~Chapter 7~
Jupiter the Show Horse
As the daily morning chores were being finished by most of the children in town the conversations abounding, returned to the extravaganza that was about to unfold in Centerville today. After all, today was the opening day of the county fair.
Mrs. Hattie May had cooked up the finest apple pies for the pie contest, and Mr. Beamer had his best milking-cows ready to be shown, to the fair judges in the big contest of the day. That fine first place blue ribbon was his for the taking this year, after all he had won two blue ribbons at the last county fair, and was sure to win a few more at this year's.
Molly had built her kissing-both the day earlier with the help of Turk, and wore her finest dress so that she would surely catch Louis's eye today.
However, most importantly of all, "Jupiter the Show Horse", was finally in town.
Charlie, Chug, and Louis mostly wanted to see, Jupiter the Show Horse and his loyal friend Apollo. Jupiter was the fastest racehorse in the mid-west this year and everyone was very excited at a chance to see him run, at the premier race of the day..."The Gazette Stakes".
It would be the highest "stakes-race" of the year and be the finale race, of the county circuit with a grand purse for the winner, of five thousand dollars, and the winner was to take all.
Apollo was Jupiter's trusted friend, and traveled with Jupiter wherever he went to keep him company, and to watch out for him, in case of trouble.
Charlie had seen posters of Jupiter and Apollo that Louis had brought to the barn a few months back, and Charlie would spend hours peering at them in pure amazement. The lifestyle of a racehorse was so inspiring and far-reaching to Charlie, that he could only imagine it in his wildest dreams. The fan respect and joy, over a well-fought victory, and the cameras with all the flashbulbs going off, as he crossed the finish line.
It must be pure magic.
The victorious horse; would then be paraded in the winner's circle. They would adorn him with a fresh, lovely wreath of flowers, and then of course the big blue ribbon for the winner. Oh, the pageantry of it all thought Charlie.
Charlie was a simple, friendly, and kind barnyard horse who delivered the ice to the townsfolk. There was nothing more and nothing less. There were no flashbulbs at the end of his day, no flowered wreaths that hung from his neck, and no flattery given to him, in a winner's circle. Still Charlie had a heart-of-hearts, and a kindness about him that was like no other horse on earth.
All children and animals were his friends.
This was seemly (and almost) enough for Charlie.
However, way in the back of Charlie's mind: he dreamed of being a famous racehorse just like, Jupiter or Apollo, or someday even taking over for Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. Should he ever retire, of course? Just as Mr. Beamer had said he would do; in that story he once told on his back porch. Maybe all that daydreaming he had seen Louis indulge in, had finally rubbed off on him after all.
Louis helped Mr. Beamer with hitching up the wagon, the day of the fair in the morning, after a breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits, and gravy expertly prepared by Hattie May.
Growlin-Harry dropped by with Short-Stack, to get a ride into town for the big fair and race today. Mr. Beamer took some of Mrs. Beamers' fresh baked pies off the kitchen windowsill (that had been baked that morning), and brought them along, to enter into the pie contest. He tied up a few of his prized cows to the rear of the hay wagon, got Charlie all laced into his bridle, and tied him into the wagon, for the journey into town. Louis, Growlin-Harry, and Short Stack all jumped onto the front jump-board and off they all went, to enjoy a long, fun day at the fair.
The wagon ambled along the earthen pathway towards town. As they rode in the wagon around the last hill and down into town, they could finally see the Fair's large cloth tents coming into view. The fair was finally now in plain sight and seemed to all, to be larger than life it's self.
There it was, the enormous Ferris wheel.
It was spinning around and around, with lights flashing on it, and all could hear children's screams of pure delight. There were assembled in the center of the fair, a large red and white tent with blue banners flying high, on the tops of flagpoles. There were brightly colored balloons tied to the tents and floating way up in the air, and you could see all types of wild animals locked in their cages.
