(Made in 2020)
Once there was a girl, she was 16 years old and her name was Hannah. She had black hair and she wasn’t “girly”. Her favorite color was black. She didn’t care about jewelry or makeup, nor anything fancy.
Hannah was an only child with a loving father who took care of her no matter what. But that never stopped him from missing my mother, to him, she was his wife. They were an amazing couple, until my mother died. I can only remember her in visions, a warm hand touching my shoulder. I can still feel the sadness in my father’s heart when he thinks about my mothers last words ”take care of our little girl,” my mother had said. My father always said that I was the best thing that ever happened to him, but I knew that I wasn’t the only one. My mother was one of the best things that ever happened to him, she was brave and courageous. She still lies buried under a tree behind the house, and that would never change. Although it wasn’t up to me, all I can do is hope.
Hannah has a horse named Shadow. Shadow is black all over. Shadow loves Hannah. Shadow never wants to leave Hannah. Hannah loves Shadow. Hannah never wants to leave Shadow. It is a perfect match. When Hannah wants to escape from the world, she goes riding with Shadow. The bad thing about living in the country is that there are not many riding paths. You make your own and if you want to have a good ride, I never have to stop riding.
But there was one thing that was missing from her life, she needed a best friend that wasn’t a horse like Shadow. I never went to school, I knew everything I needed to know. My father realized that a long time ago. So he allowed me to learn from nature, and everything that was living around me.
“Hannah! Breakfast” my father called out from our cottage that has become home. “Coming” I replied, quickly finishing my chores. I ran back to the house, took off my boots and sat down at the table where the food was nicely set. I ate as fast as possible.
“Why are you eating so quickly Hannah?” my father asked, taking another bite.
“I wanna go on a ride to see the herd of horses that I told you about” I said. But that really wasn’t the truth. The truth is, I’m trying to breed Shadow. I was secretly building another stall for a new horse.
“Oh, I see” said my father, looking at the ground.
“Something wrong??” I said, looking at him suspiciously. I knew something was wrong, he had been acting weird for a while, I was waiting for the right moment to confront him. “If you need to tell me something then you can”.
“Right back at you” said my father.
I looked at him trying to hide my worried face, had he found out that I wanted to breed Shadow?!
“Well I’m going to go and … take Shadow for a ride!” remembering what I had said, standing up and putting my dishes away. I walked out of the room and headed for the door.
“Be back soon, not too late,” said my father, taking another bite.
I walked over to the barn that my father and I built. I put on Shadows riding gear, and got on her.
I guided her onto the road and made sure that it was clear to go. I pulled the reins towards the person that had a breeder sign.
“Hey,” I said waving a hand, “are you a horse breeder?”
“Yes, matter a’fact I am, said the breeder looking up as Shadow toward over him, you look’n to breed that their horse?”
“Yes I am, is that possible?” “Well’p that depends if she falls in love, you think she’s up for it?” He said, looking at Shadow.
“Yes,” I said truthfully.
“Alrighty then, I got a few male horses, you wanna take a look at um?” He asked.
I nodded
“Then let’s get chosen some horses,” he said, walking into the barn-like store.
I looked around and looked at all the female horses.
“The one you’re looking at is a nice and strong one,” he said.
“Oh … well why don’t you have male horses?” I asked confused.
“Well, some people are wanting female horses because they have a male horses y’see” he said, walking over to a door.“Now this here door leads to the male horses, watch out, some of these fellas aren’t who you want um to be” he warned.
“So that means that they aren’t all nice?” I thought, trying to understand what the breeder meant.
He opened the door, there were so many angry grunts. I looked around holding Shadows reins tight and walked over to a horse that Shadow had communicated to.
“You like this one?” I said under my breath. I turned around, only to see the breeder’s eyes. They didn’t seem normal, it almost looked like he was blind.Wait, I thought, could he be blind?
“What’re you look’en at!” He said.
“I … I was just wondering if you were blind,” I said, wondering how he would react.
“Well’p, your suspicions are right my friend” he said, “I am blind”
“That is so cool! How do you know your way around!?” I was amazed.
“Aren’t you gonna leave like all the others?” He said looking surprised.
“What do you mean??”
“Well everyone who comes in here and is smart enough to figure out that I am blind run away as fast as they can,” he said ashamed.
“Well I am not going to run away for no reason” I said, astonished at what other people have done to this kind man. I looked around and noticed that I had let go of Shadows reins! I looked behind me and it seemed like Shadow was talking to another horse.
“I think Shadow found a match!” I said feeling relieved and excited.
“I would say it looks like it, when I am pretending to not be blind and all that. Right then, your parents may start worrying about ya,” said the breeder walking towards the door.
I followed as I grabbed the reins of shadow.
When I got home, I took Shadows’ saddle, reins and put her in her stall.
I walked in the front door and hung my coat on the coat hanger, I saw my father looking at the newspaper excitedly.
“What are you looking at?” I asked, peeking over my fathers shoulder.
“Hannah! He said, turning around in his chair, “I found a free riding camp!”
“Can I go?! Can I go?!” I asked excitedly, knowing the answer.
“Well of course!” Said my father standing up “it is starting in 5 minutes, you better get going!”
I hugged my father. “Thank you for everything”.
“Here” said my father, giving me a map of where to go.
“Right,” I said, grabbing the map and putting it in my pocket. I put on my coat once more and went out to the barn, saddled Shadow and set off to the camp.
