying, “I get it now…..donkeys would rather be rusted out from not doing anything while horses would rather be worn out from working too hard. That’s it !!! How’s that for beauty and smarts!â€
“Joseph, don‘t even go there. Annie gets the point for that one.†Baby whispered.
“Now what about Havier?†Annie asked.
Joseph was standing shaking his head as Havier came to join them.
“What about Havier?†he asked.
They filled him in on the conversation.
“Well, Little Ones, it’s like this - being part horse and part donkey I have the choice of who I want to be each time. I have the best of both worlds, I think.â€
“Then what are you today? Rusted out or worn out?†Annie asked.
“Great interruption, Annie.â€
“Do you really think so?â€
“We do Annie.†Havier answered for both him and TC.
“That makes me feel good.â€
“Oh! her head is going to swell up now!â€
“JOSEPH!!!â€
Moments later Baby thought he felt a change in the air and decided to check it out.
“Guess what? The temperature is dropping.â€
“WHAT!!!!!â€
“I’m afraid so Joseph.â€
“Well, in that case Havier, maybe we should take a stroll.â€
“I was just thinking the same thing TC.â€
Annie being Annie had to check it out for herself and came running back……
“Joseph!!!!! You better hide. I think they are coming to the barn for you!â€
“Who’s coming Annie?â€
“Our owners. I think they may be coming to hook you up.â€
“It’s too late for that now anyway. Even if they were, once they see how relaxed I am they won’t bother. I’ll just work my charm.â€
“As if you think that is going to work, Joseph.†Annie said as she watched the owners enter the barn.
“You think our owners are going to exercise Joseph?â€
“I think so Annie but with the mood that Joseph is in, it should be interesting.â€
“Joseph, you look so relaxed and rested. It should be a great workout tonight.†the owners said as they started getting things ready.
“Let’s just do some ground driving tonight instead of using the cart. We haven‘t done that in a while.†said one of the owners.
“No cart. That’s good Joseph.â€
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to do anything!!!â€
“Joseph, it is what it is no matter how you feel.†Baby added but he knew Joseph wasn’t going to make it easy.
In perfect Joseph fashion he did the first circle with no problem and as he started the second one he slowed down, sometimes refusing to move. Anything that he could think of to not work out.
“Joseph isn’t being very nice is he Baby?â€
“Joseph is pushing our owners’ buttons right now to see how much he can get away with.â€
“Watch this Baby and Annie.†Joseph yelled as he started coming closer and closer to the owners.
Joseph had decided to have some fun. He started jumping and dancing around. A couple of times even getting up on his hind legs and standing taller than the owners.
“Okay Joseph, we see you are not in the mood to practice this evening.†said one of the owners as he walked back to the barn leaving the other owner with Joseph.
Joseph stood feeling pretty proud of himself that he managed to get out of practice.
“Guess that ends that!†Joseph said in a soft voice.
“If that is so then why are you still here and not back in the barn?†asked Annie.
“I don’t know but I do know it feels good just standing here not doing a thing.â€
TC and Havier came back to watch just as the owner returned.
“Well, well Joseph, there is work to be done and it seems like all you want to do is play.â€
“What has our owner got in his hand TC?â€
“You will see Annie.â€
The owner brought this funny looking harness out of the bag.
“TC! TC! What is our owner doing? Baby! Are they going to hurt Joseph?? SOMEONE ANSWER ME PLEASE!!!!â€
“It’s alright Annie. No one is going to get hurt. I promise you.â€
The owner took the belt and placed it under Joseph’s belly by his front legs and attached it to his halter under his chin. The Little Ones stood, not moving a muscle. This was something completely new to Annie. The owner stood back on the grass and looked at Joseph
“Okay Joseph now let’s do some circles.â€
“How is that harness going to make him do circles TC?â€
“You will see.â€
The owners started the circle once again and on clue Joseph starting coming closer and closer to the owners as he had done before with the intention of standing up on his hind legs again. Only this time it didn’t work. Joseph tried and tried with no success. He just couldn’t stand up.
“Why can’t Joseph stand up like he did before?â€
“What do you have to do Annie if you want to get up on your hind legs?â€
“I don’t know. I just do it.â€
“Close your eyes and just imagine what you would do.â€
“I have to lift my head first and with that on Joseph can’t get his head high enough. Oh I get it now, TC.â€
Joseph had to give in once he found out he couldn’t play around anymore and had to do the circles. When it was over the owner sat down on the grass beside Joseph and said…
“Joseph, I know you are a donkey and you like doing only what you want, but there are times you and I have to meet in the middle. Maybe you will be like Baby and use this only once.â€
Annie, with shocked eyes, turned to Baby.
“Our owners had it on you too?â€
“Yep. Just once many years ago.â€
“WOW!â€
Once everything was back to normal in the barn Annie had a question.
“TC, why did our owners put that harness on Joseph and Baby?â€
“Come gather around everyone. I think we all should understand this. Just like if you do something in the barn that is not right, it is my job to help you understand why and the reasoning as to why you shouldn’t do it again. It is the same with our owners. They will ask us to do things that maybe we don’t feel like doing. We have to have respect for them and do it. They are the ones that look after us each day and aren’t going to ask something of us that is wrong. We need them as much as they want us. We all sometimes would like to do only what we wish and sometimes you can, but when you are with someone else you have to work as a team to get the job done. Joseph, have you anything to say?â€
“I went a little too far and pushed too many buttons that landed me in that harness that I didn’t like. I was being a donkey and only have myself to blame. Sorry TC.â€
“I am pleased with your answer. You are taking full responsibility for your actions. Ok. Enough said. I think it is time that we all took a stroll in the fields as a family before bed.â€
Everyone enjoyed having a game of tag in the field but when the sun disappeared behind the mountain TC led everyone back to the barn.
“Can we have a sleepover in the big barn tonight TC?â€
“That would be a nice end to the day.â€
“Good Night Little Ones.â€
“Night TC and Havierâ€
As usual came this voice…………….
“Note to self.â€
“Annie, what are you talking about?†asked TC
“To remember not to join that harness club with Joseph and Baby.â€
“ANNIE!!!!!â€

Hi everyone. We have to say that it feels good to be back after the summer break.
We learned that it isn’t nice to act up when someone asks us to either do something for them or to help them. No matter what, there are rules, just as Joseph found out that TC wasn’t the only one he had to respect.
School will be opening soon…be kind to those students that have moved to a new school, and to students coming to school for the first time. Show respect to others and they in turn will show respect to you.
Until next time when our story will be…“Trying Something Newâ€
Until then
Baby, Joseph, TC, Havier and Little Annie