There were tables spread full of pies, and cakes, with blue ribbons on them. There was a watermelon contest under way and the three-legged race was about to start, out back by one of the fairs booth. People were walking about with candy canes in hand, drinking lemonade, and eating fresh cooked hotdogs.
You could see Hot-Tamale Molly's kissing-booth but it was not getting much business yet, because the day was still young. The kissing-booth in reality was slow because, Molly had put on so much "Crimson Passion" red lipstick that morning that it just scared away most of the people at the fair that day.
Upon arrival and after Louis and Mr. Beamer, unhitched the wagon from Charlie and safely stored it away behind one of the side tents, Growlin-Harry and Short-Stack went straightaway for the big Ferris wheel; and were not seen again for most of the day. They must have ridden the Ferris wheel twenty times that day until they finally had ran out money, or were just too dizzy to take another ride.
Mr. Beamer headed over to the pie booth to drop off Mrs. Beamer's prized pies, then unhitched his esteemed milking-cows from the back of the wagon, and then went straight over towards the animal "Show Tents".
Louis and Charlie headed straight past the big Ferris wheel as fast as they could travel, down to the county fair stables to see, "Jupiter the Show Horse"". Charlie was just so excited he could hardly contain himself.
"Louis, do you think Jupiter's a friendly horse?" asked Charlie as he hurried along.
"I sure hope so Charlie. But I've heard he's not..."
"Do you think Jupiter will talk with us for a while, and tell us all about the horse races he's won all over the state, and about all the places he's traveled to?"
"I sure hope so. I've got so many questions for him as well."
"What about Apollo? Do you think he will be kind as well or just stuck up like most racehorses are?" asked Charlie with even more passion in his voice.
"Charlie, slow down?take it easy," said Louis.
"Well it's hard to do. I mean this is Jupiter were talking about here."
"Charlie I can only answer one question at a time, and you know I have heard that Jupiter and Apollo both are really?not too friendly?that they are really kind of snobs?and that they don't just talk to anyone", said Louis as he pulled Charlie by the tail, tagging right along behind him.
"Well we'll find out?I guess soon enough Louis."
Just as Charlie and Louis entered the fair's horse stables, and peaked around the last big tent...there he was?Jupiter the Show Horse.
He was everything that Louis and Charlie had read about in the local newspapers.
What a magnificent animal, thought Charlie as he first caught sight of him trotting around the horse ring.
Jupiter's hair was as black as coal or a darkened moonless sky, and his well-trimmed mane of hair was thick, and full, and trailed almost down to the ground. He had very broad chiseled shoulders, and extremely muscular hind legs that were firm and steady. He carried himself like a well-trained athlete, as he trotted about around the horse ring.
All eyes were spellbound on him in complete amazement.
His trot was in very slow circles to make sure that everyone had equal time to gaze upon him. Jupiter was sure-footed, steady and found to be full of pride. He wore a dark red bridal and a small red riding-saddle that shone brightly in contrast to his black glistening mane of hair. He would catapult himself with his hind legs high up into the air, and kick backwards with his legs just to show off, to the other horses in the nearby stables that he was not to be
taken lightly, in the "big race" today?or any other time for that matter.
Jupiter had been brought down from The Indianapolis state fair where he took first-place a few weeks back, and had won the coveted blue ribbon, and all of the prize money that goes to the victor. He had won every major race this year that he had entered on the county and state circuits, and was shattering records, at every track he ran. Jupiter even won a match-race in Evansville earlier that year against Apollo?who was also a great racehorse.
Jupiter beat Apollo so badly in that race that, from that day on Apollo just wanted to be Jupiter's friend and life-long protector.
Apollo never had the courage to race again after that terrible defeat. He felt he had been bested by the best, and there would be no need to try to prove himself ever again. He was a "broken horse" from that day on.
His life's work now was that of a king's pawn or a second to a prince. Apollo became a loyal friend to Jupiter from that day on, and Jupiter in return became Apollo's best friend.