I hopped off Shadow where the map indicated it was. I looked around, there were thousands of people with their horses, it looked like they were leaving to go on a path! I got back on Shadow and raced towards them. I leaned into Shadow, as she raced to the back of the group.
“Wait up! I’m in the camp too!” I said catching up with the group.
“Ah hello, who are you?” Said the adult in front.
“Hannah”
“Well it seems you have a horse there?” The teacher asked.
“Yes, could we join you?” I asked hopefully.
“Of course,” said the teacher with a welcoming smile. “Just pick your spot and follow me”
I found a spot near a person. They waved a hand and had a big smile on their face as if I had just shown them the best thing in the world. I smiled back and waved a hand, hoping I had just made a friend.
“Hi I am Samantha” said Samantha.
“Hi, I like your horse,” I said, trying to have a conversation.
“Thanks, her name is Ava,” said Samantha, “What’s your horse’s name?”
“Shadow,” I said, “I’m looking for a breeder. I found one, he is really kind, if you ever wanted to breed Ava then just ask and Ava can have a colt any time”
“Good to know,” said Samantha, “we’d better catch up”.
“Race you!,” Samantha said with a mischievous grin.
Hey no fair!! I said leaning into Shadow hoping to go faster.
When I got back from camp, I entered the cottage, my father was pacing, “What’s the matter??” I asked immediately.
“Hannah! Your home!” He stopped pacing at once. I have something to tell you.
“I do too,” I said.
“Please let’s sit,” said my father sitting down at the table.
I sat down.
“You go ahead, what do you want to tell me?”.
“Well….. I am trying to breed Shadow” I said as fast as I could.
“Why? … What? … we don’t have enough barn space” said my father.
“I have been building a new stall for the colt that will hopefully come out safely,” I said quietly.
“Oh, then we can’t move to the city” My father clasped a hand over his mouth after he had said this.
“WHAT!!!!!!” I shouted angrily, “YOU WANT TO MOVE TO THE CITY AND REALLY LIVE THERE!!!!!!!”
“Yes but you clearly do not, but right now we are running out of money!” He explained.
I stomped upstairs.
“Start packing!!” My father yelled at me.
I ignored my father and left a note, then snuck out the window. I put on Shadows saddle and reins, and climbed on.
Shadow and I went to a hill where you can see the whole town. The town was my home. I never want that to change, it will not change. When I checked my watch to see what time it was, I was astonished, it was 11:30 (pm)! I pulled the reins towards home.
After I got to our cottage, I led Shadow to the barn and took off her riding gear and climbed through the window, soon I was drifting off to bed.
When I woke up, I saw boxes that were labeled. I noticed a note, it said that my father was going to get us a place on the next train. The letter said that I was to pack, and to have it done by tomorrow. My dad was serious about moving. I had better start packing, I thought as I collected some of my important belongings and put it in the box that was labeled “Important belongings,” I kept on doing that until I had nothing to pack. It was lunch time.
I decided to go ride, Shadow could have another meet with the breeder and the horse named Bob.
When their session was over. I thanked the breeder and paid him in cash. And by tomorrow the colt will be born, according to what the breeder says.
When tomorrow came, I woke up and checked on Shadow. When I got to the barn, there were TWO colts on the floor. Shadow was licking them, like a caring mom would. She was going to be an amazing mother.
I was worried about how she could take care of two colts, she couldn’t do it alone! If she tried, one might have to be left behind! And now that we are going to New York! TOMORROW I will not be able to clean the hay and do everything that needs to be done to keep her babies healthy!
After a lot of worrying, and trying to find a solution, night came. I went to bed early, well after I decided to give Shadow to the breeder.
That morning, I was woken by the sound of my alarm. I turned it off so that my father could sleep, I got dressed and then I snuck out the window once more. I ran to the breeder and told him that I was moving away and that I would really appreciate it if he took care of Shadow and her colts. The breeder said yes immediately, and he said that he would pick them up after I left. I felt reassured that Shadow was going to a place where she would be taken care of, but I was sad that I had to leave. I checked my watch, it was 7:26! My father would be up any minute! I thanked the breeder and sprinted home, climbed through the window as fast as I could, and went down for breakfast.
After breakfast, it was time to go. I got my suitcase and boxes, then I went to the barn. And said goodbye Shadow, bye Misty, bye Stormy. I am going to miss them all so much, but they are going to be safe.
I ran back to the house and helped put my boxes into a carriage that was pulled by horses, when the first carriage was loaded the second carriage arrived. My father and I got into the carriage. The ride was silent, I had nothing to say, not after what Dad had done. When we arrived at the train station, some people loaded the boxes onto the train and we were off.
I was so angry at my father for making us move into the city. I decided to pretend to sleep when my father tried to talk to me. But eventually I actually did fall asleep.
When I woke up the whistle sounded, that meant there was something exciting going on! I raced to the back of the train and opened the door, to see Shadow, Misty, and Stormy!. Shadow had no saddle on, but I knew what I had to do.
I had to jump onto Shadow, I backed up and then ran as fast as I could. I jumped, all of a sudden I felt like I was riding a cloud, I had jumped onto Shadow’s back. I leaned over towards the country, Shadow turned towards home. We were riding back home. Home for not only me, but it was Shadow’s home too. Little did the colts know, it was they’re home too.
I faintly heard my father yelling for me to come back. I kept riding, he would never stop me. Don’t let anyone stop you from being yourself.They lived happily ever after, for now.
Don’t run away from your fears.
– Taylor