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A HORSE’S TALE
Grandpa was sitting on the couch reading a magazine when his grand-daughter Penny, entered the lounge looking very sullen, mouth pouted, as if sulking
“What’s the matter little one?”
Penny glares at him but does not respond.
“You know, Penny; when I was a young man, like you are a young lady now, sometimes when I was angry I used to tell my Grandpa what was wrong. I used to tell him because I couldn’t tell my Mum or Dad. They’d only growl at me and tell me not to be stupid. But my Grandpa was different.”
Penny looked at Grandpa as if trying to figure him out.
“And he was very good at keeping secrets,” Granpa went on, “just like I am.”
“Maybe,” replied Penny.
“You wanna tell me about it? Come on, sit here. I need a cuddle anyway.”
The ten year old looked at the old man; paused, then moved onto the couch beside him. Slowly, as if not wanting to frighten her with any fast movement, the old man raised his arm, put it behind her head, and lightly rested his forearm on her shoulder. Then reached across behind her head and lifted her long pony-tail to sit on his arm. She cuddled in close to his chest.
“It’s just not fair Granddad,” said the petite little girl.
“What’s happening then?”
“It’s Sam.”
“What? Your horse Samantha?”
“I call her Sam.”
“Yes. I remember when you got her. That was for your seventh birthday. Now let’s see? How long ago was that?”
“Oh, Granddad. You’re hopeless. Can’t you even count at your age? I’m ten now.”
“Oh yes, that’s right. So that’s, erhh, what, how many years ago?
“Three years,” she snapped back. She looked up at him, nodded, and rolled her eyes. “Sometimes, Granddad you make me wonder.”
The old man grinned as he looked at the face and hazel eyes, reminding of his daughter at the same age. “Yes, that’s right. Ten minus seven. That’s three, right?”
She looked up and with another look of condescension and rolled her eyes again.
“Okay. What’s happening with Samantha?”
“It’s Sam I said. I only call her Samantha when I’m angry with her.”
“All right then. Get on with it. I’ll be dead before you tell me what’s wrong.”
Again the head and eyes routine followed. “Can’t you be serious, Granddad?”
“I’m sorry. Go on.”
“Brian wants to sell her. But he can’t. She’s mine.”
“Why don’t you call Brian, Dad? He’s been with your Mum from when you were two years old. He loves you like his own little girl.”
“He’s not my Dad. I’m not his little girl.”
“I know Darling. But when Dad died in that horrible car smash just after you were born, it was very tough for Mummy to keep the little farm running by herself.”
“It’s Mum, not Mummy.”
“Of course; but without Brian’s help, your Mum would’ve had to sell the farm. You know, he let his own farm get quite run down when he was helping your Mum. Then they became good friends, and got married when you were three. So he’s been like a real Dad since you were a wee one.”
“But it’s not the same.”
“I know Darling. You see, Brian never got married before, so he never had any children. And when he saw you, it was just like he had a little girl of his own. Before that he was all by himself, just like your Mum. It was sad, but it became happy; a bit like when Mum bought Sam for your birthday.”
“Mum bought Sam so I could ride my own horse around the farm.”
“Yes Darling, but Sam also had another task, remember?”
“You mean that ugly little foal.”
“Yep. That ugly little foal was a thoroughbred and worth a lot of money. Well; that foal’s real Mum died too, but it still needed some mother’s milk because it was so little. And poor Sam had a foal that had died when it was born. So Samantha had lots of milk, but no baby. That was when your Mum bought her. It was a perfect match. Sam nursed the young foal as if it was her own and it grew into a fine strong yearling colt, just like you, but you’d be a filly. The young colt sold for a very good price and helped pay off lots of debts. But Sam was already ten years old then, now she’s over thirteen. In horse years, that’s older than me.”
The little girl giggled and snuggled in closer.
“There was a horse named Sugar Puff who lived for 56 human years. Sugar Puff died a few years ago in 2007. That was a freak. Many horses die before they are twelve. Some live to fourteen. Haven’t you noticed poor old Samantha just stands around in the same corner most of the day? That’s because her muscles are all tight, and her bones are now aching; all from really old injuries.”
“Sam, not Samantha,” repeated the little girl. “What injuries?”
The old man noticed his daughter and Brian had quietly moved inside the room, and unseen by his granddaughter, were listening to the conversation.
“Sam never recovered fully after her heroic act in the hills many years ago.”
“What was that, Granddad?” The little girl had looked up in surprise.
“When Sam was about four years old, her then owner and another man went riding in the hills. There had been a lot of rain. They were on a very narrow track above a very high steep drop-off. Suddenly a huge slip of rocks and mud came sliding down and wiped them off the path, and over the steep bank.”
His granddaughter sat up further, eyes wide and looked at him. “What happened then Granddad?”
“The other horse got killed. Sam’s owner broke his leg and had other injuries. The other rider had a broken arm, broken collar-bone and head injuries.”
“What about Sam?”
“She too was very badly injured with lots of cuts and bruising, But. She was able to stand up. Even though she was hurting, she allowed the two injured men to somehow scramble on her back. Through the rain and thunder, slippery mud, and the weather getting colder, Sam carried them. Her slow and sure footing prevented the men from falling off. Despite all her injuries, for hour after hour she carried the heavy load on her back. Within sight of a farmer’s house, Sam collapsed and fell over from exhaustion and her injuries. The riders’ thought she was dead. The farmer saw them, and got an ambulance for the men. As soon as the ambulance left, he tended to Sam and saw she was still alive.”
His granddaughter’s jaw dropped.
“The farmer was a retired vet, so he knew what to do. It took many months for Sam to recover, and longer until she was able to walk and then run normally. Samantha was a real hero around the district. She had saved the lives of two very foolish people who would have died without her help. Now she is past thirteen, she is feeling and suffering from all the injuries caused those many years ago. When horses are old like that, they have a retirement farm, just like an old peoples’ village. They look after old horses which live together until they get really old, and die. They give them medicines for their aches and pains, and the horses all live out a happy life. Don’t you think Samantha deserves something like that?”
The little girl looked at him with a sad look on her face. “Yes, your right Granddad. I knew Sam was special. I’ll let her go to the special farm. I’m going out right now, and give her two special big lumps of horse sugar, and thank her for saving those silly people.”
She bounded off the couch and out the door as if pursued by a rabid dog.
The two listening adults approached Granddad who was now nodding his head.
“I didn’t know Sam helped save two people,” said his daughter. “Who were they?”
“I don’t know,” replied Granddad. “Perhaps a phantom and a ghost? I don’t care. I didn’t think names important. But something like that could’ve happened couldn’t it? It does in fairy tales. At least you’ve now got a little missy that’s happy about Sam’s departure.”
The two ad
ults grinned and nodded.
“But I’ll be very annoyed if you try sending me off to the knackers’ yard for making dog sausages or glue out of my body when I get older.”