Apollo was almost as stately in stature as Jupiter but he was a tad shorter and smaller in frame, but in his own right, he was every bit as handsome as Jupiter.
"He must come from a great family of horses", said Charlie as he nudged up to the rings wooden rails, to get a closer look at Jupiter.
"You know, he must come from a line of kings. Just look at that trot Charlie." said Louis with just as much feeling in his voice as Charlie had.
Tuning to his left Louis spotted Chug coming from the boxcar races. Chug was smiling from ear to ear upon seeing his friends, Louis and Charlie.
"Wow! Look at that horse. Is that Jupiter?" asked Chug as he jumped up on the wooden rail next to Charlie.
"Yep, look at him Chug. Is that the strongest and most beautiful looking horse you have ever seen in your whole life, or what?" inquired Louis.
"Do you think we could ride him?" asked Chug.
"I don't think so. The only time he lets someone ride him, is when there are blue ribbons, cameras and flashbulbs at the finish line."
"Everyone knows famous racehorses don't pull ice-wagons or hay carts," said Charlie with a faint disappointment, starting to ring in his voice.
"Oh, Charlie, don't take it so hard. You are a working-horse, a common carthorse and that is a famous racehorse. You cannot compare yourself to him. You will only be disappointed in yourself. However, someday Charlie with luck on your side, you will be more famous than any old racehorse. You just mark your time," said Louis who was now trying to comfort his best friend.
"Just look at me Louis. I have big overgrown hooves, a swayback, am very old, and a little bit clumsy."
"Aw?Charlie?don't you remember you were famous once a long time ago and built all those cities and scared off all those wolfs. Remember the stories you told me?"
"I just don't know Louis. I can't seem to remember much of anything right now."
Charlie just could not be cheered up at the sight of such a magnificent horse and all the great horse races he gets to run in, the wonderful sites he gets to see around the state, and all the worship and love given to him.
Charlie now moved over closer to the rail, to see if Jupiter would say hi to him. When Charlie was in Jupiter's line of vision Jupiter looked intently at Charlie for a moment, then quickly turned and darted off, into the farthest corner of the horse ring.
A few moments later Jupiter came trotting by again. Charlie called out, "Hi! My name is Charlie and I deliver the ice for everyone here in town. I live right here in Centerville and have waited to meet you all year. Do you think we could be friends?"
Jupiter trotted closer to the rail, stopped, gave Charlie a quick look over then said in a snobbish and very mean tone, "I don't think I could be friends with?a...a simple carthorse. How would that make me look in front of all of my friends? I would be the laughing stock of the horse racing circuit. How could you even suggest such a thing?" said Jupiter with a smug look now appearing on his face.
"No, we would be great friends. You've got it all wrong," said Charlie with longing in his eyes.
Jupiter turned up his nose higher in the air as Charlie spoke up again.
"No, you've got it wrong. You could go with me on hayrides someday, help deliver the ice in the summertime, and maybe even help me with a barn raising or two. It sure would be nice to have a new best friend," said Charlie as he started to feel that this was not such a good idea to try, and be friends with a horse so superior to himself.
"I'm sorry but I just can't be your friend. Look at Apollo over there. He is the kind of friend I have. All my friends are just as famous as I am. But I'll tell you what, why don't you come over and watch me run today in the "great race"?"
"I would love to Jupiter."
"You can help them place the blue ribbon on me, in the winner's circle," said Jupiter in a half joking and not too friendly tone.
Charlie thought that would be a great idea. He really did not understand that Jupiter was just mocking, and making fun of him.
Jupiter planted his big hind hooves deep into the ground below then rose up his entire body to its full length. He then went about showing Charlie what a mighty jump he had. Jupiter must have jumped ten feet up into the air, kicking his legs out once, and then landing with a loud thud. This threw out a vast cloud of dust and dirt that covered Charlie all over, from head to toe.
Charlie coughed a bit of dust up and tried to clear his throat to speak again but he never got a chance. Jupiter bounded away from Charlie, speeding off towards Apollo...not looking back...even once.
