Aries

Chapter 4:

Peering into the iron cooking pot I can see meatballs and spaghetti. This came as a shock to me as we barely had spaghetti on a weekday( it was only Tuesday after all). I particularly wasn't expecting such a meal today maybe just a couple of sandwiches. This change wasn't bad though it meant that mum was happy here. I could tell for sure about this when I sat down and started my meal. The flavors were so strong and I would have happily sat for hours with the entire pot. My cat brushed up against my leg with her bushy white tail. Her name is pearl and she is a white Maine coon. Only four and yet a huge bush baby. She is like the boss of the family if she is in your seat you're on the floor; if she is laying on your legs, you're not getting up. She rarely goes out of the house but when she does be prepared for a loving gift on your doorstep. A loud long meow comes from under the table. She wants some of our food but she has plenty in her bowl.
"So um Braden, got any plans for tomorrow?" Dad asks,
"I'll just be working Butter and Carrie" Carrie is Braden's nickname for Caramel.
"Good because I'll be needing your help fixing up the indoor arena. I checked it out after I fed the horses and it's too dangerous to ride in, wood everywhere and some of the roof has fallen in. It's so bad that if it rains we will have to cancel the gallifella." OMG, I completely forgot about the gallifella! Our family would host a small-town show to raise money for local charities. Anyone could enter for ten pounds. All disciplines were welcomed and it was the happiest event of the year. My parents allowed me to compete in jumping for our final year in West Victoria. Every show is judged by the mayor of WV at the time and three townies. None of the Whistlers are allowed to judge but we are all allowed to ride and compete. Even if you didn't compete our fields were often used for nice trails. The only problem with the gallifella was that people would board their horses as the event lasted three days. This meant I couldn't stargaze on the grass. I couldn't do it out in the fields either because the trails were open 24/7 I would often end up sharing a room with a cousin or friend. So two nights in the year I was without my stars.
"Yes, dad ill come help tomorrow perhaps you wouldn't mind working with Caramel and butter Courtney?" This was not expected. I didn't know his techniques or schedule!
"Yes!" I couldn't help it, I love working with his two equines. They have such incredible personalities and quirks. Braden's done an amazing job training them. When we first got Caramel she wouldn't go near any of us. Maybe have a little sniff when we gave her feed and water but then she would turn and run back out her stall. We only had Paisley (gala and Barten's mother) and Gala at the time and she was very protective of gala nipping Carrie if she got too close. We decided to get her a comfort friend. This is where Butter comes in. He showed her we were nice and they got along brilliantly. We brought him with a stallion named Sam. We had sam for two years before he passed away out in his pasture. He sure left his mark though, a scar on Dad's back, a little stallion( Barten), and a broken wheelbarrow after he tried to jump it whilst I was manuring the field.
After we finished our tea, my phone started to explode with messages.
"Whos texting my little filly at this time?" Filly was my dad's nickname for me after I was such a small child. I had a huge growth spurt when I turned sixteen last year. I am hoping Ruby will be a tall mare so I can ride her.
"It's Ash." Ash is my best friend ever. I met her when we moved to our last barn. We were inseparable well, u till now of course. I read her text to myself first before reading it out to everyone else.
"Hope you're having fun back in West Vicky! Say hi to Barten for me! Love and miss ya -Ash
" poor girl, she loved that stallion. Truly had a bond." Mum says.
"Perhaps when he has a foal and once it grows up she could -" dad is interrupted.
"No Mr. Whistler it's fine my mum wouldn't allow it," Ash says through my phone.
Everyone looks at me confused.
"What? She rang me it would have been rude to decline!" We all laugh and finish washing up before heading to bed.