Charlie slowly hung his head down, and appeared to be very disheartened and sad by all that had just happened with Jupiter. Louis seeing all that was going on knew he had to do something to cheer up his Charlie, and he had to do something fast.
Louis walked up to Charlie, placed his hands on Charlie's forelock between his ears, rubbed the top of his head, then gently hugged him around his neck.
"Charlie do you remember that one horserace, you did run in?"
"What horserace? Louis I never ran in any horserace, not in my entire life."
Louis then said with a big smile on his face, "You know the "Porterhouse-Stakes". You won that big race once."
Charlie gave Louis a grand smile back, and started laughing right along with Louis.
"Louis, you're the best. You're simply the best friend ever."
"Why thank you Charlie."
"You're right Louis. I should not judge myself against those fancy racehorses. I know that I am just a simple carthorse. I do not want to run in no great races anyhow. I already won one great race, remember the "Porterhouse-Stakes".
Charlie and Louis both started to laugh again.
Louis and Charlie with Chug trailing behind walked as fast as they could away from the horse ring and stables, heading directly over to where the starting line was, so they would not miss the "big race" of the day, "The Gazette Stakes".
Charlie turned back toward the horse ring to take one last look at Jupiter before the start of the great race. Just then, Apollo came bolting back into the horse ring through the far gates, and sidled up next to Jupiter. Both horses shared a friendly hello and trotted a few more laps around for everyone to admire them once again then they headed off in the direction of their trainers, with not even a glance backwards towards, Charlie or any of his friends.
Jay, Cindy, and Becky, all showed up a little late to the fair that day, but all made their way over to Molly's kissing both. Everyone wanted to see if Molly would give Louis the "big kiss" she had been trying for, since the hayride.
All the boys in town were afraid of Molly and those big red lips of hers, Sammy the Stutterer and Jay felt so sorry for Molly seeing her at her booth with no one there, so they both bought a few kisses on the cheek, just to make Molly feel a little better.
Later in the day, Samm
y came back again by the kissing-booth, and still no one was there, so being the good friend he was with Molly, he bought even a few kisses on the cheek. By the time, the day was over poor Sammy looked like he had come down with chicken pocks or, even something much worse.
Red lipstick splattered everywhere.
Lipstick and rouge all over unfortunate Sammy's face.
Chug and Louis had seen Sammy around by the Ferris wheel and just could not help themselves.
"Sammy, you look like you're coming down with something. You better get over to Doc Wellman's place before you spread what you've got?to everyone."
"Awe, come on Louis if you had any feelings for Molly, you would get over there and pitch in a little bit", said Sammy as he wiped some of the red lipstick off one of his cheeks.
"No way... and... no how?Sammy."
"Why the heck not...Louis?"
"She's been chasing me for months and months, with those big red lips just flapping in the wind. The only time I will allow her to catch me, and give me a kiss is the day "horses fly"" said Louis while making a playful face at Sammy.
"Yeah well someday horses might fly, then what are you gonna do Louis?"
"I'll worry about that day when it comes. And don't forget again to, go see the Doc."
Hattie May and Mrs. Beamer sold most of the apple pies that they had baked by the late morning, and everyone agreed that these were the best pies they had, or ever entered in the pie contest. All the women in town asked them repeatedly, if they could have the new recipes, so they could bake a few pies for their husbands at home.
Mr. Beamer placed only second this year with his prized cows in "The Show Competition" but he did get a big red ribbon that he was most proud of, and he showed it off to everyone that he saw that day.
Mr. Beamer started on with his old stories from last year how he won the blue ribbon, and how this time the judges must have made an honest mistake. How could they have not chosen his cows for first place this year? There surely must have been a mistake made, he kept telling everyone.
All and all the fair was a big success this year, and everyone was having a wonderful time.
Then again, the best thing of all today, was that?"The Great Race"?was?about to begin.